Moderately appeased when she polished off the meal, he frowned when she started walking out. ‘I’ll be ready in ten minutes,’ she threw over her shoulder, then paused as if to ask a question before changing her mind.
No, he didn’t like this turn of events.
Because this sombre version of Lotte? It wasn’t to his liking. At all.
Sombre and stoic werehisremit, after all.
Which was why he found himself peeling back another layer of himself and taking her to a place he’d never shown anyone else. Suspecting it might raise even more questions. And discovering he would withstand them…if it brought Lotte contentment and peace.
Lotte looked around her, awed at the sight of the deep blue water-filled fissure they’d tracked about a mile from the cabin. The fissure fed a larger fjord at some point, which she guessed was where they were heading.
Valenti hadn’t divulged their final destination, but he’d answered her questions about their surroundings. They were still on private land—which he owned for as far as the eye could see.
Her gaze drifted to the rucksack he carried, curious as to its contents but she bit her tongue. She’d had enough upheaval today. Time to give her emotions respite from turbulence. So she asked innocuous questions about geography and topology, until the magical sight dried her words and stopped in her tracks. ‘Is that…?’
He stopped next to her, his eyes on her face. ‘A hot spring leading to a fjord? Yes.’
There were several such springs in Reykland, but few were this private, this stunning and perfect. The last of the setting sun against the snow dappled the still water in faint golden light, the wisps of steam rising from the naturally hot spring pool surrounded by boulders, mesmeric.
Lotte dragged her gaze from one breathtaking view to the other, of Valenti and the possibility that he’d brought her here to show her something special. To…lift her mood?
She swallowed, suddenly overcome with the very emotions she was fleeing from. Surrendering to the pull of the small body of water she moved towards it, felt him follow. The air grew sultrier with every step and by the time she was a few feet from the lip of the spring, a pang was lighting through her. ‘I would’ve brought my swimsuit if I’d—’
Valenti moved, drawing out an item from his rucksack. ‘I took the liberty of anticipating that need,’ he said.
Her eyes widened. One of the three bikinis she’d packed on a wild whim dangled from his fingers. That awe warring with her surging emotions, she took it from him. Then glanced around. She may have taken more bold steps these past few days than she had in her entire life, but she wasn’t quite ready to step into exhibitionist mode.
‘There’s no one around. I’ve made quite sure of that,’ Valenti said, a tight edge in his voice that said he’d driven that command home quite thoroughly.
Her fingers tightening around her bikini, gulping when Valenti set the rucksack down and started to unzip his insulated coat. Next, he tugged off his sweater and the T-shirt he wore underneath. At the sight of his bare, hard-packed chest, her fingers convulsed around the scrap of Lycra.
Then her face flamed when he raised an eyebrow at her avid stare at his fingers on his belt. She busied herself taking off her things. Realising she had to completely undress before slipping on her bikini, she flushed.
Valenti of course, had stripped completely naked, his expression showing not a single ounce of self-consciousness. Lotte reminded herself of what had happened this morning and yesterday. How he’d seemed enthralled with her body. Theconfidence boost helped, warming her fingers and galvanising her into shedding her clothes faster.
And when that same expression returned, spikier, lustier than before, she fought to contain the thrill of it. The warm air coming off the hot spring duelling with the cooler air at her back, making her nipples pucker as she slotted the bikini top into place.
Valenti was waiting, half submerged in the water when she was finished. Silently, he held out his hand. She took it. And stepped into pure heaven.
The sensation of the water, like warm silk, enveloped her from neck to toe when she went in deeper.
‘Oh my God, it feels incredible,’ she whispered.
‘Hmm.’ Valenti didn’t let go of her right away but drew her deeper into the pool. ‘There’s a natural ledge right here. Come.’
She trailed him, watched him perch on the submerged ledge, then her heart missing several beats, let him tug her closer and position her in front of him before drawing her down between his spread thighs.
With their height difference, Valenti’s upper chest and shoulders were above the waterline, while she was gloriously submerged up to her neck.
For several minutes, they remained in peaceful silence, the tension slowly draining away. Or it could’ve been the melting sensation of the naturally heated water permeating her whole being. Whatever it was, she found herself relaxing into the solid column of Valenti’s body, a small but deep sigh escaping her when his arms came around her and his lips brushed over the shell of her ear.
Ever-present need pounded through her, but Lotte curiously realised that right in this moment, she preferred to have his arms around her, all the problems held at bay. For as long as she could.
Even the faintest twinge of the lost opportunity to capture this magic place on camera came and went with very little regret.
‘I suppose you wish you’d brought the camera?’ he rasped, uncannily reading her mind.
She shook her head. ‘No, I don’t. Some things are worth keeping sacrosanct. This place is one of them.’
