It wasn’t uncomfortable. It felt better than I wanted to admit, and I was afraid he would get my blood flowing somewhere else. “Seriously, I can do this myself,” I said.
“I know you can, but that’s not the point,” Cassian said, pushing his thumbs into the ball of my left foot. His hands were soft, and he used just the right amount of pressure. “Iwantto help you, Turnip. I like helping you,” he said, smiling at me. The light of the flame highlighted his delicate face. His pale hair glowed under the orange light, framing his kind eyes. If he reciprocated even a little, I would give him a lot.
I felt a stir in my stomach, and I just hoped the blanket was enough to cover where my blood was flowing. Clearly, I wasn’t in such a bad state, but I couldn’t exactly point it out to him.
“I’m supposed to be helpingyou, Cassian,” I said.
Cassian frowned, burying his thumbs into my foot and warming me up in a way he probably didn’t intend to. “Why can’t we help each other?”
“I don’t know, Cassian. Why can’t we?” I asked.
We held each other’s gaze for a tense moment before Cassian’s gaze turned downward. “I like you, Sterling,” he said. “I don’t want it to hurt more than it has to when you leave.”
He didn’t want me to leave? That’s why he was avoiding me? I didn’t know how to tell him I would come out here every single free day I had to see him if he let me, because I was already driving myself crazy over him when he was as far as the other room. “Ladiall is not that far away,” I said.
Cassian stopped rubbing my foot, looking up at me with his big blue eyes. He moved his warmed hands to my other foot and started rubbing again, and this time I let out an involuntary breath.
He stopped, watching me curiously. “Did that hurt?”
I shook my head, too embarrassed to explain myself.
“You liked it?” he asked.
I hesitated, and then I nodded.
He smiled mischievously before he continued, still making eye contact. I tried to keep a neutral expression, but my attempt to suppress it only made it worse, and the sigh that left me was nearly a moan.
Gods damn it.
Cassian’s smile overtook his face, but he rubbed my foot more gently. His eyes flitted down to my crotch, where not even the thick blanket could conceal the growing bulge. He looked me in the eyes again, still rubbing my foot with his perfect grip.I couldn’t stop myself from imagining his hands working other parts of my body.
Three light knocks on the door tapped through the room, breaking us out of this comfortable pocket of warmth and desire. “Cassian?” Willorunia called. “What happened to you?”
Cassian jumped up, pulling the blanket down to cover my legs. He hesitated before throwing the towel over my lap too. “Come in!” he replied.
Willorunia stepped into the room, eyeing me slowly as she shut the door. “Where did you go? I had to finish it myself,” she said.
“I’m so sorry, Willo. I ran out of magic, and Sterling’s warming spell wore off while he was in the river. He could have frozen to death,” Cassian explained.
Willorunia sighed. “Are you all right, Officer?” she asked.
“Cassian did a very nice job thawing me out. Sorry for inconveniencing you,” I said.
“Did you finish the enchantment?” Cassian asked.
Willorunia nodded. “I haven’t pulled up the diagnosis yet because Officer Thorndrop wanted to see it.”
Cassian frowned at me. “He is in no condition to go outside. I don’t want to risk it.”
I leaned forward. “I have to, Cassian. It’s my job.” I reached for my damp trousers, but Cassian snatched them before I could.
“You are not putting these back on! Are you crazy?” he asked.
“I have to,” I said. “This is why I’m here.”
Cassian hesitated, looking from me to Willo, who seemed surprised. “Can I draw the sigil for you instead?” Cassian asked.
“I’m sorry, Cassian, but Ihaveto see it with my own eyes,” I said.
