Would he...mind?
His heart beats rapidly as thoughts fly through his head.
They’re married. She’s his wife. This is fine. It’s all fine. It’s totally normal, in fact.
Stars above.
“Whatever you’re comfortable with.” His voice comes out hoarse, and he clears his throat.
She sucks in her cheeks as she turns to look at him. “Rominy, your heart—”
“Is galloping away without me. I am very much aware.”
She laughs at his words, and he chuckles himself.
“Come on,” he says. “No more overthinking this. Let’s have some fun. It will only be awkward for a few minutes.”
Probably. Hopefully.
Then, to make it easier for her, he reaches for the hem of his shirt and tugs it over his head, flinging it on a nearby bush before wading farther into the water. The pool is deep, quickly reaching the middle of his chest, and he dives under the surface, letting the warm water envelop him. When he comes back up, Elowyn has joined him, and he does his best to keep his eyes on her face rather than on what she’s wearing—or not wearing—in the water below.
“It’s so warm,” she says as the water laps around her shoulders.
“Come on.” He gestures toward the water pouring over the rock wall, and she follows as he wades toward it. Once they’re close enough to feel the mist on their faces, he turns back to her. “I’m not sure it’s safe to get closer.”
“Rominy. I’m a water wielder, remember?”
“Right.” He glances back at the waterfall. It’s not too powerful. And what’s the worst that could happen? They drown and wake up back on their train in the real world?
“Come with me?” She holds out her hands, and his pulse pounds in his ears to match the thundering water before them.
Breathing deeply to still his racing heart, he offers his hands in return, and she laces her fingers with his. Without looking away, she leads him toward the falling water.
As they approach, the waterfall splits into two streams around them.
He flinches, but she smiles reassuringly, and he follows her into a circle of falling water that closes behind them, surrounding them completely.
Remarkable. He looks around in awe before finding her face again. “I assume you’re doing this?”
She nods, the most brilliant smile imaginable lighting up her face, and something tightens deep within him.
It’s just him and her within this private waterfall. Here, in this moment, nothing exists but them.
“Elowyn,” he whispers.
Water droplets glisten on her silky skin, running in tiny trails over her cheeks and dripping from her nose onto her rosy lips.
Tentatively, he brushes her damp hair behind her perfectly pointed ear, and she gasps.
What did he do?
He jerks his hand away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
“Touch my ear?” she nearly whimpers.
Is she finishing his sentence...or making a request?
Are elf ears sensitive?
