“If you drip more, I’ll be glad to help again.” He presses his lips to hers before she can react to his words, and she melts against him, doing her best to keep her sticky hands from touching him.
When he pulls away, he licks his lips and chuckles. “You’re sticky everywhere. Do you wish to wash up in the tub?”
“Alone?”
“I thought perhaps you might appreciate a few minutes to relax with no expectations from anyone.”
She bites her lip and nods.
“Shall I tie your hair up so it doesn’t get wet?” He doesn’t even wait for her to respond before he’s behind her, twisting her hair into a knot and securing it with what feels like more of his vines threading through her hair.
He seems awfully eager for her to take this bath, which makes her smile even as heat threatens to creep up her neck again.
Relax. She needs to relax. Stop thinking so much.
“I don’t know how to get my gown off without getting it sticky,” she says quietly. “Perhaps I should wash my hands first.”
“While you do that, I will run the water for you. And perhaps eat an apple without caramel dripping from it.”
“I’m sorry. I thought the caramel apples would be fun.”
He turns her to face him. “It was fun, and I believe I enjoyed it. But I’m hungry still, and my wife will force-feed me if I don’t eat.”
She sucks in her cheeks to hold back a grin, and he kisses her forehead before frowning. “How did you get caramel up there?”
“I don’t know,” she groans. “You really liked it?”
“Yes. Now go wash.”
By the time she’s scrubbed most of the caramel from her hands, the tub is filling with water, and Cerian has polished off another apple.
“Do you need help getting in, or may I go wash my own hands?” He frowns down at what look like perfectly clean fingers.
“I’ll be fine,” she says softly. “Thank you.”
He offers her one of his beautiful smiles before disappearing into the water closet, and when he returns, she’s already lying back as the warm water unknots her muscles.
He lowers himself to the floor and leans back against the side of the tub. Then he laughs. “Go get candy, indeed. This really was a trap. I thought we’d be gone for a few minutes.”
They have been here for quite a while.
“You needed a distraction, my elven prince. And food.”
He looks at her over his shoulder, his eyes warm. “Thank you.”
“Always, Cerian.”
Before she can say anything else, a knock sounds at the door, and they both freeze.
Stars above.
Do Not Disturb
Episode 100
Cerianstaresatthedoor before looking back at Arisanna. She’s sunken as far into the tub as she can without getting her hair wet.
Whistling wind. Why is someone knocking on their door?
