“As you wish, Wife.” I placed a hand on the small of her back. “That, I can do for you while I hide away, ashamed at being bested again.”
“I warned you.”
I smiled, a little softer. “Trust me, I will never forget what you have done to me today.”
I patted Kjettil on the shoulder after he finished helping fill the deep wash basin with steaming water. The man had a toothy smile, one tapered fae ear, one with the alver curve, and no one truly knew what sort of magic lived in the man’s blood.
He never gave it up, and we stopped asking.
“For the lady?” he asked.
“This is for the lady.”
Kjettil lifted a wooden box from one of the washroom cupboards. “Petals and herbs and pink salts. No idea what they do but they smell rather nice. Hear the ladies enjoy them.”
I took the box, all at once realizing this was a first for me.
Preparing this room.
In my chamber.
For a woman.
Part of me felt like a bastard for being so disconnected to others, another part was alarmed at the delight that Skadi was the only one.
Alas, a first meant I was vastly out of my comfort with such things as how many dried petals or fragrant salts ought to be added to water.By the end the surface was floating in dark bloody red petals and the water looked a little milky.
A tentative knock rapped on the door. Skadi poked her head inside, hair loose, a lavender silk robe around her shoulders.
She was beautiful. A vision in the dark, and the way she kept glancing at the ground I doubted she heard it often.
“I can’t take my eyes off you.”
A cautious smile curved over her lips. “I hope it’s not because there is something on my face.”
“No. I find you beautiful, Fire.” I rubbed the back of my neck, turning away. “Anyway, water’s ready. Might be too hot, maybe filled with unknown foliage. Likely all of it, but should wash well enough.”
Skadi sat on the stone edge, dragging her fingers through the petals. She demurely peered over her shoulder. “It’s perfect.”
I swallowed through a scratch, returned the wooden box to the cupboard, and stepped toward the door. “I will be out here if you need anything.”
A bridge of pink brightened her cheeks. She nodded.
I faced the door before I embarrassed myself by giving up my half hard cock. Gods, it was as if I was unacquainted with a woman. No. I was unacquainted by this insatiable, near obsession with my reluctant wife.
“Jonas.”
My name on her tongue was soft as a night breeze, almost reverent, maybe a little frightened. It burned through my veins like an inferno.
Hand still tight on the door latch, I kept my back to her. “Yes?”
“I do need to ask your forgiveness for last night.”
“There is no need.” I faced her. “If you think I have not overindulged on brän more than once, you’re quite mistaken.”
Skadi hugged her middle. “You carried me home.”
Home.
