“Sorry.” The truth tumbled out of me. “You’re... really cute.”
Poppy’s eyes widened as a pink blush crept across his cheeks. “Oh, um...” He rubbed his arms. “Thank you.”
His reply was soft and unsure, like he’d never been complimented before. That, to me, was a crime. He was stunning. I knew from the second I saw him that I’d never meet a more beautiful person in my life.
“I should probably wash up,” Poppy murmured.
“Oh, right.”
Finally, like two chains snapping, Poppy finally tore his gaze from mine. I was dazed for a moment, like the world had shifted beneath my feet. By the time I steadied myself, Poppy had slipped into the river and was scrubbing the dirt from his arms.
As I stood there watching him, I felt a little awkward. I didn’t want him to think I was a creepy voyeur, but was it weirder to offer my help?
His hair, like his fur, was covered in a layer of dust and dirt. I figured that would be the most normal area for me to touch.
“Hey, Poppy,” I said. “Do you want me to wash your hair?”
He shot me a surprised look. “That’s very kind, but you don’t have to. It’s a hassle.”
I smirked. “Are you saying that because you don’t want me to? Or because you’re too polite to accept my help?”
My blunt honesty took him aback. He blushed harder, looking embarrassed as he murmured, “Ah, um... I guess the latter...”
I chuckled. “Don’t be shy. If you want something, just say it. Otherwise, how’s anyone supposed to know?”
Poppy’s concerned expression baffled me. Had I said something strange?
“You can go ahead,” he told me.
Notes of both excitement and nerves mingled in his voice. But as he turned around to continue washing his arms, I gratefully accepted his invitation. I kneeled behind him on the river’s shore, sitting cross-legged in the grass. His beautiful white hair was caked in dust. I reached my hand into the flowing river to scoop a handful of water, but the freezing temperature startled me.
“Geez,” I yelped, jerking my hand back. “The water’s cold as ice!”
A bell-chime of a laugh escaped Poppy, who quickly covered his mouth. “I’m sorry. I forgot you’re not used to it.”
“You bathe inthis? How do you stillhaveballs?”
He stifled another laugh. “You’re funny, Violet.”
I gaped at how casually Poppy washed himself in the cold-as-fuck water. He barely even had any layers of fat to keep him warm. How the hell did he manage? I could barely stick my hand in the river without shrieking.
“Screw this,” I said, standing up. “I’ll warm it up for you.”
“You were serious about that?” Poppy asked, brows rising.
“Course I am. Just wait a second. It’s harder in this form, but...”
I shut my eyes and focused on attaining a partial shift, just enough to configure my throat properly. When I felt confident everything was in place, I blew out a burst of fire upstream. For a few seconds, fire danced on the water’s surface. The bright flames reflected in Poppy’s wide eyes, then vanished in a puff of smoke.
I sat down and touched the water. It was noticeably warmer now. It was no hot tub, but it wasn’t shrivel-up-your-testicles freezing, either.
I scooped up handfuls and poured them on Poppy’s hair. Soon his darkened wet hair clung to his neck. I combed my fingers carefully through his locks, rinsing away the debris.
At first I was too focused to realize, but after a couple minutes, it struck me just how intimate this was: Poppy naked, sitting with his vulnerable back to me. He trusted me enough to wash his hair while he was utterly defenceless.
Out of nowhere, tears welled up in my eyes.
Startled, I blinked them away. Why was I getting so emotional?
