“You don’t have to do all this, Andri,” I say quietly. “I know how to run my own bath.”
He doesn’t look up from his herbal mixes. “Yeah, I do, Lumi. You’re my mate.”
“Andrik—”
“Let me take care of you, Lumi.” His voice is soft but firm. “Please.”
He tests the water one more time, then straightens, turning to face me fully. “Come here,” he says gently.
I take a step forward. Then another. Until I’m standing in front of him, close enough to feel the cool air that always ghosts from his skin. His hands reach for the hem of my shirt, the oversized tunic he gave me this morning, and he pauses.
“Is this okay?” he rasps.
I nod, not trusting my voice.
“Arms up,” he murmurs. I obey without thinking, and that pisses me off. I’ve never been the kind of girl who blindly follows commands. My muscles move before my brain can protest, yielding to him with a terrifying, magnetic hunger.
My body is no longer a democracy—it’s a kingdom, and it already knows its King.
Slowly, he lifts the fabric up my torso. The blunt edges of his claws graze my ribs, a lethal contrast to the softness they’re uncovering. I shiver from the way his gaze drags over my bare flesh.
He reaches for the ties of my pants next, tracing over my hipbones as they pool at my feet.
The heat coursing through my body is so overwhelming it’s all I can focus on. His nostrils flare, and his fangs bite out from under his lip.
“Andrik?” My voice comes out breathier than I mean it to.
His hand cups my face, thumb brushing my cheekbone. “You’re burning up.”
“I’m fine,” I lie.
I am anything but fine. I’m dead. I’m actively dying.
His eyes narrow. “Lumi.”
“I’m fine,” I insist. Fucking liar. Every nerve ending feels like it’s exposed near a bonfire.
My thighs press together, and his eyes track the movement before snapping back up.
He exhales slowly through his nose.
“Get in the water,” he says, voice strained. “Before I lick every last drop of heat dripping from your skin.”
“Maybe I want?—”
His claws flex, scraping the edge of the tub
“Lumi.”
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from saying something stupid like please do and turn toward the tub instead.
The first step makes me hiss. The warm water should feel relaxing against my aching muscles, but it just feels... like soaking in a hot tub.
I sink down slowly, every inch of my body screaming in protest. The scent of lavender wraps around me, and I let my head fall back against the edge of the tub with a soft thud.
Andrik hasn’t moved. I can feel his eyes on me, tracking every moment.
“You can leave, you know,”I murmur, eyes still closed. “I’m not going to drown.”
