She turned, pressing her face into his chest. “I was so scared.”
“You’ll be fine.” His lips pressed to her hair. “Because you’re far too smart and too strong to let it beat you.”
She sighed. “I’d give anything for real water to wash myself clean.”
He pulled back with a smile. Then he grabbed her cream silk robe that she’d laid out on the bed and wrapped it around her. He fingered the material. “Nice.”
She’d saved for a year to buy it. Real silk was expensive, but she hadn’t wanted synthetic. He cinched the sash around her waist, then scooped her up into his arms.
“What are you doing?” She slid her hands around his neck. When was the last time anyone had carried her?
He strode through her cabin and into the corridor. “I have a surprise for you.”
He entered a cabin farther down the hall. It was larger than hers and had Dathan stamped on every inch of it. A built-in desk was covered in a mix of artifacts, pieces of various weapons, and some hard-copy star maps.
The bed had been retracted and a large metal tub sat in front of the window. Tendrils of steam curled out of the tub. He set her on her feet beside it.
She clutched at the lapels of her robe and stared. She couldn’t form any words.
“BEll helped me. We siphoned some water from the central storage tank. It’s been sterilized and heated.” His hands slid to grip hers where they held her robe.
She swallowed. “Thank you.”
His lips formed the tiniest smile. Slowly, he slid the silk off her shoulders. It fell into a pool at her feet. They stared at each other for a long humming moment. She knew being naked in front of him should bother her, but it didn’t.
Then he stepped back and helped her into the bath. She sank into the water with a huge sigh.
“BEll synthesized some bath oil. Something native to your planet.”
Eos breathed the luscious scent in. “Jasmina. I have a vine of it that grows on my balcony.” She looked up at him, the warm water lapping against her breasts. “It’s my favorite.”
“Good. Well, I’ll go and let you enjoy a soak?—”
As he turned, she gripped his hand. “No.”
Those stunning blue-green eyes blazed. “Eos?—”
She pulled his hand toward her chest, flattening it over her beating heart. “Don’t go.”
“You’ve had a pretty rough few hours…” He blew out a breath. “And contrary to popular belief, I’m not an asshole.”
“I’m okay now. And I’m thinking very clearly.” She stood, water streaming down her naked body. “I want to wash away the memories of Lucifa.”
He made a hungry sound, his thumb rubbing along her collarbone. She shivered.That. She wanted that delicious feeling.
“But more than that, I want to replace them with something else.”
His jaw clenched, his free hand balled into a fist.
It just made her want him more. “I need you, Dathan.”
His shoulders jerked. Had no one ever told him that before?
She leaned down and scooped a soft cloth from the water. She pressed it into his hand. “How about we start with you washing my back?” Turning, she stared at the window. She didn’t see the rush of stars beyond it, just the reflection of her body and the strong man behind her.
A man she wanted.
Slim golden curves beckoned,but it was the tantalizing floral markings gracing Eos’ skin that drew Dathan in.
