“This breast needs to be washed.” I gestured to the left, taking us down a path we’d followed before, back at the castle. If I showed him what we’d done then, would that help him remember now?
“So it does.” He lathered the cloth again and stroked it across my breast, guiding it around the nipple until it puckered. “Where else, Tempest?”
“My belly’s rather dirty. One might even say it’s stinky.” He wasn’t washing the parts that might smell, but I couldn’t find the will to care. All I wanted was this man’s touch, his breath hot in my ear, and his hands on my skin.
He ran the cloth along my belly in delicious circles.
I tipped my head back to rest it on his shoulder. Did he notice I was panting? He’d barely touched me, and I was on fire for him already.
How far would he take this? I couldn’t wait to find out.
“Lower,” I murmured.
I felt his smile rise before he smoothed his mouth. “Somehow, I thought you might mention that area.”
I said nothing. Right now, I only wanted to feel. I wanted to sink into this moment that felt so right, so much like those I adored from the past. Then I could grab onto it and drag it and the feelings it generated in both of us into the future.
He dipped the cloth lower, spreading my thighs wider as he did it. He rubbed, and I bucked up to meet his hand. My breathing stuttered, and moans kept erupting from deep inside me.
Was it wrong of me to take what he offered? I couldn’t find the will to care. I was aflame from his touch, and I would do nothing to stop it.
He tossed the cloth aside and slid his fingers into me, curling them around as if even without the memory of all the times he’d made me come, his soul still knew how to please me.
He drew his fingers out and plunged them inside again, his thumb rubbing my clit.
“Vexxion. . .” I moaned.
“Come,” he commanded. “Give it to me, Tempest.” His other hand pinched my nipple.
My body gave way all of the sudden, and I shattered, fragments of me shooting out in all directions only to return to some semblance of the me I was before.
I sagged in the water.
He tugged his fingers out of me and lifted them. Water coursed down to his arm as he licked them.
“Delicious,” he murmured, rising to his feet.
He walked over to stare out the window.
I somehow foundthe wits to finish bathing.
Vexxion didn’t watch. He didn’t comment. He just stared outside while I dried and dressed in the only gown I’d tugged from the closet back at Weldsbane and stuffed into my bag.
“I’ll see you downstairs.” I made my still-trembling legs take me across the floor to the door, and I left before he could speak, though I wasn’t sure he would. He was lost in his thoughts, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear what he might have to say.
Did he regret what we’d done?
Ididn’t. I was going to cling to it, hold it close, and use this new memory to strengthen my resolve to keep trying to reach the man I loved.
The others sat at the table Marla had cleared, and I joined them, settling on the long bench beside my sister with Zayde on her other side. Brodine sat opposite us. Reyla and Airia had not yet come down.
“Ale?” Zayde asked, lifting his hand into the air before I could do more than nod. “I’m famished.”
“Me too.” Brenna turned and gave me a shy smile. “I wanted to thank you for all you did for me back . . . you know where.”
“As your lady’s maid?” My smile took away any suggestion that my comment might be snide.
She shook her head. “It’s so much more than that. You were a friend when I needed one most, and now . . .” She sucked in a breath and released it, her eyes widening. “You’remy sister.MyBrenna. I feel like I’ve been seeking you all my life.”
