“How is it…” she turned to face him, her eyes dropping to the hard planes of his stomach as he pulled at his shirt. When he hooked his thumbs into his jeans she looked away, moving to face the black sky, the stars glittering. She had never seen the stars so bright, the lights in London obscuring them too much. They would have stolen her breath if she wasn’t so hyperaware of that man at her back.
“Heated?” he finished for her, and she swore she heard laughter in that husky voice. “You’re overthinking this, just enjoy the water.”
She waited, but heard nothing. She was about to call out to him when she heard a gentle splash of water.
“It’s safe,” he said. “There’s nothing else, unless you wish to go to bed sweaty. Give me a warning though, I’ll make sure the window’s open otherwise you’ll stink the place out.”
He was definitely laughing at her.
The water truly looked majestic, like crushed opals and milk against Xander’s fair skin. Except the word fair was far too tame for what it was, he glowed, a warm golden undertone that begged to be stroked. Not that Xander was a man who allowed such easy touch.
“I’m not going to eat you,” he mumbled, relaxing back until the water hit him almost at his shoulders. “Unless you ask nicely.”
She wasn’t sure she was ready for this humorous Xander, not when she struggled to swallow while he looked so utterly calm. He seemed to pose, the candles that illuminated the room hitting him in such a way it emphasised his hard lines.
“You seem to have no shame,” she said when he raised an eyebrow at her hesitation.
He stood straighter, the water now pooling low on his waist. Water dripped down his chest, his hand coming to wipe across a thick pec. “Is there anything I should be ashamed of?”
Oh, bloody hell.
“Look away,” she said, hoping her voice didn’t wobble.
He stared, a slow smile curving his lips in challenge.
“Look away!”
His smile grew, brightening his face. She blinked and it was gone, his usual military cool expression returning as he closed his eyes.
Well, he technically had looked away.
Pulling at her shirt before she lost the nerve she quickly removed all her clothing, pulse rapid as she slipped out of her underwear and carefully stepped into the steaming water. It was deliciously warm, heating her bones from the inside out as she sunk her head beneath. She wanted to stay there, to let the cleansing water wash away everything until she was clean, until she was new.
A tug on her braid, only gentle but it was enough for panic to spark. She flinched when she came up, Xander standing so close her arm brushed across his pecs. He held the end of her hair in his hand, his eyes direct when she looked up.
“Sorry,” he said, the apology empty. “Do you ever undo your braid?” It remained in his hand, his fingers gripping tightly.
Such an innocent question, but her throat still closed when she answered. “Sometimes.”
“Why so tight?”
“It stops stray hairs,” she said, licking her bottom lip. “Spells, charms and curses. I don’t trust anyone not to use it against me.”
“You don’t like your hair to be touched.” It wasn’t a question.
Her breath was caught, so she just shook her head.
“Why?” He carefully tugged the braid again, and when she didn’t protest he pulled the hair tie from the end. The hair immediately began to curl, finally releasing it from its constraints. Her hair wasn’t naturally that curly, more of a wild wave when she allowed it be free. He still didn’t let go, stepping slowly until he was at her back, his hands carefully releasing her hair.
Kyra swallowed the fear, reminding herself that it was Xander, and despite his attitude he wouldn’t intentionally hurt her. She tried to slow her breathing, her chest aching as his fingers moved softly, stroking through the strands until they reached her scalp.
“They’re called the Aes-Si Seer, completely human with no special powers other than the ability to hear and speak to the dead.”
His fingers continued to stroke, his thumb moving to brush against her shoulder. He knew what he was doing, his words distracting, his gentle caresses soothing.
“Druids are always born male, something my mother didn’t realise when she chose a male to take to her bed. When I was born they realised their mistake, and even though I have the same ability as all the other Aes-Si Seers they were disappointed. They have no magic, nothing to attune their auras to the earth like I could. I was different, my genes soiled because I was not just a Seer, but a druid.” He had no idea who his father was, and his mother never told him.
“Is that why you left?” she asked, turning her head slightly. She froze when he added pressure, his fingers changing to brush her throat, across the top of her shoulder then back again in slow, lazy sweeps. His hand would hesitate at the cuff she wore high on her upper arm, but he didn’t touch the crystal that was flat against her skin.
