That analogy didn’t help at all.
Before I could think too long about it, I pulled the tunic over my head, draped it over the towels, and walked toward the pool with as much dignity as I could muster while completely naked.
Thankfully, Raoul had tipped his head back and closed his eyes. He looked almost peaceful.
And much too appealing.
The water was blissfully hot, and I sank into it with a grateful sigh. Raoul had positioned himself on the far side of the pool, providing a respectable distance between us. The water came up to my shoulders when I sat, hiding most of my body from view.
“The temperature’s perfect,” I said, because talking about water temperature felt safe. “The geothermal activity must be quite stable to maintain such consistent heating.”
“It’s been this temperature for as long as records exist. My ancestors chose this location partially for the natural springs.”
“Smart choice.” I reached for one of the soaps, a bar that smelled of herbs and citrus. “Volcanic springs have excellent mineral content. It’s good for skin and scales alike, I imagine.”
“It is.” He’d opened his eyes and was watching me with that unreadable expression again. “I see you’re comfortable discussing geothermal activity while bathing naked with a man you’ve known less than a day.”
“Should I be uncomfortable?” I lathered the soap between my hands. “We established we’re both capable of being professional about this arrangement.”
“So we did.”
I couldn’t read his tone. Was he disappointed? Relieved? I’d never been good at interpreting emotional subtext, and the steam wasn’t helping my concentration.
“Your covens have volcanic hot springs too, don’t they?” he asked after a moment.
“Not volcanic. Magically heated.” I ducked my head under the water to wet my hair, then surfaced, pushing the soggy mass back from my face. “But they’re not as efficient as natural geothermal. The magical energy required to maintain consistent heating is significant. I’ve beenworking on a theory about using ambient weather magic to supplement traditional heating spells, but the calculations are complex.”
I was rambling again. I always did so when I was nervous, though I wasn’t entirely sure why I should be nervous about bathing with Raoul. We’d agreed this meant nothing.
Except every time I glanced his way, I found him watching me with a sharp look that made my breath catch.
“Tell me about your research,” he said. “The predictive weather modeling. How does it work?”
I blinked, surprised. “You actually want to know?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Most people’s eyes glaze over when I start explaining thermodynamics.” I reached for a bottle of hair soap. “My sisters love me, but even they start making excuses after the first few minutes.”
“I’m not your sisters.” He shifted, the water rippling around him. “And I find myself curious about what occupies the mind of someone who forgets her own wedding because she’s tracking thermal patterns.”
There was no judgment in his voice. Just genuine interest.
My chest loosened.
“All right,” I said, warming to my favorite subject. “The basic principle is that weather patterns follow mathematical sequences based on pressure systems, temperature differentials, and moisture content. Currently, most weather witches can predict accurately about one month in advance. But I’ve discovered that if I account for resonance frequencies in air currents…”
I kept talking as I washed my hair, explaining convection cycles and atmospheric pressure systems and therevolutionary implications of longitudinal data analysis. Raoul listened without interrupting, occasionally asking questions that suggested he was actually following my explanations.
It was intoxicating to have someone genuinely interested in my work.
I didn’t realize I’d been gesturing enthusiastically until my soap-covered hand slipped on the side and I went under, getting a mouthful of water. I surfaced sputtering, and to my shock, Raoul laughed.
It transformed his entire face. The severe lines softened, his amber eyes crinkled at the corners, making him look years younger.
“I’m fine,” I said, coughing. “Just overenthusiastic.”
“So I noticed.” He was still smiling, and blessed moonbells, why did he have to be so attractive when he did it? “You were explaining how dragon flight patterns could provide valuable data collection opportunities.”
