“We found it before he died. I haven’t been here since then.” Luka cleared his throat. “I thought… even then… that you would like it here.”
Had he thought of bringing her? She held in the question, but he must have read it on her face anyway because he stepped closer and gently tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “I was working up to talking to Rayan. Telling him what I wanted. I thought….” He shrugged, leaving the rest unsaid.
“You thought we had more time,” she finished for him. But everything had changed, and he’d pushed her away instead.
“Yes.” His voice rumbled softly. “Somehow, time is never on my side.”
She didn’t know how to answer. This night was an escape from whatever new danger they would face in the morning… but it wasn’t hopeless. They had this chance to work together, to find the killer who had shattered all their lives. And maybe, afterward, to finallybetogether.
Yes. This is the beginning.
She went up on her toes and kissed him. A quick, firm kiss that she hoped could convey that she understood, and that she was glad that he’d brought her here.
Luka took her hand, and she followed him gladly as he led her across the clearing to a narrow path. They were surrounded by the dense foliage of thorny blackwood trees, looming mhoba, and thick ferns, and the air was full of mossy sweetness. The sound of frogs singing and running water grew louder as they walked. Izzy picked her way carefully in the small pool of yellow torchlight.
They turned a corner to emerge from the woods, and suddenly the sound of crashing water surrounded them. Together, they stepped onto a tumble of rocks that overlooked a steamy pool—only dimly visible in the starlight—fed by the sparkling waterfall that poured through the air beside them.
Luka pressed his lips to her ear, speaking above the rush of water. “A series of pools is connected by cascades,” he explained. “The water in the first pool is very hot, presumably heated inside the mountain, but by the time it gets here, it’s warm without being scalding. In the daylight, it’s the clearest blue you’ll ever see.”
Her beast purred as they clambered down the spray-slick rocks together. The air was sultry, and the symphony of insects and frogs rose again as they moved away from the falls to a small sandy area beside the lower pool.
Luka tucked the torch into a crack between two rocks. “I thought we could—” He cleared his throat, glancing between her and the pool. “—have a swim?”
She looked down at her bodice and breeches, and Luka chuckled roughly before adding. “I realize now that I could have planned this a lot better. I’m not…. I don’t usually go flying off unexpectedly.” He shook his head. “We can go back, if you want.”
Absolutely not.
“I don’t want to go back,” Izzy said softly.
“I didn’t bring any food. I don’t have towels for us.” Luka rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. “I want you to be comfortable.”
“I am comfortable.”
“But—”
Her beast growled loud enough to cut him off. She didn’t want to go back. Not now, when he’d finally lowered his walls. Not when he’d admitted that he wanted her too all those years ago. Not when he’d brought her to his secret place. If she let him get caught up in his worries, he would pull away; she could already see it happening. “Iamcomfortable, Luka.”
He frowned at her, and she smiled back. Perhaps she was wrong before. Perhaps she hadn’t pushed him too hard… maybe she hadn’t pushedenough. If she had, would he have acknowledged his grief? Could she have helped him lay aside his guilt? Maybe things could have been different for them.
Or perhaps not. Maybe that wasn’t the right time for them. Maybe this was? She was no longer grieving, no longer dealing with uprooting her entire life. Now she could be brave for both of them. Izzy dropped her hands to the hem of her bodice and lifted it over her head before kicking off her boots.
Luka froze, his eyes fixed on her. His mouth opened, but no argument came out. She took that as a sign to continue. She bent over to pull down her leather breeches, leaving her in only her soft chemise. It was short enough to ensure it didn’t bunch on the top of her breeches, and it fell only to the top of her legs, not even covering her.
Luka took a step forward, his beast purring loudly. Izzy grinned at him. “I thought we were swimming.”
He blinked at her. “Yes, but?—”
“Good. Hold this.” And then she pulled her chemise over her head and passed it to him. His hand gripped it automatically, leaving her naked in the warm pool of torchlight.
Luka’s breath caught, and she enjoyed his glazed expression for a moment. Then she turned and picked her way over the rough sand, feeling his fiery gaze on her the entire time. She gave him one last look over her shoulder before sliding into the steaming pool.
The water was hot enough to ease her aching muscles and bring a flush to her skin, but not too hot. The floor of the pool was formed of smooth rock with some pitted areas and sandy patches, and it warmed her tired feet. It was very dark, but the bubbles reflected the starlight, while the splashing cascade and distant frog song created a cocoon of safety. She lay back, letting the water hold and soothe her, watching the stars.
A moment later, Luka stripped and then splashed into the pool. He swam over to stand beside where she floated. She couldn’t make out the expression on his face, but the rumbling purr of his beast filled the air.
“Come this way.” He pulled her upright and led her through the pool to a shallow ledge against a rock wall, not far from where the waterfall bubbles frothed. He guided her to sit in front of him on the smooth, warm rock with her legs dangling in the bubbling water, his hard chest at her back. “How do you tie this up?” he asked, tugging her hair gently.
Izzy reached back and pulled her hair into a damp braid. As soon as it was off her shoulders, he covered them with his big hands, gently massaging the muscles, slowly increasing the pressure until he was unraveling all the knots that she’d been building.
