I hurried past him into the bathing chambers. Inside, I did as he asked even though I was certain that none of that creature had touched me, but I still called upon my magic and doused all traces of the Wood and the day’s grime from my clothes and skin. Following that, I also used soap and water.
Once my hair shone, my skin looked as fresh as it did after a bath, and my clothes billowed in a way that only freshly laundered items could, I rejoined him in my chambers.
He was still there, his sword once again at his back, except now he was pacing the room, and the simmering fury, which had been building in him since the forest, looked about to be unleashed.
Stars Above.
His eyes blazed as he looked me over, and he circled mecarefully, like a predator assessing his prey. The entire time, I stood stock still, not even daring to breathe.
“You cleaned every inch of yourself?” he finally asked after circling me twice.
“I did.”
“You’re certain?”
“Yes.”
“I’m going to clean you too, just to be safe.” A burst of his cleansing magic shot out of him. It smelled of him—of pine, cedar, and the sea. His essence clouded around me, bathing my skin and caressing me in a way that I was certain he didn’t mean to make intimate, but Goddess, my knees began to weaken.
A sound emitted from his throat.
I glanced at him, but he wouldn’t meet my eye. Instead, his jaw locked, and he didn’t stop until his magic had fully cleansed me a second time, traveling over every dip and hollow of my clothes and skin. Exploring me inadvertently in the way that was needed to fully and completely bathe another.
The entire time I held my breath, even though this wasn’t the first time another had bathed me. On occasion, a servant was tasked with doing a quick cleanse of their employer, but not in the way Kole had just done. Kole’s cleanse had been intimate, and the thoroughness of it was usually only reserved for lovers.
But I knew the purpose of Kole’s double check. He wanted to ensure thatthingwas gone, that no trace of it remained.This was simply another one of his duties, even though my lower belly tightened in response.
Mortified, I lowered my chin.
Once done, his magic retreated, sucking back inside him so quickly that it slid over my body in a hurried brush, and that strange sound came from his throat again.
Cheeks blazing, I faced Kole and hoped he didn’t notice the effect his magic had on me, but the warrior had his eyes closed. Just as fast, a whip of magic flared around his wrist, and he jerked his chin up.
Rapid breaths lifted his chest, and his hands fisted, large rope veins standing on the backs of them.
It was the most emotion, the most reaction, the mostanythingI’d ever seen from him. It was as if he’d entirely forgotten I was there, as though he’d retreated so completely inward that he wasn’t aware that his every emotion had been laid bare upon his face for me to see.
My gaze dipped. Through his shirt, his hard body and chiseled chest were visible. Shoulders balled with tension held him rigid. Slabbed muscles and cut ridges were evident through his clothing, and,Goddess, everything about him made my mouth water.
My focus shifted to his waist, then lower, and my eyes widened at the very noticeable bulge in his pants.
I shakily ran a hand through my hair, loosening it from my braid. It’d been a rough night. A crazy night. It was obviouslytaking a toll on both of us, especially if the warrior had an erection that rivaled a temple’s stone column.
But I knew it likely didn’t mean anything. Most males would be affected physically if they tended to a female’s body as thoroughly as he’d just done to me.
When Kole finally opened his eyes, I made myself not react, but his irises glowed like sparkling gems, and heightened energy surrounded the warrior like a rising tidal wave.
Despite the warrior’s arousal and the intense urge I had to climb him like a tree, his rage was still palpable. Stillthere, but now it was coiling with something else, something dangerous.
He took a step closer to me, and his scent swam as thick as smoke around me.
“Now what?” I rasped. “I know that you’re angry with me for following you.”
“Aye, I am, but yelling at you will accomplish nothing.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to defy you.”
“But you did, and you could have been killed.”
