CHAPTER TEN
Kjeld should have kept his mouth shut.
But there was no way he could take the words back, not now. But it hadkilledhim, wrecked him thoroughly to see Caelian crying like that, to think that no man would ever want her just because she had a few scars. Because despite his better judgement, he longed for her. Ached for her. Wanted her desperately. She looked so fragile standing there in the tub, her body trembling with heartbreaking sobs. Then he’d seen the scars, the marks she claimed ruined her, and he knew he had to prove her wrong.
She needed to see her worth.
Her value.
He needed her to know she was wanted,desired, by him.
His heartbeat remained steady. A quiet, even thump inside his chest, despite the roar of his blood. It took every ounce of willpower to keep his gaze focused on her face and not to dip lower, because he’d already gotten quite the eyeful this morning. Now she was gazing up at him, and those sapphire eyes, framed with dark damp lashes, flickered with surprise.
“You…you want me?” Caelian’s voice was soft, as delicate as a rose petal.
Kjeld grabbed the wooden stool, dragging it toward the edge of the tub. He lowered himself slowly, hoping it was strong enough to support his weight. Then he made the mistake of letting his gaze trail up every inch of Caelian’s body. She was all luscious curves and velvety skin. Shapely thighs. Full hips with a narrow waist. The scarring there was still fresh and new, and maybe one day she’d allow him to kiss each jagged line. Her breasts were deliciously abundant, and her rosy nipples hardened under the intensity of his gaze. A constellation tattoo reminiscent of the Tree of Life marked her heart, with tiny stars making up the deep roots and curving branches. And when their eyes finally locked, when their heated gazes clashed into one another, her cheeks were flushed with warmth.
“Sit down, Caelian.” He nodded toward the water. “And let me show you.”
He expected her to fight him, to refuse, but instead she willingly obliged. She sank into the milky water, pulling her knees to her chest as goosebumps pebbled over her arms. Steam enveloped her, curling the tiny wisps of hair around her face. Her shoulders dropped as the tension melted away from them, and she threaded her fingers through the creamy water, leaving swirls in their path.
“I’m going to wash your hair.” If his tone was a little too gruff, he couldn’t help it. His pants were suddenly tighter than they ought to be, snugly fitting around his bulging erection. He was just grateful Caelian couldn’t see the blatant effect she had on him.
She snorted then, glancing back at him. “Always so demanding.”
Kjeld gathered up the length of her hair, the silky strands slipping into his grasp. Then he tugged gently so her head dipped back toward him. Her eyes, wide with shock, met hisand he smiled down at her. “I’m not in the habit of asking for permission.”
Her lush mouth fell open, but she said nothing so he set to work. She tipped her head all the way back, and he poured small handfuls of water over her hair, soaking the glittery waves. He scrubbed and lathered, his fingertips massaging and rubbing her scalp and temples in slow circles. Normally it would be easy to stay focused on the task at hand, but Caelian kept making these noises, these moans and whimpers, that had his cock throbbing. He popped his jaw, determined not to be distracted by her, but then she draped her arms lazily over the edge of the tub and stretched out her legs. Most of her body was hidden beneath the sudsy, milky water, but not her breasts. The round globes shoved to the surface as she relaxed, her nipples perky and begging to be sucked.
Kjeld swallowed his groan and adjusted the stool beneath him. The friction of his pants was becoming increasingly unbearable.
His muscles were rigid. Ready to snap. His head was pounding because he was clenching his teeth so fucking hard, all of it to keep from touching her. And Caelian was oblivious to the fact that he was walking a fine line, that his final thread of control was about to unravel. With her head resting on the back of the tub, she was the most peaceful he’d seen her in weeks. Her eyes were closed, lashes fanning out and casting faint shadows upon the tops of her cheeks. She was humming some tune, a melody he didn’t know, while the rainbow-hued strands of her hair floated around her like the crown of a goddess.
He told himself he was almost done. That she could handle the next part on her own.
Thatsheshould be the one to wash her body.
But then he was reaching for the flowery oil that Creslyn claimed was Caelian’s favorite. Pouring some of the shimmerysubstance onto a washcloth, he dunked it into the water, hesitating for a moment before rubbing it lightly along the column of her neck.
Caelian didn’t flinch. She didn’t open her eyes. But her humming faltered for a split second before she continued as though nothing had happened. As though he wasn’t dragging a washcloth over her shoulder and down her arm.
“I’m going to wash you now.” He hardly recognized his own voice. It was hoarse, strained with desperation and need. It was a mistake, a huge fucking mistake, but gods above, he couldn’t stop himself. This could be the only time he was ever this close to her. The only time he ever got to bask in the glory of her beauty. And he wanted to relish every minute of it. Every glorious second of her.
“Okay.” The word slipped from her, and she licked her lips. She gave the barest of nods, and his heart leapt into his throat.
His mind flooded with images of Caelian and her perfect little tongue. He imagined her swirling it around the tip of his cock right before she sucked him into her mouth.
This time, he couldn’t stop the guttural noise that tore from his chest.
“Are you okay?” she asked as he dipped the cloth back into the water, ensuring she stayed warm.
“Fine.” He bit the word out. “Just fine.”
A line wrinkled across her smooth brow, and her eyes popped open, those pools of deep and endless blue latching onto him. “Are you quite certain? You don’t look fine.”
“I…” He pressed his lips together, then scrubbed his free hand over his face. “It’s slightly difficult to focus at the moment. Your body is most distracting.”
Pink that had nothing to do with the steam lifting from the water bled into her cheeks. Her gaze fluttered downward, andwhen she spoke, there was a shyness about her. “Yours is always distracting.”
