CHAPTER EIGHT
Rowena
I had to admit,the Battleborn hot springs wereamazing. I could say that ‘twas my favorite part about the village, but whenever I considered that, I’d remember how welcoming and friendly everyone was, and how they all supported each other and pooled their resources for the good of the clan, and I’d decide that thepeoplewere the best part of Battleborn Village.
But the hot springs were fairly ‘fooking remarkable’, as Issa would say.
Someone long ago had piled boulders around two sides of the springs—which bubbled out of the ground near a cliff—to protect the third side. The water smelled faintly of sulfur, but that was overpowered by the scents from the peat firepits ringing the pool.
Now, Vrogul was crouched before one, coaxing the embers—apparently no one had been here for a few hours—back to life. When he sat back on his heels and grinned up at me in success, my heart gave a little lurch.
Today in the village, had anyone else seen how bothered he was by the demands of his liege’s kin? He hadn’t made excuses, but he clearly didn’t want to deliver the ore. Why?
He rolled to his feet then bent to begin untying his boots, and my heart clenched again, but for different reasons. He was undressing…he’d been serious about bathing with me. Having me wash his back.
I reminded myself that the orcs didn’t seem to have the same taboos about nudity—or even pleasure—that I was raised with. Mayhap to Vrogul, stripping naked to bathe with me was completely normal and natural.
Or mayhap it meant…more.
To hide my shaking hands, I turned away and reached for the bodice of the blue gown. My stomach was flip-flopping and a slow, steady pulse built in my core, causing me to ache. Not in fear.
In anticipation?
As wool fluttered to the ground behind me, I took a deep breath, held it, and tried to force my pulse to slow. Aye, I remembered the way he made me feel the day we sparred, and now my traitorous body was already throbbing in expectation and hope, but…he was my enemy, wasn’t he?
“Rowena.”
He stepped up behind me and I shivered at the way his voice caressed my nape. My eyes fluttered closed, trying tosimultaneously drink in these sensationsandworry for the future.
“Dkaar, I asked ye here to speak with ye.”
“Not—”
My voice cracked. I swallowed and tried again, my fingers still on my ties.
“Not to have me scrub your back?”
I couldhearhis smile.
“Aye, I’ll no’ deny I’ve been yearning to feel yer hands on my skin.”
Oh God, why did my knees just go weak?
“But I ken yer people have different opinions on bathing. If ye’re uncomfortable?—”
And just like that, my hackles rose, unwilling to back down from a challenge.
“I am not scared to bathe with you,” I snapped, my fingers attacking the ties once more. “I am not afraid of you.”
“Good,” he murmured, his lips inches from my skin…then he backed away. “I’ll keep my back to ye while ye climb in.”
There was laughter in his tone, but challenge as well. I wasn’t going to allow him towin.
Besides, had he just admitted he’d been dreaming of me as often as I’d dreamed of him? These last few nights—days, hours, minutes—had been both torturous and exquisite. I’d done my best to hold myself still in the bed we now shared,whenreallyI was desperate to curl up against his warmth and strength.
I’d spent my life having to be strong, and I was finding it completely addicting to be around someone who could care for me so easily.
An enemy.
