I blinked up at him. “Just me?”
“Gods, no.” His gaze turned hooded as his hands snaked up my back, leaving goosebumps behind. “Can’t leave you alone in a vulnerable, undressed state, can I?”
My cheeks reddened; I blamed it on the steam slowly rising from the bubbles. “Your motives are purely chivalrous, I’m sure.”
“I have a gentlemanly code to uphold.”
“Obviously. There’s also safety in numbers.”
“See?” He tapped his temples, happiness dancing between the sparks in his eyes. “Smart plan.”
Our small laughs dissolved as Ryker’s hands finally found the collar of my coat and pushed it down my arms. We shed the rest of our frosty layers slowly, trading glances that promised more than a few furtive touches.
But not tonight.
Tonight was for unspoken promises and closeness.
The passion hummed underneath it like another heartbeat, but only as a reminder of more to come.
Despite our fate clashing together, we hadn’t truly had unhurried moments like this. The rest of the world always seemed to chase the calm away from between us. Even now, itthreatened to distract my thoughts away, simmering at the edges of my mind.
But that outside murmur instantly stopped as he kneeled down, quick fingers untying my boots. My lips parted in surprise. Such a simple, unassuming gesture, but one that made my heart leap in ways I hadn’t truly thought possible.
He didn’t make a show of it.
Didn’t look up at me waiting to be congratulated or wanting anything in return.
I’d told him my feet were cold, and he wanted to take care of it.
“Still ten toes,” he said and finally looked up, thumbs tracing soothing circles around my bare ankles, as laughter danced in his eyes. “These wet pants need to go, however. Wouldn’t want them freezing those amazing legs of yours off.”
“Yes, gods forbid.”
He rose, towering over me. “How would you be able to do your daring leaps if you lose them?”
I frowned. I hadn’t leaped in the passage and he’d barely caught glimpses of me at the wedding. “How–”
“Nadya talks. She was quite impressed. Though she complained you tricked her.”
“To be fair, she’s always complaining. That sounds like she’s warming up to me.” And not because I’d saved her back in the crater’s bowels. I’d noticed the shift before we’d even left the city. Her gaze hadn’t lingered on me with open hostility in weeks–though her odd habit of questioning my choices had reared its head today at the worst time.
A different kind of warmth bloomed in my chest.
Nadya and Geryll were important to Ryker, right at the cusp between wards and younger siblings. It mattered to me that they no longer scowled or avoided me.
“Maybe…” He licked his lips. “If they want to and you want to, you can join us for our evening tea sometime.”
I blinked up at him. My heart did that little strange flip once more as my breaths came out stuttered.
I hadn’t truly felt this way since that blasted day on Sanctua Sirena, when everything had gone so wrong.
Perhaps long before that.
I felt like I belonged.
The sensation blasted through my veins, swelling with each passing moment and making me feel bigger. More hopeful.
“I’d love to,” I murmured. “If they’re alright with it. It’s your nightly tradition.”
