Page 21 of Black Sea

I wiped my greasy lips with the back of my hand. “Yes.”

I sensed Amlach’s gaze fixed on me. It felt like it wanted to dig its way inside me. “You could have left as soon as the storm calmed down.”

I watched the distorted, stretched moon’s reflection on the rippled sea surface, so dark it looked like tar. “Yes,” I said. “I could have.”

Amlach’s breathing grew heavier. “Why did you stay with me?”

His mellow tone made me turn to look at him. The fire’s glow reflected in his eyes, making his pine-green irises appear liquid and spark-filled.

“I don’t know,” I whispered.

We looked at each other.

The crackling of the flames, the sound of the waves gently breaking on the shore, and the song of the night birds gradually drifted farther away from my ears.

There was only the sound of our breathing.

There was only his intense gaze.

There were only my left hand and his right hand, both resting on the tree trunk, our fingers just a few inches apart.

Fingers that started to draw near.

But before they could touch, I abruptly stood up and stormed toward the small river’s mouth, sinking nearly to my ankles in the chilly sand.

What was happening to me?

11

I woke up slowly, feeling a wonderful warmth all around me. For two days, my rest had been just a doze. So, when I’d lain my head on the bed of leaves last night, I’d fallen asleep like a log.

I propped myself on my elbow, looking at the golden-leaves tiara I had placed in the sand after loosening my braids before falling asleep. Given the days spent under the scorching sun, I likely already had a tan line on my forehead, so I chose to leave it there.

I sat up, hugging my knees. Amlach’s bed was empty, his short robe left on the leaves. I sharpened my sight and saw him in the water, near the boundary between the lagoon and the open sea.

I watched him swim parallel to the beach. His strokes were strong, and he kept his head underwater most of the time.

I suddenly snapped out of my thoughts and scolded myself again for staring at him so long, so intently. I tied the sheath of my dagger around my waist, grabbed the bag made from my tunic, went into the forest to relieve myself, and then washed at the small waterfall’s pond. I picked more berries and fruit for breakfast, taking the opportunity to study different tree species and memorize their locations, then returned to our base camp.

“Good morning.”

I jolted, stopping three steps away from the tree trunk in front of the stone circle where some embers still burned among the ashes.

Amlach came toward me from the shore, smiling brightly and walking confidently, like a leader. For a brief moment, my eyes lingered on his wet, slightly hairy torso, which looked as if it had been sculpted to emphasize every muscle and dimple.

As I realized my eyes were following the thin line of brown hair that went from his navel to beneath the hem of his trousers, I abruptly turned toward the forest.

“What’s wrong?” Amlach asked, and I heard the rustling of the leaves as he grabbed his tunic.

“You’re naked,” I said, breathless and furious with myself.

“ Half naked,” he clarified, and I heard him rub his hair with his tunic.

My fingernails dig into my palm. “Please, put your robe back on.”

“Don’t tell me a bit of skin shocks you, Elf,” Amlach mocked me. “Surely it’s not the first time you’ve seen a man’s chest.”

I pinched my suddenly burning eyes closed. I did not reply.