While he’d slept the approaching dawn away, she’d cleaned up in the bathroom and dressed with care, selecting a sheer white dress with bright red cotton undergarments. All of which she’d had to adjust for her wings.Worth it.
He scrubbed a hand over his face and rasped, “What does the she-beast desire, exactly?”
Time to take advantage of his appreciation. “I want to swim in the lake.” Get her peepers on Wraith Island again. There’d been no sign of Penelope in the market. Maybe the wraith would appreciate a curbside visit. Maybe not. Perhaps Blythe would encounter a different wraith and pass along a message. The day was ripe with promise.
“The water is ice-cold,” he reminded her.
“So? I don’t recall asking his most delicate royal highness to get in. If you prefer, you can watch me from the shore and stay all hot and bothered. Yeah. That’s right. I noticed your hard-on.” The best way to cover her desire? Exploit his. “And yes, I’m very aware it’s pointed in my direction. Andonlymine.”
A muscle jumped in his jaw. “No swimming.”
Okay, so, taunting him hadn’t been the smartest course of action. Noted.
“Why do you wish to venture into the territory of the female who controls you, anyway?” he demanded.
She kicked into a swift pace in front of his chair. “Look, I’m used to activity. Exercise. I’ve been cooped up for far too long, and I’ve gotta expend some energy before I combust.” Truth.
“Energy?” Something akin to hope flickered in his eyes next. “Is the wraith no longer able to drain you?”
In other words, had Blythe ceased hating him. “Or,” she added, with a roll of her eyes, “we can return to the market, and you can use your muscles to purchase more supplies.”
A scowl twisted his features. “Fine. I will take you swimming. In exchange, you will answer a question for me.”
The old one or a new one, such as how she planned to inconvenience him today? Either way, triumph lit her up inside. Already a step closer to her goal! “Deal,” she said. “Ask.”
“Did you get all hot and bothered as well?”
Her breath caught. His tone. Like melted honey poured over ice. He had sensed her desire. Or at least suspected she harbored it. “Yes,” she grated. “But I thought of Laban.” Because she always sometimes thought of Laban. Just not often enough anymore.
Roux’s scowl returned, and shame slapped her. Unable to meet his gaze, she dropped her attention, landing on the thumping pulse at the base of his throat. The perfect place to tap his soul. Mmm. Even his vein looked good. How sweet would he taste? How much power would flood her system before she vomited him?
“Do you need to feed, Blythe?” A softly uttered question.
Maybe? “I—”
A knock sounded at the door, bringing her back to her senses, saving her from making a huge mistake.
Demonstrating pure frustration, Roux grabbed his backpack and stood. “We leave now.” With two long strides, he reached her side and yanked her body against his.
Blink. Suddenly, they stood on the rocky, mossy beach, enveloped by a cold, boisterous wind that whipped tendrils of Blythe’s hair across the Astra’s face.
She peered up at him, struggling to rein in an unexpected sense of comfort. Being in a man’s arms shouldn’t feel this good. Especially this man’s arms. But it did feel good. So, so good.
He reached up and smoothed those errant locks of hair behind her ears. A gentle caress. Defenses crumbled, and she leaned into him. The urge to rest her head on his shoulder was nearly irresistible. To drink in his strength and his heat. To forget the past and their troubles and just be, if only for a moment. But she couldn’t ignore their history. Sheshouldn’t.
“Blythe,” he said, looking as though he had a thousand things to say. “If I could go back—”
“But you can’t.” She stepped free, earning her freedom. Anything else he had to say, she didn’t need to know. An apology wouldn’t make things better. “I’m swimming, you’re watching.”
She turned away and yanked the dress over her head. For the first time, he got an unimpeded view of her undergarments. As she folded the outer garment and set it aside, being sure to exaggerate her movements, Roux’s hitch of breath made her belly quiver. Ignoring the tremors in her limbs, she strode into the tempestuous waves. The iciness wasn’t pleasant, but a girl had to do what a girl had to do.
“Don’t venture too far,” he commanded. “Stay within my sight.”
“No worries, Warden. I haven’t forgotten our deal.” Or the fact that she must touch him again sometime today.
Groaning, she dove underwater and didn’t come up until she needed air. Blythe swam laps for ten...thirty...sixty minutes. Then another hour. By the end of the third hour, some of her excess energy burned off, and she treaded water near Roux, who did indeed sit upon the shore, watching her every move. He’d donned her least favorite expression: the blank mask.
“What are we doing when we leave the lake?” she asked.