Chapter Twenty Seven #2
Gianni sighed from the floor where he sat, undoing the laces of his boots, his exasperation clear.
“For the last time, you are in the desert now.
" He shot a deadpan look at Kairen. "We may still be in Tavari, but customs here are different than in the north.
If I had rented out six different bathing chambers we would have been thrown out, so just be grateful we got a private bathing chamber.
Your view of modesty in the north is not the same among my people.
There is nothing immoral about baring your flesh to bathe.
They would have thought us disrespectful for such a blatant misuse of water—the most valued resource we have. "
The large pool steamed in the stone room. It was certainly large enough for the six of us, in fact it could have fit at least ten people comfortably. It appeared as though the water was dark enough that once we were in, no one would be able to see beneath it.
"Isn't there concern for the safety of women bathing with men?" Kairen's question bordered on accusatory and Gianni leveled a glare at him, his fingers stalling from where they tugged at his boot laces.
"I do not know what your laws are in the north, but here if a man lays a hand upon a woman without her consent, he loses that hand."
Kairen opened his mouth to speak, but Rena threw her hands in the air. "For the love of Soli. Kai, you are wasting our time slot," she hissed as she too began unlacing her boots. “Stop being such a prude and get in.”
I averted my gaze quickly, cheeks flushing as Gianni's pants dropped, his shirt landing on the floor beside us. I heard the splashing of water and turned to look, the water was indeed dark enough to hide our bodies.
I too dropped to the ground to unlace my boots, eager to be enveloped in the steaming water and wash away the grime of the desert.
"You can't be serious." Kairen gaped at me, my teasing smile in response reddening his cheeks.
"Turn and face the wall if you wish to keep your honor intact, Prince." I laughed as he immediately turned to face the stone. Roan and Bran also gave their backs to give us privacy. I stood with Rena as we kicked off our boots, hands going to my shirt before I glanced up with narrowed eyes.
Gianni leaned against the wall of the large basin, his arms outstretched as he raised a brow.
"You too, you rake." I called out, causing him to laugh as he slowly turned his eyes to the ceiling.
“You Northerners are as frigid as your weather.”
I was close enough that I heard the low growl from Roan, a small smile forming at the noise.
How easy it was for him to become jealous.
I yanked the sweaty shirt over my head as Rena eyed me, a knowing, quiet tsk sounding from her mouth.
"What a lovely bracelet," she exclaimed as she kicked out of her pants, leaving her bare as she stepped into the basin. "Where did you get it?”
"In the market."
I bit back a moan that threatened to escape as the warm water enveloped me. Dipping below it before emerging and calling out to the others, "We're decent, you can get in now."
Rena and I turned to give them privacy, only turning back when Bran muttered we were safe too.
"Well, that wasn't so hard now, was it?" Gianni's teasing tone forced a laugh from me as I quickly set to washing, reveling in the feel of being clean once more.
"I still don't see why we couldn't have at least two separate bathing chambers." Kairen muttered, dipping beneath the water before resurfacing, pushing his dripping hair back from his face.
"Another word of it and I'll drown you." Roan's voice was thick with exhaustion, his eyes closed as he leaned against the wall, the water lapping against his broad chest. I averted my gaze as I lathered a soap scented of chamomile through my thick tresses, scrubbing into my scalp with a contented sigh.
I knew we were all glad to be clean, but I figured for Roan it was more being in the water once again.
It seemed a calming thing for him and my attention was pulled once more as little swirls of water began to merge and float through the air above.
I watched with fascination as they created an arcing path, my head dipping below the water once more to wash the soap from my hair.
When I emerged I caught Roan's eyes fixed on me. His gaze was heated despite the fact that the only skin I exposed was from my collarbones up. His brow rose when I didn’t look away, a wicked smile settling on his lips as the challenge settled between us.
I felt the subtle shift of the water that trailed down my body, so slight that I was sure none of our companions would notice.
The way it slowly collected, trailing across my chest, before it travelled up the hollow of my throat.
It's progress tantalizing slow as it curved around my neck, the slight pressure—
A throat cleared and I quickly looked away, breaking the heated stare. Bran was watching, his own eyes narrowing in question.
Flushing, I called out to Kairen, "You mentioned a man you want us to meet in Amareshi, right? What's so important about him?"
Kairen nodded, scrubbing at his skin as he relaxed. "He goes by Wraith. No one knows his true identity, but he runs an underground market there. Basically anything illegal, he can get his hands on."
"Why exactly would we need to meet with someone like that?" Rena asked curiously, distaste in her tone.
"Because he also deals in information," Roan supplied easily, drawing my attention back to him. "And I think it should just be Kai, Bran, and I who go to meet with him."
I raised a brow, my anger flaring hot. “Absolutely not."
Rena's humph of annoyance at Roan’s declaration quickly followed.
"Wrong thing to say," Bran murmured, letting out a low whistle.
"Why exactly shouldn't we go, you think we can't handle it?
" My hands trailed over the water, touch light and slow as it rippled.
He shuddered, his gaze locking to the motion, his cheeks tinging pink before he dipped beneath.
Could he feel the touch through the water?
His hair was dripping when he reemerged and shook it out.
"I don't fear that you and Rena can't handle it," he stated simply. "Wraith also deals in the less desirable aspects of humanity, including the illegal prostitution of slaves. If he says or does anything to either of you I fear I'll gut him before we get the information we need."
I softened slightly, my hands dipping back beneath the water. It was Rena who scoffed then, her eyes rolling with the sound.
"So chivalrous. We're going and that's final." She snapped and he simply shrugged, shoulders tense.
Nobody argued with Rena.