chapter nineteen #2
“No!” I laugh and turn toward him. “Didn’t you listen to the tour guide when he explained the water is made up of silica, algae, and other minerals?”
“Oh great! So I’m soaking in bacteria today?” Riley wrinkles his nose, then covers it with his arm, mumbling, “Hugo and Manny were right. This place stinks.”
“It’s the sulfur. And no, you’re not soaking in bacteria. This water is good for you.”
He scoffs. “Yeah, sounds like it.”
“Come on,” I say, sliding my hand into his, enjoying the feeling of our entwined fingers. “We have to shower before we can go in.”
His eyebrows hitch. “Shower… together?”
“Not exactly.”
His eyebrows plummet. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You have to shower, naked, with other men.”
Riley digs his heels into the rocky ground. “That is not going to happen.”
I let go of his hand and clasp his stubbly cheeks. “I thought you were confident with your body.”
“I am.”
“Then you’ve got nothing to worry about.” I give him a quick peck on the lips, then skip past him. “I’ll see you back here in a minute. And hurry up! We’ve only got a couple of hours before we have to leave again.”
Scuttling into the changing room, I snicker to myself for telling Riley he had to shower naked in front of other men. He doesn’t, although nudity is embraced by Nordic culture, so I’m not surprised when I find women of various ages, shapes, and sizes hygienically washing in their birthday suits.
Craning my neck, I seek out a cubicle, only to find them all occupied with people waiting their turn.
Peanut butter!
Knowing that if I wait too, I’ll be longer than the minute I gave Riley, and he’d no doubt use it against me in his infuriating adorable way.
So, throwing caution to the wind, I step into the communal shower.
Screw it! I’m in Iceland, and Mom wanted me to try new things.
Perhaps this wasn’t what she had in mind, but… oh well. You only live once!
Embracing my newfound bravery, I prop my bag against the wall, strip off my sweats and underwear, and turn the shower on, my nipples beading in the fresh air.
Embarrassed, I quickly cover them with my arms, then just as quickly follow the hilarious washing guide on the wall that instructs you on how to thoroughly clean your head, armpits, feet, and hoo-hah.
It also suggests you cover your hair with conditioner and keep it out of the water to prevent damage, so I do as suggested and pile it atop my head.
Resembling Pebbles from The Flintstones, I thread my new bathing suit on, mildly irritated at the string bikini Riley insisted on choosing because he was paying for it.
In all honesty, I probably would’ve picked it anyway, because it’s green, and the only other choices were a multicolored one-piece or a white bikini with a push-up top. Riley liked that one too, but I lied and told him it was too big.
He unequivocally assured me I was wrong.
I’d growled at him.
Collecting my towel and clothing, I place them in my rental locker and scan the electronic wristband I was given when we arrived, and then I scurry out to the lagoon, slowing my stride when I spot Riley dipping his toe into the water, his long legs lean and muscular, his new black swim trunks shorter than the previous pair, accentuating his well-defined thighs.
He rubs his chin as if he’s still unsure about the mineral components of the pool and then turns toward me, lips lifting when his eyes find mine.
I perform a catwalk spin for him and laugh. “How was it?”
“If I tell you, you might knee me in the balls.”
“Why?” I laugh. “What happened?”
“Well, when you’re a man and see something you like, your junk transforms—”
“What?” I shriek, covering my mouth with my hand. “You got an erection in the changing room?”
He rears back. “What the fuck, Riles? No! What are you talking about?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Your sexy spin thing you just did.”
Staring at him dumbfounded, I erupt with laughter and facepalm. “I meant how was the changing room?”
“Not that good. Jesus!” His eyes rake my body, and I suddenly feel more naked than I was moments ago. “I picked good.” He tugs a string at my hip, so I slap his hand away.
“Did you shower naked in front of everyone?” I ask, my smile cheeky.
“No, I didn’t.”
“I did!”
He holds me at arm’s length, his expression perplexed.
“You seem shocked,” I say, much like he does to me.
“I am.”
“I guess I’m feeling brave today.”
He grazes his knuckle down my arm, soft and sweet. “You are brave. Braver than you know.”
Shivering at his touch, I collect his hand in mine. “I’m slowly figuring that out.”
He lips feather mine, and I melt into him as I stretch up to my tiptoes and drape my arms over his shoulders, deepening the kiss, the friction of his skin heating my body much like the volcanic activity surrounding us.
Knowing I’ll erupt if we don’t stop, I pull back and ask, “Are you ready to be healed and rejuvenated?”
He rubs his chin. “I’m still not convinced that’s water.”
“Be brave.”
“If I grow a third leg, I’m blaming you.”
I flick my eyes to his shorts, then back up again. “I thought you already had one.”
Riley neighs like a horse, and I double over with laughter.
“Oh my God! Please don’t do that. I’m equinophobic, remember?” I tease.
“Don’t you mean Benophobic?”
“Yeah… that.”
Galloping forward, he tugs me to follow, and we’re soon walking hand in hand across the boardwalk and over a wooden footbridge to a quieter spot in the lagoon.
“Wow!” I gasp, carefully descending the manmade steps into the pool before lowering myself into the fetid yet luxuriously balmy water. “It’s so warm and… silky.” I submerge to my shoulders, twirling with elation. “I can’t believe I’m here. This place is surreal.”
Riley pauses on the last step before letting go of the railing and tentatively walking toward me. “Why’s the ground squishy?”
“It’s silica mud.”
“Are you sure I’m not going to turn into a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle?”
I giggle. “I’m sure. Although…”
He pauses again. “Although what?”
“Try not to get your hair wet.”
“Why?”
“Because it might snap off.”
“What?”
“I’m kidding… kinda.”
Raking my fingers through the velvety water, I wade to a spot underneath the bridge and crouch down. “I’ve always wanted to visit here. One of the cover designers at work is from Iceland, and she told me about this place. She said locals don’t tend to come here, but tourists love it.”
He ducks down too. “Smells like ass, but I can see the appeal.”
Taking a deep breath, I attempt to regulate the sulfur scent.
“Did you just willingly breathe in the ass-air?”
“No. I mean, yes. I mean, I’m trying to get used to it.”
“And how’s that working out for you?”
I exhale harshly through my nose. “It’s not.”
Chuckling, he inches toward me, his laughter dying off, his pupils dilating.
My body instantly reacts, tingling as I swirl around him, his lascivious stare peppering my skin with goose bumps.
The luxurious water, the steam, the exotic atmosphere…
it’s incredibly sensual and like nothing I’ve ever experienced, especially with a man I’m wildly attracted to.
The setting is both alluring and somewhat nerve-wracking.
Kneeling before me, he reaches out and threads his fingers through mine, gently tugging me closer until I’m flush with his chest. “Hey,” he murmurs, voice low.
“Hey.” I bite my lip and rest my hands on his shoulders, studying the hard and soft edges of his face, his youthful yet weathered skin, the gleam in his eyes, and the kindness of his inquisitive smile.
“You want to kiss me again, don’t you?”
Dipping my head, I say, “Yes,” then slide my fingers into his hair and press my lips to his, the temperature of my body once again matching our geothermal environment.
His hands creep up my back, holding me firm, his tongue sweeping mine. I grip his hair, then suddenly rear back, realizing what I’ve just done, my arms shooting into the air. “Oh no! I just contaminated your hair.”
“I don’t care.” He palms my shoulder and urges me close again.
“But it’s…. Apparently, it’s really damag—”
“Touch whatever you want to touch.” He playfully waggles his brows then slides his hands down my back, cups my ass, and guides my legs around his waist.
I wince, fearing he’ll regret his decision, but I don’t argue, because holy moly his body pressed to mine feels exquisite. “Don’t blame me if you end up looking like Edward Scissorhands then,” I say, threading my fingers back into his hair.
“I won’t.”
“Knowing you, you will.”
He nips at my chin. “Ahh, see? You do know me.”
“I’m beginning to.”
“And?”
I shrug. “So far so good.”
He clenches me tighter, his fingertips kneading my ass, pleasure surging to my core and undulating my hips.
My eyelids flutter, and a delicate moan escapes my mouth.
“Slow down,” I rasp out, desperately needing to settle my amorous body and all the sexually explicit things it quite obviously wants to do.
Riley instantly relaxes his hands, rests his forehead against mine, and takes a deep breath. “Good idea.”
I suck in a lungful of air too. “Yeah.”
He nuzzles my shoulder. “Slow.”
I breathe out. “Yeah.”
He closes his eyes. “Steady.”
I bite my lip. “Yeah.”
Gently panting, we search each other’s eyes before I unwrap my legs and step back to allow our bodies to settle to a rhythm more suitable for a public setting. A rhythm that, hopefully, won’t escalate too soon and lead to confusion and regret.
From the corner of my eye, I spot a hut where a woman with a bucket is scooping out white mud for people to lather on their faces, so I turn away from him and head in her direction.
“Where are you going?” he calls out. “I won’t bite. I promise.”
Needing a little breathing space, I call back, “Mud mask. It’s part of the experience.”
He follows me as I make my way through the plumes of steam toward the hut, where I hold out my hands for the woman with the bucket.
“Halló,” she says as she slops a scoopful into my palm.