Chapter 5 Adele #2
“No,” I said again, more firmly this time. “You live here. I’m not going to exile you from your own bathing pool. Bad enough you’re sleeping in the sitting room while I’m in your bed.”
I reached for the hem of the tunic, but hesitated. This was fine. Perfectly normal. We were two adults who happened to be married, sharing a bath in a completely platonic way. Like research colleagues conducting a field study.
That analogy didn’t help at all.
Before I could think too long about it, I pulled the tunic over my head, draped it over the towels, and walked toward the pool with as much dignity as I could muster while completely naked.
Thankfully, Raoul had tipped his head back and closed his eyes. He looked almost peaceful.
And much too appealing.
The water was blissfully hot, and I sank into it with a grateful sigh. Raoul had positioned himself on the far side of the pool, providing a respectable distance between us. The water came up to my shoulders when I sat, hiding most of my body from view.
“The temperature’s perfect,” I said, because talking about water temperature felt safe. “The geothermal activity must be quite stable to maintain such consistent heating.”
“It’s been this temperature for as long as records exist. My ancestors chose this location partially for the natural springs.”
“Smart choice.” I reached for one of the soaps, a bar that smelled of herbs and citrus. “Volcanic springs have excellent mineral content. It’s good for skin and scales alike, I imagine.”
“It is.” He’d opened his eyes and was watching me with that unreadable expression again. “I see you’re comfortable discussing geothermal activity while bathing naked with a man you’ve known less than a day.”
“Should I be uncomfortable?” I lathered the soap between my hands. “We established we’re both capable of being professional about this arrangement.”
“So we did.”
I couldn’t read his tone. Was he disappointed? Relieved? I’d never been good at interpreting emotional subtext, and the steam wasn’t helping my concentration.
“Your covens have volcanic hot springs too, don’t they?” he asked after a moment.
“Not volcanic. Magically heated.” I ducked my head under the water to wet my hair, then surfaced, pushing the soggy mass back from my face.
“But they’re not as efficient as natural geothermal.
The magical energy required to maintain consistent heating is significant.
I’ve been working on a theory about using ambient weather magic to supplement traditional heating spells, but the calculations are complex. ”
I was rambling again. I always did so when I was nervous, though I wasn’t entirely sure why I should be nervous about bathing with Raoul. We’d agreed this meant nothing.
Except every time I glanced his way, I found him watching me with a sharp look that made my breath catch.
“Tell me about your research,” he said. “The predictive weather modeling. How does it work?”
I blinked, surprised. “You actually want to know?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Most people’s eyes glaze over when I start explaining thermodynamics.” I reached for a bottle of hair soap. “My sisters love me, but even they start making excuses after the first few minutes.”
“I’m not your sisters.” He shifted, the water rippling around him. “And I find myself curious about what occupies the mind of someone who forgets her own wedding because she’s tracking thermal patterns.”
There was no judgment in his voice. Just genuine interest.
My chest loosened.
“All right,” I said, warming to my favorite subject.
“The basic principle is that weather patterns follow mathematical sequences based on pressure systems, temperature differentials, and moisture content. Currently, most weather witches can predict accurately about one month in advance. But I’ve discovered that if I account for resonance frequencies in air currents… ”
I kept talking as I washed my hair, explaining convection cycles and atmospheric pressure systems and the revolutionary implications of longitudinal data analysis. Raoul listened without interrupting, occasionally asking questions that suggested he was actually following my explanations.
It was intoxicating to have someone genuinely interested in my work.
I didn’t realize I’d been gesturing enthusiastically until my soap-covered hand slipped on the side and I went under, getting a mouthful of water. I surfaced sputtering, and to my shock, Raoul laughed.
It transformed his entire face. The severe lines softened, his amber eyes crinkled at the corners, making him look years younger.
“I’m fine,” I said, coughing. “Just overenthusiastic.”
“So I noticed.” He was still smiling, and blessed moonbells, why did he have to be so attractive when he did it? “You were explaining how dragon flight patterns could provide valuable data collection opportunities.”
He’d been paying attention. He’d actually been listening.
“Yes.” I ducked under the water again to rinse the soap from my hair, came up, and slicked it back.
“If I could take regular measurements at various altitudes, during different seasons, the data would be invaluable. But I’d need a consistent flight schedule, and I know you’re busy with kingdom matters, so I don’t want to presume—”
“I fly every morning,” he said. “Weather permitting. You’re welcome to join me.”
I stared at him. “Really?”
“You’re my wife. And your research could benefit our agricultural communities. Why wouldn’t I accommodate you in that?”
Because no one had ever made concessions for my research before. I’d always had to fight for time, for resources, for anyone to take my theories seriously.
“Thank you,” I said softly.
We sat in silence with steam rising between us, and I found myself studying his face when he wasn’t looking.
The sharp angles that had seemed severe yesterday now appeared more elegant.
The amber eyes that had intimidated me were actually rather beautiful, especially when they caught the light from the luminescent crystals.
He glanced over and caught me staring. Neither of us looked away.
The air between us felt charged with a feeling I couldn’t name. My weather magic stirred, responding to my confusion, and a gentle breeze swept through the cave despite the lack of windows.
Raoul’s eyebrows rose slightly. “Still thinking about thermal patterns?”
“No, I was thinking that your eyes are the same color as dragonfire gems. And that you’re much more handsome than I first thought. Which is a strange thing to notice about someone you’re maintaining a professional distance from.”
Why had I said that? What was wrong with me?
But Raoul didn’t look offended. If anything, his expression grew more intense. “You think I’m handsome?”
“Objectively speaking.” I tried to sound clinical. “Facial symmetry, strong bone structure, pleasant proportions. It’s basic aesthetic appreciation.”
“Basic aesthetic appreciation,” he said slowly.
“Yes.”
“So when you’re looking at me right now, you’re conducting an objective assessment of my facial symmetry?”
“Exactly.”
“And what conclusion have you reached?”
That I wanted to glide across this pool and kiss him, which was absolutely not maintaining professional distance and definitely not objective.
“That your facial symmetry is very well-proportioned,” I spit out.
His lips twitched. “That’s good to know.”
The moment stretched between us, heated and confusing and entirely unprecedented in my experience. I’d never felt this awareness of another person, this magnetic pull that made me want to move closer despite every rational argument against it.
A knock at the outer door shattered the tension.
“That’ll be breakfast,” Raoul said, his voice rougher than before. He rose from the pool and stepped out.
I gaped, noting a few important details as he moved past me.
He had a large, long cock. But what else would a dragon shifter have?
It didn’t dangle like the only cock I’d seen in my lifetime. That one had taken some effort on my part to make it sturdy enough to, well, perform.
Raoul’s rose, erect and proud, stabbing at his abdomen.