Chapter 29 #3
Hands dipping inside the band of her pants, he held her gaze as he dragged the soft material over her hips, even more slowly down her thighs, and then with the utmost care removed them without ever touching her bruised calf or ankle.
He knelt at her feet, still staring up at her, one hand running up and down her good leg as she held on tight to his shoulders. His gaze dipped to her broken bones.
“I told you I could ease your pain, and I can—” Aidan’s shoulders tensed beneath her hands as he warred with himself.
“I should have asked you first if you would like me to ease your pain, but I’m selfish, and I didn’t because if I do, then your inhibitions will be lowered, and I won’t be able to touch you. ”
Her voice was a rasp. “Bath. Then fix it.”
“Thank fuck.”
Her stomach dropped at his obvious relief. Depositing her onto the dressing chair, he turned the bath knobs, testing the water and adding scented salts until the wafting steam became a eucalyptus mint cloud.
Before her pulse could settle or self-consciousness could kick in, he was lifting her and placing her in the large claw-foot tub. He frowned at her swollen ankle, turned around, and went back into her room only to return with a small wooden footstool and several pillows.
Elysia lifted herself, trying to stop him. “Aidan, you’re going to wreck those pillows.”
Ignoring her, his brow creased in concentration as he placed the stool and pillows beneath her ankle.
When he turned back, she swallowed at the sight of his attention narrowing to only her.
His gaze dripped down her naked body from her head to her toes, a slight groan escaping him.
The hot water slipped over her pebbled skin, both relaxing and torturous as her blood sang under the blaze of his fiery blue blown-out eyes.
Button by button, Aidan undid his white shirt before tossing it aside and fluidly pulling his undershirt off, mussing the dark strands of hair at the crown of his head.
Her fingers clutched the sides of the tub, and a little grin toyed at the edges of his mouth as his hands went to the button on his trousers until he finally removed all his clothing in one motion.
There was no hope for her heartbeat now.
It walloped into an embarrassingly loud and heavy beat as she drank him in.
Wide, strong shoulders and a lean, defined chest tapered into a hard stomach she knew came from long, disciplined hours on the mat.
Her gaze shuddered as it lowered, and she saw all of him.
Gods, she wanted to touch him. It had been torture to spar with him and pretend not to notice every stupid line and cut of his body, not to let her hands explore as they rolled across the mats.
Cream candles flickered to life as the dark plum curtain fell in front of the window, blocking the natural light.
Suddenly bathed in shadow and cozy light, the mood deepened and Aidan moved, coming to the back of the tub.
He grasped the detachable showerhead. Kava may have started to utilize indoor plumbing, but the mix of magic and engineering in the death realm was luxury.
Aidan dropped to one knee, adjusting the sprayer until it was the perfect temperature.
His fingers tapped lightly against the line of her jaw. “Drop your head.”
For once she was compliant, tilting her head back without question, her long brown hair cascading into the tub in a mess of waves, river water, and dirt.
The warm water soaked into her hair, running down her back and turning her locks weighted.
With a gentle clink, Aidan set aside the sprayer and rubbed shampoo between his fingers, making the sweet almond orange scent burst into the air.
Strong fingers massaged her skull, and her eyes automatically closed as her head fell back even further into his hands and she sank deeper into the water.
Aidan let out a pleased hum, continuing his ministrations far longer than she knew was necessary.
Too soon, he rinsed her hair and lathered the lengths in conditioner, twisting the strands up into a clip to set, and then his hands were on her skin, fingers dipping dangerously over her shoulders, sliding over the tops of her breasts as he rubbed away the tension in her neck and traps.
Over and over, his fingers stroked, simultaneously relaxing her body and heightening the need that burned relentlessly below.
The pad of his finger barely grazed her nipple, but a sound still escaped her mouth, making her cheeks burn as her legs clamped together.
There was a rumbling in his chest, and then Aidan’s hands slid down her back and under her ass, sending her forward until he could step into the tub and sink into the water.
Strong thighs wrapped around hers, and her body tensed as he settled behind her, the length of him hot and hard against her ass and back.
A warm, soapy washcloth stroked down her arm, his fingers massaging both forearm and hand until she relaxed against his firm chest, her head falling back to him.
Carrying on, he meticulously washed every dirty part of her before finally rinsing her hair and pulling the plug on the tub.
Her heart dropped, but she refused to turn around.
Was he done? Sensing her tension, Aidan flicked on the sprayer, resuming his languorous rinsing and stroking of her skin as the used bathwater drained.
She shivered against the cold air and made to stand, but Aidan’s hands dropped the shower head and clasped her hips, pulling her solidly into him as he leaned so close his hair tickled her cheek.
“I promised to rub every inch of you, didn’t I?”
Her breath went out in a rush as she nodded, and his fingers dimpled further into her hips.
“I thought you were done.” She dared a glimpse over her shoulder to find his sapphire eyes still blazing in the candlelight.
His voice went low, raising all the little hairs on her skin and sending a fresh wave of heat between her legs. “You’ll know when we’re done, Thorn.”
Tub emptied, he turned the hot tap back on, refilling it with fresh, clean water.
“You were filthy, and the water was full of salt and soap. Couldn’t have that touching what I’m about to,” he murmured against her ear, making her chest rise and fall as she squirmed against him.
He squeezed her ass lightly in response. “So impatient.”
Her usual fire stoked to life, and she turned with a glare. “Hardly, this is just—it’s nothing.” Her chin lifted as she looked away, refusing to look at his beautiful face.
Aidan’s hand brushed over her chest, teasing her nipple, while the other traced light, careless shapes on the warmth between her thighs. “Is this what you think platonic co-rulers do?”
He was using that voice again.
“If they want to,” she gritted out, doing her best to ignore the tantalizing sensations of his gods-cursed hands.
“Mmm,” the sound rumbled against her bare back. “So you’re not impatient then, and this is strictly platonic?”
A single finger swept lower, dipping into her liquid heat, sliding right where she wanted him for the briefest of touches before his palm pressed firmly against her, and a soft mewl slipped out against her best efforts to contain it.
“Yes.” Her hands gripped against his thighs now as she leaned back into him. “Very platonic. Has to be.”
The sweet pressure of his palm paused, both hands gliding up her ribs to cup her breasts.
His fingers expertly grazed and pinched until her chest was heaving and she was biting against the muscle of his arm, wishing he would give her what she wanted.
But then he stopped, leaving her writhing as his strokes became silky over her stomach.
“Tell me why it has to be.” His voice was practically guttural, the sound reaching inside her and making her pant.
Ankle long forgotten, she made to turn, but she was immediately held in place with one arm banded around her waist and the other collaring the edge of her throat.
“Answer me.” His mouth moved like fire down her neck, his other hand finally hovering over where she wanted it again.
Frustration built within her. “Why won’t you touch me?” she rasped, unused to not being able to control a situation such as this.
He put the barest pressure on her throat, and she melted, her head fuzzing with pleasure. “I am touching you, Thorn. Now tell me why I can’t love you while I fuck you. Tell me why I can’t love you while you rule beside me. Tell me why the idea of my devotion makes you want to run.”
Her eyes flew open, stomach clenching. “Because—” Her words cut off as she choked on them.
“Tell me,” he demanded.
Worked to a frenzy, her emotions eluded her usual guard. “Because you’re the one man I should never touch while somehow also being too good for me. What does it say if I allow this? You’re the god who ruined my life.” Her face burned now, but not for the same pleasant reasons as only moments ago.
She was smart. She was cunning and even brave.
But she had also been selfish and the reason for so many horrible deaths.
She had been born cursed and treated as such for over twenty years.
A few weeks of Aidan’s stable presence wasn’t going to unearth and heal all the beliefs buried in her.
She’d barely started to believe she deserved to be alive—something like love wasn’t for her.
And worst of all, she did want him. She wanted to bathe in what he was pouring out. She was terrible enough to want the person who had caused destruction to sweep through her home. Destruction that was about to steal the life of her sister and possibly reach its hands out through her whole world.
His arms wrapped around her, holding her body tight against him, voice rich and deep.
“I’ve watched you for years, and I saw nothing that would change how I feel now.
Hard lives make for hard decisions, and you never once made yours without bearing the cost. You carry every life lost somewhere within you as if it will pay penance, but there is no penance.
There’s only now, and now I see a woman doing her best to grow and change after a lifetime of being hunted and coerced without anyone showing her the way. ”
His fingers tightened and then slowly released as he loosened his hold on her. “I can only swear to spend the rest of my immortal life atoning for what I’ve done if you’ll let me, but I understand why that isn’t enough.”
The promise crashed against her, bold and blunt and terribly unashamed in its honesty. Her hands gripped his thighs again before uselessly wiping at the lone tears leaking free.
“You can’t possibly love someone just like that, Aidan. It’s too fast, and you shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep.”
The soothing, melodic tone she’d once been so enraptured with returned to his voice. “I will decide who I love and what promises I am capable of keeping. I only ask that you keep letting me in.”
The hot water lapped up over her. “I think I have been,” she whispered, afraid to say it aloud.
“And you’ve been doing it so well,” he returned, moving her wet hair away from her shoulder with a kiss.
She hiccuped a laugh. “No, I haven’t. I left you a note and could have died.”
He buried his face in the crook of her neck, smothering a rough, pained laugh. “Not wise to remind me of your bad behavior right now.” His teeth sank into her skin in reprimand, and the slow simmer of want and need surged within her all too easily.
Her breath hitched as he sent his hands down to the creases of her hips. “Tell me again.”
She closed her eyes as his fingers squeezed her thighs, and she ground against him. “Tell you what?” Breathless, her voice floated.
“Tell me yes,” he growled.
Her heart skipped now. “Yes. It doesn’t have to mean something.” The still breathless words were achingly hollow even to her own ears.
But Aidan accepted what she gave. “One day, it will only be yes,” he murmured darkly against her skin.