Chapter 56
Aella
By evening, we were filthy and tired. The turlarium we needed ran in small veins throughout the cavern, so we broke off chunks of stone with ribbons of it inside.
We’d have to take them back to Darynia to extract the rare ore.
They’d told us to fill at least three large sacks worth to be safe, and so far, we’d managed two.
It had seemed simple enough until we realized how thin it ran.
We picked at the rock walls for hours, taking turns for breaks, to get those small bits.
Throughout this time, the baby cactus napped and ate stray spiders.
An invasion of them came at one point, but Darrow took care of those.
Their corpses were in a spare bag to take to the cacti's home as an offering.
Oddly, no one else aside from my husband understood the concept of bringing gifts to plants.
While the others sat to eat in the space where we’d stored our gear, Darrow led me deeper into the tunnel toward the hot springs. He’d discovered them earlier during his break and found it wasn’t too far. Everyone else would get their turn after us.
I gasped in pleasant surprise when we reached the large pool of sparkling, steamy water. It was in a spacious cavern with a high ceiling. “This is incredible.”
“Yes.” He set down a lantern he’d brought with us on a large stone, allowing its light to reflect off tiny crystals embedded across the stone walls. “I thought you might appreciate it.”
I began stripping off my clothing right away, though I slowed when I noticed him watching.
It had been weeks since we last had sex.
I wanted him badly, but after my breakdown in the dungeon, intimacy with him would be dangerous.
The way it felt to have him hold me gently felt too good.
Yes, he might love me somewhere deep inside where he couldn’t feel it, but even if he did, could I trust him?
Most of the people I loved were either dead, had betrayed me, or used me for my channeling abilities.
My sister and Briauna had been there for me when I needed them, but neither had ever been able to protect me.
Rynn was sweet and innocent. I trusted her, but it was my job to take care of her, not the other way around.
When it came down to it, I had to be careful about relying on anyone because every time I did, I ended up hurt.
I finished stripping and sank into the pool, letting the heat soak my sore muscles. “I’m so glad this is here.”
“There is a cavern with hot springs a few miles from my aunt Durelle’s cabin. When it is safe again, I’ll take you,” Darrow said.
I couldn’t help staring at his hard, naked body as he sank into the pool, with the water stopping at his hips.
The large head of his engorged cock poked up, taunting me.
My hands itched to touch the bulging muscles on this chest, arms, shoulders, and everything below.
His smile told me he suspected my thoughts and enjoyed them.
If I had any sense, I’d stop looking at him. Why did it have to be so difficult?
After settling on a seat under the water, he handed me the soap I’d forgotten to grab. “I want to watch you wash yourself.”
The way he said it brought heat to my core and pushed at my resolve. Maybe I could use the moment to my advantage by tempting him until he gave me the rough, impersonal sex I wanted. Then, I’d be able to think more clearly.
“Will you reward me afterward?” I asked, giving him a sultry smile.
He ran a hand through his loose hair, dampening it. “What if we compromised?”
My smile faded. “How?”
“Give me a little time to do things my way, and then I’ll fuck you as hard as you want,” he said, resting his bulging arms on either side of the stone ledge behind him. Dammit, I wanted him more than anything. Had I really seen him as my enemy a matter of months ago?
My breath turned shallow. “I don’t…”
“It’s as simple as this. If you want me to relieve that ache I can feel through our bond, you’ll come here.” Darrow held out his hand to me.
I stood frozen, soap in hand, and wanted so badly to take his offer.
It wasn’t like before, when he all but swallowed me with his passion and caresses until I couldn’t think straight or deny him anything.
More recently, he’d kept his distance. I had to go to him now if I wanted his touch.
Why did that frighten me more? I’d gotten used to him taking charge, so I didn’t have to make the difficult decisions. I liked it that way.
A tremble ran through me, torn about what to do.
If I weren’t careful, this beautiful man with magic that could crush people’s bodies with ease could gain the power to break me in an entirely different way.
I didn’t think I could handle one more betrayal or loss.
It would be easier if I could stop feeling anything at all.
“If you’re not ready.” He drew back his arm with resignation filling his features. “Then allow me to wash you and give you a taste of what I want to do.”
I gulped, and my voice came out in a squeak. “Wash me?”
“Yes.”
I licked my lips. “All of me?”
“If you’ll allow it. I’m not taking liberties with you anymore, Aella. You give me full permission, or I don’t touch you.” A hint of vulnerability shone in his eyes. “I want my wife to desire me as much as I do her.”
My stomach twisted at those words.
He sat there patiently waiting for me to decide, but I could see in his expression and feel through his bond how much he desperately hoped I’d say yes.
It wasn’t like the early days of our marriage, when it was all about taunting and domination.
His desire had grown and evolved over the past few months.
Darrow still wanted to own me in every way—I had no doubt—but he needed me to give him everything without reservation. His trap was wide open to see.
“Aella, you can tell me to stop at any time if it becomes too much.”
Why was he being so damned amenable? I craved him more than food or water and could feel the same longing deep inside him.
Our bond fed the flames of our passion even with the few feet of distance between us.
His deeply tanned body was wet and glistening, begging to be touched, and I so badly wanted to feel his hands on me.
“Okay.” I was a fool.
“Good.” Relief filled his features. “Come here.”
I took a step forward, gliding through the steaming water, as he watched me closely. Despite his patience, his dominant nature wasn’t gone. There was command in his eyes now that I’d given my permission, and I wanted to obey him. Why? Why couldn’t I walk away?
“The soap?”
I handed it over, our fingers brushing against each other. Darrow set it on the ledge, then turned back to me. “I’m going to dip you into the water to wet your hair. Is that alright?”
“Yes.”
My husband wrapped one arm around me, so his hand rested at my lower back.
His other gripped me behind my neck. Then, he slowly lowered me backward into the water so my breasts jutted upward toward him.
His expression was powerfully intense as my hair slowly submerged, and then everything except my face and breasts was wrapped in the liquid heat of the hot spring.
He held me like that for a moment, studying my face and body.
I felt both vulnerable and desirable in my precarious position.
Finally, he lifted me back up, and water sluiced down my skin. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I could stare at you like this for hours and never tire of it.”
I thought he might kiss me, but instead, he gently guided me to turn around and face away from him.
We didn’t have hair cleanser with us, but he lathered the bar of soap so he could work the cave dust and grit from my locks.
He did it slowly and methodically, massaging my scalp until I could barely keep myself from leaning back into his chest. Then he slowly dunked me under to rinse.
When I came back up, he worked his fingers through my hair, detangling it little by little while I marveled at the patience he usually never showed.
Once finished, he draped my hair over my left shoulder and began washing my back.
Every touch was tender and sweet, filling me with yearning to truly be cared for by my husband.
“Don’t,” he said close to my ear.
I swallowed a lump. “Don’t what?”
“Don’t be afraid of me…or us.” Darrow wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me against his hard body. “We are two halves of the same whole. Whether it takes me days, months, or years to convince you that I won’t betray you or abandon you, that’s what I’ll do.”
Tears pricked my eyes. “You can’t make that promise, Dare. We’re at war, and the leader of the enemy is your own family.”
“Have I hesitated to kill any dark elf that posed a threat?” he asked, voice deep as it reverberated around me.
“No.” I shook my head. “But there’s so much I still don’t know about you, like why you willingly went through those trials in Karganoth.”
He turned me around to face him. “I had no choice.”
“Maybe, but I got the impression you didn’t only pass but excelled.” I studied his frustrated features. “Were you just trying to prove you were good enough, or was there more?”
He shook his head. “It’s complicated.”
I’d expected that answer, though it didn’t make it any less hurtful that he wouldn’t explain further. “It always is with you.”
Darrow grabbed the bar of soap, lathered it, and began washing my front.
I didn’t stop him or complain. His touch was just as gentle as before, though his thumbs rubbed against my nipples for longer than necessary.
I gasped at his touch. He was so full of secrets, but if I concentrated on weakening his resolve, I had a chance of getting him to reveal more. Two could play at this game.