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I smiled at the sound of his honest, unfiltered amusement. This was a glimpse of the real Yukio. The one he always hid behind his bluster and sharp words. Crossing my arms over my chest, I made sure to press my breasts upward in what I hoped was a nice display. "What's so funny?" I asked.

"Oh," he said between chuckles. "Nothing. Just how riveted your audience is. You are certainly giving everyone in the communal bathing area quite the show."

A hot blush flooded my chest and cheeks as his words sank in. But I refused to show any other sign of my embarrassment. I had been so intent on shocking Yukio that I hadn't given a single thought to my surroundings. "Surely the fae don't bathe with their clothes on," I said, lifting my chin. "And I don't believe for a single moment that wild fae are shocked by nudity. Honestly, Yukio. How can you be so naïve."

His laughter subsided a bit, but there was still amusement in his voice. "You really are a spoilsport, you know?" he informed me. "There's no one else in here at the moment, silly witch. But that shade of red really suits you."

I rolled my eyes. "You're an ass."

His voice moved closer, and his hand touched my arm. "Thank you. I do strive to meet expectations. Now, would you like to actually soak, or did you plan to just stand there airing out your bits all day?"

I held out my hand. "Lead on. Though why I should trust a liar like you is beyond me."

He chuckled darkly. "You shouldn't. See? So hopelessly naïve, little witch. Letting a dangerous high fae assassin lead you blindly into your demise."

I grinned. "Ooh… scary."

But then I forgot to tease him as my toes touched hot, steamy water that lapped at the stone under my feet. "They're natural hot springs," Yuki informed me as I steadied myself on his hand and shuffled forward. "There's a decline there, into a rock formation that makes up a little pool. There are half a dozen of them scattered around this section of the cave."

Despite how I might tease, I really did trust him implicitly. I walked forward slowly but confidently, trusting Yukio to keep me from falling or injuring myself as the deliciously hot water and steam rose up over my body.

"That's the depth of it there," Yukio said, his silky voice just a touch deeper and huskier, softer. "If you turn you can sit down and rest your back against the wall, I think."

I did as instructed, sighing in bliss as the water enfolded me. "Oh, goddess, this is amazing."

Yukio released my hand and moved away. The surface where I sat was surprisingly smooth, probably worn down by years of use by the fae who lived here. I couldn't fault them for that. If I was wild fae, I would live right here, in this hot spring, for the rest of my life.

"Do you realize what kind of sounds you're making right now?" Yukio asked, and I froze at how close his voice sounded. The water rippled slightly, and I realized he was joining me in the pool.

I tried to swallow down my excitement. It was just a bath. A warm swim. Fae weren't prudish about nakedness. This meant nothing.

Until he settled in beside me.

His muscular thigh brushed along mine, his skin cooler than mine, even in this heat. "You do these things on purpose to test my restraint," he accused lightly.

I couldn't really argue. It was one-hundred percent true. "Do I?" I asked curiously. "Test your restraint?"

He sighed. "You know you do."

I turned my face toward him. "I don't want you to do anything you don't want to do," I said honestly. "But Yukio, I know you want me. I know the others wouldn't mind if we had a relationship with each other. You're already in a poly relationship with Sanka and Robin. What is it that holds you back? Do you really detest my personality so much it cancels out the lust?"

He chuckled softly. "One would think that would be the case, wouldn't they?"

I shook my head at him. "Stop it. I'm being serious."

A cool, soft hand slid over my shoulder, up the side of my neck, to grip the back of my head and draw me close. His lips on mine were like heaven, cool and magical, and ever-so-slightly tingling, like peppermint candy. When he pulled back, he rested his forehead against mine, his hand still gripping the back of my neck.

"I don't know," he breathed. "For fuck's sake, I don't know why you terrify me so much, witch. The whole situation is driving me insane. As if I don't have other things to worry about right now. More important things than how much I want to taste you or what kind of sounds you'd make as you sank down on my cock."

I shuddered at his words, an immediate bolt of lust shooting straight to my core. "Yukio--"

He kissed me again, cutting off my words. As if he was desperate to stop talking about his feelings. Which was probably true. He had been conditioned since birth to think that having and showing emotions was a weakness. He had been outed from his clan, nearly killed for daring to love someone. He had gotten over that with Sanka and Robin, but maybe… maybe each new love was a risk.

"It's okay to love people," I murmured against his lips as we pulled apart for a moment to draw breath. "Or to like them. Or just want them."

He swallowed audibly, his free hand coming up to grip my upper arm. "I know," he said softly, his voice barely a whisper. "I know, goddess damn it. But every time I feel this way for someone it's a new sort of hell. The terror rises up all over again and it feels like I might drown."

I lifted my damp hands to cup his face, smoothing my fingers over his angular jaw and chiseled lips. "I won't hurt you," I promised earnestly. "Yukio, I would never hurt you. You're safe with me. There's no need for fear."

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