Page 119 of Sunder

He thought he’d frightened her. Silly man. With the bond warm and pulsing between them, he would know she wasn’t. He’d done nothing wrong, so she leaned forward and kissed him as she pushed him onto his back.

He had his boots on.

So did she.

And these were clean linens, so that was hardly suitable.

And he’d been at the infirmary, which meant...

She nibbled at her lip, wondering at herself. At conflicting desires and the want to get on with things and satisfy this newfound ache that was far more pleasurable than the ones she’d known before but no less distracting.

“Stay,” she insisted. “Just... stay.”

She hurried for the supplies she wanted. If they couldn’t have a proper bath together, there could still be warm water and a clean cloth, and she could watch his skin pebble as she worked.

“Orma,” Athan called when the water took longer to heat than she wanted.

“Stay!” she repeated.

He would. Because she’d asked it of him, and because she could feel him peering at the bond, trying to work out her whims.

That was all right. Let him look and wonder.

She was careful with the pitcher so she did not slosh, even in her haste. She had a cloth for washing, and another for drying. He’d removed his boots and undone the laces of his shirt, but one knot at his wrist was giving him trouble.

“That was going to be my job,” she chastised, putting down her supplies on the night table before coming to stand in front of him. “You’re spoiling my fun.”

“If your fun includes leaving me alone when I could have you in the bed with me, I question your taste.” He brought his free arm to wrap about her middle, pulling her toward him. His legs had opened, so she was nestled far more closely than she ought to, and his hand was trying to find that particularly sensitive spot on her hip through her clothing.

“You’re making this much more difficult than it needs to be,” Orma protested, knowing full well if he insisted on teasing her, she would quickly lose her resolve to properly dote on him.

“Am I?” He pulled her even closer, crushing their arms between them as he nuzzled his head between her breasts.

She scratched lightly through his hair, trying to pull him back to look at her. “Yes,” she insisted, bending down low enough to kiss him just the once lest he think she was truly cross. “You are. Now keep still while I work.”

She pushed at his chest, and his lips twitched as he did not move at all, even at her prompting. Orma rolled her eyes, but made use of it and removed his shirt.

Knots conquered, she smoothed her hand across the lines of his stomach, eyeing him almost shyly. “Lie back, please.”

She would not indulge the parts of her that clung to modesty. He was going to lie naked as she’d been before, and he would let her do as she liked and then she would have her way with him.

It was nice to be decided. To feel the heavy weight in her middle as parts of her swelled with enthusiasm at what was to come, but it was a pleasant sort of awareness. Not urgent. Not pressing and forcing. But very much present as she tugged his trousers free and watched his throat bob as he watched her.

“Are you going to disappear again?” He asked, and she really should have asked if this was all right. The suns were bright in the window, and their neighbours were far enough that the view would solely be for her. But perhaps he had his own modesty to contend with.

She chewed at her lip, considering.

“Do you mind?” she asked, gesturing over him. “Would it help if I...” her cheeks flamed that her compromise would have her remove some of her own clothing, but there it was.

“Yes, please,” Athan urged, not at all looking as if he was bothered in the least, his hands coming to tuck behind his head while he waited for her to strip off her dress.

She really should rescind it. Keep him at her mercy while she was perfectly chaste and covered. But it would only grow colder for the rest of the season. And there would not be warmth left for lying about without blankets and thick shawls, most especially without a hearth.

A larger bath.

A hearth in their bedchamber.

Her heart fluttered to think of the changes they might make. That they had the freedom to do so.

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