Page 59 of Faeheart
“You don’t know that,” Wild whispered, his usual bravado slipping to reveal the vulnerability beneath. “What if this plan backfires? What if they’re stronger than we anticipate?”
I pressed a kiss to his forehead, trying to project confidence I didn’t entirely feel. “Then we adapt. Together.”
Wild was quiet for a moment, his fingers tracing patterns on my chest. Through our bond, I felt his thoughts shifting, focusing on something more immediate than our uncertain future.
“I have an idea,” he said suddenly, pushing himself up to look at me with that familiar mischievous gleam in his eyes.
“Why do I feel like I’m about to regret asking what it is?”
“Because you’re a stick-in-the-mud,” Wild replied with a grin, though the affection flowing through our bond took any sting from the words. “But you’ll like this one, I promise.”
He sat up fully, wincing slightly at the movement, then began pulling his sweat-soaked shirt over his head. The sight of his bare torso, lean and muscled and scattered with those constellations of freckles I loved, momentarily distracted me from whatever he was planning.
“Eyes up here, lover boy,” Wild teased, though I felt his pleasure at my appreciation. “I’m suggesting we take a bath. A real one, in that ridiculous tub we’ve been ignoring since we got here.”
The image of Wild submerged in steaming water, his skin glistening wet, his hair darkened to deep copper, sent a jolt of desire through me that he definitely felt through our bond.
“See?” Wild smirked, already working on his pants. “Told you you’d like it.”
The bathroom adjoining our bedroom was ridiculously opulent, with a massive marble tub that could easily fit four people, surrounded by floating candles that responded to magical energy. Despite my wealthy upbringing, I’d been intimidated by its grandeur since we’d arrived, but now the thought of sinking into hot water with Wild seemed like the perfect remedy for our aching muscles.
“That actually sounds amazing,” I admitted, already imagining the relief it would bring to my protesting body.
Wild stood and stretched, his back arching in a way that made my mouth go dry despite my exhaustion. “Come on then. Let’s see if this fancy mansion knows how to draw a proper bath.”
The tub began filling the moment we entered the bathroom, steam rising from water that appeared to be the perfect temperature. The floating candles brightened in response to our presence, casting dancing shadows across the marble walls. Wild tested the water with his fingers, humming in approval.
“Definitely magic,” he said, shedding the rest of his clothes without ceremony. “The temperature’s perfect, and I think I smell lavender. Also, I have a feeling it doesn’t get cold. Ever.”
I followed his lead, though with considerably more self-consciousness despite everything we’d shared. It was strange how intimacy could coexist with nervousness, how I could still feel shy even after we’d bonded our souls together.
“Stop overthinking,” Wild said softly, reading my emotions through our connection. He stepped into the tub with a sigh of pure bliss, sinking into the steaming water until it reached his chest. “Just feel.”
The water was incredible, seeming to draw the tension from my muscles the moment I submerged myself. Wild moved to make room for me, and once I was settled, he placed himself between his legs with his back against his chest. Both of us groaned in relief as the magical water worked its healing properties. I couldn’t help my cock stiffening against his lower back.
“This is definitely better than Atlas’s torture routine,” Wild murmured softly as my arms snaked around his waist beneath the water. “There definitely wasn’t a dick pressed against me while were training.”
“S-Sorry about that,” I said, burying my face in his shoulder. “I can’t help it when I’m around you.”
“Don’t ever apologize for cock,” Wild replied, pushing back against me. “It’s my second favorite thing in the whole world.”
“What’s the first?”
He turned over his shoulder, placing a kiss on my cheek. “You, of course.”
“Gods…” I sighed. “How many guys have you gotten in bed with that line?”
“None that ever called me on it,” he grinned. “Did it work?”
I laughed despite myself, the sound echoing off the bathroom walls. “It worked, but only because I’m already completely gone for you.”
Wild’s grin widened, and through our soul bond I felt his satisfaction at making me laugh, at pulling me out of my own head even when we were both exhausted and worried about what tomorrow would bring.
“Good,” he said, settling back against my chest with a contented sigh. “Because I plan to keep using terrible pickup lines on you for the rest of our very long lives.”
The casual mention of our future together sent warmth spreading through my chest that had nothing to do with the heated water. Through our bond, I felt Wild’s certainty about us, his commitment that ran deeper than his usual playful demeanor suggested.
“The rest of our lives, huh?” I murmured against his ear, my hands tracing idle patterns on his stomach beneath the water. “That’s quite a commitment from someone who told me it wasjust sexnot that long ago.”
