Page 43 of When the Wicked Sing
Mari glanced over her shoulder, brows furrowed. “What? Why?”
“Because I can’t see through the water. It’s too dark.”
Her lips parted like she wanted to argue, but then she sighed. “Just get in.”
Dax blinked. “What?”
“I said, get in.” Her tone left no room for argument. “You’re already wet. Might as well.”
He just stared at her, unsure if he’d heard her correctly.
Mari rolled her eyes and groaned. “Look, I’m not ready to get out, and this tub is big enough for four people. So, if you can’t help me from out there, you can help me from in here.”
Dax opened his mouth, but the glare she leveled at him silenced his objections.
“Get in the water, Dax.”
A slow, incredulous smile tugged at his lips as he stood. “You know, I remember the last time you told me that.”
“Yeah, and I didn’t kill you then, and I won’t kill you now. So, what are you waiting for?”
Fine. Dax kicked off his boots and socks, peeled off his shirt, and stepped cautiously into the warm water, careful not to splash.
“What?” he asked when he noticed Mari staring at him, a faint, amused grin playing at her lips.
She shrugged. “Nothing.”
Turning away, she kneeled on the submerged bench, lifting herself just enough for the water to fall to her lower back.
“Is this better?”
Dax swallowed hard, his resolve beginning to fray. Why had he agreed to get into a tub with a naked, gorgeous female? Rubbing a hand over the back of his neck, he tried to focus.
“Yup.”
Chapter 23
Ican’ttrusthim,I can’t trust him,Mariana chanted silently to herself, hoping it would drown out the instant desire that rose as their skin touched.It’s your emotional response to the horror you just experienced, that’s it.
Soft hands worked to peel away stubborn scales as the water lapped around her hips. Every touch was methodical, careful.
Her body burned beneath his touch; the sensation magnified by the quiet intimacy of the moment. The water rippled gently around them, and every time his fingers brushed her skin, they left a trail of warmth she couldn’t ignore.
She bit her lip hard, fighting to contain the emotions swirling inside her. Some of the scales were harder to remove, clinging to her like a second skin, as though they knew they belonged and didn’t want to leave.
Every scale gave a soft plop before disappearing beneath the surface, and a small piece of her chipped away with it. She tightened her grip on the tub’s edge until her knuckles turned white, trying to focus on the discomfort instead of the growing awareness of Dax’s closeness.
Her traitorous mind flashed to the memory of his lips, and she silently cursed herself. She needed to think of something else. Anything else.
“You know,” she said, her voice slightly strained, “you never answered my question.”
Dax paused, his hands stilling for a moment before resuming their careful work. She peeked over her shoulder at his serious expression, meeting his gaze.
“Where are we, Dax?”
He sighed, looking away. “We’re in Kythera.”
Her brows knitted together. “I’ve never heard of it before.”
