Page 39 of The Light Falls
With a small jump, I land in the middle of the pool. Water comes to my chest. Warmth surrounds me, but it barely penetrates the dirt covering me. Grimacing, my focus returns to the reason we’re here.
Sinking lower to cover the important bits, I call out to Rivan. “I’m decent.”
Palm out, I create a bar of soap and scrub every inch of my body. Dirt begins to flake off and pink skin appears, but I don’t stop when the first layer is gone. I need to purge my skin of all the slime and residue from the floor and my memory. I do it again.
On my third round, a tanned hand takes the bar from me. “Let me get your back.”
Running a finger over the palm of my hand, I realize the slime is gone. I turn and lift my hair. “Thank you.”
Warm, soapy hands wash my neck, and all over my back. Strong fingers dig into knotted muscles in a hypnotizing pattern, easing the anxiety built up inside until all that’s left is a languorous feeling with a hint of sensual need.
“I’ll wash your hair,” he rasps, placing a hand on the back of my neck. The husky note in his voice tells me he’s aware of the tension rising between us. “I’m going to lean you back and wet it first.”
Wrapped in the hazy warmth of the cocoon he’s created, I simply nod.
He tilts me back until I’m almost floating, then scoops water over my head.
Glancing up at him, I can’t help but ask about his past. “Where did you learn to do this?”
A distant smile curls his lips. “In another time.” He turns his eyes toward me, but instead of stopping at my face, they continue south, where my breasts have risen above the water. Barely breathing, I let him look his fill at the crests with their hard nipples.
His eyes turn a burnished gold, and he swallows. Strong cheekbones flush with desire, and the hand on the back of my neck tightens. His breath becomes ragged, and he moves closer.
Seeing his reaction amps up my own. Heat curls up inside me, making me ache, and I arch my back, offering him more. “Rivan.”
At the sound of my husky voice, his eyes jerk back to mine, then rise higher. To the crown on my head. He shakes his head, instantly denying us both.
“You can stand up while I wash your hair. Just keep your head tilted back, so the soap doesn’t go in your eyes.”
My eyes try to catch his, but he avoids my gaze. With a sigh, I stand. At least with my back to him, I can’t remind him of Nyssa. Hands work and massage the shampoo into the depths of my hair. Swirling and shaping, he carefully washes every strand as if he has all day to make sure it’s clean. Why didn’t anyone ever tell me how good it felt to have someone else wash your hair? It takes everything I have to smother the groan on my lips.
“Did you wash Sima’s hair?” My voice is soft when I ask, hoping he won’t think I’m prying or that I’m jealous. She died twelve hundred years ago. I want to know about this woman he loved so much.
He never pauses. “I did. It was practically the only time she left it down.” He chuckles. “She called it a nuisance, because it was so long, but I refused to let her cut it.”
“How did you meet?”
Lean fingers comb through the strands, carefully detangling the knots. “At a market. I was buying ink. She was haggling with a vendor for meat. I thought he was charging her more because she was a witch, and I stepped in to help. The man saw me and immediately lowered the price. Happy, I turned around, expecting her thanks, and she roasted me. Told me I took all the fun out of buying, and she didn’t want it anymore. Stalked off.”
I laugh. “She loved the haggling.”
“I didn’t know it at the time, but her ability to haggle with the vendors had earned their respect. If she could get them down lower than their intended price, they would reward her with little extras,” he states quietly. “Lean back, and I’ll rinse your hair.”
Putting my arm across my breasts, I do as he asks. “What did you do?”
Water cascades down the back of my head. “I paid for the meat and chased after her. Told her I hadn’t had a decent meal in weeks and asked if she would cook for me. Guess I looked skinny because she agreed. I went home with her and never left.” He clears his throat. “All done.”
Standing up, I turn toward him, careful to keep most of my body below the waterline. “Thank you. For washing my hair and telling me about Sima. She sounds feisty and wonderfully sweet.”
Face to face, the tension between us returns. I can’t help but look at the body only inches from mine. Muscular, but too lean, almost hollow in a few places. With Nyssa gone, he’s started to fill out the last few months, but it will take time to gain his former strength. Runes cover his arms and part of one pec. Symbols run close together, creating a stunning piece of art. Underneath, tanned skin shimmers like burnished amber in the firelight. My fingers tingle with the need to touch him.
“She was,” he says gruffly. “I’ll turn around so you can get out. We need to return.”
With a sigh, I step out of the little pool and dry myself with the wave of a hand. Quickly making new clothes, a scarf for my head, and shoes, I get dressed. “Done.” While he gets out, I focus on burning the clothes on the ground and using the wind to chase out the smoke and ashes.
He walks up beside me and hooks his pinky around mine. “Ready?”
How does something so little mean so much? Some of my words must have made it through. With a soft smile, I nod.
