Page 56 of Tempting the Fae Lord
I don’t relish the thought of him drinking some random man’s blood. I’d like to say it’s because I’m concerned for the stranger’s well-being, and that’s part of it, but the lion’s share of the reason is simple.
Jealously.
I want him to rely on me the way I’ve always relied on him. The way I rely on him now.
“Stay put.” He rises gracefully. His cool hand rests briefly on my shoulder. “I’m going to procure a room.”
A room. That implies a real bed, maybe a window or two, and best of all, a bath. I eat faster knowing such luxury awaits.
By the time he returns, key in hand, I’m finishing my share and packing Petru’s half up in a food cloth.
The mage is doing better now that he’s eating regularly, but he’s afraid to come aboveground. He worries Sonja will go after his family the second she learns he’s not dead.
So he hides. Poor fellow. At least Ezra has warmed up to him a bit. Doesn’t watch him as if the mage is about to raise an army of dead roaches against us anymore.
Progress is progress.
Our room is up a carpeted set of stairs with an intricately carved railing on the open side. Much fancier than the dank underground hole we’ve been cooped up in. I trail my hand along the smooth, curved wood as we ascend.
Ezra unlocks the farthest door down a short hall and ushers me inside with a soft touch to my lower back. “They’re sending water up for a bath. You go first while I take the food to Petru.”
The urge to grab his wrist and ask him to stay ignites with a charged shiver up my spine. We could bathe together. What would it be like to wash his hair? Perhaps to steal a damp kiss or, even better, be given one?
But he’s out the door before I have the courage to act on the fantasy. As if I would. I’ve had enough embarrassment for one night, thank you.
The room is small but well furnished. Two wooden chairs on either side of a round table. A chest of drawers with burning candles on top. A narrow bed next to a wide window.
I wander over and peek through the curtains, glimpsing the main street below. This village looks and feels much like the closest one to the fortress. So far, the human world is not so different. Just more candles and fewer faerie lights.
I sigh and shuffle out of my clothes down to my underthings. A set of young workers brings hot water to add to the cold already in the wooden tub.
“Will that be all for ye, sir?” asks the taller of the two boys.
“Yes, thank you.”
They nod and close the door on their way out.
Left alone, I wipe off the worst of the dirt and grime from my skin, then sink into the warm water.
Ah, sweet bliss. I close my eyes, tip my head back against the rim, and bask. One by one, my muscles release their tension.
I duck beneath the surface and listen to the pleasantglug glug glugof the bubbles as I empty my lungs. Wash my face, wash my hair, wash my everything. If only I had a set of clean clothes here, but no matter. I rinse out my underthings to let them dry overnight, and that will do well enough.
At some point, Ezra returns. He chuckles when he finds me still soaking in the tub. As I step out and wrap a cloth around my hips, he turns his back.
“You turn,” I say when I’m decent, then offer him the same courtesy as he undresses, even though I’d rather watch. I’d rather ogle.
When it’s clear he’s in the tub, I turn and let my gaze wander over his naked shoulders. How I’d love to run my pruny fingers over each tempting curve.
“Pertu all right?” I ask.
Ezra shrugs. “As good as he ever is, I suppose.”
I feel bad leaving him all alone down there, but the dank air and tight walls make me feel trapped. I’m glad to be out, even if only for a night.
Water sloshes softly as Ezra washes. A delicate drip slides off a wet elbow. The tub creaks as he dunks his head.
I let my thoughts swirl as I pretend not to watch him quite as closely as I’m watching him.
