“Don’t call me that,” I said, stopping my attempts to break free.
Tynan effortlessly picked me up, carrying me through the cave. Inside, it felt surprisingly warm and really damp as if water was somewhere nearby. I could only imagine how slippery it was.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, enjoying the feel of his strong arms on me, his scent.
“I can’t see anything,” I said.
“Yeah, I figured.”
“Can you see?” I tried not to move, to make it easier for him.
“I always had good eyes,” he said.
“Are you saying that I don’t have good eyes?” I laughed.
“Your eyesight isn’t great,” Tynan added and I attempted to push him away.
“Where are you taking me?”
“I want to show you something.”
At last, I was able to detect a faint light ahead. Another minute and Tynan placed me back on the floor. I turned around, surveying the opening in the ceiling and the water that was pouring down from one of the stone walls right into a large pool.
“What is this place?” I asked.
“One of the hot caves. There are many here. This one was always my favorite,” Tynan said, unbuttoning the collar of his flying suit.
“It is?” I watched him peeling off his clothes.
He looked at me with a smile, so boyish, so unguarded in that moment, that my poor heart threatened to explode. When he was done undressing, he stepped into the water and I could not help admiring his amazing body, perfect in every way: strong, powerful, and captivating.
“Are you coming? Or, are you not done watching me?” he asked and my cheeks burned.
I reached up and unbuttoned my top. It was his turn to watch me undress, and he concentrated on every motion of my hands while I was unlacing my boots and removing my jacket.
“Come here,” his voice turned low and I could not help the shivers of anticipation running up my spine.
Tynan observed me get into the water as I carefully stepped closer to him. The water was warm, warmer than I expected. I lowered myself into the pool and could not help a light gasp when the heat caressed my body, relaxing my tensed muscles and soothing my nerves.
“It reminds me of that time in the temple. Do you remember?” I whispered.
“Do you mean when I held you for the first time?” In a matter of a moment he stood right in front of me.
“Yes, when you...” I paused because he picked me up, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. “Held me like...”
“This?” he finished and his lips touched my temple.
“Yes.”
“I thought about that for days. Your lips, your eyes, your skin. You were so close,” he whispered in my ear.
It was truly embarrassing how my body reacted to his words, and it was even more embarrassing that I could do nothing to hide it. My heart was beating like mad and my fast breaths were impossible to conceal. All I could think about was that his sturdy, rough hands were on my bare thighs and my center was pressed tightly against his muscular stomach.
“What’s this?” he asked, and I could not figure out what he meant, not right away.
Slowly, my attention shifted from his perfect lips to the sensation of his hand around my waist.
And I remembered that I had secured Grace’s chain around my waist. My face flushed even more, if that was even possible.
