“Wh . . .What happened?” I sat up.
“Your bath is ready. Better use it while it’s hot,” he said.
I rubbed my eyes, focusing on the slightly bent copper bath that was placed by the window.
“I’m going to wait for you in the hall.” Tynan left the room.
I stood up, making my way to the tub by the window. My hand reached down and I tried the water. Without wasting any more time, I stripped off my flying suit and undergarments and stepped into the water. The delightful warmth of the bath made my toes curl. I sighed and closed my eyes. After a long moment, I reached out to get the lemon-scented soap and started to rake my long hair with my fingers.
My body felt so light and relaxed, the warm current rolled over my skin and I arched my back. It was strange to bathe with Tynan just outside the door. My thoughts immediately returned to him, and this time something shifted inside of my head. Everything became painfully clear all at once.
I never wanted to be his friend and I never wanted to be a part of his group. I wanted him. I wanted to be the only person he cared about. I wanted to be the only person he would look at. I wanted to be touched by his rough hands, the way he touched me in the pool. I wanted to feel his body in every possible way, and I wanted him to be as desperate for me as I was for him.
Equally astonished and mortified I sat up, staring at the bland wallpaper. Hardly realizing what I was doing, I reached up and traced my mouth with my fingertips.
I wanted to be with another man, who was nothing like my fiance. Not like Petro, who was kind and safe, who made me laugh and soothed my anxieties, who treated me like I was his best friend. I wanted to be with someone unfamiliar, the person I had only met a couple of days ago, a person I barely knew.
With those thoughts, I finished up and dressed in a simple shirt and a pair of pants that were left on my side of the bed. The shirt was two sizes too big and the pants needed a belt, but I made it work. After making sure I looked decent, I opened the door.
My stupid heart made a leap in my chest when I saw Tynan sitting on the floor, his back pressed against the wall, playing with the blade of his long knife. He looked so incredibly handsome, that I felt my pale skin immediately betray all of my feelings.
“I’m done,” I said and forced myself to look away.
“Thanks. You have to stay in the room.” He got up and walked past me through the doorway.
“What?” I almost tripped over my wide pants.
“I can’t have you running away again. I haven’t recovered after your last attempt,” he said, taking off his boots.
“But . . . it’s not . . . appropriate.”
“You don’t have to watch,” he said and I stilled, concentrating on his fingers unbuttoning the high collar of his shirt.
Immediately, I turned away and picked up a wooden hairbrush. Then I heard splashing, and a moment later a long sigh.
“Are you ... using my water?” I asked, not able to keep that thought to myself.
“Yeah. Why?”
“But, that’s . . . gross,” I said.
“I don’t think you’re that gross,” he said after a short pause.
I was ready to throw something at him.
“I’m not saying that I’m gross, I’m saying that you could have asked for another bath.” I sat on the bed, making sure to keep my back toward him.
“It would take forever and I don’t mind.”
“That’s not how things are done.”
Tynan did not say anything. All I could hear were the sounds of dripping water. The silence made me feel really uncomfortable.
“Maybe I should give you some privacy.” I stood up.
“I’m almost done,” he said and a moment later I could hear him getting out and using a towel.
“What are you planning to do?” I asked.
