“It is better not to ask.” I took Alina’s hand.
“Only the soulless will survive in the end.” The old woman shuffled past us.
Alina touched my elbow and I immediately shielded her from the woman. I knew there was no danger, but my body reacted on its own.
“She’s not well, that’s obvious.” Sage hurried to add.
Alina followed me, her lips were pale, and her damp hair pressed against her cheeks. She looked tired and somehow defeated. I immediately demanded a key to our room.
Alina sat in a tub with her dark, copper hair hanging freely over her shoulders and chest. I lathered a wash cloth and soaped up her back.
“Do you think it’s true, what she said?” Alina asked.
“I don’t believe in predictions.” I poured water over her creamy skin.
“I thought you would say that.” She smiled, looking back at me.
“Come on, let's get some sleep.” I helped her to get up and carefully patted her skin dry.
“Ty, I’m sorry, I’m not... you know.” I raised my eyebrows. “I’m too tired, or stressed, pretty much every time we are together.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I said, peeling my flying suit off.
“Are you going to reuse my water?” She looked up at me.
Her dark eyes lowered to my torso and my body immediately reacted.
“Yes.” I stepped into the tub, determined to keep my distance.
When I lowered myself in the tub, Alina stepped to the edge and kneeled.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“But, I want to,” she whispered.
Her small elegant hands, with gentle fingers, lathered the cloth and she slowly traced it along my back. I watched her beautiful face as the water ran down my shoulders, making me forget about everything but her smooth skin and the way she felt when I was moving inside her. My hand on a pillow beside her head. Her gentle parted lips, glowing cheeks, and breaking breaths. Her hands on my shoulders, sliding down my back. Her soft gasps for air and the way she lifted up her hips to take me deeper.
I clenched my jaw and leaned back, forcing myself to think about something else.
She had no idea what she did to me every time she touched me. But it did not matter, she was too exhausted, and I could wait.
Her hand brushed my shoulder and lowered to my chest. I closed my eyes and concentrated on my breathing.
Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out.
Drops of water landed on the surface, but I kept my eyes shut.
Her fingers, with their carefully trimmed nails, trailed down to my stomach and against my will, I opened my eyes. Alina watched my face as if entranced. Her damp hair curled at the ends and a dark red coil laid on her shoulder. Her eyes were half closed, reminding me of all the things I wanted to do to her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
ALINA
My fingers trembled when I picked up the cloth and added more soap, rotating it in my hands until the bubbles became thick like freshly beaten cream. The smell of lemongrass, blooming with multiple notes of lemon, and warm ginger, filled my nose. This scent will remind me of Tynan until the day I die.
He must think that I was the most inconsistent creature. I just told him that I was too tired to bed him, but that was before he took his clothes off. I could not ignore that he did everything not to touch me, but my body moved on its own. I went to him. Even if I was too tired to stay awake for another hour, I still wanted to feel him.
Tynan watched me, his dark eyes took in my glowing face, my heavy breaths, but there was no reaction. He definitely had great restraint.
