"Luella, darling." Vale walked closer to her, breathing her in as the hot steam clung to her flesh. "You must calm down. For me, please, darling." He let himself be soft with her, let himself give in. For the sake of the storm.
Vale traced over the curve of her arm, brushing the amulet she wore. The three circles of the Binding mark were on her chest, inked over her heart—he would not force his will on her. Never again.
As if she could sense what he thought, she stared up at him, her hands rubbing at her eyes, elbows firm against her chest to keep the towel in place. He hadn’t realized how close they were, but he found his eyes tracing the upturned shape of her nose, the faded freckles scattered across the bridge—a remnant from her past life.
"Force me," Luella uttered.
Vale stared at the bracelet on her wrist, the blue of her eyes like a collection of rare jewels. "Darling?"
Taste her.
"Force me to calm. I cannot bear bringing another storm upon us all." Her lower lip wobbled as she reached for his hand, so small against him as her fingers delicately gripped him. "Force me. I want you to, Vale. I need you to."
The ship rocked, and hot water splashed over the side of the tub, sizzling as it met the floors.
Backed into a corner, he reached for the way out she offered, angry that he must force her, but desperate to ease her pain.
Vale wanted to make this pleasant for her, grant her a small mercy.
"Luella, you will calm down, and you will feel peace. You will explain what happened, without feeling fear, and then you willgo to sleep and rest easily," Vale ordered—adding a gentle, "This demand will last until you awaken."
Instantly, she softened, tears spilling over her lash line as the tension eased. "Thank you," she breathed. "Thank you, Vale."
Possession surged inside him as he breathed her in.
She is ours.
Protect.
The bath stopped bubbling with heat, the storm faded, yet the steam in the room remained, cloaking them in hazy warmth.
His demand had not yet been fulfilled.
She spoke:
"I always bathe with Az, and I hate feeling so weak. I tried to bathe alone. I cannot depend on him forever," she whispered like a secret. "It was going well—I thought it was, at least. I do not want to be a burden. I filled the tub myself. It was cold water, but it would be okay. I could handle it. As soon as I disrobed"—her lashes fluttered as she glanced away, abashed—"it hit me. I tried to force myself into the bath, regardless, but as you can see, it did not work. As soon as I placed my foot inside, the water started to heat. It burned, but it was so much better than the cold."
The fear ramming against Vale had turned to a blissful wave of serenity.
Luella licked her lips. "You know the rest." Her explanation was finished, and now she grew drowsy, blinking furiously as if to clear her vision.
Vale skimmed his palms over her shoulders, holding her. "Thank you," he said, feeling the weight of gratitude wrapping around them both—like the steam. He rarely expressed his thanks, but here and now, between them both in this steam-cloaked room, he found it coming easily.
"Why?" Luella took a small step closer to him, her fingers wrapping around his wrist. "Why did you soften your hold on me?"
Vale did not know—he just knew that he could not impose his will upon hers forever. He would not be so cruel. "I would not rob you of your autonomy. Not in that way, darling," he shared.
She nodded sleepily, his demand forcing her body to relax further, sleep calling her.
He wanted her here, resting on the pillow he called his own.
She listed to the side, and Vale wrapped an arm around her, easing her to the bed. Tugging down the sheets, he helped her into it, tucking the plain quilt over her towel-wrapped body. Her white hair splayed on the pillow, and he sat by the edge of the bed, watching her as the ship rocked softly.
"Will you stay?" she hummed, cheek rubbing against the pillow.
"You won’t want me in the morning."
Not opening her eyes, Luella sighed, "I do. I just won’t admit it."
