Long enough to tell her he would not truly answer, again.
Frustration stirred softly within her. “You ask trust from me while revealing almost nothing of yourself.”
His gaze held hers steadily now. “There are things I cannot yet explain.”
“That answer grows tiresome.”
A faint shadow of amusement touched his mouth despite the seriousness in his eyes. “I imagine it does.”
Bria wanted to remain irritated with him. Truly she did. Yet being there, surrounded by glowing water and soft drifting mist while his deep voice wrapped quietly around her made anger increasingly difficult to hold onto.
Silence settled between them once more. Not uncomfortable, if anything, the silence felt far too intimate.
Bria became painfully aware again that little separated them beneath the glowing water. The realization sent warmth rushing through her that had nothing to do with the heated spring surrounding her body.
And judging by the way Kaelan’s gaze lingered upon her face before slowly lowering and lifting once more…
He was not untouched by the moment either.
Kaelan forced his attention away from thoughts better left alone.
The steam concealed some of her, yet somehow that only worsened matters. Glimpses of pale skin through drifting mist tempted far more dangerously than full sight ever could.
He should not have come into the cave. Yet leaving her alone here had never truly been possible. Not after the fear he sensed in her earlier. Or after the confusion Kilham and Winnie stirred within her. Not when every instinct within him demanded he remain near enough to protect her.
Kaelan leaned back slightly against the smooth stone edge of the pool, studying her quietly. Even half-hidden in shadows, he could still sense tension lingering within her despite her efforts to hide it. Something troubled her deeply more than Driochmor itself and more than the council.
He fought the urge to take her in his arms and comfort her. It would not be a wise idea, not wise at all. But he would find out what was disturbing her and do his best to ease her concern.
He failed at keeping his voice even, too intent on having an answer. “What is truly troubling you, Bria?”
She bristled at his commanding tone, then saw the concern in his eyes. He worried over her and that eased her annoyance. Though it did not help her in deciding whether she should share with him what Winnie had told her.
Her obvious reluctance to talk to him struck a spark of frustration in him. He wanted this done between them, settled, but he could not push her, could not take her in his arms and kiss her until she surrendered. However, surrender was not what he was looking for from her. It was more, so much more, and she had to give it freely.
Kaelan softened his tone, though it remained strong. “You can trust me, Bria.”
She watched him drift a little closer and while she thought to back away, keep her distance, she didn’t. She remained where she was.
“Part of me does trust you and another part…” She shook her head and went to turn away.
His arm reached out to gently circle her waist and keep her there, though he dared not bring her close, dared not let their bodies touch.
“Continues to be confused over me,” he finished.
Bria knew he would not stop her if she moved away from him, but she didn’t want to. His touch brought her comfort, lessened her worries, and she wanted nothing more than to rest her head on his chest and linger in…
What? What was it she truly wanted to linger in?
She didn’t want to admit, though she had allowed herself to think she was falling in love with him. Though it made no sense. And yet she loved being with him, sharing in this journey, this adventure she could have never imagined or would have thought to take.
Life was good just as it was. She didn’t need any more than what she had at Willowmere. At least that was what she believed until Kaelan entered her life.
One touch. One. That was all it took and now she didn’t want to be separated from him. That alone shocked her but learning from Winnie that her roots lay in Driochmor and her gift of touch came from it as well was something she did not want to believe or accept.
The prospect of it frightened her and made her want to retreat to a safe place, Willowmere. But she was safe with Kaelan. Wasn’t she?
Her touch comforted and never without permission, but it wasn’t comfort she sought to give right now. It was what she wanted, needed to know for herself.
