Page 126 of Of Masks and Fury

“No soap,” he said. “But the water should help.”

I closed my eyes, surrendering to his touch. He massaged my scalp, working through the remnants of Mae’s creation. Random pins clinked against stone as he removed them one by one and tossed them out of the pool.

The intimacy of it stole my breath. This wasn’t about desire or need. This was pure tenderness.

When he’d worked through all the pins and tangles, he cupped water and trickled it over my head, rinsing. I tilted my head back, letting the water sluice over me.

At my guidance, he settled onto the ledge beside me, and I moved between his legs. His hair was shorter than mine but still long enough to run my fingers through. I mimicked his movements, massaging his scalp, working through any knots.

He groaned, his head falling forward.

“Like that?” I asked.

“Exactly like that.”

I took my time, drawing out the moment, savoring the way his muscles relaxed beneath my touch. This man carried the weight of a kingdom on his shoulders. He’d walked into certain death for me. He’d never stopped fighting. I would give him this. Peace. Care. Love.

When I’d finished, I pressed a kiss to the nape of his neck.

“Mmm, if this is how you unwind me, I may have to declare you my personal attendant forever,” he teased, his voice a rumble of contentment mixed with rising heat. “But fair warning, Minx. Keepkissing me like that, and I’ll have you pinned against this ledge, showing you exactly how grateful I am.”

I nipped at his ear, my hands lingering on his shoulders. “Promises, promises. I love you fierce and undone, Trew.”

He caught my hand. The heat in his eyes had intensified, and his pupils had blown wide.

“I love you,” he said. “I need you to know that. Every stubborn, fierce, beautiful part of you.”

My eyes filled again. “I love you too.”

He cupped my face. “Be brave with me. Build a life with me. Marry me, Isi, not because fate demands it, but because my soul recognized yours from the moment our eyes met. You’re the fire in my veins. I don’t want a goddess on a pedestal, Isi. I want the woman who stabbed me and stole my heart in the same breath. I’ll spend every day proving that yours is the only throne I ever wanted to kneel before.”

My thoughts scattered, and now I couldn’t hold back my tears. “Yes.” The word came out choked. “Yes I’ll marry you.”

“Isi. Love. There’s no one I adore more than you. Say it again. Tell me you’ll be mine, with all your stubborn spark and that smile that drives me wild.”

I grinned through my tears, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Yes, you impossible man. I’ll marry you. Today, tomorrow, and every day after that. But only if you promise to keep looking at me like I’m your greatest treasure. And maybe ravish me under the stars every chance we get.”

His laugh was pure joy filled with hunger. “Deal sealed, Minx. Now let’s start practicing that ravishing part.”

His hands slid down my sides, gripping my waist and pulling me onto his lap. I straddled him, the position bringing us flush together. The hard length of him pressed against my core, separated only by water.

I rolled my hips.

His guttural groan rang out.

“Tell me what you want,” I said.

“You.” His fingers dug into my hips. “All of you. Every way I can have you.”

“Then take me.”

He kissed me hard, his tongue sweeping into my mouth as his hands roamed over my body. He cupped my breasts, his thumbs brushing my nipples until I gasped against his mouth.

“That’s it,” he whispered. “Let me hear you, love.”

His mouth moved to my neck, kissing and nibbling on the sensitive skin there. I arched into him, stroking his back and sides.

When his lips closed around one nipple, I nearly came apart. He sucked and licked, his teeth grazing the sensitive peak until I was writhing in his lap.