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“Oh.” My hand dropped. I hadn’t realized I’d lifted it.
“Water is sacred to the Salticidae.” He touched my cheek. “I have a healthy respect for Old Father and his walking stick. Otherwise, I would have left you under Mana’s supervision.”
Better for us both that he hadn’t. “No touching then.”
“Not while your skin is bare and your eyes are willing.” His grin turned wry. “I placed more faith in myself than was wise. Resisting you clothed is difficult, while naked it’s nigh impossible.” His fingers sank in my hair. “I thought coming to the water would be safer for us.”
“You mean with your honor to hold you accountable and my fear to keep me honest?”
He chuckled. “Something like that.”
I touched his arm. “I respect their beliefs, but I know myself and own my desire.”
He cleared his throat. “I believe I said I owned my actions.”
With a careless shrug that cost me the dregs of my modesty, I stood on knees weak enough to be swayed by the current. Sacred waters kept my virtue untouched, but it also kept Rhys untouched. Digging my toes into the sandy bottom, I owned my desire. My innocence was his. He would be my husband. I knew him well enough to understand he would never let me go.
“Come, partisan.” I curled my fingers. “Help me bathe, then take me to your home.”
I heard him swallow. “As my maven wishes.”
No super deed goes unpunished…
