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His voice is warm–enchanting even–and every time he smiles I have this odd urge to do it too. “Turn around.”
I spin on my heels and pull my hair over one shoulder. “You just untie—”
“I’m fully aware of how a corset works, but thank you.”
My entire body is blushing at this point. Knees and all.
He pulls on the strings, loosening up the corset tie and layer that goes over it. The first layer slips over my head and he tosses it onto a chair on the far side of the bathroom. His rough fingers brush against my skin as he finishes untying the corset strings, and I can’t help but shiver at his touch. He’s gentle, despite his rugged persona, and I’m reminded once again of the many layers that make up my husband.
There’s the kind, gentle, charming man I danced with, that I’m here with now. Then there’s the obnoxiously lethal man I saw in the arena today, the one who’d likely kill me if he ever discovered my mark. I’m still not sure what to do about that. Regardless, my brain doesn’t know how to process that both of those people can be the same man undressing me now.
Sebastian tosses away the boned corset and gently slides the stretchy neckline of my slip over my shoulders until it starts to fall down my arms. It doesn’t plummet to the floor, but it’s enough to expose my shoulders and enough of my back that the mark and my scars would be visible had my father and his mages not concealed them.
Warmth flutters over my shoulder before his lips press to the crook of my neck. It causes the air to become trapped in my lungs, but I twist my head, giving him better access anyway. It’s heavenly… and it’s so mundane. He carefully pushes the dress down my arms, sending goosebumps rising to the surface of my skin.
“You still have to get in the tub, Scarlet. I’m not sure this will work with you out here,” he teases, his voice low and seductive.
I laugh nervously, acutely aware of my growing attraction to him. “Right, of course.”
Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I step into the warm water, feeling it rise around me as Sebastian follows suit. He picks up a sponge, lathering it with soap before gently starting to wash my hair.
“Close your eyes.” His lips brush against my ear as he speaks, and I comply, feeling the tension begin to drain from my body as his fingers massage my scalp. Holy… fuck. This is the meaning of bliss. I’m sure of it.
“Your hair is beautiful.” Sebastian runs his fingers through the length, setting my long, white locks over my shoulder as he goes. “I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”
“Thank you,” I reply, my cheeks warming with a blush. “It’s not exactly common.”
“Neither are you,” he says, and I can hear the smile in his voice.
Only my family has snow-white hair. Not even the elves do. The lightest theirs gets is silver. My father claims it has to do with his experiments. That altering our genetics causes the phenomenon. I don’t have much choice but to believe it, seeing as my father’s blond and my mother’s was dark.
I chuckle, opening my eyes to meet his gaze. “You’re quite the charmer, aren’t you?”
“Only when it’s warranted.” There’s a playful glint in his eyes. “And with you, I have a feeling it most certainly is. Let’s just say, I can feel it in my soul how nervous you are. And for some reason, that settles a bit when I speak.”
“I think it’s your voice.”
“Are you telling me I’m not romancing you right?”
“Didn’t say that…but there’s something about your voice that makes it feel like I can breathe.” For all that’s holy, please tell me I didn’t just say that out loud… I just met the man. I can’t say things like that. Yet, he’s the only person who’s ever shown me kindness and treated me like a person and not a sacrifice. It’s hard not to revel in it.
“I’m sorry that your own family has treated you this way.”
“What do you mean?”
“All day you’ve been treated like a lamb being led to slaughter. I mean, they inspected you before offering you up on a silver platter to whoever wins. It’s wrong.”
“Yet, you competed.”
“Not for you. I did it for a pardon or a truce. My people need to find something important on the mainland. They couldn’t when there’s a reward on our heads. Not just for criminal charges either, but because we don’t wear one of your father’s cuffs. Whether you were offered to me or not, I would’ve entered. It still doesn’t make it fair for you to have been paraded around a ballroom like a prized possession. What would you have done if that troll had won?”
“I would’ve fulfilled my duty. The gauntlets are the only thing keeping the clans from war. One person’s life doesn’t mean anything when it’s compared to the hundreds and thousands that would die if the realm went to war again amongst itself.”
“So, you would’ve just played the part of sacrificial lamb?” His fingers twirl around my hair as he watches the way the ends of the strands fray when they’re submerged in water.
“Yes. I’m glad it didn’t go that way, though.”
Sebastian’s eyes widen slightly, taken aback by the revelation. “It’s barbaric.”
