Page 28 of His Noble Savior

“Let’s go inside,” Lilian breathed, and so many unsaid things swung in his words. Promises.

Richard couldn’t listen to them. Taking things slowly was key.

Back in the castle, he asked the servants to prepare a bath. He could dry off, but Lilian needed to warm up, and a nice, long soak in hot water would do that. Lilian was getting stronger, but risking his progress with a cold was a bad idea.

The steward caught Richard before he ascended the stairs. “There’s a missive from the Spring Court, my lord,” she said. “I’ve placed it on your writing room desk. The messenger who delivered it said it was important.”

“Thank you,” Richard said. He’d get to it later.

Lilian shot him a sidelong glance. The missive was likely from Queen Dahlia, who wanted to advance negotiations regarding her daughter’s betrothal to Richard. He couldn’t think aboutthat. There was enormous pressure on him to marry up, but having kissed Lilian, he didn’t want to go through with it.

Soon, the attendants carried buckets of steaming water up the stairs, filling the tub in Richard’s chambers. Once the bath was prepared, Richard turned to his washroom shelves. He owned a collection of fragrant oils and asked Lilian to choose one.

“I want the spring flower oil,” Lilian said, picking up a flask filled with a rose-colored liquid.

Richard smiled. Spring flowers. Lilian’s scent.

Lilian uncorked the vial and poured a little into the tub. Light pink bubbles rose. Setting the flask aside, Lilian stripped off his shirt. Richard tried and failed to look away.

“Would you like me to stay while you bathe?” Richard asked. With Lilian’s renewed strength and independence, he wasn’t sure if he still wanted him around.

Lilian froze with his thumbs in the waistband of his trousers, ready to push them down. He furrowed his brow.

“I’ll leave. I just wanted to see if—”

Confusion contorted Lilian’s pretty features. “Leave? You don’t want to bathe with me?”

Richard must’ve given him a horror-stricken expression because the next emotion crossing Lilian’s face was hurt. It stung like a knife. Hurting Lilian was the last thing he wanted. Richard had to explain why he couldn’t join Lilian in the tub. But how? He’d give himself away.

Slowly, as if Lilian was a fawn he was trying not to spook, Richard placed a hand on his upper arm. Lilian shivered.

“I’d like to, but it’s not a good idea,” Richard said.

“Why not?” Lilian’s eyes were wide and teary, like a kicked puppy’s.

For God’s sake, how was Richard supposed to deny him when Lilian looked at him like that? He sighed.

“Lilian… We kissed. I’m attracted to you. The water is hot. Ifyou and I go in there naked, I might get hard—no, Iwillget hard—and I don’t want to make you uncomfortable or scare you. I’m supposed to help you heal and protect you, and I need to ensure I’m able to do that.”

“You’re attracted to me?”

Was that the bit, out of all the things Richard had said, Lilian latched onto? Seriously? “Is it not obvious?”

Lilian stepped closer and pressed a kiss to Richard’s lips, brief as the beat of a butterfly wing. “Join me in the bath. I insist. It’s fine if your body reacts to me. I react to you too.”

Chapter Ten

Lilian

Lilian didn’t wait for Richard’s response. He peeled off his soaking wet trousers and climbed into the steaming wooden tub, quietly moaning as he sank into its warmth. It sucked the cold out of him, the floral scent of the oil soothing his soul. Hopefully, Richard didn’t see the color in his cheeks or would attribute it to the heat of the bath.

“Come in and hold me,” Lilian said and fixed his gaze on the pearly bubbles, not daring to look up, fearing rejection.

The sounds of wet clothes being removed filled the small room, stirring hope in Lilian’s aching heart. He longed to be skin-to-skin with Richard. Richard, who was attracted to him. Could it be true? Richard had never lied to him. He had no reason to. He hadn’t kissed Lilian back out of a sense of duty or to reassure him. He’d kissed Lilian because he’d wanted to.

Lilian shuffled forward in the bath, creating space for Richard to climb in behind him. A splash sounded, followed by a low groan as Richard settled in. Why did he have to sound so seductive? His legs slid past Lilian, encasing him. Lilian aimed to put his hands to the tub’s floor, wanting to push off and move, but all he found were Richard’s knees.

“Sorry,” Lilian mumbled.