Page 114 of Crown of Briars
“It’s been an hour. I thought that would be long enough for you to dress for bed, but clearly, I was wrong.” He sounded like he was trying not to laugh.
I rubbed my head. Anhour? Stones… What the hell was wrong with me? “Sorry,” I muttered. “It was just so comfortable.”
Varius chuckled. “No need to apologize. I’ve done it myself a handful of times. I’ll give you a moment.”
He retreated into the room, and I loosed a breath, still mortified. After ensuring he was gone, I climbed out of the bathing hole and grabbed a folded towel Enzira had left nearby before wrapping it around myself. My sopping wet hair clung to my body, and I quickly wrung it out so it wouldn’t drip so much. Already I was shivering, yearning to return to the heat of the springs.
I glanced around the chamber, frowning when I didn’t see my nightgown anywhere. My eyes shifted to the doorway leading to the room.
Ordinarily, Enzira would lay my clothes out on the bed. She likely had done that here as well. I scowled, unsure if the mistake had been innocent, or if Enzira had known I would have to traipse naked through the room with Varius here.
With a deep breath, I lifted my chin and strode into the bedchamber as if I belonged there. I kept my gaze firmly fixedon the bed, noting the lacy, translucent undergarment waiting for me.
Irritation prickled through me. Oh, Enzira haddefinitelydone this on purpose. This was the most scandalous garment I owned. It was about as modest as the red dress I wore to the revel.
A strangled sound came from the desk where Varius was sitting. I didn’t glance at him as I snatched the undergarment and turned back to the bathing chamber.
“You—I—” Varius cleared his throat. “Should I leave again?”
I finally looked at him. He was rubbing the back of his neck, his gaze fixed on the floor. If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve said he wasblushing.
I couldn’t help myself. I grinned at him. “Varius, you have seen me in much more revealing clothing than this.” I gestured to the towel around my body.
He coughed. “It was dark at the revel.”
My eyes narrowed. “You have fae sight.”
“I—I simply wasn’t expecting you. Like this.” He waved a hand at me, still not meeting my gaze.
Reminders of how he had taunted me before rose to my thoughts. I smiled and inched toward him, noting the way his body went rigid in his chair.
“I am your wife, you know,” I said. “It wouldn’t be totally inappropriate for me to walk naked through the room.”
His eyes darkened as he glared at me. “We haven’t consummated.”
“That didn’t stop you from pulling me onto your lap and stroking me with your shadows.”
“Andyoustrokedmewhen we danced.”
I leaned closer, my face hovering over his. “But you liked it, didn’t you?”
A deep sound rumbled in his throat, like a moan mixed witha growl. He gritted his teeth, his nostrils flaring, and I remembered what he said about scenting arousal.
Could he smell it on me now?
“Are you going to change?” he bit out. “Or will you continue to torment me?”
Quoting his words to me from a few days ago, I said with a laugh, “You make it so easy,dannahla.”
I turned and strode into the bathing chamber. Perhaps I let my towel drop just before I disappeared from view.
Perhaps I heard Varius’s sharp intake of breath as he no doubt saw my exposed backside.
As I slipped on my nightgown, I thought of the scene I had witnessed through the mirror. Had it been real? I had watched Varius give Tislora the vial of my blood. After leaving me, it would make sense for him to have gone straight to the apothecary so Tislora could make the elixir.
What other explanation was there? That scenehadto have been real.
Varius had defended me in front of Tislora. He had threatened to kill her for insulting me.
