Page 93 of Crown of Roses
“We’ll stay where it’s shallow, I promise. It’ll be just you and me. It’s safe here.” He smoothed her hair back from her face, and his lavender eyes left her melting against him. “I’ll protect you. I’ll be right beside you the whole time, and I won’t let you drown.”
He bent down and planted a kiss where her neck and shoulder met, then trailed the spot with his tongue. “You’re safe with me.”
Uncertainty kept her rooted in place. She wanted to go into the water with him. She wanted her feet to move. She wanted to be carefree. Wild and reckless. She didn’t want to be consumed with doubt, worry, and fear. But it was hard. It was hard to let go of who she’d always been, in order to find the person she wanted to become.
“If you’re going to survive in Faeven, you’re going to need to know how to swim, right?” He offered his hand again, waited patiently for her to decide.
“I suppose you’re right.” She wished he wasn’t.
“Will you let me teach you?”
Maeve’s mind warred with wanting to overcome one of her greatest fears, and worrying she would drown from sheer panic. Dread was the only thing holding her back. Apprehension would keep her rooted on the soft, grassy bank. She’d faced down dark fae, monsters and terrors; she could conquer the water, and she would do it for herself. With one stiff nod, she allowed him to lead her to the dazzling waters of the faerie pool.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Maeve froze at the edge of the bank and looked down at the pool. Her toes curled into the grass, clutching its emerald blades like they were strong enough to hold her in place. The bed of the pool was made of smooth stones in varying shades of gray, and up close, the flowing water shimmered beneath the shifting rays of the sun. She itched to submerge herself, to sink below its glittering surface. But her boldness was lacking.
Rowan, however, looked completely at home. He kicked off his boots, and when he stripped off his pants, Maeve swore her entire body turned scarlet.
He was beautiful.
His scarred upper body remained perfect despite his wounds, and his lower half…well, Maeve had to clamp her jaw shut to keep from gaping. Sinewy thighs gave way to lean calves, and sun and sky, even his backside looked carved from granite. Delicious warmth spread through her once more, and though she’d yet to see the front of him in daylight, she was certain every inch of him would be just as impressive.
Her nipples hardened into tiny little buds out of spite.
One minute he was on the grassy knoll beside her and the next, he was jumping into the faerie pool. His entire body went under and Maeve held her breath, counting the seconds until he reemerged.
Rowan burst through the surface, a smile stretched across his face, and he swam toward her. “Take off your dress, Princess.”
Maeve reached for the hem, then paused. “Wait a minute. Isn’t this a glamour? Couldn’t you just…poof it out of existence?”
His grin widened. “Poof, you say?”
She tossed him a look. “You know what I meant.”
“I could, but it’s much more fun to watch you undress for me.” He moved his arms through the water, treading it around him like ribbons of sapphire, and Maeve found herself stealing a glance below his waist, wanting just a peek.
“If you want to see,” his voice drew her closer to the water’s edge, “you have to get in.”
Lips pressed together, she bunched the fabric in both of her fists, then lifted her arms up overhead. She pulled the dress off slowly, intentionally, pleased to find his eyes had darkened to a lovely shade of blackened purple at the sight of her naked.
Subconsciously, her hand drifted to her thigh. Smooth leather wrapped around her, and her Aurastone was safely tucked inside. He hadn’t left her without a weapon this time. Rowan nodded encouragingly. Clinging to the shreds of fear that bound her, Maeve stepped into the pool and the cool water rushed over her ankles and calves, sifting higher to her thighs as she moved closer to Rowan’s side. She gasped when it rose over her abdomen, then to the underside of her breasts. The pebbles shifted beneath her feet, and with every step she took, Rowan’s smile faded. He moved through the pool, and his hands gripped her waist, pulling her against him.
“You are exquisite.” He kissed her lightly on the nose. “And now, we work.”
Maeve reared back. “Work?”
“Yes.” He gestured behind him, to the wide expanse of the pool. “I’m going to erase your fear of the water.”
Panic sluiced over her, but he held her hands inside both of his larger ones. “No harm will come to you. Hold your breath.”
“What?”
“Hold your breath.”
Maeve squeezed her eyes shut and sucked in a deep breath. Rowan’s arm slid around her and then they went under the water together. Immeasurable fear sunk its claws into Maeve, and her arms flailed. She cut through the pool, begging for the surface. And then, as quickly as they submerged, Rowan lifted her up.
Maeve gasped and shoved her wet hair back from her face.
