LERRIN

She tasted like honey, and her breath fluttered on his skin like the wings of a summer butterfly.

Suhle freed him from the leathers and the chill breeze hit his skin, but he barely noticed as her hands drew around his hips, to slide down and cup his ass, pushing the leathers before them until they sagged down his legs and he could step out of them, kicking them away without breaking the kiss.

Suhle, he sent, cupping her face and pulling her close.

Step back, she sent back.

Lerrin released her immediately, his heart thundering.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to—

"

"No, Lerrin,

" she giggled.

"I meant, step back into the bowl. So I can bathe you.

"

He blinked, then turned his head to find that depression in the earth just a handful of steps away.

And when he walked to it, noting the shelter the rocks gave from the wind, then turned, Suhle was walking towards him with two of the waterskins in her hand, and a bar of soap.

She walked to the edge of it and placed the soap and one of the waterskins on one of the rocks, then uncapped the second and, her eyes locked on his, she held it up to begin pouring it slowly down his body.

Warm water trailed down his back and chest, tickling and rippling, rising goosebumps in its wake at the delicious sensation. He hadn't bathed properly in weeks and it had been a struggle. The fact that she prioritized this for him… the sheer gratitude in him wanted to close his throat.

Suhle turned away to pick up the soap, then continued to pour the warm water slowly over him with one hand, rubbing the soap over his chest, stomach, and sides with the other.

A few drops had already splashed onto the nightdress she wore and it went see through where it was wet, clinging to her stomach, her flesh showing through underneath.

Lerrin put his hand to the spot, covering it with his palm, warming it.

"Aren't you cold?

" he whispered as the waterskin emptied and Suhle reached for the second one.

She shook her head, but didn't meet his eyes.

"I find myself… warmed tonight,

" she breathed.

A bolt of desire slammed through Lerrin and his cock twitched. Suhle smiled, but didn't mention it, stepping to his side as she uncapped the second waterskin and began to slowly circle him, pouring the water and soaping his skin under the stream of it as she moved.

When she was behind him she hesitated, and Lerrin went tense. Was she changing her mind? But with an audible swallow, Suhle lifted the waterskin higher, over his shoulder and, leaning her forehead on the center of his back, right on his spine, poured the water down his chest again, reaching around with her other hand and washing him.

All of him.

His entire body tensed as he watched her slowly grip him, soaping him up and cleaning him… very thoroughly.

Lerrin groaned her name and she lost her nerve, her hand coming off of him—shaking, he realized. Before she could draw away, he caught that beautiful, small hand and brought it up to his chest, flattening it against his heart.

"This is the part of me that needs you, Suhle,

" he said hoarsely.

"Everything else is…

"

"Just wait,

" she whispered, then pulled away from him. He didn't catch her hand again as she let him go and hurried over to the fire. His heart sank. He had pushed too hard, too fast. He would make it up to her. She needed space, and he would give it. But he prayed… he prayed the day would come when fear wouldn't enter this for her. That she would look at him and see only the male who loved her. No danger. None.

Then she stooped next to the fire and picked up two more waterskins, trotting back to him and his mouth went dry again. Her breasts bounced, the nipples partly visible underneath her nightdress because he'd been wet when she leaned into his back.

His eyes locked on her nipples, dark and peaked under the thin fabric, and he told himself he had to look away. If she was coming back, if this wasn't over, she needed space and—

I love it when you look at me like that, she sent.

He tore his eyes from her chest to her eyes to measure her for truth.

"Truly? It doesn't make you feel afraid or… or anything?

"

She shook her head.

"When other males do it, it makes me tense. When you do it, it makes me… want,

" she said, and even by moonlight he could see the blush rise in her cheeks.

Then she was at his side in the bowl of the earth again, and uncapping a waterskin. She knelt for a moment, pouring the water down his legs and hurrying to soap him, but she was moving faster, being practical, getting him clean as she would have months ago in the tent. A task to be completed.

He stood there, his arousal plain for her to see, though she ignored it, and ached for her. Prayed that she wouldn't be frightened forever.

When she'd wet and soaped his arms, she turned the waterskin on its head to make sure all of it had wet him, then she turned for the last one, uncapping it and looking up at him.

"You're almost clean,

" she said, pouring a trickled down his arm.

He nodded.

"I have a towel. I will dry you,

" she said, tipping her head at the rocks, where one of their towels was folded neatly on top of a small boulder.

Lerrin cleared his throat again.

"Okay.

"

"And then… then I want to show you something.

"

The words were so benign, and so heavy with promise, he almost whimpered.

"I will follow you anywhere, Suhle,

" he said honestly.

She'd turned her head down to pour the water down his stomach and legs, circling him again. But her lips curled up on both sides.

"And I'd follow you anywhere, Lerrin. Anywhere.

"

When she'd circled him completely, the waterskin ran dry and she stepped to the side to reach for the towel—but he caught her elbow and turned her back.

"You are not my servant,

" he said firmly and stepped over to get the towel for himself, snapping it to shake it out, then toweling his chest and arms before leaning down to dry his legs.

But this time she caught him, her hands fisted in the towel. Lerrin froze.

"Serving you does not make me a servant, Lerrin,

" she said softly.

"It is only a demonstration of love.

"

He looked up at her, and she smiled so broadly, he couldn't do anything but let her take the towel and dry the rest of him very, very thoroughly.