The washstand wasn’t overly large, but it was sturdy. She put her hands on it and shoved. It slid easily over the floor and she kept going until it was in front of the hidden door. It wouldn’t stop anyone from getting in, but it would hinder them. More importantly, it would give her enough warning to jump out of the tub and grab the robe if someone tried.
Satisfied the door was as secure as she could make it, Sam padded back to the tub and stuck her hand into the water. She nearly moaned aloud when the heat permeated her chilled skin. She was sweaty and sticky after everything that happened yesterday and dearly wanted to get clean. And since there was no shower, the bath would have to do.
She slipped off the robe and draped it over a small stool that stood beside the tub. A washcloth, bar of soap and a towel sat on a ledge on the opposite side. Gripping the wooden sides for stability, Sam stepped into the tub and lowered herself into the steaming hot water.
“Oh, this is wonderful.” Working on the farm left her little time for relaxing. A quick shower in the morning and another one before supper was what she was used to. This was sheer decadence.
The tub was large, probably because it had to be big enough to fit Darian. No, scratch that thought. She didn’t want to imagine a naked Darian, all the prime male flesh and muscles wet and aroused as he relaxed in the water.
Sam groaned and slid entirely beneath the water, letting it flow over her. No worries about it cooling off, not with the hot fantasizes her mind was weaving. She pushed up to a seated position, shoved her slick, wet hair away from her face and reached for the soap.
She examined the large bar first, sniffing it. A light floral scent tickled her nostrils. It smelled a lot like lavender and seemed to be infused with bits of herb or flower. She normally used a cheap brand of soap—the same kind her brother had used—so this was a luxury. She rubbed it over her arms and legs, enjoying the way it lightly bubbled.
Closing her eyes, she inhaled the light fragrance. Immediately, her mind conjured an image of a bubble-covered Jace reclining in the tub. She groaned and covered her face with her hands. “Stop it.” She had to quit thinking about the brothers in such a way. In two days they’d go their separate ways and probably never see one another again.
She opened her eyes, ignoring the tight feeling in her chest when she thought about never seeing either man again. Looking around, she didn’t notice anything resembling shampoo so she used the soap on her hair, scrubbing her scalp and lathering her tresses. When she was ready, she slid down in the tub again, using her hands to try to rinse it. What she’d really like was a bucket of clean water, but this would have to do.
Sam sat upright in the tub, swiping the water away from her eyes. A towel appeared before her. She jerked around, sending water sloshing over the rim of the tub and cascading onto the floor.
Jace crouched next to her, calmly holding the towel. He was dressed as he’d been yesterday with leather pants, boots and vest, along with those metal arm- and wristbands. Once again, he had two skinny braids on either side of his rugged face. He was even better looking than she remembered. Or maybe she only felt that way because she was coming to know him better. None of which mattered. What mattered was he was in the bathroom with her.
“How did you get in here?” The secret door was still barred by the washstand. She almost smacked herself in the head at her stupidity. She hadn’t blocked the bedroom entrance. She’d assumed the closed bathroom door would be enough to keep someone from coming in unannounced. Obviously, she’d been wrong to believe that. She pulled her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, feeling very exposed and vulnerable.
Jace sighed and wiped the water from her face. “Do you want me to rinse your hair for you?”
“There’s no clean water.”
Jace reached around to the bottom of the tub and pulled out a bucket. Somehow when she was pushing the washstand against the door, she’d missed seeing it.
She chewed on her bottom lip. It would be stupid not to use the water. “I can do it,” she began.
He shook his head and lifted the bucket, holding it expectantly.
Sam sighed, recognizing the stubborn glint in his eyes. She knelt, careful to keep as much of herself covered as possible. Maybe it was stupid. No, scratch that, it was totally stupid. He’d already seen all there was to see of her last night. But she’d never been one to flaunt herself and wasn’t comfortable having him here while she was naked in her bath.
Lowering her head, she waited.
Jace slowly poured the clean water over her hair. Strong fingers combed through the strands, making certain all the soap was gone. Sam sighed, enjoying the feeling of being pampered and cared for. Moments like these had been far and few in her life, especially coming from a man.
When he was done, he lowered the bucket and squeezed the excess water from her hair. “Sit back.”
Sam maneuvered into a seated position, all the while keeping her legs bent to her chest. Thankfully the soapy water helped to hide her.
Jace sighed and cupped her face in his hands. He leaned down and kissed her, the quick movement startling her. He deepened the kiss until their tongues were tangling together and Sam forgot why it wasn’t a good reason to be kissing him.
Before she knew it, her traitorous body was responding to his nearness. Her hands crept over his firmly muscled chest to his broad shoulders, clinging to him while she lost herself in their heated kiss. Oh, he tasted good, like apples, tart and sweet at the same time.
By the time he pulled back, she was gasping for breath, but she wasn’t alone. Jace was just as affected by the kiss as she was. “Why?” he asked her. “Why hide yourself from me. I told you to be sure last night. I will not leave you now.”
She remembered him telling her that last night, but she’d been too far gone with passion to care. “I’m not used to having a man see me naked in the bathtub in the middle of the morning.” Or at any other time of the day for that matter. She’d only ever gotten naked with a man in bed. This was a new experience for her.
Jace smiled. “I am glad.”
Oh, yeah. No mistaking the satisfied male smile. But, surprisingly, it didn’t piss her off. Instead, she found herself smiling.
“I will dry you.” Jace stood and grabbed the towel. Shaking it out, he held it and waited. Sam sat in the cooling water, trying to decide what to do. Should she let him dry her or should she send him away? In spite of everything, she felt in her heart he’d leave her if she truly wanted him to. The question was what did she want?
Sam took a deep breath, grabbed the sides of the tub and stood.
Every muscle in his body was tense as Jace waited to see what Sam would do. He’d risen early, as was his habit, and after breaking his fast went to the stables to check on his new stallion. But he hadn’t been able to stay away. The picture of Sam, soft and warm in his brother’s bed haunted him. He’d held her through part of the long night, marveling at how well she’d fit in his arms.
Pride and self-preservation had driven him from her side, but curiosity, need and, yes, a small sliver of hope had driven him back to her side.
When he’d entered the room and found the bed empty, he’d panicked for a moment, wondering if the tapestry had already appeared and taken her home. The magic seemed to be working to new rules this time around. Ones he didn’t understand.
His heart had skipped a beat and then started racing when he heard the water splashing in the other room. Sam was taking a bath. The temptation to see her wet and naked was too much to resist. He’d stood for several long minutes in the doorway, watching her scrub her hair. She’d been humming a tune he didn’t recognize and he’d been totally enthralled by the sensual picture she made.