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“You did say that you wanted to shower first.” Taly pressed against the wall just out of the way of the spray.

He glared at her. Or tried to. It was a valiant effort with water dripping off his nose and chin.

She tried to hold it in—she really did—but a snort slipped out. Then another. Then she was gone, and Skye followed. In seconds, they were both doubled over, laughing harder than they had in years—gasping, clinging to each other like they might collapse from it. Like they were still kids.

It felt normal. In a way she’d been afraid she’d never get back with everything that had happened between them.

“You’re soaked,” Taly gasped between giggles, brushing water off the shoulder of his overcoat.

“And now you are too.” He wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her towards the spray—holding her there while she laughed and slapped his shoulders becauseshitthat water was cold.

“Truce?” Skye asked when her hair was dripping, her curls a tangled mess against her back. He was shivering, so was she, and—

“Fine.” She danced back as soon as he put her down, turning the faucet to warm.

He kicked off his boots, and she quickly followed, her shoes already waterlogged, her thick winter socks completely soaked through.

Coats came next, collecting in a pile on the floor.

Taly turned, lifting her hair so Skye could tug at her laces. She took a deep breath when the velvet bodice finally came off, the first she’d been able to take freely all evening.

His hands went to her hair next, helping to pluck out the pins. She sighed softly as his fingers kneaded her aching scalp.

“This is still my shower,” she said, removing the glamoured bracelet. Water magic evaporated from her skin, mixing with the steam already collecting in the air. Tilting her head towards the spray, she scrubbed what felt like residue from her face.

Skye tore his shirt over his head. “Kick me out then.”

“I’m going to. As soon as the truce is over,” she threw out, openly admiring the sight of that lean, powerful body. He ripped off his belt. The muscles of his abdomen flexed with the motion. “You’re going to have to earn more time if you want to stay.”

His gaze darkened, heat flickering behind it. “And how would I do that?”

Taly was suddenly glad for the wall, leaning heavily against it as Skye took his turn beneath the shower head. Her eyes tracked the rivulets of water flowing down his chest, breaking against the edges of his ribs before converging at the sharp taper of his hips.

“Taly?”

Her eyes flicked up. From somewhere far away, she saw her lips tilt into a sly smile as she angled her head, sultry and smooth and entirely by accident. “Use your imagination.”

She turned toward the spray. Hot water hit her face. Then Skye’s hands landed on her shoulders. In the next breath, he had her spun around and pressed back against the wall.

The fabric of her shirt was soaked through, nearly sheer, as it clung to her breasts. He pushed her hair off her shoulders before attacking the buttons.

A bit of that shyness bubbled up. “What are you doing?” she whispered, heart beating too fast. She was sure he could hear it, probably felt it where his fingers brushed her skin.

“Using my imagination.” There went the first button. “You said I needed to earn more time.” There went the second, then the third. “I can also work buckles and zippers.”

She swallowed hard. “It’s a start, I suppose.”

The smile he gave her promised such dark, wicked things.

The last button slipped free. Steam wafted against her rain-soaked skin as he gently nudged the edges of her shirt open, revealing the swells of her breasts. But he went no farther.

His hands dropped.

A question, she realized. A chance to turn back. If she told him to leave, he would.

She hesitated—just for a moment, just long enough to gather her courage. Then she peeled off the sodden garment and let it drop to the floor.

An answer.