Page 5

CHAPTER FIVE

N arissa was in horrific agony.

Her temples were throbbing, a relentless ache that she could feel deep in her bones.

Though her eyes were squeezed shut, she could sense the blinding light of mid-morning pouring in through the stained glass window, warming her face.

But she didn’t want to open her eyes, she didn’t want to remember that she was trapped in a loveless marriage with a male who could barely tolerate being in the same room as her.

The memory of the way Solarius looked at her in the mirror while he undressed her sent a rush of nausea coursing through Narissa.

Then again, it likely had less to do with him and more to do with the fact that she was recovering from her overindulgence.

Her blood pumped through her veins like sludge, her mouth felt as though she’d rinsed it with a handful of sand from the beach, and each time she moved, her stomach sloshed with the remnants of last night’s winter berry wine.

She winced, cautiously stretching one arm out to the other side of the bed, only to find it cold and empty.

Of course, Solarius had left her.

She honestly shouldn’t be surprised, nor should she have expected anything less.

On second thought, it might be best for her to hold no expectations of him or their relationship whatsoever.

Then she would never be disappointed.

On a groan, Narissa eased herself up into a sitting position and blinked open her eyes against the harsh stream of sunlight.

Rude, that it should be such a beautiful day when she was feeling so feeble and out of sorts.

She swiped under her eyes, wincing when kohl mixed with a sheen of gold from the previous day’s liner smudged her fingertips.

A cursory glance in the floor-length gilded mirror left her cringing and scowling at her own reflection in distaste.

She was an absolute mess.

Her waves were frizzy and chaotic, much like how they looked after the downpour of a summer storm.

The skin beneath her eyes was smeared with leftover kohl and golden powder, so she looked like she’d taken a vicious punch to the face and had been graced with glistening bruises.

Her lips were dry and papery, cracked like crisp parchment, and she was in desperate need of a hot shower to rejuvenate her aching body.

Even a soak in her tub would be lovely, though it would not be as easy to wash her hair.

Narissa clambered out of bed and nearly tripped over a pair of boots.

She scowled down at the offending shoes, reaching blindly for her satin robe.

Boots, she realized, that did not belong to her.

Her heart stuttered as she grabbed the robe from the chair nearest her vanity.

She wrapped it snugly around herself, tying it at the waist, and raked a hand through her messy waves.

It was then she heard the rushing of water over the ambient trickle of waterfalls flanking the hearth.

She scanned the rest of her room, noting the sleek coat slung over the wingback chair, along with the pair of pants and rumpled shirt deposited on its seat cushion.

Solarius had not abandoned her after all.

He was currently in her bathing suite, likely naked, wet, and positively glorious, standing beneath a stream of scalding water.

She padded lightly across the hardwood floor, careful not to make too much noise.

Curls of steam slipped from beneath the closed door, warming her toes.

Pressing both hands to its carved surface, she placed her ear against the door and listened.

At first, there was only the hiss of water as it bounced off the marble, but then it was accompanied by a low, shockingly delightful baritone.

Solarius was singing.

Narissa pulled back, confusion marring her brow.

She didn’t know he could sing.

It was surprising, all things considered.

His voice was deep and lulling, a melodic cadence with enough seduction to soften her knees.

She sighed, entranced by the spell of his song as the words wove a story of dancing stars and painted skies.

Maybe, if they ever managed to tolerate one another for more than five minutes, they could play a duet some time.

After all, Narissa was quite proficient at the harp.

Without warning, the water shut off and she startled, lurching away from the door.

Her gaze shot around the room and she hesitated, torn between bravery and cowardice.

She could jump back into bed and pretend to still be asleep—hopefully he would fall for it—or she could waltz into the adjoining bathing suite without hesitation and freshen up as planned.

If she chose the bed option, she could keep her eyes closed until he finally left and avoid any sort of confrontation.

Whereas if she opted to walk right into the bathing suite, she might be forced into conversation, and considering he was most definitely naked at this very moment…

She took one step toward the bed and paused.

No.

This was her room.

She had just as much right to be in there as him, and she didn’t care if her unannounced arrival made him uncomfortable.

Narissa smoothed her unruly hair and shoved open the door.

It smacked soundly into something solid on the other side, jarring her.

She put her shoulder into it, forcing it open, only to see Solarius stumble backward.

“Fuck.” He winced and grabbed his shoulder, the towel he held falling to the ground in a heap of white, like snow.

Narissa couldn’t help but stare at the ridiculously gorgeous male standing before her, fully nude.

He was more perfect than she remembered.

Perfect chest.

Perfect abdomen.

Perfect…

Her gaze dipped to his waist, then a bit further, and she yelped.

“Sweet shores, I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to—” She covered her eyes with her hands, whipping around to grant him some privacy, and slammed right into the door.

“Ow!” she cried, clutching the side of her head where pain ricocheted through her temple.

The ache spread to the back of her neck, and she whimpered.

“Shit.” Solarius muttered, his hand coming to the small of her back.

“Are you okay?”

“I…I think so.” Narissa lightly rubbed her head, hoping a bruise wouldn’t form.

She looked bad enough already.

“Tides below, that hurt.”

She twisted to face him, suddenly remembering he’d been injured by the door as well.

“Wait, are you okay?”

He’d wrapped the white towel around his waist, knotting it just below his navel, where tiny beads of water sluiced down his deliciously carved hips.

She couldn’t decide if she was relieved or disappointed.

Either way, she was once again rewarded with a rather splendid view of his tempting body.

Her gaze trailed over every inch of his flesh, noting the constellation tattoo resembling a trident across his heart, and the moon phases marking his right arm, stopping just above his elbow.

Solarius shoved his damp hair from his face, and the corner of his mouth lifted.

“I’ll survive.”

Well, that made one of them.

Narissa swallowed, blaming the rise of heat in her cheeks on the blanket of steam engulfing her, because the flush of her body had absolutely nothing to do with the male standing in front of her.

She turned a bit, careful to avoid the door.

“I’ll just?—”

“No, it’s fine.” Solarius attempted to step past her, and they both moved to the same side.

“I’m done, you should…”

Narissa pivoted and he matched her, each of them carefully trying to avoid the other while mimicking one another’s movements.

Solarius grinned, then captured her by the waist with both hands.

She grabbed his wrists, and a gasp slipped between her lips when he lifted her off the ground.

In one fluid motion, he spun her around, switching their places—so she stood within the bathing suite and he was by the door.

“Thank you for the dance.” He smirked, the silver of his eyes flashing with mirth, then closed the door soundly behind him.

Narissa waited exactly five seconds before collapsing against it.

She could still feel the warmth from his hands burning through the silk of her robe.

Now, she somehow had to shower without imagining those same exceedingly capable hands roving all over her body.

A huff of annoyance escaped her.

Her intent was laughable.

Narissa would never be able to ignore the feel of his touch, just as she knew the image of him fully nude would be at the forefront of her mind for the remainder of the day.

Perhaps even longer.