Page 26 of When the Wicked Sing (The Leruna Sea #1)
I can’t trust him, I can’t trust him, Mariana chanted silently to herself, hoping it would drown out the instant desire that rose as their skin touched. It’s your emotional response to the horror you just experienced, that’s it.
Soft hands worked to peel away stubborn scales as the water lapped around her hips. Every touch was methodical, careful.
Her body burned beneath his touch; the sensation magnified by the quiet intimacy of the moment. The water rippled gently around them, and every time his fingers brushed her skin, they left a trail of warmth she couldn’t ignore.
She bit her lip hard, fighting to contain the emotions swirling inside her. Some of the scales were harder to remove, clinging to her like a second skin, as though they knew they belonged and didn’t want to leave.
Every scale gave a soft plop before disappearing beneath the surface, and a small piece of her chipped away with it. She tightened her grip on the tub’s edge until her knuckles turned white, trying to focus on the discomfort instead of the growing awareness of Dax’s closeness .
Her traitorous mind flashed to the memory of his lips, and she silently cursed herself. She needed to think of something else. Anything else.
“You know,” she said, her voice slightly strained, “you never answered my question.”
Dax paused, his hands stilling for a moment before resuming their careful work. She peeked over her shoulder at his serious expression, meeting his gaze.
“Where are we, Dax?”
He sighed, looking away. “We’re in Kythera.”
Her brows knitted together. “I’ve never heard of it before.”
“You wouldn’t have.” His hands moved to rub soap over her back. His palms against her sensitive skin sent a shiver through her body. She bit her bottom lip to keep from making a sound.
“You won’t find it on a map,” he continued. “This place … it’s special. You were dying, and I knew you could heal here.”
He rinsed her back with handfuls of water, the warm cascade soothing and intoxicating. She fought every instinct to turn and kiss him.
Mariana’s mouth tightened.
Dax leaned forward, gripping the edge of the tub. His hands settled beside hers, caging her in. “I need you to do something for me,” he murmured, his voice so close, she could feel his breath against her ear.
Her pulse quickened as his bare chest brushed against her damp back. She turned her head, realizing how close his face was to hers. “What? ”
He lowered his lips to her ear. “I need you to keep this place a secret. You can’t tell anyone about it. Kythera has to remain hidden.”
She blinked in confusion. “Why?”
His thumb brushed lightly over her hand, and she ached to lace her fingers with his. “So, history doesn’t repeat itself.”
The words sparked something in her mind. “This is your home, isn’t it?”
Dax hesitated, then gave a small nod, his chin brushing against her forehead.
Storing the valuable information away, she turned between the arms that trapped her. His green eyes were deep wells of emotion that she couldn’t read. She needed him to trust her, so she placed her hands on his chest.
“Homes are the sacred places we hold closest to our hearts,” she said softly. “I understand your need to keep it safe. You saved my life, and in return, I’ll keep your secret.”
His chest rose and fell only inches from hers, and for a fleeting moment, she wondered if he could feel the erratic rhythm of her heartbeat. His green eyes dipped to her lips, and her breath caught.
When he leaned forward, resting his forehead against hers, her mouth parted involuntarily. Their breaths mingled, the air between them taut and electric.
It would be so easy to close the space. So simple.
But she didn’t.
And neither did he.
She could feel it: the tension, the desire twisting and pulling between them, the cord stretched too tight. But she refused to give in and cross the invisible line between them. Not when so much was at stake.
He’s the enemy.
Dax sighed, pulling back just enough to let the moment pass. But before he stepped away completely, his thumb brushed her bottom lip, a touch so gentle it made her shiver.
“C’mon, you’re starting to prune. It’s time to get out.”
Mariana’s brows lifted. “I’m what?”
“You’ve been in the water too long,” he answered, the statement confusing her.
Disappointment tightened her chest as she watched him step out of the tub, dripping water all over the hardwood floor. He grabbed a thick, dark robe and held it out for her.
Mariana stared at him for a moment, needing to hate him, to feel nothing but anger toward him. But as his gaze softened, she knew she couldn’t.
He was still the enemy. That much hadn’t changed.
But the connection between them was something she couldn’t explain—something her heart refused to ignore. It was like a wire wrapped around her ribs, pulling tighter and tighter every time he looked at her like that.
She hated how it made her feel. How it made her want him.
Clearing her throat, she stepped out of the tub slowly, the heat of his hands steadying her as he helped her into the robe. He lingered for just a moment longer than necessary, his fingers brushing the edge of her collar as he held the lapels together.
“I know you think you’re powerless, but that isn’t true,” he said, his voice low and certain .
Mariana struggled to take a breath. “My mother took away everything that made me strong.”
Dax lifted one of her hands into his, inspecting it. “These fingers nearly took out my eyes just the other day.”
She shrugged. “My nails aren’t even sharp anymore.”
Their eyes met, and the world seemed to fade away.
“You don’t need claws—or your magic—to be a weapon.” He curled her hand into a fist. “You, yourself, are a weapon. A warrior. A deadly one, at that.”
A small smile tugged at her lips as she glanced between him and her fist. “Still afraid of me?”
Dax didn’t smile back. Instead, he brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and whispered, “Terrified.”
Before she could respond, a wave of cold air burst through the room as the front door opened, making them pull away from each other.