Chapter 19: Darkness and danger...
Charis.
"No!" I pushed away from Kael, who seemed like he didn’t want to let go. "Aren’t you both ashamed of yourselves? I’m leaving."
I waded to the tub steps, my heart still racing from everything that had just happened. Behind me, I could hear Kael calling out, his voice slightly rough and confused.
"Eamon! Where are you going?" He asked, and I could detect something different in his tone—an arousal that made my cheeks burn.
I paused just enough to say. "I need some space," and then grabbed a nearby towel, wrapping it tightly around my body.
I walked faster, not trusting myself to remain composed if I saw his face again. The kiss-the heat, the way his hands had pressed me into the tub’s wall like I belonged there—had exposed something inside me.
That was the problem.
Because it wasn’t just the heat or the pressure, it was as if my body had responded, as if it knew him. I wanted more. I had enjoyed the kiss far more than I wanted to admit.
You’re not a boy, I reminded myself, gripping the towel tighter as I moved through the maze of lantern-lit paths of the pool area.
That aside, I could feel my chest bindings starting to slip as I emerged from the water, and the fabric had clung to my skin entirely. I had to return to our tent immediately to change and adjust my disguise before anyone noticed.
Maybe I could also use this opportunity to shower properly and find an alternative to the chest bindings. It was also an excuse to scrub out Kael’s scent that clung to my skin and the sensation of his lips.