Chapter 80: Gentle Care
For a moment, Ashlynn hissed again when her bruised flesh made contact with the warm water but by the time Nyrielle helped her into a sitting posture in the luxurious tub, the pain had faded away. In its place, she felt a warm, drifting sensation that didn’t come entirely from the water but also from a trace of Nyrielle’s magic.
"You are my darling Ashlynn," Nyrielle said softly as she began to caress the young woman’s tender flesh with lavender-scented soap and a soft brush. "You can ask me for help like this when you need it."
As Nyrielle began to help Ashlynn wash, steam rose in delicate wisps, carrying the gentle scent of lavender that seemed to seep into her very pores. The smooth surface of the marble pool felt cool against her back, a pleasant contrast to the water’s warmth that also spoke to how recently Nyrielle had decided to make use of the pool.
Ashlynn’s previous bath with Nyrielle had been something the vampire planned enough in advance to keep the entire pool piping hot with warmth that seeped into the carved marble benches under the water’s surface. This time, however, it felt far more spontaneous in a way that warmed Ashlynn’s heart as much as the water warmed her body.
Nyrielle’s fingers, usually cool to the touch, felt almost warm as they glided over Ashlynn’s skin, leaving trails of silky soap bubbles in their wake. The soft bristles of the brush whispered against her flesh, each stroke melting away another layer of tension. In the quiet of the bath chamber, Ashlynn could hear the faint lapping of water against the tub’s edges, taking on a rhythm that nearly matched her own steady, relaxed breaths.
"But you’re so busy getting ready to leave," Ashlynn said. Her voice was quiet and her eyes struggled to stay open as Nyrielle washed away her aches and pains along with the sweat and grime of her intense training session. "I shouldn’t take you away from important things."
"You are an important thing," Nyrielle whispered, tapping Ashlynn’s nose with a soapy finger and leaving a collection of bubbles behind on the tip of the young witch’s pert nose. "An important person. Someone I can make time for almost any time."
"Preparing for the journey is important but it is neither urgent nor a crisis," she said, her soapy arms sliding around Ashlynn’s trim waist and pulling her onto her lap in the tub. Her hands slid upward, gently cupping Ashlynn’s full bust as she pulled the other woman close enough to whisper in her ear.
"Whether it’s an hour or an evening, it makes no difference to our journey," Nyrielle whispered. "But it can make a vast difference to the health of your body and your mind. So, rely on me, and let me ease the pain that comes from your struggle."