Heart Over Sword

Evanna clutched at Arawn’s back, covering her exposed chest and slid down, so the heated lake went to her shoulders again. She remained against him, her eyes looking at his chest. She knew he was already scanning their surroundings. There was no threat, Evanna knew. There was no shiver down her spine, no sixth sense to tell her they were in danger. Whatever that sound was, it had to either be one of the others in their party or an animal. She peeped over his shoulder, noting how the ice that had been walled off to one side had begun to melt.

It still provided coverage, but barely.

Evanna then looked over her shoulder, still clutching at Arawn, whose arms were around her back, keeping her close. She couldn’t see anybody there. The icy wall still stood tall. "Can you see anything?" She asked, her voice low.

"No. It must have been an animal." There was no doubt in his voice; his body relaxed, but that moment of uncertainty, unease and possible embarrassment sobered them up. They looked at each other, sharing the same look.

"Should we.." Evanna pointed over her shoulder, feeling her cheeks heat. She’d let herself get carried away, and if Arawn wanted to bed her or sleep with her here, she would have gladly accepted. Now, she didn’t want that, even if her core said otherwise.

"Let’s." Arawn unwrapped his arms from her and then gently grabbed her chin, tilting it up, so she looked into his eyes. "*I cannot control myself around you, Evanna. I will not take you, though. You deserve more than this lake and forest, and I will give it to you. You have my word, my sweet cherry.*"

He left a sweet kiss on her lips, then pulled away quickly like he might fall back into what they’d been doing. Evanna bit the inside of her cheek, letting him pass her as she wrapped her arms over her chest. "*Could you keep watch until I’m done?" She asked. "*I erm.. need to bathe more now.*"

A rosy blush heated her cheeks when Arawn smirked at her, his eyes glimmering and looking even a little proud of himself. "*Of course. I’d offer my hand, but I don’t think we’d make it through another round of restraint.*" He flashed her a smile and retreated, leaving her stomach to flutter and her heart squeezing tightly from that smile he rarely gave.

Evanna continued to stare, watching him pull on his breeches before throwing a bar of soap in her direction; she deftly caught it and turned back around, sliding under the water until she was fully submerged. She needed to calm down from what had just happened between them, but with her eyes closed, all she could feel was the touch of his hands all over her body. Those skilful hands had mastered her, bringing out a side of her that she didn’t know about.