I will go back upstairs and give you some privacy.”
She stretched one dainty foot toward the water, sighing in pleasure when she encountered the soothing heat. “It feels wonderful. I’ve been cold for so long I wondered if I’d ever be warm again.”
“I will fetch your clothes and something for you to dry yourself with.” Turning away from the sight of her, he headed back toward the stairs. The mere thought of her sliding naked into the pool nearly unmanned him.
If he had to spend the next few minutes with nothing to contemplate but his lovely guest’s bath, he feared he would do something foolhardy. “I will return in half an hour or so.”
Rhoswen’s heart thundered in her chest as Sebastian walked away, leaving her in the very place she’d been trying so hard to get to.
Old Halcyon’s hot springs.
As soon as he disappeared up the stairs, she spun in a swift circle, looking for the tunnel that would lead her to Old Halcyon and eventual freedom.
Half an hour.
Was that enough time? How far would she get before he caught up with her? Was it worth the risk?
Disappointment swept through her as no obvious sign of a tunnel revealed itself. If only the old maps had been more detailed… Her thoughts trailed off as she realized Sebastian never would have left her down here alone if he knew there was a way out.
He’d conquered the secrets of the magic door, and he’d discovered the entrance to the hot springs, so why hadn’t he found the tunnels? Was it because he hadn’t known to look for them, or was it because they didn’t exist? Had time or some ancient battle destroyed them?
Desperately aware that her time ticked by with relentless speed, she shuffled to the nearest wall, running her fingertips along the intricate tile mosaic worked into the stone. Was there a hidden door? She didn’t know where to look.
After several frantic minutes, she stumbled back, forced to admit the search would take far longer than she had.
Somehow, she had to find a way to get back down here, perhaps while Sebastian slept. He had to sleep sometime. She needed the opportunity to find the tunnel and get a good head start.
Once again, the wisest course was patience, no matter how much it rankled.
She rubbed the back of her hand over her eyes, wiping away a hint of frustrated tears and trying to gain control of her rioting emotions. One thing was clear — it would be foolish not to take advantage of this chance to soothe her many aches and pains. Warmth and comfort were only a few steps away.
She hastily unzipped her wetsuit, wincing as she peeled the stiff fabric from her chafed, torn skin. Giving the stairs another quick glance to make sure Sebastian hadn’t returned, she sank to the side of the pool and gingerly lowered herself into the steaming depths.
The hot water stung her many cuts and abrasions, bringing fresh tears to her eyes, but she forced herself to ignore the pain. Once fully submerged, her discomfort lessened, and the heat seeped into her aching muscles.
With a weary sigh, she leaned back against the warm stone. For the first time since she’d stepped upon the beach, the panic skittering inside her abated.
She was safe as she could possibly be, given the circumstances, here in Sebastian’s tower. And he’d given her a chance to soak in this wonderful pool, an unexpected luxury in the mean squalor of her surroundings.
Confounding man.
She dunked her head beneath the steaming water, holding her breath until her lungs threatened to burst. When she crested the surface, she slicked the wet hair from her face and settled back against a ledge that appeared to have been carved for long, leisurely soaks.
Of all the hundreds of reasons why she needed to escape, her attraction to her captor certainly ranked toward the very top. His solemn pledge to put both his sword arm and his tower to her defense had stirred her far more than she cared to admit. She should be horrified by such barbarism, but how could
She stretched one dainty foot toward the water, sighing in pleasure when she encountered the soothing heat. “It feels wonderful. I’ve been cold for so long I wondered if I’d ever be warm again.”
“I will fetch your clothes and something for you to dry yourself with.” Turning away from the sight of her, he headed back toward the stairs. The mere thought of her sliding naked into the pool nearly unmanned him.
If he had to spend the next few minutes with nothing to contemplate but his lovely guest’s bath, he feared he would do something foolhardy. “I will return in half an hour or so.”
Rhoswen’s heart thundered in her chest as Sebastian walked away, leaving her in the very place she’d been trying so hard to get to.
Old Halcyon’s hot springs.
As soon as he disappeared up the stairs, she spun in a swift circle, looking for the tunnel that would lead her to Old Halcyon and eventual freedom.
Half an hour.
Was that enough time? How far would she get before he caught up with her? Was it worth the risk?
Disappointment swept through her as no obvious sign of a tunnel revealed itself. If only the old maps had been more detailed… Her thoughts trailed off as she realized Sebastian never would have left her down here alone if he knew there was a way out.
He’d conquered the secrets of the magic door, and he’d discovered the entrance to the hot springs, so why hadn’t he found the tunnels? Was it because he hadn’t known to look for them, or was it because they didn’t exist? Had time or some ancient battle destroyed them?
Desperately aware that her time ticked by with relentless speed, she shuffled to the nearest wall, running her fingertips along the intricate tile mosaic worked into the stone. Was there a hidden door? She didn’t know where to look.
After several frantic minutes, she stumbled back, forced to admit the search would take far longer than she had.
Somehow, she had to find a way to get back down here, perhaps while Sebastian slept. He had to sleep sometime. She needed the opportunity to find the tunnel and get a good head start.
Once again, the wisest course was patience, no matter how much it rankled.
She rubbed the back of her hand over her eyes, wiping away a hint of frustrated tears and trying to gain control of her rioting emotions. One thing was clear — it would be foolish not to take advantage of this chance to soothe her many aches and pains. Warmth and comfort were only a few steps away.
She hastily unzipped her wetsuit, wincing as she peeled the stiff fabric from her chafed, torn skin. Giving the stairs another quick glance to make sure Sebastian hadn’t returned, she sank to the side of the pool and gingerly lowered herself into the steaming depths.
The hot water stung her many cuts and abrasions, bringing fresh tears to her eyes, but she forced herself to ignore the pain. Once fully submerged, her discomfort lessened, and the heat seeped into her aching muscles.
With a weary sigh, she leaned back against the warm stone. For the first time since she’d stepped upon the beach, the panic skittering inside her abated.
She was safe as she could possibly be, given the circumstances, here in Sebastian’s tower. And he’d given her a chance to soak in this wonderful pool, an unexpected luxury in the mean squalor of her surroundings.
Confounding man.
She dunked her head beneath the steaming water, holding her breath until her lungs threatened to burst. When she crested the surface, she slicked the wet hair from her face and settled back against a ledge that appeared to have been carved for long, leisurely soaks.
Of all the hundreds of reasons why she needed to escape, her attraction to her captor certainly ranked toward the very top. His solemn pledge to put both his sword arm and his tower to her defense had stirred her far more than she cared to admit. She should be horrified by such barbarism, but how could
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