To Seduce An Assassin (The Omaja Series Book 2)(79)

“Varyn never spoke to you much of your family’s history because he didn’t want to incite a lust for the throne in his sons. He knew that would only bring sorrow and trouble.”

Tears stung Yavi’s eyes at the mention of his father. “He was wise.”

Volkan placed a hand on Yavi’s shoulder. “He was also unaware that Tejeshwar had chosen you to re-establish the Zulfikars’ right to rule.”

Yavi glanced at Yajna. “He chose both of us.”

“Yes, but you are the swordsman. You must wield the black sword against the Vyrkune.”

Yavi nodded. “I am ready. Once Uman has gathered his forces at his fortress at Faril, he will no doubt attack Darpan again and try to take the palace. The Vyrkune soldiers are gathering even now, and will probably reach Darpan before we do. They run as fast as horses, and will devour any flesh in their path. We need to send a courier immediately to tell Manck and Captain Harshad to evacuate and fall back until Yajna and I can retrieve the sword from the palace and prepare our attack.”

“I will send my fastest courier to can take your message,” Volkan assured him. “We will call him now.”

§

Graciella finished scrubbing herself with the cake of soap, set it on a rock, and swam all around the circumference of the pool, exploring the indentations in the rock, the little inlets and outlets.

“Graciella.”

She looked up. Yavi set a little tray containing a pitcher and a cup near the side of the pool. “Here is water to drink.”

She smiled and swam closer to pour herself a cup while he started unbuckling his armor. He laid his leather breastplate aside, baring his muscular chest to her view. She sipped the cool water, watching him over the rim of the cup. He sat on the bench to tug off his boots, then stood and reached for the waistband of his trousers. She turned away to avoid staring at him and made another lap around the pool, pretending to be interested in the leafy vines that tumbled over the rocks at the far end.

Soon he sank into the water, diving beneath it for a moment. She waited for him to emerge. The moment stretched long, and then even longer. Concerned, Graciella rose up to see into the water better. “Yavi?”

He finally surfaced, grinning at her.

“You scared me!” she scolded, sinking back down in the water up to her neck.

“I can stay underwater for two minutes,” he boasted.

“You brute! You had me all worked up!”

He swam around in the pool a bit, his muscular arms outstretched. “I had forgotten how wonderful this water feels when you’re completely exhausted. Where’s the soap?”

She handed it to him, then moved back to her seat on the flat rock at the back to enjoy the view. He rose up to lather his hair, chest, and armpits, the surface of the water just barely covering his groin. She could see the diagonal lines of muscle that arrowed down the front of his pelvis, and just the beginning edge of hair below that.

Soon he reached lower to soap everything, and she averted her gaze, feeling overly warm all of a sudden. Out of the corner of her eye she got just a glimpse of something that might have been the tip of his shaft as he finished lathering himself, set the soap aside, and dove under the water again. He emerged and swam toward her, shoulder and arm muscles glistening with water.

She smiled as he approached. “The water really revives a tired body, doesn’t it?”

“Yes. In more ways than one.” He grinned and sat next to her on the smooth shelf of rock, silvery gaze scanning her face and shoulders. “Your hair is beautiful wet. It looks even darker than usual.”

“Your hair looks the same as usual,” she chuckled. “The water didn’t even flatten its spikes.”

He ran a hand over his close-cropped silver hair. “Yes. Pretty boring.”

“No. I love it.” She reached up to run her fingers over it, feel its texture. “Your hair is softer than it looks.”

“Not rough like the hair on my face,” he murmured, rubbing his angular jaw.

She touched the light dusting of stubble there. “I like how that feels too.”

“Graciella.” He turned his lips to kiss her fingers, then captured her hand in his. “I love how it feels when you touch me.”

She responded by moving closer and sliding her arms around his neck, the warm water pouring off them to drench his shoulders and chest.

He grasped her waist, grinning. “This is dangerous.”

His hands on her bare flesh sent tingles to her groin. She stretched forward to press her lips to his chin. “Dangerous how?”

He kissed her, tasting her lower lip with the tip of his tongue. “I’m about to eat you up.”

She grinned mischievously. “I’d rather you than those disgusting creatures back at the tower. I’m pretty sure they were planning to make me their dinner.”

“Don’t remind me,” he groaned. “When Terijin bit your ear, I went berserk.”

She kissed his jaw. “I knew you wouldn’t let them kill me.”

“You have that much faith in me?”

“Mm-hm.” She laid her head against his bulging shoulder, pressing close enough to him that her nipples lightly brushed against his chest.

He slid his hands upward along her midriff until his hands covered her breasts. She sucked in a breath at the delicious contact, raising her head to look at him.