Coming back up from the office, we put on a our pleasant smiles, acting as if all was well. Leo was gone in under 15 minutes after wolfing down his plate and excusing himself. Once Leo left, Bav turned to me and was seriously blunt and straight to the point with his question.
"What happened? I heard you yell and I can still feel the tension in the air from you both."
"He asked me if I was intentionally making mistakes on my books to keep more money in my pocket." I don't look him in the eyes, hoping he buys this lie that feels so wrong coming out and the second I say it, I want to take it back.
"Are you having issues with money right now? Why would he assume this unless this happens frequently?"
From the corner of my eye, I see Bav stroking his chin thoughtfully, so I raise my gaze to his.
"I am not having issues with money. No, it does not happen frequently. He merely assumed because he knew I was looking to buy a place, but my funds were not opening up a lot of desirable options." I take a breath to calm down, not wishing to vent my frustration out on Bav.
"He has been my accountant for the past ten years. He knows I am not a deceitful person and to accuse me so bluntly....." Gritting my teeth in frustration, letting my nails pierce my palms from clenching my fists, I release the air from my lungs completely.
Bav is still looking at me, a passive, unreadable, blank expression covering his face. "So is the matter now resolved?"
Groaning I mutter, "If only it were that simple.... It will be soon enough, just need to rectify the inaccurate calculations."
Bav steps forward pulling me into his arms to comfort me. "Do not fret, I am positive this is not as bad as it seems. I also have faith in the fact, you know how to handle the matter at hand. Shall I run you a warm bath for you to relax in?"
"That sounds wonderful. Thank you, Bav." I pull away and place a soft kiss on his cheek, then rest my head upon his shoulder. "I know it is only a few days, but I wish you did not have to leave, I will miss you." I pout after a moment of silence.
"It is only a few days, yes, but it will feel like months for me." Bav holds me closer, leaning down to rest his head on my own. "Have you decided on whether you will be purchasing another place yet?"
I pull away, sighing. "Yes.... I'm going to purchase the place that burned down. I'm going to the bank tomorrow to start the process. I have already found some laborers to help work and fix up the place. As long as everything in the building is not a complete loss, I should be opening it up in half a years time." I say hopefully.
"Good to hear. At least you'll have something to keep you busy until I return. The time will fly by easily for you." He gives me a smile that doesn't reach his sad forlorn eyes.
"Bav? IS everything alright? Is there something you are not telling ME?" I ask him, concern filling me as he resonates grief.
Shaking his head, he laughs at himself, "Yes, yes. I'm fine. There really is a time difference though between my world and yours. For every day that passes here, 12 go by in my world. So five days here, really will be longer for me."
I do the numbers in my head and gasp in shock, "60 days! What.. How does that..?" I feel my jaw close and drop repeatedly mirroring a fish and I try to compose myself. Taking a deep breath and loudly releasing it, I shake my thoughts from my head. "Oh, Bav.... I understand now....."
'It makes sense that he would be upset a bit. It is only five days for me... but two months for him. My heart already aches at the thought of five days! TWO MONTHS!'
I reach out and hold his cheek in the palm of my hand, caressing his soft skin with my thumb. His midnight cascades of hair fall around his face and his emotions still evident on his face....
'I think I am falling in love with this man...'
I do not hold back or think anything else. I raise my self to my tip toes and place a soft and enduring kiss upon his soft lips. I pull back just as quickly, relieving my toes of the weight, blushing at his stunned appearance.
"Bav, it was merely a kiss. You shouldn't be so shocked over them by now." I push his shoulder playfully, snapping him from his stunned focus.
Sheepishly, he clears his throat, "Hchm... I will always be pleasantly surprised when you choose to show me your affections in such a bold manner. Let me go prepare your bath, dear."
He enters my room and I can hear him starting the water for the bath. I put away any leftovers in the cold box for tomorrow. Checking the temperature of the cold box that's merely cool, I turn to the controls. Flipping the valve open and letting the cold liquid nitrogen enter the chamber, I turn the crank, making the blades, oscillate the liquid around, rapidly cooling the box. Flipping the valve back to close, I check my levels and feel satisfied with the gauges.
I quickly clean the dishes from dinner, Bav cleans as he cooks, so there is not much left. Feeling in the mood, I open my cabinet and pour two glasses of the berry wine. Taking them with me into my room, I offer one to Bav who's now turning off the water.
"What's this? Is this the same drink you poured the other night?" Bav sniffs it and takes a subtle sip.
His face puckers as the wine rolls across his palate, before he exhales, letting the warmth run down his throat. "Woah... That is not what I was expecting." Bav finally gets out as I'm finishing up my glass, then pour another.
"It is delightful, do you not agree?" I ask him, feeling the skin on my cheeks flush from the alcohol.
Bav finishes off his glass and lets me pour him another. "Your bath is ready, my dear." He motions to the bath tub.
"Can you help me with the difficult buttons?" I ask turning around. His swift hands are able to undo all the buttons on my dress in a mere minute.
"Thank you." I mumble walking around the privacy screen, "care to wash my back too...?" I jested under my breath.
"If you really want me to..." I hear in response as I'm slipping my dress and layers off.
I pause. 'He just responded with a yes!'
My nerves have my cheeks twitching up into tight bunches from my tight but genuine smile. As I slip into the bubble filled tub, I giggle, feeling the effects of the berry wine as my skin tingles.
"I'm in." I grab my glass of wine and sit back as Bav comes around the corner.
Putting the chair behind me, he takes a seat and begins to pin my hair up. This has been our routine the past few weeks when I bathe. He pins up my curly locks so they do not get wet and then we talk as I relax. Once I would want to start washing, he would sit on the other side of the screen.
This time as I sit and relax, I feel a little giddy that he's willing to wash my back for me. With my mind starting to race along with my heart, I talk about the first thing that comes to mind other than his hands on me.
"May I inquire what is making you go back for so long?"
"Family matters are causing issues with your governments orders being fulfilled. I'll be going to make sure that my families assistance is no longer required to ensure prompt and accurate delivery. Hopefully, I will not have this issue again. Then I may remain here, near you without needing to return for as long."
His hands move around my neck, picking up any stray curls that can still be pinned up.
"What kind of family matters?" I ask taking another drink from my glass, emptying it.
"It's .... complicated. The king has unfortunately removed the one I was working with and now I must use someone else, plus make a safe portal to use. Then ensure the mining operations carry on as planned and will not be threatened by the king." His heavy sigh rushes against the back of my neck, sending a chill down my body.
"Are you not doing the work for your king though? I have assumed by the way you have spoken before, you grew up in the kings palace, that you work for the king. Will your father or family not be punished for your actions?" I ask looking over my shoulder at him.
His pursed lips and scowl are looking into space as he chews on my words.
"I have done my duty for the king, more than enough has been given to him.... He chose to punish and banish his Eldest son because he is a monster. He punishes everyone around him for anything that may displease him. That is how I ended up here to begin with, this was part of my punishment...." He stops, a thought visibly catching him to stop and smirk. "Little did he know... when a person must start from the bottom, the only direction to go is up from there. The biggest slap to his face, if he was to find out, is that I met you and could not be more grateful for it."
I turn in the tub, "Wait... so you are saying you are royalty? The eldest?! A prince?!" My mouth drops as I look around, half expecting to miraculously have the pieces of information to appear and form together in front of me.
"Is that a big deal to you?" Bav raises a brow, before looking away.
"No, your highness. Will you still wash my back?" I lean forward against the edge of the tub, giving him big flashy eyes. I'm starting to feel the effects of the alcohol strengthen.
His laugh, deep and quick similar to a dog's bark, has me grinning. "I love that about you." He tells me, motioning for me to turn around.
I turn and lean forward, "How I am still needy?" I tease him playfully saying.
Wetting the cloth and lathering it up, he explains, "No, how I can tell you anything about me and you accept it." He begins to scrub, working his strong hands with the cloth, massaging my back as he cleans it.
Moaning at his discovery of a knot he is working out, " Ohh.... That feels great. Why would I not accept it? I can see who you are, Bav, and I would be a fool to think anything less or differently of you. I for one know we can not pick our families, that fathers can be heartless and cruel."
He finishes my back and hands me the cloth. I grab his hand as well and the alcohol speak up at this point. "You missed a spot, your highness."
He swallows visibly, his throat bobbing as his eyes widen, looking at my serious face.
"Did I? How much more washing do you require I do?" His face flushes, a light sheen of sweat begins to form on his brow as he feasts his eyes on my own.
The corners of my lips curl up in a devilish smile, "As much as you would like."