Bastian watched as Hydrangea's eyes darted around fearfully, her pale skin submerged beneath the cloudy spring water. But he'd seen that pale skin, he knew what lay beneath the surface.
He cleared his throat and tried to think of why he'd done this. He shook his head when he remembered; he wanted to show those men that he was not daft, and that he wanted Hydrangea.
Blowing out a long breath he glanced at her, her hair was spread around her creating a dark shadow in the already dark water.
'This was wise.' He thought sarcastically to himself.
He plunged beneath the water to get his hair wet, then re-emerged. Hydrangea gasped and he looked to see she was watching him in shock, which quickly transformed to anger.
"Why would you do that?" She whispered in a shriek.
He wiped the warm dripping water from his face and smiled, "My hair, is filthy Hydrangea." He said over-dramatically, "Do you know how hard it's been not to dunk my head in every river we pass by?" He asked, scratching the nape of his neck, it was true, he hated being so dirty.
He reached for the cloth and soap that was perched on the smooth, damp rock that served as a barrier for the spring.
"I use to bathe everyday, two times a day." He said, just to keep talking. He was discovering the flaws in his plan.
She hummed, "That was nice." Her voice held a tinge of longing.
"Did you like your time in the palace, as Queen?" He asked, rubbing the soap over his body. He looked to her and saw her blushing profusely and looking away. He smirked.
"I did. It was all very easy, except for the politics… and you." She whispered.
He winced, "Right. Well, uh… did you ever see the gardens there, other than the one that-" He cleared his throat remembering the incident that had occurred, "That Hadok had shown you."
Her face frowned and became pinched, "No, I never did. But I would've loved to see them." She finished, her eyes now dreaming of the gardens she'd only glimpsed. A pang of guilt hit him and he stopped his movements.
"Did you laugh before… you arrived on the island?" He asked, his mouth thinking for him.
She looked up, her face confused, then looked back down blushing. "I didn't laugh often… but Row and Hickory would say something that could make me laugh." She said, a smile on her lips.
His gaze was fixed on her lips. The feel of them ingrained in his mind. He grew frustrated that he couldn't kiss her at the moment. He knew she would become too flustered and might even become upset. But the thought of touching her warm, wet body had him very grateful that the water level reached as high as it did.
He blinked when he remembered her answer, "I've only seen you laugh twice, both were at my expense. The second time was in Crescent when I spilled the stew over myself." She hid a smile at the memory and he sighed in humiliation of the incident, "The first time, was in Waxingville, when you'd forced me to wear that dress."
He watched as her smile spread into a repressed grin.
He himself grinned, "And you made me stuff leaves into the dress-"
He was stopped by a peal of giggles. He had heard her laugh a few times, but they were soon subdued. The two times he'd seen her laugh unabashedly had been in Crescent and when he'd… worn a dress as a disguise.
She was covering her mouth as her eyes shone in merriment.
He chuckled at the memory, "And the corset-" He shifted his shoulders in discomfort, "How do you wear that everyday?"
She giggled again and removed her hand from her face, revealing her bow-shaped lips beaming with happiness. He felt happy himself, he'd made her laugh.
"You adjust to them." She shrugged, raising her chest out of the water an inch, he looked up and met her eyes. She hadn't noticed what had happened. "Although while we've been travelling I've been loosening it because it's easier to move, and after…" She trailed off, her features becoming uncertain.
"Go on." He urged.
"Well, after I had been sick in Viskogorny, it was rather annoying to have to put one on again." She muttered.
He hummed, understanding her thoughts. He wondered why she'd become hesitant by the end of her dialogue, maybe she thought she'd been talking too much? He decided not to push.
He began to clean himself once more. Coming to his scars he had an irrational fear that they would reopen; they were more sensitive than the other minor scars that he'd received in battles.
Having finished with using the soap he handed it to Hydrangea. She pursed her lips and accepted it, "Thank you."
"You're very welcome." He replied. An image flashed in his mind, him and her in his palace, him massaging her legs as he rubbed soap into the delicate skin.
She began to wash herself and he had to look away.
'Smart plan, Bastian.' He cursed himself, 'Get into a hot spring with a naked Hydrangea and try not to touch her.'
Finishing with washing himself down with the cloth he dunked his head beneath the the water. His eyes snapping open to see an image of himself floating in the depths of the ocean. Dead.
He shot up and fought not to gasp for breath. His fear of water had clearly not left him.
"Bastian?"
He didn't look at her and merely gestured that he was fine.
As soon as he was finished removing the grime and suds from his body he climbed out of the spring. A smirk arose on his face at hearing Hydrangea gasp again.
She was so precious.
Once he'd dressed he said that he would wait outside for her to dress. She nodded, gratefully.
Waiting with his ears keen on his surroundings, his mind wandered to where it had during their bath. The thought of running his hands over her smooth pale flesh…
"Alright, I'm dressed." Hydrangea said suddenly from beside him.
He shifted is weight, hoping his thoughts weren't evident.
He took the torch from her and led her back to their camp. Arriving at the barrier of trees that hid their tents and horses he could distinguish voices.
His eyes squinted. His manly pride for being called daft, and essentially sexually inept, overtook him and he stopped and turned towards his wife.
She stared up at him mildly surprised, but not afraid. She stilled when she met his heated gaze. His free hand grasped the back of her head and he took her lips more passionately than he ever had. She sighed into his mouth and he groaned to control himself.
The kiss became slower, more sensual. He knew he was teasing himself, and her, but her lips were too delicious not to. Especially when she began to move in rhythm with the kids.
He pressed his lips to hers firmly and removing his hand from her damp hair he pulled away. He smiled softly at the dazed expression on her flushed face. Her hands were still on his chest. She blinked a few times and then met his eyes, her grey eyes were glowing with something that made him want to kiss her again.
She caught a few quick breaths, he was controlling his breathing himself.
Oh, he wanted her.
Tucking a strand of wet hair behind her ear he kissed her forehead.
"Let's get back to camp." He whispered.
She blinked a few more times and his heart warmed, "Okay." She breathed.
They crossed into the camp and she hurried to their tent. He smiled and glanced at the four soldiers who were all looking at him with chuckles and grins.
Bastian shook his head, but he still felt accomplished.
He followed Hydrangea into the tent and they slept soundly through the night.