Feeling his body going ablaze, Iris opened her eyes, looking at Ian she saw the glint in his eyes and his tormented expression, telling her that he was struggling to control himself.
Letting out a shaky breath, Ian took the hand that was cupping Iris's breast and gently started rubbing his thumb across her lower lip.
Feeling the warmth of his hand leaving her breast Iris shivered at the cold air caressing her breast.
Feeling Iris shivering, Ian placed another gentle kiss on Iris's lips, clearing his throat he whispered against her lips.
" You're hurt! We should stop now before things get out of control and the last thread of my sanity snaps and I will end up doing something that I regret " Ian words were more to himself than for Iris.
Iris looked at him, a mischievous smile on her lips, she decided to poke at Ian's resolve.
" Is that a promise that I'm hearing ?!" Iris asked in an amused voice.
At her question Ian let out a heavy sigh, he gave her one last kiss, bitting her lower lip, opened his eyes, he took a deep breath in
" Yes, it's a promise Iris!" Ian spoke ,his voice calm as before a sign that the storm has passed.
Dropping his hands to the side, he took a step back, taking one last look at Iris he turned around and walked out of the river, leaving Iris staring at his retreating back, her hand touching the lips that he just kissed feeling as she finally found something that she was looking for, that she didn't even knew she missed.
Thinking back on her actions a feeling of embarrassment took over he mind, blushing at the fact that she was so daring in expressing her want for him.
On the river bank after Ian dried himself, he started putting his trousers on and then his tunic lost in his own thoughts trying to reason to himself as to why the woman in front of him affected him to that extent. He had never felt like that for any woman before, she was not the first woman that he had touched or seen naked. It wasn't just desire that he felt for her, it was something more he couldn't quite understand what that was.
Hearing the water splash behind him, Ian turned around to see that Iris was making her way out of the river.
He quickly grabbed the big sheet of cloth that he used to dry himself and quickly wrapped around Iris's body and started gently patting her dry.
" Your wounds look much better than yesterday, you will be fully healed in a few more days" Ian spoke in the shell of her ear in a gentle tone as if to let her know what's to come.
" Hmmm....I hope there won't be too many scars" Iris hummed absent minded.
" You don't have to worry about that, I'll make sure that your skin won't have any trace of the cuts and slashes.
Placing a gentle kiss on her bare shoulder .
" Let's get you dressed " he said while bending down grabbed one of his clean tunics , lifting it up he pulled over her head all the way to her knees, pulling the cloth that Iris was wrapped in he folded an placed back in the bag.
" You seem very confident in you capabilities as a healer!" she said voicing her thoughts out loud
" My parents were excellent healers they dedicated their entire lifes creating potions and antidotes for many ailments that many healers wouldn't even know where to start. They tought everything that I know about healing and tending to the injured. That how in know that your body will be the same as before!" he said in a calm voice, suprising himself at the ease he felt around Iris to open up and share something so personal.
" I understand " she replied with a soft voice, deciding to stop proding on the matter for the time being.
" We should should get going and finish what's left to do for today" Ian chided
Iris nodded in agreement, he turned around grabbing the bags that were on the forest, they made their way throught the forest in silence, while Ian stopped here and there to pick up the herbs that he needed.
" The mark on your shoulder, where did you get that from? " Ian asked breaking the silence.
" Umm...I was born with it. My mother was never able to tell me anything about it since I was the only one born with it in our family "
" Why do you ask?" she questioned back curious herself hoping that he might know more about it than she does.
" I have one in the same spot as you mine is slightly different than yours but not by much" Ian replied with a hint of disbelief in his voice.
This is rather unusual, she thought to herself. First the wolf that had protected her and then vanished and then this man in front of her has the same mark as she has. Her curiosity peaked, wondering how all of this is even connected.
Feeling someone grabbing her hand Iris snapped out of her daze and found herself getting dragged by Ian behind a tree.
" What is it" she asked whispering.
"Rabbits " Ian replied with a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Huh?"
" Dinner and lunch are freely prancing among the bushes, we need to stay quiet so I can lay a trap to catch them" Ian added , excited at prospect of another hearty meal with Iris
" Dinner and Lunch?" Iris asked giggling at the names that he gave the rabbits
"Yes, they are both delicious " Ian replied with a wide smile on his face, seeing Iris smile so care free for the first time since he had met her and she looked even more breath taking.
" I'll go lay the trap, you stay here and be quiet!" he said to her with same smile and got up and tiptoed his way not very far from where the rabbits were.
Laying his trap, he fumbled through his bag for the bait, all the while Iris was watching him trying to keep herself from bursting into a fit of laughter.
After laying the trap he quickly made his way behind the tree where he had left Iris and sat back next to her.