Blessed by Sapphires (A Dance with Destiny Book 2) (33 page)

I giggled. I couldn’t help it. He was flipping his hair around in front of me. Absolutely
nothing
like the Varick I knew.

“But I decided to travel on faith alone,” I continued. “That’s what winged me here.”

“Exactly as it should have.” He tapped the tip of my nose with his finger. “If you choose to fly by faith, I’ll never fear you fleeing my side again.”

“I wasn’t
fleeing
… not really. And besides, I made you a promise.”

“Yes, you did. Side by side, always.”

“Always,” I echoed.

*****

When we finally arrived at the promised hot springs, I was surprised to see how many Vanir were gathered there. I’d always wondered where they went to unwind. Now I knew.

“Why did I never hear of this place before?”

“You were satisfied with the pool. This isn’t a place for healing. It’s for relaxing.
You
on the other hand… you always seemed to be damaged in some way or other when you returned. You went straight to the waters on your own, my love.”

“Ha ha.” I crinkled my nose at him. I wanted to stick my tongue out as well, but I didn’t. I wanted to, but I didn’t. “I wasn’t
always
damaged.”

“Of course you were.” The deep guttural voice came from a nearby pool of steaming warriors. “It’s like you were a magnet for all the danger in the universe. Whew… And now you
smell
like a magnet for all the
filth
of the universe.”

“Gratitude, Vareilious. You always knew just how to set my heart to fluttering.” I rolled my eyes.

Varick smiled. “Come, my love. Let me wash away your worries.”

“Aye, Lass, we’ll stay over here until ye nae longer smell like a five-day-old corpse,” Vittorio yelled.

I threw my hand up in acknowledgment towards my jeering friends and followed Varick to a nearby spring. The water was so hot it caught me off guard. I slipped out of my destroyed dress and eased into the blessed warmth.

“May I?” Varick asked.

“All is well, sweet Guardian. I can manage.”

“May I… please?” he asked again.

I smiled and relaxed my shoulders. “Yes, I would be grateful if you did.”

He tenderly scrubbed me clean and then washed my tangled curls. For a moment, I was a Princess being waited on hand and foot by her handsome Prince. I returned the favor, washing my former lover as meticulously as he’d bathed me. His hair was like metal silk. I marveled at its beauty as I poured clean water down its length, watching the bubbles softly glide from it, disappearing within the constant flow.

“Will you do my hair once more?” I asked.

“As many times as you wish.”

After two more washings, I felt like my old self again. I reached for the rosewater. Varick asked me to wait until we went into a still spring. He took my hands, slowly pulling me out of the steamy pool.

“You take my breath away,” he confessed.

“And you mine.”

He lifted me up to match his awesome height. “Can I kiss you, beautiful lady?”

“I gave you my permission long ago, never ask me for it again.”

I saw the fire rise up in his eyes. His kiss was always my undoing, it proved true once again.

“Make me stop, I cannot on my own,” he rasped. “We will need more privacy for what my mind now plays upon.”

I reluctantly pulled away and handed him a towel, wrapped one around myself, and sat down to apply the potion #4 onto my refreshingly cleansed skin. Varick joined me on the soft grass.

“It’s magical how that blends so well with your body’s own scent. It makes it hard for me to concentrate on anything else. I have never known a perfume so enticingly in-tune to an individual.”

“It’s magic. My aunt’s magic. Its secret followed her to the grave, but she left the recipe.”

“Then I shall thank her fervently if ever we should meet.”

His unexpected kiss fell hard upon me as his angelic body covered mine. I begrudgingly resisted him.

“Varick, I thought you wanted your mind upon other things. This we will save for another time, another day.”

He moaned and rolled off me. I finished my perfumed pampering; breathing in the very aroma that always pulled my mind back to that tiny cottage and my precious aunt.

“So where are the still waters?” I asked. “Are you ready, my love?”

He didn’t even raise his head, he just pointed. I started to stand when he grabbed my wrist, pulling me to him.

“Do I no longer make your breath catch within your chest? Have I lost my magical hold over your heart? Does it beat now only for Vindicus? Does that absent dark Angel possess even my time with you? Do you no longer feel I’m the other half of your soul?”

I touched his flawless cheek. “I am yet manacled. Now is not our time. Fret not, dear Guardian. We yet have eternity. Remember? We have only just promised to be honest and truthful with one another, keeping no secrets. Varick, I understand how hard this must be on you. In your heart, nothing has changed. I was gone but now returned. You wish to pick up where we left off. I truly do understand that. But for me, things are different. Although you never wronged me, never left me in any way, I thought otherwise. That bitter lie and all that happened because of it… it changed me. I
am
sorry. Forgive me for that… but it is what it is. I cannot undo the past. I swore to stand with you in battle, guard you always, never leave your side. That did not mean we are now what we once were, not just yet.” I looked upon his deflated countenance. “But… do you wish for me to show you now, right now, what you truly do to me, on the inside?”

“Yes, good or bad, I will die if I know not the truth of it.”

I straddled my angelic Guardian’s rippled abdomen. He looked at me with mingled passion and fear. Slowly unwrapping my towel, I let it fall and ran my fingers purposefully up his chiseled chest. Leaning down until my breasts barely brushed his skin, I licked his neck.

Yes, Reader, I am changed. I am now that wicked.

I could feel his heartbeat racing within him, pulsing through his veins. He sat up quickly, wrapping my towel around me once more. I had never seen him quite so red.

“Do you still wonder about the unspoken desires in my mind, Guardian? Or are you convinced I still carry you in my heart and that I yearn for you as well? You are not alone in your torture, not alone in this hell we now find ourselves. Do you doubt me, even in the slightest?”

“No, my love. I will never doubt you again. But please, do not show this enticing vision to others. They are enjoying it way too much.”

I laughed softly. “Then do not ask me in public again. I have taken a vow within my heart to always be honest with you. Good or ill, my intentions will never be hidden from you again. Since you cannot read my mind, I will forever be an open book. It is as I said, be careful what you wish for. Honesty can often be as painful as it is glorious.”

I heard the bestial sound start deep inside his massive chest. I was caught off guard momentarily.

“What is this, my love?” I giggled. “Never have I heard such sounds from you. I thought you not capable.”

“Not capable? Shall I not desire you as well? Do you leave erotic passions to the likes of Vareilious and Vittorio? No, I don’t lick every woman who walks by. My desires are for you and you alone. We didn’t get to truly enjoy but one night of magical lovemaking. I will no longer restrain myself.” He held my face in his hands. “When I thought you dead, I cursed my heart for not showing you how much love it truly held for you. I hope you are ready, for I have vowed never to make that mistake again.”

“You err, dear Guardian. You showed me
exactly
how much you loved me, in every possible way, every single day. Passion is only the tiniest part of what we will always mean to each other. Alas, I do wonder. Where has the reserved and regal man I once agreed to wed gone? Where is the perfect gentleman who treated me as delicate porcelain? Has my absence changed you so much, Prince Varick?”

“Yes. It made me honest and open with my feelings. The loss of you forced a bond between my suppressed desires and my reserved demeanor. Each has its place and both will be used to worship and honor you properly. You deserve nothing less. One day, you will accept the truth. One day, you will realize you are forever parted with the Prince of Hell, tragically separated by what is reality. A reality that cannot be changed, my love. And when that painful day comes, I’ll be there for you. It will be
these
arms that catch you when you fall. Jenevier, I will be your regal Prince in public… and when the time is right, your ravenous lover when our doors are latched.”

“And which is this, my love? Private or public?”

He blushed. “You must forgive my inexperience with this recent enlightenment. I only just realized how hard it’s going to be to control these passions, these desires, this ever-present infinite hold you have over me.”

“Only just?” I couldn’t help but torment him just a little more. “But your speech was so eloquent. I presumed it many times rehearsed.”

He yanked one of my curls. “Tease me all you want. It only serves as fuel to the flame growing inside me.”

“Well, before it has grown past the point of concealing, we’d better slip back into the waters. I desire the warmth, I chill.”

I emptied the entire bottle of rosewater into the steaming still water only moments before we were joined by our friends.

“Aye, Lass, did ye get in here tae cool off?” Vittorio said. “Things were much hotter over there.”

“Hey, Jen, since when did you enjoy parading around in front of a bunch of men, completely naked?” Vareilious asked.

“Hey, Var, since when did you start calling me Jen? And as for naked men, I’ve never minded them.” I smiled and snuck a quick peek at Varick’s chest. “Actually, I’m quite fond of them.”

“You know what I meant. What’s happened to you? Are your reservations absent, or have they abandoned you altogether?”

“In all my years here, never once has the natural state of our bodies been a secret, or hidden, or something any of us have been ashamed of. You, yourself, taught me we are more than just our bodies… they are the
least
of us. You know this as well as I. Besides, when you reach the point in your life where you cannot even distinguish heaven from hell, reservations are the least of your concerns. Although, I will admit to being laced about with darkness during my rebirth. Perhaps that’s playing just a small part in my being absent shame. I’m not sure. But, Vareilious, you have seen me naked on
hundreds
of occasions, why take offense to it now?”

Varick cleared his throat and Vittorio only blushed.

“That was completely different and you know it. I was your trainer.” His brusque whisper was forced through clenched teeth. “Besides, you were all beaten and emaciated then. Now, you’re properly filled out in all the right places. Your nakedness alone is not the only problem. Well, it is, but it isn’t. I mean, the way you were acting with Varick, all sexy and seductive, that’s just not like you.” His voice softened. “And think about Vittorio, he’s never seen you behave thusly.”

“Aye, only in my most treasured of dreams.” Vittorio winked at me, continuing to enjoy Vareilious’s exasperation.

I stared at the massive warrior brooding across from me. “How have I wronged you, Brother? Had I been even vaguely aware that my natural body would bring you such unrest, I would have forsaken the springs altogether. I’ve never heard you go on such with Vinika or Varillum or any other Vanir. Apologies for my current shamelessness. I no longer worry over such trivial things. I am daily thankful for life, for
all
its joys and sorrows. I will not make excuses, but neither will I be a stumbling block for you, Brother. If my nakedness offends you, I will remain fully clothed in your presence ever after.”

“Don’t take it like that. It’s just… well, it’s just…” Vareilious stammered.

“Jealousy,” Varick said. “The word you are looking for, is
jealousy
.”

I snickered. “Oh, so you didn’t want
Vittorio
to see me like this?” I taunted him further. “All sexy and seductive acting.”

“Aye, nae worries, Brother. I already have.”

Astonished looks masked rising fury on the faces of both my former teachers. Vittorio only smiled broadly, enjoying his moment in the spotlight.

“That’s quite enough fun for now,” I said, sending Vittorio a scolding look.

“Sounds to me like you’ve been having way too much fun as it is,” Vareilious snapped.

I almost snarled at him. “If you insist on entertaining that hideous green monster, I must ask you to leave our pristine waters before you foul them with such slime.”

“You need to come with me.” He glanced at the other two Guardians. “This will only take a moment, gentlemen.”

Vareilious jumped out of the springs, snatched my wrist, and jerked me out before I knew what was going on. I let out a surprised little shriek. He pulled me several yards away from our companions, but I could still feel Varick’s internal grip as if he were standing at my side.