Chapter 18

Naomi woke to a very odd sensation. It didn't feel bad, but considering it'd been six months since she’d broken up with her last boyfriend, and there had been a very dry spell, a veritable drought actually, waking up to an arm draped over her waist made Naomi pause for a moment and wonder, did she really want to wake up? Either this was a dream, or a very nasty hangover and an awkward conversation was waiting in the eaves for her. But as anyone knows, thinking about waking up defeats the purpose.

She reluctantly cracked one eye open. She was lying on her side facing the arm’s owner. Being the second morning that she'd woken to the grim visage of Tavik’s helm, it didn't startle her too badly. It still startled her a little, but she didn't jump this time, which was good because the war lord didn't appear awake yet. She wondered what time it was. Dim light streamed in through a narrow window. She wanted to get up and look through it but not wake him. She figured he needed to get all the rest he could get.

She rolled over to her stomach. Tavik’s hand shifted to lay heavy on her back. If she could just ease out from under his arm, she’d be out of this odd predicament. She grasped the side of bed and began pulling herself to the edge. Tavik’s arm tensed. Naomi thought he was waking up and prepared to apologize for disturbing him. To her chagrin, his arm stretched out, curled around her waist and drew her back to the center of the bed, but instead of putting her back where she had been, the arm drew snug up against his body, her head nestled under his chin, and her arms flush against his chest. In alarm, she felt him lift a leg and throw it over hers. She was now completely pinned. Her only consolation was that there were a layer of blankets still separating them, so no naughty touching was really taking place, but she wasn't moving anytime soon. She scowled at her predicament. Why'd he have to go all Mr. Grabby on her? They weren't even supposed to be in the same bed!

A quiet knock sounded at the door. Naomi craned her head around and contemplated whether to call the person in. Whoever it was knocked again. She felt Tavik tense all over and realized that he was waking up. He squeezed her a moment then tilted his head down toward her.

“Good morning,” he said. His voice held a trace of confusion.

“Hi, do you mind letting me up so I can see who’s at the door?” Tavik removed his arm and leg. If she could have seen his face, Naomi thought she might find a blush on it. The thought that he could find their situation a little awkward made her smile. She crossed the room and opened the door to find Yula waiting.

“Lord Tavik, I am very glad to see you,” Yula said. Tavik nodded to the old woman. He’d sat up on the side of the bed. Naomi wondered about breakfast. She'd missed dinner during all the drama the night before. Yula didn’t carry a tray.

“Milady, if you’ll follow me, I will show you to your suite.” Naomi cocked an eyebrow at Tavik. She had a suite?

He nodded and waved her out. “Enjoy your morning.”

She couldn’t stop the smile that stretched across her face. He was keeping his promise. “You should get some more sleep.”

He shook his head. “I am awake, and the work will not fade away. Go with Yula. I will see you later.”

Naomi nodded and fumbled a curtsy in her nightgown. She thought she heard a derisive snort come from behind the mask but didn’t pay it any attention. She had a suite to get to.

Yula led her down a series of twisting hallways. Naomi didn’t think she could retrace her steps even with bread crumbs. They arrived at the end of one and stopped. Yula swept the door open. Naomi ventured into it in wonderment. Light streamed in from many windows, flowers were everywhere making the room smell wonderful, and off to the side, steaming the air around it, sat something that made Naomi weak in the knees. It was a bathtub full of soapy water. Naomi turned to Yula, and she knew an ear-to-ear smile was on her face.

“Would my lady like to bathe?” Yula asked with a teasing smile.

“More than like. I'd marry that tub and have its children.” She began stripping off her clothes. She normally would have felt some inhibition while getting naked around anyone, but she felt so grimy and gross, and Yula had dressed her before, and she was another woman, and Naomi just did not care. She was taking a bath!

She hummed tunelessly while soaking in the bath. She had her head laid back, and her arms draped over the sides. She knew she was pruney but could not bring herself to leave the warm, scented water. Yula coughed politely from behind her, and Naomi tilted her head back to look at her. She had a towel and robe ready for her.

“Can’t I stay in here all day?”

“If my ladyship wishes to, she may, though Lord Tavik would be disappointed if you didn't venture further than the bath your first day in his castle.” Naomi grinned at the idea. It would perturb him. She could imagine him coming to find her now: Bubbles spilling over the tub, her hair loosely pinned up, perfumed soap scenting the air, flowers and candles everywhere, and oh there would have to be kittens tumbling over each other, while little song birds twittered from gilded cages. He would enter wearing that devil mask, decked out in armor and weapons that would be caked with mud, or maybe drying blood. He would tell her he was going out to slaughter, maim, and pillage all in his path, and she would raise a bubble clad arm and wave goodbye and tell him to have fun killing lots of people and bring her back any chocolate that he might find.

Naomi’s brow scrunched when she mentally stepped back from her daydream. While the frilliness was fun and laughable, Tavik’s side of the image was all too real. He would go back out and do what he said in her fantasy. Why he felt the need to commit senseless violence she didn’t know, but she couldn't just wave goodbye flippantly. What she could do eluded her. It wasn’t like she could stop him, and her main objective had to be a way home. She needed to find a unicorn or find some other way home. She shook her head and raised herself up. She certainly wasn’t going to accomplish anything while lounging in the tub.

Continue to Chapter 19.