(Sorry for the slight delay on this post. This week has been a rough one for me. ^_^; )
Nathaniel nodded at Telai. In hindsight, her attitude was logical from what he had grained from his own time among soldiers, freelance or otherwise. The ones who threw themselves into danger like this often didn't exactly have extensive retirement plans or long-term investment portfolios.
"A-ah...!" The young man's face turned cherry red and he very nearly submerged himself completely just to avoid Telai's gaze. He caught himself with his chin just above the water line, mentally cursing Milly for her advances that night. The only way this could have been worse was if he dozed to sleep in that net rather than frantically bumping her off him before the whole village could see them naked and splayed out! "That was...she made advances, and..."
Nathaniel trailed off and bit his lip. It sounded ridiculous when he put it like that, and yet it was...different from admiring any of the young women he'd utterly failed to approach back in his homeland. When Milly first...approach him he felt...well, embarrassment and lust mostly, but after that...Nathaniel knew that his credentials as a partner were far from lacking, but to be so desired by someone as beautiful and confident in such matters as the swashbuckling captain was enough to flutter even his heart. The dashing pirate sweeping her sheltered upper-class lover off his feet. It was all like something from the more trashy romantic stories, although in those Milly probably would have been the hero...
"I suppose...she approached me. She broke down the ice between us that I wouldn't have either out of pride or fear of the consequences, and it lead places I didn't expect but don't regret," His words flowed freely now and it seemed they were meant as much for himself as Telai. Nathaniel's eyes suddenly focused on her again and he couldn't help but frown. She and Milly didn't exactly seem to get along. Perhaps Telai's sense of duty and professionalism had prevented her from making her displeasure known before, but now everything seemed to be in the open between them. Literally, as the stunning amazon rose and her bared body stole his breath away once more. Every curve and powerful sinew was visibly in the low light of the cavern. The young man tried to keep his gaze from wondering too much, but failed utterly.
The vast reserves of willpower that had allowed him to study to become the grand prodigy of the Brightland family failed him in the presence of her strong yet feminine form. As it had with Milly and her advances. This sort of thing was starting to become a true hole in his defenses rather than isolated incidents...
Nathaniel sighed in relief when Telai rejoined him in the bath. He'd feared that she intended to leave it and him. But her inhaled sharply and stiffened at her request. "Y-yes! I mean, I will. Gladly, Lieutenant. Thank you,"
He mentally kicked himself for the verbal stumbling even as he grasped the sponge and moved behind Telai with as much grace as he could manage. "I thought you were angry with me for a moment. Or...well, are you? Please speak freely, I'll understand,"
Nathaniel spoke as he pressed the sponge against the finely defined muscles of Telai's back. His movements were slow yet firm. It was equal parts a cleansing and relaxing massage.