smart to get lax. You should put some more salve on your bruises.” Ignoring the concern in his eyes, she hurried to the hot springs room and plunged into the water. She’d forgotten the cleaning cloth and soap, but that was fine. She rubbed her skin until she was clean.
In her haste, she’d also forgotten the blanket to dry off with. Couldn’t be helped. She wasn’t going back there.
She’d just levered herself out of the water when a blanket was thrust at her. “Here.”
It was stupid to feel shy around him now, but she did. “Thanks.” She wrapped it around herself and tried not to watch him as he stepped into the pool, sighing as the hot water surrounded him.
He kept his back to her. That was intentional on his part. Taking advantage, she dried off and dressed. She’d just shoved her last weapon into its sheath when he stirred.
“How will they know where to find us?”
“What?” She walked around so she could see him. With the steam rising around him and his golden eyes gleaming, he was more god of the underworld than man.
“The Gravasians. How will they find us?”
She finger-combed her hair and shoved it out of her eyes. Did his eyes linger on it or was that her imagination? “It’s a beacon they can track all the way to the cave.”
He nodded and then crooked his finger at her.
It would be smarter to walk away, but that would be cowardly. “What?”
He waited until she knelt beside him. “This.” He snaked his hand around the back of her neck and kissed her. It was hot and passionate and had her blood pumping and temperature soaring.
When he released her, he smiled.
Without a word, she got to her feet and stalked out of the cave.
Chapter Ten
Ivar rolled onto his side, ignoring the rock digging into his hip. He could barely make out Delphi’s outline even though she was only a few feet away.
It might as well be a million galactic miles.
When she’d come back from scouting, she’d been back to the cool professional he’d first met. It frustrated him, even as he understood. She could pull back all she wanted. He wasn’t going to let her get away with it, not for long.
He stacked his hands under his head but couldn’t get comfortable. After sleeping in a cell for so long, he should be used to sleeping on a hard surface.
“I can hear you thinking,” she muttered.
“Sorry. There’s a lot to think about.”
“Sleep now. Think tomorrow.” She turned over until she was facing away.
Good advice, but too bad he was so wired. He flipped onto his back and stared up at the ceiling. Through the openings in the cave, some pale-pink moonlight shone through from one of Tortuga’s two moons. Several stars twinkled in the sky. He loved the stars. Had missed them while he’d been locked away.
Had he watched them as a child? He’d certainly traveled among them, even if he couldn’t remember. After all, he’d been brought to this planet. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, held it, and then slowly released it. He did that several times until some of the tension seeped from his body, his muscles relaxing.
It was a balmy night, the air inside the cave warm but not too hot.
As his thoughts drifted, Delphi filled them. She was such a strong and courageous woman. Passionate too.
He bit back a groan when his cock stirred. Then he grinned. It was good to feel alive. He’d been all but buried alive in that prison cell. And in spite of Balthazar’s threats to sell him to the Gravasians or a pirate captain, he might have died there if not for Delphi.
He owed her everything.
And she was going to turn him over to the Gravasians.
He could sneak out while she was sleeping. It would be tricky, but he might be able to get past the guards and into the docking station. And then what? Could he operate a ship? Maybe. But where would he go?
Why can’t I remember?
Trying to force the memories didn’t work, otherwise, he’d have them all back by now. He listened to the sounds around him. The slight rustle of the wind through the cracks in the cave, the call of a bird in the distance, and the barely discernable whisper of breathing.
It was a gentle lullaby. He drifted into sleep…
“Get up.”
His eyes snapped open at the toneless whisper. “What?” But the boy was already gone. Ivar threw back the covers of his