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VIII. Soothing the Savage

The adrenaline had worn off and now his entire body throbbed.

He clenched his jaw, hissing in pain as he let himself fall to his knees. His consciousness threatened to leave him but he couldn't do that. He couldn't leave her alone.

He could hear the movements of the water and the thought of her naked and just within reach made his body thrum with something other than pain.

Shame filled him when he thought of the peek he had taken.

He turned back around immediately, feeling like a predator by taking advantage of her vulnerable state.

It was quick, but it was enough to see the curve of her hips and the dip of her waist.

The thought made him dizzy and he swayed.

The sound of her hurried steps reached and when she appeared before him, he groaned.

Her eyebrows met in a frown, worry creasing her forehead. Her eyes were wide with concern and she pressed her hands to his shoulder.

She thought he groaned from the pain, but he groaned at the sight of her. Her wet dress clung to her skin like a glove and the swells of her small breasts drew the attention of his eyes like a magnet.

But he managed to somehow pull his gaze from them and looked up at her hazel eyes.

"Are you okay?" She whispered.

He didn't answer, just gritted his teeth as he forced himself to stand up. She pressed herself to his side, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.

"Come on," She breathed, leading him to the creak.

His steps were heavy but she managed to maneuver him onto a boulder where he sat, sighing in pain. His shoulders fell and he grunted pressing a hand to the wound on side. He could feel the hardness of the arrow and he threw his head back, laughing at his bad luck.

He felt her move around him until she settled in front of him.

"Um," She mumbled, her fingers playing with the bottom of his shirt.

He looked down at her, lifting an eyebrow when he tilted his head further down to look at her fingers pressing against the skin of his waist.

He exhaled through his nostrils, a shiver running down his spine.

With a grunt, he quickly ripped his shirt off, breathing heavily as if he had just fought a hundred men.

"Oh no," she whispered, her hazel eyes reaching up to find him.

Tears filled her lids again and the way she looked at him made him feel so human. So normal. He never wanted her to stop looking at him like that.

He watched her, mesmerized by the way her lips moved as she bit them and the way her chest rose and fell with each breath. Her wet hair lung to her cheeks, which were rosy from the cool air. She patched her dress in a weak knot above her shoulder.

He would have to fix that for her later. Or give her one of his shirts.

He clenched his jaw, thinking of her in his clothes.

Elva's eyes traveled down his chest, taking in the expanse of his chest before flinching at the sight of the wounds on his body.

Alright, it was time to get this over with.

He inhaled, preparing himself and gripped the end of the arrow.

"I need you to pull it out."

Her eyes widened in response and her mouth parted in shock.

Eksel's eyes focused in on those perfect lips, wishing he could kiss them until the pain went away.

"Me?" She whispered.

He tensed in anticipation and nodded.

She reached for the arrow but the shook his head.

"From the back," He barely managed the words as he began to push the arrow further into his skin.

Elva gasped and shook her head, "What are you doing?"

"Focus, little thing," He grunted.

Determination flooded her eyes when she saw the pain that filled his. His lips lifted as he grimaced.

The sound of his flesh had her shutting her eyes.

"Focus," Eksel begged, his voice breaking as he pushed the arrow further.

Elva exhaled in surrender, stepping behind him and gripping the metal tip that had broke through his skin.

"Pull," His voice broke.

Elva pulled, closing her eyes, refusing to see the way his skin opened and the way blood poured from him.

Her body fell back when the arrow freed itself from his body. Eksel yelled, falling forward, heaving breath as if he was dying.

Elva threw the arrow on the ground before quickly ripping fabric from her skirt. She dunked it in the water and pressed the cool fabric to his open wound.

He hissed, but shot her a thankful look.

"One more," He grunted.

Elva's eyes shifted to the arrow that was still stuck in his shoulder.

She shivered, but moved to it regardless and repeated what she had just done.

Eksel was tired and in so much pain by the time they were done. Elva moved around him, wiping the blood from him.

When she started to wipe his back, she froze, her fingers trailing over his skin. Eksel looked at the ground, realizing that she could see the scars that marked his skin.

It was too late to hide his ugliness from her.

"Your back," She breathed.

He grabbed her arm, pulling her in front of him, "I'm fine."

But as he stared back at her, he realized that no one had ever looked at him like that. With compassion.

His pain caused her distress. It made her feel.

He scowled, turning from her and reminding himself that he did not deserve to be looked at like that by someone like her.

The pain was overwhelming and without thinking, he shoved off his glove and began to knead the skin between his fingers like he had done the night before.

Elva's eyes widened as she saw a gruesome scar that wrapped around his entire palm and back of his hand. Eksel grimaced as he stretched out his hand, closing his eyes as he growled.

She took small and short steps toward him. Eksel heard the leaves crunch under her feet and opened his eyes, tilting his head, frowning in confusion as she walked up to him. She took in a deep breath, looked up at him with those big eyes and reached her hands up toward his scarred one.

Eksel growled, pulling his hand back and leaning his body away from her. Elva’s eyes darted from his eyes to his hand and she muttered one simple, quiet word.

“Please.”

She still held her hands out, ready to accept his touch.

With that one word, Eksel’s entire resolve fell.

He watched, fascinated, as she slowly began to rub his hand with her delicate fingers. The pressure increased the more she focused, the more she familiarized herself with his skin.

Eksel growled under his breath because for once he didn’t feel the constant pain that ruled over his hand. He threw his head back, sighing and taking in this moment of complete ecstasy.

She stopped, her teeth burrowing themselves in her lips.

"Thank you, for saving me," She whispered.

Eksel studied her, noticing the relief in her eyes and the softness in her voice. She had been so afraid, and by the gods, he would do anything to never see that look on her face again.

His eyes traveled down to their hands and he inhaled.

"I-"

“Don’t stop," He gritted.

She blinked at him, continuing the massage she had begun.

His chest ached as he looked at her. That was a pain he welcomed happily. She was too beautiful for him to look at, too delicate for him to hold.

His spine shivered at the thought that this would probably be the last time they would share such a moment.

In a week's time they would be arriving to Gleneg and she would be warming his brother's bed.

He hissed, pulling his hand from her hold.

Elva stepped back, surprised by his sudden change in mood.

"Get your shoes on, we'll head back and eat," He grunted, pushing himself to his feet.

"But your wounds-"

"Sten will patch me up, get your shoes on," He turned from her, walking back to where his horse grazed.

He shut his eyes, chastising himself for letting all those thoughts of her rule his mind. She wasn't his and would never be. He had to stop letting his mind make a fool of itself.

The numbness spread through his body and he struggled to pull the reigns. He knew he wouldn't be able to mount.

"We're walking," He threw over his shoulder.

The sight of hurt crossing her gaze almost made him turn to her and apologize for his mood. Made him want to tell her that she didn't have to marry his brother.

But he bit his tongue, leading them back to the group.

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