More Than Meets the Eye

Chapter Eight

By her second morning, Arielle was a bit more sure of herself. If Thorin suspected something was amiss, surely he'd have said so by now. And since he didn't, she stood before his door with far more confidence now.

She rapped carefully, mindful of her bruised hand, and her belly only fluttered a tad when Thorin growled, "Come in."

Some of her confidence faded at that growl. He certainly didn't sound happy and well-rested, and she wondered if she'd made a mistake in not waking him the night before. Perhaps his night on the sofa left him with a sore neck in addition to a sore shoulder...

If his mood was foul, it would be unwise to keep him waiting, and so she pushed open the door and oozed around it. "Your Highness?"

"In here," he called from his bedchamber. "And I thought we agreed, you'd save that for when others are around?"

She winced. "I know we did, but... it seems more appropriate."

He let out a heavy sigh and muttered something beneath his breath, to which she replied, "I beg your pardon?"

"Come and help me."

Oh, he was touchy today. She winced again as she hurried toward his bedchamber. "I'm coming. Have you been awake long?"

"Long enough to notice my valet was not here."

She paused in the doorway. "I beg your pardon, but you did not tell me what time you planned to rise today. Otherwise, I would have been here. And it's only half-six now besides."

Regret wove through her as he glared at her through narrowed eyes. "Were you in here last eve?"

Heat ran along the bottom of his voice and for a moment, she considered lying, telling him that perhaps Lady Dis had come to check on him. But, she'd told enough lies as it was and did not wish to add to them if she didn't have to, so she drew in a deep breath and nodded. "I was, yes. You were asleep on the sofa and I didn't think I should wake you."

For a moment, she thought he was going to scold her, but then, his glare faded. "I thank you but next time, wake me. If you would run my bath now, I'd appreciate it, since I didn't get to wash last eve."

She nodded. "Of course."

A strange calmness settled over her as she went into his bathing chamber and opened the taps, mindful of having only one good hand. Hopefully, he wouldn't notice, although it looked even worse today. The cuts had scabbed over, but it was a lovely shade of purplish-blue and her fingers weren't keen on responding. The pain was more a dull ache, expect when she straightened her fingers. Then it became something more of tiny fireballs beneath her skin.

She stretched them now, air hissing through her clenched teeth. Fireballs.

Footsteps sounded, drawing near. Her belly fluttered a little, her mouth seemed drier than usual, but she didn't have that all-over sense of panic that came the last time she'd run his bath.

Am I getting used to this?

She couldn't imagine that happening at all, being comfortable around a naked man. It seemed impossible. Although, prior to now, she'd never even seen a naked man, so perhaps that explained her initial foolishness.

Of course, he wasn't naked in her presence yet, so perhaps she was being a bit too optimistic. Especially when she heard his approach and the butterflies magically multiplied.

He came into the room wearing the same dark blue silk robe as the previous morning, and her heart skipped a beat at the sight.

Yes, definitely too optimistic.