To Thaw A Frozen Heart

~ chapter 17 ~

Antea turned to see a figure covered in muck and sludge storm into the tavern. Strands of white hair poking out from the slime that covered him let her know that it was her witcher. She felt a weight lift from her shoulders as she realised he was safe. 

Geralt saw the small girl standing with sad eyes and an exhausted posture and halted. He breathed out a sigh and walked quickly towards her. He took her in his arms and embraced her. Though he smelled of selkimore guts and dirt, Antea was greatful of the hug, and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Agh... What's that stench?" One of the villagers in the tavern asked, interrupting their blissful moment.

"Selkimore guts." Geralt huffed, as he loosened his grip on Antea. The sound of his voice sent shivers down her spine - she had forgotten how beautiful he sounded.

"Had to get it from the inside." Geralt continued, as he looked at the man. "I'll take what I'm owed."

He took the bag of coin, and went to the bar to make sure it was all accounted for. Antea felt his hand slip into hers as he brought her away with him.  She glanced back towards Jaskier, who had begun singing a tune about tossing coin to a witcher, and the tavern joined in.

Geralt led the pair into the room where Antea had woken up earlier, and she stopped at the door as Geralt walked in. He turned to face her when he felt her hand leave his. 

"Geralt. Where am I? What happened? Please - why cant I remember anything about last week?" The small woman squeaked, tears brimming her eyes.

Geralt approached her and gazed at her softly. His fingers found themselves playing with the grey strands of hair that framed her face. 

"Thea- you exhausted yourself. You're drained, I honestly thought that-" He stopped his sentence short. Maybe it would be best to downplay what happened, she was already scared enough.

"You overused your magic, you fainted. Well, not before you managed to give yourself a new hair-do" he smiled, and met her eyes. "If this continues, you'll end up looking like me - you wouldn't like that now, would you?"

Antea chuckled and reached up to hold his hand that was playing in her hair. She looked at his golden eyes and whispered, "It wouldn't be the worst - you're quite beautiful."

Geralt was taken back by her comment, and felt himself become speechless.

"But... you smell like shit - so how about we get you a bath?" Antea continued, smiling and punching Geralt on the shoulder. 

He smiled slightly, and watched Antea walk around the room and gather him fresh clothes.

"Thea?" He said, and she turned around and nodded, "Join me?"

She was silent for a moment, her mouth gaping open, clutching the blouse she had found. She took a breath and closed her mouth, standing up straight.

"I'll be in shortly. Make it warm - will you?" She managed to say. 

Geralt nodded quickly and left the room. Antea let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, and felt her body heat up and her hands start to shake out of nervousness.

Little did she know, Geralt was in the washroom feeling the exact same way.

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Antea paced back and forth in the room, clutching her fresh robe. It had been about 5 minutes since Geralt left for the washroom, and Anteas heart had not yet returned to it's normal pace.

"He's seen you naked before you fool! Stop being an idiot - go in there." She whispered to herself. 

She stopped in front of the washroom door, and sucked a breath in, before exhaling and stepping inside. The creak of the door made Geralts head turn in her direction slightly in her direction. He noticed her shallow breaths and turned his head back around, smirking.

Antea walked towards the edge of the tub that Geralt was seated in, his spread legs taking up much of the room. His eyes were glued to the water as she dropped her garment and sunk in to the water in front if him. She let out a content sigh as the warm water engulfed her body. Geralt glanced up at her and found her looking back at him.

"Can I wash your hair?" she asked quietly, feeling a little brave.

He  gave her a silent nod, and she moved closer to him, kneeling between his legs - her breasts sat just on top of the water as she poured the water over him. He hummed as her fingers entangled themselves in his white locks, the grime and dirt slowly disappearing. Her hands slowly made their way around his head, to his ears, and Geralt felt a shiver run down his body at the sensation. 

Antea felt a twitch beneath her, and all of her nervousness disappeared and a cocky smirk grew on her face as Geralt opened his eyes to look at her. All it took was one moment - one look, and his arms were around her, his lips on hers.