Too late.
I squeeze my thighs together and glance up at Cenric, who’s watching me with an unreadable expression. “Fine,” I say, my voice steadier than I feel. “But if you snore, I’m kicking you out.”
A flicker of surprise crosses his face, quickly replaced by his usual stoic mask. “I don’t snore.”
“We’ll see about that.”
Chapter
Fifty-One
EVERLY
I won’t kisshim tonight. Not when I have too much pride to be rejected and pushed away again.
I scrub my face with cold water and try to ignore the fact that Cenric is inmytent. The water tingles on my skin as I splash it over my cheeks.
Cenric sits at the table in the corner, one hand curled around a goblet of deep red wine.
Earlier, he had only left me for a short while, but he hadn’t exactly left me alone. He appointed Liam to watch over me.
Liam entertained me with stories of his childhood until Cenric returned.
Now, Cenric is back, and he’s staring.
How can I clean myself with him watching me?
It’s too much. Too everything.
I cup water in my hand and wonder what he would do if I flicked it in his direction. A smile pulls at my mouth as Iimagine him scowling as the droplets hit his surcoat. He’d probably toss me over his shoulder and march me straight to the river for a dunking.
I sneak a peek at him from the corner of my eye as I pat my face dry. Torchlight caresses his features and dances in his eyes. My cheeks flush, and I quickly turn away before he notices me staring.
Knowing he’s still watching me, I slip my surcoat off my shoulders, allowing it to pool around my feet. I step out of it, fold it neatly, then place it on the table.
My cheeks burn hotter as I imagine his eyes trailing over me. I’ve never undressed in front of a man before.
I glance at him out of the corner of my eye again. His focus is still fixed on me, his expression unreadable.
If it were warmer, I would sleep in my chemise, but I don’t relish freezing to death. So, I grab my nightdress and yank it over my head.
Silence stretches between us as I lie on the right side of the bed. I try to keep my eyes closed, but the sound of Cenric’s chair scraping against the ground draws my attention. My eyelids flutter open as he stands and moves to the washing stand.
His fingers work at the straps of his weapon belt. He sets it aside. I bite my lower lip as he grips the hem of his surcoat, yanking it over his head.
Mercy!
I should look away. I really should. But my eyes are traitors, drinking in every sculpted muscle, every scar etched into his skin.
Cenric dips a cloth into the basin, wringing out the excess water. He runs it over his face, down his neck, across his broad shoulders. Droplets trail down his chest, and I imagine licking them. Every drop. Every inch of his chest.
Stop it!
As if sensing my thoughts, Cenric’s eyes flick to mine. I freeze, caught red-handed in my ogling. A smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth, and heat floods my cheeks.
Well, this is mortifying.
Quick! Say something clever.“I was...admiring your...scars.”
