I follow the valley of muscle trailing down his chest and abdomen, stopping to appreciate the deep v cut into his hips. I try to see where it leads, but the glare from the water's surface conceals what’s beneath, and I’m struck with a pang of disappointment.

Kaebl’s throat shakes with a silent chuckle as he observes the conflicting emotions running across my face, but before he has a chance to comment on it, Malice’s voice rings out from the far end of the pool.

“It’s not as impressive as you might think, I’m afraid.”

Kaebl cuts a heated glare toward Malice, his shoulders tensing. No one was talking to you.

“Ah, but the silence was stifling.” He leans back against the stone ledge, his smirk widening to a grin as he crooks his fingers, inviting me inside. “Come. No blankets allowed, though.”

I keep his stare, refusing to back down as I step away from Lir and Cyprien, unfurling my arms and allowing the furs to slide from my shoulders, pooling on the stone floor in a heap. Roark steps to the side, an appreciative hum vibrating in the base of his throat as he watches me pass by. The water laps my ankles as I step into the shallow end, the heated magic tickling my skin, traveling up to my waist as I wade deeper into the pool—toward Kaebl.

I stop directly in front of him, Malice’s heated stare burning into my profile as I tip my chin up to meet Kaebl full on. “Can you help untangle my hair?”

He nods, lost for words as I turn, lowering my head backward into the water. My hair spreads out in a sheet of dark brown strands, rippling with each slight wave and vibration.

Jealousy ripples from Malice’s shoulders in heated waves as he looks on, his skin roiling with the need to touch me, to take me from Kaebl. While the two of them exchange hostile glances, Lir, Cyprien, Kaebl, and Roark slip into the pool, their eyes wide as they wait with bated breath for the situation to play out.

“So what did you want to talk to me about?” I ask, gazing up at Kaebl through my lashes. “Lir mentioned it after…” My face flushes as the memories come flooding in, causing Kaebl’s mouth to tip in a small smile, his eyes creasing at the corners.

There’s no need to be embarrassed, little one. You should take pride in pleasuring your mates.

I lower my gaze as the heat creeps up to my eyebrows, unable to come up with a good response. “I will… from now on.”

Good. He nods resolutely as his fingers continue working the knots from my hair, careful not to make direct contact with my skin. As for what I wanted to talk about… it depends if you’re ready for it.