Page 124 of Riv's Sanctuary

“Whoa.” She could only stare. “The heck?”

Riv glanced her way. “Do you not have cleansing tubs,” he cleared his throat and she realized he was trying out this conversation thing, “on your planet?”

Lauren smiled. “Yes, but they’re fixtures in the actual room. They don’t appear out of bendable walls.”

Riv nodded.

Pressing a few more buttons, he started the jets and the tub began to fill with water.

He brushed past her then and exited the room without another word.

Well, there went the conversation.

She thought he’d gone and was about to start undressing when he reentered with a little packet in his hand.

The packet had some sort of powder that he sprinkled over the water.

The powder created a thin shimmer and the water itself looked warm and inviting, little wisps of steam escaping from the surface to float into the air.

She could just imagine sinking her aching body beneath the surface and she had to bite back a moan.

“What’s the powder for?" she asked, instead, turning to look up at him.

“Healing salts.”

She raised her eyebrows then, opening her mouth to ask him why he was suddenly going out of his way to be so nice.

Instead, she said, "Thank you."

He didn't reply. He only seemed to stiffen some more.

She didn't know what had gotten into him but she wasn't going to question it.

This was the second time in a year that she'd felt like a human being and not just property or something unwanted. The first being when he’d taken her shopping at the market.

Stepping forward, she made to begin undressing when she glanced behind her to see he was still standing there.

"I need to...I need privacy to undress."

She wasn't sure, the steam was beginning to make it hard to see, but she was almost sure the skin on his face flushed to a darker shade.

“You will need help washing.”

It was her turn to blush. “What?”

"I am here to assist you."

That took her off guard and it must have shown because his shoulders stiffened some more.

"I can do it myself." She looked down at her palms. Maybe not. Maybe she couldn’t do it herself.

She did need his help.

Fine.

“Ok. I may need your help but you have to turn around while I undress and I only need help with my hair, if you don’t mind.”

Riv swallowed hard. She could see his throat move.