17 Goddess of Temptation

Ari giggled quietly at his flustered response. After she removed her accessories, she stepped into the hot spring water with her sheer harem pants and fancy gown still on. She slowly edged into the middle of the pool while her body got used to the heat and quickly dipped her head in. It was complete bliss, warming her body and soothing her soul. She glanced at Arell, who was still turned away and giggled again softly.

"Don't worry, I'm decent," she informed him, scooping some water and pouring it down her shoulders to stay warm.

Arell cautiously peeked his head over his shoulder and relaxed when he noticed she was still dressed. He sighed, then smiled. "If you wanted to bathe, I would've left."

Ari smiled back at him, fully enjoying how tense he was. "I just wanted to feel the water. Will you join me?" she teased further, her smile widening with a glint in her eye.

Except, too bad for her. With a mischievous grin, Arell pulled his kurta right over his head and threw it on the vanity desk. Ari's smile faltered and she froze up, turning away from the broad back and rippling muscles that she was already familiar with. But this was quite a different situation than just bandaging Arell up. He was just a patient before. She was now alone in the wash room with her fiancé who was half-naked. Very dangerous. He took off his boots and entered the pool in only his silk pants. He also dipped underwater, then whipped his head back and Ari swore it was as if he was in slow-motion as she watched the water flick back from his hair and glisten off of his shoulder muscles.

Which was when she realized something. His shoulder was perfect. He had a few scars across his lightly tanned chest and back, but the shoulder that was clearly VERY injured just days before? Flawless. Now, Ari had healed people before and the wounds had closed up much faster than usual. However, even with her best magic previously, wounds still left a scar of some sort. And she didn't even use strong magic on Arell!

"Ogling me again, are we Princess?"

Ari blinked up at his cocky expression and instantly blushed, embarrassed to be caught staring at his body yet again. Although she wasn't actually ogling his body, any woman would in this situation. It was truly a sight to behold. And she had no excuse to give him because she couldn't ask about the wound that she stitched up in secret. So she kept her mouth shut and began unbraiding her hair while enjoying the water.

~*~~~*~

Arell leaned back against the wall of the pool and watched Ari take her hair down. There was something on his mind that he'd been itching to ask. This calm silence was probably as good a time as any to bring it up.

He tried to pick his words wisely. "I once came across your personal physician. I know your health isn't… the best. I was wondering if I should send for her to join us here in the palace. If you'd be more comfortable with her than with another physician, that is." He pushed his dripping hair back with his hand to see Ari better.

She paused mid-braid and bit her lip gently, looking away. She replied in a quiet voice, "I've… already asked her to come. She may arrive soon. Thank you for thinking of me, though."

Arell nodded solemnly. For some reason, he felt intrigued by the royal physician. He would never, by any means, cheat on his wife! But something about the physician's golden eyes and selfless charity stirred something in him that he didn't know could be stirred. Was it gratitude? A sense of being indebted? He wasn't sure, but he wanted to know more about the mysterious woman. And he wanted to thank her for saving his life.

Of course, he didn't think any woman could surpass the one in front of him. With her long, black hair swaying in the water, her stunning teal eyes, high cheekbones, and regal face. She was more than the woman of his dreams because he couldn't have dreamt of a woman so perfect. Her light caramel skin glowed in the moonlit water as she finished unbraiding her hair and dove one more time beneath the pool's steaming surface. There was no way that this woman wasn't a goddess. That's it: Arinja, the Goddess of Temptation. Ari stood up with a comfortable sigh and smile, then began stepping out of the spring. Her wet clothes clung to her ample curves as she exited and Arell could practically see right through the sheer fabrics. He choked on nothing but his own sinister thoughts and coughed violently as he looked away.

Pulling down one of the matching robes hanging near the vanity to wrap around herself, she looked at Arell questioningly. "Are you alright?" she asked him.

He nodded and smiled awkwardly, clearing his throat. "Perfectly fine!" He wasn't. She was going to be the death of him. She was nothing like the thin, petite Othan women that vied for his attention and he was so glad for that. He wasn't attracted to most of the women in this country. He preferred Arinja, tall and just curvy enough.

She raised an eyebrow at him but didn't question further on the topic. Instead, she asked, "So what was in that other room?" while she gently patted her wet hair with a cloth.

"Oh, right." Arell got out and lazily threw a robe on, not bothering to wrap it at all. The cool air on his wet skin felt welcoming right about now, especially when trying to get his mind off of Ari. He led her back through the living area and opened the aforementioned door to the right. Inside was a prayer room, as specifically requested by Ari's maids. At one end of the room was a simple table with large candles on it and on the ground was a pile of comfortable pillows to kneel on for praying. "Your second haven," he told her in a velvety voice.

She looked surprised for a split second, then turned and flashed one of the heart-stopping smiles she'd been giving him all night. "This is perfect! Thank you. Everything is wonderful."

He felt a surge of relief that she seemed to like everything.

But then he felt a surge of something else. A wild thirst for conflict. A need to relish in destruction. The raging desire was suddenly overwhelming. It consumed him as his eyes blazed deep red. He tried to squeeze his eyes shut quickly, though he knew that Ari was staring right at him. She must have seen the abrupt change both in his eyes and demeanor. But he didn't want to open his eyes to see her terrified reaction.

Dammit. It was Ares. Why?! Why now, of all times?!