Bai Ye scooped me up and wrapped me in his arms, leaning my back against his chest as I tried to catch my breaths. "Doesn't this feel more comfortable than a rough bathing cloth?" He dropped a kiss on the side of my neck.
I chuckled. He never missed a chance to turn my words back onto me. "But I'm probably sweatier now than before we started bathing," I said, draping my limp body over him. The heat of his skin felt particularly scorching, and I wasn't sure if it was because of my mixed-up senses after just coming out of the cold pool of spring water, or because he was still burning as well.
He fished out my dress from the creek bed. "And that's why it's better to bathe you now instead," he said and wrung it slightly, then ran the damp cloth over my chest.