As Shen Yu settled into the steaming water beside Yilan, the ripples of his massive frame surged against her, making her feel small and delicate in his wake. She tried to avert her eyes, her head ducked low as she attempted to hide the feverish crimson that had stained her face, but she found no sanctuary in the shadows.
Shen Yu reached out, his long fingers cupping her chin with a firm yet tender grace. He gently tilted her face toward his, forcing her to meet his molten gold gaze. His smile was soft, but his eyes burned with a hunger that stripped her bare far more than the lack of robes.
"Don't hide from me, Yilan," he murmured, his voice a low vibration beneath the water's surface. "I want to see every blush, every flicker of what you're feeling."
