<h4>Chapter 317: A Bath Together (I)</h4>


    <strong>Evaline:</strong>


    When River announced a "bath together," I had nearly choked on air. My imagination had run wild in a thousand dangerous directions... none of them remotely safe for my heart.


    But the moment we entered the hidden wing of the mansion and I saw the sight in front of me, relief washed over me.


    It wasn’t a bathtub.


    It was an indoor heated pool.


    I stood at the entrance, eyes widening as I took it all in. The space looked nothing like the rest of the polished mansion. Instead, it was designed like some secret cave, with stone walls softened by thick ivy crawling up and across them.


    The faint, golden light fromnterns was casting warm shadows, and thin ribbons of steam were curlingzily above the surface of the pool. The water itself was crystal clear, inviting, as if whispering a promise offort.


    I exhaled slowly, feeling grateful. My heart hadn’t stopped hammering since dinner, but at least this wasn’t what I had pictured.


    River walked beside me, his usualposed aura settling over the space as though he owned not just the pool but the entire world around it, which he obviously did. Without a word, he guided me toward a smaller side area.


    "Changing rooms," he said simply. He opened a door for me, and inside, I found neat stacks of clothing - both men’s and women’s. My brow furrowed.


    There were clothes for me too.


    As if he had prepared it in advance.


    River, meanwhile, picked up his own set of swim shorts and strode toward the opposite side of the changing space, vanishing with effortless confidence.


    The moment the door clicked shut behind him, I let out a long, shaky breath. Finally, I was alone.


    My gaze took in the options avable for me and I immediately realized all of them were bikinis in different styles and colors. I hesitated, staring at them as though they might bite me. I had never in my life worn something like that in front of someone else, much less in front of River.


    But refusing wasn’t an option.


    After a long moment of debate, I picked a dark green two-piece bikini - the color rich and deep, not too loud. To give myself some sense of modesty, I grabbed a white cotton t-shirt too.


    Inside the cubicle, I pulled the curtain closed and started changing.


    <fnb1f5> Updates are released by fin?novel</fnb1f5>


    It fit perfectly, almost like it had been made for me. The top pushed my breasts up just enough that they looked fuller than usual, and the deep color contrasted beautifully with my pale skin. I caught my reflection in the full-length mirror and froze.


    Was that... really me?


    Healthy. That was the word that came to mind.


    I no longer looked gaunt. No longer fragile from malnourishment and neglect. My body had begun filling out, soft curves returning where there had once only been sharp edges. And then, of course, my eyes fell on the small swell of my stomach. My baby bump.


    I lifted a hand and caressed it gently.


    I swallowed and quickly tugged the white t-shirt over my head. It ended just at the tops of my thighs, long enough to hide the most revealing parts.


    I took another breath. Deep. Steady.


    <i>I could do this.</i>


    When I stepped out of the changing room, the warmth of the pool area hit me again. And so did the sight of River.


    He was already in the water, chest-deep, sleek lines of muscle glistening faintly under the soft lights. He wore only a pair of ck swim shorts, his body all sharp nes and perfect symmetry. Broad shoulders, sculpted chest, arms that looked like they could crush steel... and yet he moved through the water withzy grace, like some predator conserving his strength.


    My feet refused to move.


    Draven and Oscar both had perfect bodies too, but something about River’s presence made it impossible to look away. He wasn’t just attractive. He was maic. Dangerous in a way that wasn’t about his muscles but the absolute control he radiated even when doing nothing.


    I finally forced my legs to move, making my way toward the pool stairs. The waterpped at my ankles, warm and soothing, easing away thest of my hesitation. I stepped in further, the water enveloping me inch by inch until I was waist-deep.


    And then he moved.


    Effortless. Silent.


    He swam across the pool with long, powerful strokes, cutting through the water like it was nothing. My throat tightened as he closed the distance between us.


    I froze in my ce.


    The water rippled, brushing against my skin as he reached my side. Close. Too close.


    "Comfortable?" His voice was low, husky, almost swallowed by the steam-filled air.


    "I-I guess," I stammered, cursing my own voice for sounding so breathless.


    His eyes flicked downward, lingering for the briefest second on the t-shirt that had be wet and see-through. When his gaze lifted back to mine, there was the faintest glint in his eyes... a spark of something unreadable but potent.


    I swallowed hard.


    "Good," he said simply. And then, without warning, his hand brushed the edge of my arm as he moved the water around.


    It was nothing. A light touch. Innocent enough. But my body reacted as though he had set me on fire. My heart thudded against my ribs, my breath caught in my throat, and the warmth of the water suddenly felt scalding.


    "Come," he said, moving back slightly into the deeper part of the pool. His hand, however, lingered just a second too long on my arm before he released me.


    I followed, though my legs felt shaky under the water.


    When I reached him, he was watching me... quiet, unreadable, but with a focus that made me feelpletely exposed.


    The steam curledzily between us, blurring the edges of his perfect body, but it didn’t soften the intensity of his gaze.


    I hated how easy it was for him to unravel me with just his presence.


    And yet, when he reached out again, fingertips grazing mine beneath the water as though guiding me forward, I didn’t pull away.


    I couldn’t pull away.