26: Unblooded

Vilkas didn't look, he wanted too, but he didn't. He had some honor… he gave her a few seconds once she was in the water, listening as she dunked herself and finally opened his eyes. There was light from the crescent moon, plenty for him to see by, though his vision was, admittedly, enhanced. Shoulders on up he could see, all the rest was underwater. He wasn't going to stare, that would be awkward for the pair of them, and there was still the matter of the crud in his hair. Not to mention other places… he went back under.

Nothing was warm in Skyrim, and Lysandra hadn't been expecting the water to be either. While refreshing, it was also freezing, and she decided this was going to be a quick wash. A quick wash and maybe practice with her new fire breathing Thu'um in order to warm up. "You're enjoying this!" She accused once she had finished washing out her hair and the rest of herself. He was swimming, and she had glimpsed the satisfied smile on his rugged face.

"What's not to enjoy?" He shot back, swimming around her slowly until they were facing each other, a respectable distance between them. "This has been a good day."

From his perspective, she could see why. They had cleaned out that coven and now had a surplus of heads. She suspected Farkas would be joining his twin in being cleansed of their beast blood. Vilkas was one step closer to his desired afterlife. Not to mention, he was back on familiar ground, fighting beings he could sort of understand and not following her around on insane quests. "It has." She said finally, nodding her head. She was sore and exhausted, emotionally drained, and was probably going to have night terrors but overall… she felt pleased, like she had confronted something and overcame it. With his help of course.

"You're driving me insane, Imperial…" That was not a thought that should have popped into her head, not right then. That incident, when they had been on the road to Riverwood to meet the horn stealer, had been shunted to the back of her mind once they had actually made it to Riverwood. The nightmare of Helgen, finding out she had learned a Shout from a dragon and then executing said Shout, Delphine, and then Glenmoril… there really hadn't been time to dwell on that moment.

There was time now, and it didn't help that he was naked, wet, and drawing closer to her with what looked like concern in his pale eyes. Those eyes had tinged yellow that day, he had been practically laying on top of her, and she wasn't really all that cold anymore.

"Imperial?" Vilkas cocked his head to the side, regarding her out of the wet hair that clung to his face, his ears, inhaling. She smelled like the lake, and something else. "Woman?"

"I'm ready to get out." She said after a moment, managing a hesitant smile though she was looking anywhere but at him. "It's cold."

He contemplated her, considering a 'puny woman' remark out of habit. He didn't make it, she did look cold, there were bumps on her shoulders. He was comfortable, but he also radiated an absurd amount of heat, something he knew wasn't natural. It was likely one of the few things he would miss about being a werewolf. "Here…"

Lysandra tensed when he cut through what little water there was between them, feeling his arms engulfing her now shivering form. His heat was amazing and she could feel it seeping through her cold skin, warming her. Or maybe, that was something else heating her up. "Vilkas…" She didn't dare try looking up into his face, instead focusing her gaze on his shoulders.

He splayed his palms against her skin, feeling her tensing beneath his touch. "You're shivering." He whispered, leaning forward until his lips were just barely brushing against her forehead. "Still cold?"

Truthfully, she was, a bit. He was warming her, there was no doubt about that, and she wasn't sure if it was the water moving her or if they were just starting to lean into each other but… Lysandra could feel more of Vilkas than just his hands. She could feel his chest against hers, his abdomen… "Oh dear Talos…" That was… she might've been fairly innocent, and definitely a virgin, but she still knew basic anatomy.

All things considered, laughing probably wasn't the best thing to do in this situation but Vilkas could not stop himself. It started in the pit of his belly and just worked its way up, rumbling in his chest before escaping his lips. The sound of his laughter echoed throughout the night around them. "So I was right, you're not only new blood but unblooded as well."

"What does that even mean?" She demanded crossly, her face hidden against the hollow of his throat. Mostly out of embarrassment and it was the nearest place she could hide her flushed cheeks. Not that it helped, he could probably feel the warmth.

He didn't answer her, not with words at least. Instead, his hands moved down, skimming her ribs and finally coming to a stop on her hips. He could feel Lysandra holding her breath, almost feel her heart fluttering in her chest, and gently pulled her forward. Her breath hitched, her heart skipped a few beats, and he knew she got the meaning. "Lysandra…"

She knew she shouldn't look up. She should pull away, get to shore, and Shout them both silly. She didn't heed the tiny, nagging voice in the back of her head, screaming at her to stop this right now… instead, she took a deep breath and pulled her face away from his throat, tilting her head back slowly. "We should go in now." She whispered, her gaze fastened on his lips.

"Yes."

Neither of them made a move to part. He filled the space between them, his mouth finding hers. Lysandra had been kissed once before and it had been awkward, with spit involved, and she had been mortified afterwards. This was different. He had just lit everything in her on fire and she could have sworn there were jolts of lighting coursing through her veins. There were other parts of him that were having a serious effect on her and she now got it.

She knew what he meant when he called her 'unblooded'.