Sneak Peek: Ruben Ch6

As soon as the water makes contact with your back, your eyes roll up as you embrace this euphoria. How you miss the idea of hot springs. The phoenix territory had ones even hotter than this, many even made from lava. It made you even more excited to be so close to the place you once called home.

"All for the hot springs," you snort, about to sink down just as someone in the distance comes up. Your eyes widen as Ruben makes himself known, utterly unaware of you, as he moves his sleek, wet hair out of his face. Standing frozen, your eyes travel from fingers that sweep hair away to his bicep, where muscles bulge with the slightest of action. Shimmering scales reflecting the golden rays of the sun while droplets of water glide down exposed skin until they make it back to the safety of the water.

He takes a deep breath in and then breathes out, a current of steam erupting from his nostrils and causing the water to boil for some time. And that is when his gaze rises and sees you. Neither of you makes a move or even utter a word. He stares at you in shock as you simply look on with a blank look on your face. It starts with his cheeks, but in no time, his entire face turns a light shade of red, and he gazes to the side.

"Please tell me you're not nude."

<<if $flirty >=50>>You frown, perfectly doing away with the smirk that you truly wish to wear, "did you expect me to enter the hot springs with clothes on?"<<else>>You roll your eyes in annoyance, "of course I have clothes on. Did you really think I'd come in here naked?"<</if>>

"Who can guess with you?" he questions.

<<if $vigor >=50>>\

Your hand balls into a fist, and you point a finger at him, "I came here to relax, not listen to an asshole. So either shut up or get lost."

He snorts, "I was here first."

"So you should be done."

<<if $ruben >=70>>He raises his hands in surrender, "truce. Neither of us wants to listen to the other, I'm sure." You nod in agreement.<<elseif $ruben <40>>He points to the other side of the hot springs, "you see all that space over there, ?princess? It has your name on it. You stay on your side, and I'll stay on mine.<<else>>He rolls his eyes and turns his back to you, refusing to entertain you any longer.<</if>>

<<else>>\

You attempt to relax. Thankfully the water makes this task much easier than usual. "Look, I just came to relax. I'll stay over there, and you can have this area, no need to interact." Ruben blinks but then nods, shrugging his shoulders.

<</if>>\

... so, who's ready to get steamy?