It turned out that being bathed by a stranger wasn’t that sexy after all. The woman who was apparently his wife had hauled him into a standalone metal tub. To start with, it wasn’t exactly comfortable. After pouring tepid water on top of him, she scrubbed at him mercilessly with a rough cloth. Gavin swore as the thing ripped across his back. The woman cuffed him about the head and continued, unperturbed. When she reached… lower down… he yelped, scooting as far from her as he could manage. His cheeks flamed and he held his hands out, defensively.

  “Stop. Jesus, stop! I don’t even know who you are.”

  She frowned, dropping her hands to her sides.

  “You don’t… Petar, it’s me. It’s Lyra.”

  Trying to protect his modesty with his hands, Gavin hopped awkwardly out of the bath.

  “Yeah, well, I’ve never seen you before.”

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Lyra’s entire bearing had turned stiff. She raised her chin.

  “What happened to you?”

  “I’m buggered if I know. Can I have some clothes?”

  Lips pursed, she turned and started to rummage in a wicker hamper next to the wall. Gavin took the time to look down at himself. He was shredded. Forget six pack, he wouldn’t have felt silly calling his abs a twelve pack. There was a large, puckered scar above his left hipbone. That was kind of cool. He’d never had anything that badass-looking before. Cheeks flushing deeper, he peeked underneath his hands. Interesting. He’d been circumcised before.

  Lyra turned back to him, shoving a bundle of cloths at him. He had to move his hands to take them. Her eyes fixed on a point below his midline and he turned awkwardly.

  “Could you not, please?”

  Her frown deepened and she knelt, reaching to touch the scar on his hip.

  “You didn’t have this when you left.”

  “Hey, hey, hey. No touching. Actually, could you leave?”

  She stood and shot him a dark look that he’d definitely seen on his girlfriend’s face before. He was in trouble alright. Nevertheless, he took the opportunity to get dressed in peace. He needed some space to think. This was the strangest dream he’d ever had.