Free Web NovelChapter 26: 26 The Healing Oil
Lucien stood, staring at Elian’s shoulder with shocking patience.
The younger man stood beside the long bath, his fists balled beside him with unspoken defiance.
"Do you need help with the cloth?" Lucien asked, knowing very well Elian would be repulsed by the question.
Elian shook his head. "Can you leave?" he asked quietly, glancing over his shoulder to look at Lucien.
Lucien stood unmoving for a while. "Soak for five minutes," he said and left the washroom.
Elian sighed in relief, quickly untying the cloth from his waist and folding it neatly. He went over to the shelves and placed it inside one of them. He leaned over the deep bathing pool and dipped his finger into it.
Warm.
He inhaled and slowly climbed into it, one leg at a time.
"Ahh..." he moaned blissfully as he sank into the water, his muscles seeming to instantly loosen. His bruised back suddenly felt soothed, as if something in the water was slowly numbing and healing his skin. He wanted to ponder why Lucien had asked him to bathe in his washroom, but his mind was so eased by his first real bath that he could not let the thought marinate deeply.
The warm water sluiced over his skin, warming him, healing him.
"Mm..." He closed his eyes and gently lowered the back of his head on the rim of the bath. Five minutes, that’s all he had to soak... he’d make the best of it by relaxing like never before.
Outside the washroom, Lucien stood in front of the door, hearing every soft sigh and moan Elian made, and he couldn’t tell why it affected him. He had been searching through his wardrobe when he heard Elian’s first moan and had immediately moved closer to the door, hoping to catch it better.
He did.
Each sound Elian made sent an unbearable jolt of ache straight to his chest and lower abdomen... a feeling he’d never felt before. He had always tried to overlook the effect Elian tended to have over him, but last night proved him wrong. He had slept... before the crack of dawn. And he failed to wake up before the sun fully rose. It had never happened.
It had to be the effect of a Truth Seeker. He’d read so much about how their presence seemed to calm you down, make you comfortable enough to tell them anything. Which was exactly why he was resisting those things he felt toward Elian. The moment he let his guard down, Elian would hypnotize him and get every secret out of him.
He sighed and turned away from the door; however, he stared at his grandfather clock standing tall at the corner of his chamber. The slow ticking gradually took his mind away from his loud thoughts and Elian. He suddenly blinked, staring at the clock and realizing that it was past five minutes and Elian wasn’t out. He was so lost in thought that he didn’t realize he’d stopped hearing Elian’s moans.
Turning sharply, he walked into the washroom without hesitation. His heart almost stopped when he saw Elian lying still inside the water, his eyes closed. He moved like lightning and dipped his hands inside, hooking them under Elian’s arms and pulling him out frantically.
Elian was shocked by the sudden pull; he snapped his eyes open and pushed his brown curls away from his face.
"Your Grace?" he gasped, catching his breath as he stared at Lucien’s face. For the first time, he saw something akin to fear in his eyes, and he couldn’t think of anything that would scare the devil. His hands instinctively lowered, covering himself from the man holding him out of the water.
Lucien clenched his jaw, eyes narrowing angrily. "What do you think you’re doing?" he questioned lowly.
Elian gulped. "I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it was past five minutes. I will leave your bath now—"
"Never do that again," Lucien interrupted, holding Elian’s gaze with a serious, non-negotiable look.
Elian licked his lips, swallowing softly. "Do what?" he asked slowly.
Lucien parted his lips to speak, but he quickly realized that whatever he was about to say would make him look like he cared. Elian would probably conclude he was worried about him.
"Do not try to drown yourself again. I need you alive," he said and stood, gently pulling Elian with him.
Elian blinked slowly as he realized what Lucien thought he was doing. With his hands still covering his manhood, he climbed out of the bath, standing on the thick, wool towel in front of it.
"You’re mistaken, Your Grace. I wasn’t trying to kill myself. I was simply—"
"Wipe yourself and be out," Lucien threw a soft, fluffy towel at Elian and walked out of the washroom, leaving Elian confused. Not once did his eye move past Elian’s face. He couldn’t risk Elian accusing him of wanting his body again. He pulled his gloves off and placed them to dry, wiping his hands on a clean towel.
A question throbbed deep in his mind: what was that strange pang he felt within him each time he thought Elian was dying? Was it all just needing him for his ability, or was there something more?
The washroom door opened behind him and he straightened, masking his confused face with a cold look.
"Thank you for letting me use your bath. I’ll leave now," Elian said.
"No, you won’t." He glanced at Elian. "Come here," he commanded softly.
Elian glanced between the door and Lucien, sighing slowly. He held the towel tightly around his waist and moved over to Lucien. He stood in front of him, looking into Lucien’s eyes and waiting for his order.
Lucien broke away from the gaze and walked over to his desk, picking up the vial from it. "Turn around, untie the towel," he ordered, opening the vial.
"Huh?" Elian gasped, blinking rapidly in confusion.
Lucien sighed. "Will you be able to apply this on yourself?" he asked, lifting the vial to Elian’s face.
Elian narrowed his eyes at the vial. "What is that?" he questioned curiously.
"I’ve told you, save your questions for the doctor. All you need to know is that it will aid your healing... faster," Lucien murmured, stepping closer to Elian. "Now, Young Morel, you are not my duty. Turn your back so I can get to my duty," he muttered slowly.
Elian gulped loudly and slowly shook his head. "I can do it myself... Your Grace," he whispered, gazing into Lucien’s eyes as his pulse danced in his ears. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
Lucien frowned. "No, you can’t. Perhaps you’d prefer Edgar to do it?" Lucien asked darkly, letting Elian know what awaited him if he refused.
Licking his lips, Elian shook his head. "No, not Edgar..." he murmured and slowly turned his back to Lucien, facing the bed. His heart was beating erratically as he slowly untied his towel. As he pulled the towel away from his waist, he brought it over to cover his manhood, his cheeks flaming red as he now stood completely naked before Lucien. Humiliating. He gritted his teeth and scattered his gaze down.
Behind him, Lucien kept his gaze locked on Elian’s shoulder, his jaws clenched. The moment Elian pulled his towel away, he saw how the flush started from the sides of his neck and traveled up his face. He shut his eyes and breathed quietly.
"I need you to recover quickly, Elian. That is the only reason I’m doing this," Lucien spoke, eyes still shut.
Elian nodded. "I know," he murmured.
Opening his eyes, he poured the oil onto his palm and gently rubbed his hands together. Then, he very slowly moved his hand toward Elian’s body. The moment his hand touched Elian’s waist, Elian gasped, causing him to take his hand back.
"Does it hurt?" Lucien asked, sweat breaking out on his skin as his chamber suddenly felt hot in the cold morning.
Elian shook his head, staring at the wall in panic.
"Why did you hiss, then?" Lucien asked slowly, watching Elian’s shoulders tense.
Elian shook his head again, not trusting his words. He did not expect a single touch from Lucien to shoot tingles right down to his core, and not just that, he was starting to feel funny in that part he covered with his towel.
"Be still," Lucien murmured and gently palmed Elian’s waist. "I need you closer," he said as he pulled Elian closer to himself. Slowly, he finally lowered his gaze, taking in the marks that surprisingly seemed to be fading; Soren’s liquid was quite effective. He gently massaged Elian’s skin, shutting every voice in his head that asked him to revel in the way Elian’s skin felt against his palm. He concentrated on applying the oil over the fading marks, sweat dripping down his forehead.
"I’m going lower," he murmured huskily, hardly recognizing his own voice that was suddenly filled with a hunger he didn’t recognize.
Elian parted his lips, dragging air deeply into his lungs to cool his heated skin. "Okay," he replied quietly, panting.
"Are you okay?" Lucien leaned over Elian’s shoulder, glancing at the side of his face, the act causing his nose to brush against Elian’s cheek.
"Your Grace," Elian gasped loudly, snapping his head to the side to lock eyes with Lucien.
Lucien was taken the moment he stared into Elian’s blue eyes, his hand very slightly tightening on Elian’s waist as his eyes turned darker.
"You look flushed, having another fever?" he questioned slowly.
Elian licked his suddenly dry lips. "I’m fine, Your Grace. Please... hurry up. I am uncomfortable," he spoke hurriedly, moving his face away and heaving.
Lucien blinked, moving back to stand behind Elian. "I really do make you uncomfortable, don’t I?" he asked as his fingers gently traced the marks past Elian’s waist.
Elian didn’t reply, not trusting his voice to be steady with the way Lucien’s strong fingers were applying the oil over his ass.
"You make me uncomfortable, too," Lucien said, shutting his eyes as he palmed his hands over Elian’s skin, covering the horizontal red mark there. "Fuck..." he whispered under his breath so Elian couldn’t hear and abruptly stepped away.
"Leave. I’m done," he ordered, voice strained.
Not wasting a second more, Elian wrapped the towel around his waist and practically ran out of Lucien’s chamber.
Alone, Lucien stared down at his palms, clenching them into fists. I thought of nothing... he’s as filthy as can be. He shut his eyes and took three deep breaths before opening them again. He headed toward his washroom, needing the cold water to cool his burning skin.
