Kaliana groaned, smashing her bright red face into her pillows as sunlight streamed in through the curtains. Her dreams had been infected, and not in a good way. She'd dreamt of him... of that bastard... She shook her head, silently willing away the images burned into her brain. His fingers couldn't be that soft. She shuddered. It was just a dream... a dream about all the things they probably should've done last night, only it was hotter, crazier, and apparently in the dream she'd been a very willing participant. A hot flush crept up past her cheeks and she threw her covers back, gathering her things ready for a bath. She'd wash away the feeling of his soft fingertips trailing over her skin, pinching at her—

"No. No. No." She shook her head a second time. Her thoughts couldn't veer in that direction. Kaliana refused. "That bastard isn't hot. He's a cold icy git."

Silently, she mulled over the idea of a cold bath, wrapping her arms around herself as the cool morning air hit her skin. A cold bath wouldn't help her. There was no need for one. She wasn't attracted to him in the slightest, besides the large pool of water sunk into the ground was calling her. Steam rose from it, the light from the spotlights in the white ceiling high above her casting light down on the exquisite bathroom. It was fancy, just as expected of the palace. She'd barely had the time to admire it when she'd been getting ready for the damned wedding ceremony. Her nerves had been eating her alive. Sighing quietly, she stripped off, clothes puddling on the ground. The jets of the shower worked wonders on her tense shoulders, though they weren't quite as good as Leviathan's hands. Kaliana felt her face turn bright red again, dread pooling in her stomach as she pushed the traitorous thoughts to one side. She hated her fair skin sometimes. Her blush showed up far too easily, and that meant Leviathan would be sure to notice. Sure to tease her.

She scrubbed the suds of the shampoo from her hair, rinsing it through quickly before she finally tugged a towel around herself and edged into the water. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as her feet met the ground, ensuring the little pool wasn't too deep. She probably ought to have left her towel on the side – she'd never needed one before, but for some reason she felt oddly exposed.

"Beg," the soft purr in his voice had her mewling underneath him as his lips hovered only inches above her own.

Kaliana groaned, splashing water on her face, determined to scrub away her blush along with those thoughts. It was no doubt the reason why she felt she needed a towel to cover herself up in her own bathroom.

His fangs pricked at her neck, tongue lapping at the beads of blood welling up on her pale skin. "I told you I'd make you beg." Fingers wove through her hair. "What a pretty sight it is..." he murmured, icy eyes staring down at her so intently she shivered in anticipation. "I'll have to get you in this position more often."

She'd been scarred for life. There was no mistaking it. Shivering, she sunk deeper into the water, sighing quietly at its warmth. Her enjoyment only lasted a few seconds though. The sounds of splashing made her freeze, gaze darting over to the wall dividing her bathroom and Leviathan's rooms. It wasn't much of a wall. The bottom part of it was missing, the water connecting their two bathrooms as she soon found out. A head of messy black hair emerged from the water, familiar blue eyes locking on her own, a small smug smile on his lips.

"How sweet..." he murmured, ignorant of her shallow breaths, his voice dropping a few octaves as those icy blue eyes rose to meet hers. "You're practically dripping..."

Kaliana pulled the towel closer around herself, grateful she'd listened to her instincts and worn it into the bath – otherwise she'd have been completely naked in the bath with her loving husband. Her cheeks turned bright red, flickering her gaze away as he stood to his full height, trudging over towards her.

"Relax, brat," he said, laughter in his voice. "I'm wearing swim trunks."

She turned back towards him, hesitantly peeking through her fingers. Her shoulders slumped in relief, hands dropping away from her face. He was telling the truth, thankfully.

"You look awfully red though..." he murmured, staring down at her curiously. "Just what did you dream about last night to get you this hot and bothered so early in the day..." He leant closer, a sardonic smile on his lips. "Me?"

"Such a demanding little brat you are," he said, skin flush against skin, the pause in motion making her grumble, hands fisting ever tighter, her nails raking against his back. It was too slow. His grip on her hair tightened in answer, pulling her head back, the silvery column of her throat exposed – his for the taking. "You love it rough, don't you?"

"Like hell I did," she snarled, adding a pointed scoff on the end. No way in hell was she admitting all the things she'd imagined him doing to her... Could ribbon ever be used like that? She shrank back. She did not want an answer to that question. It was purely rhetorical.

"So that's a yes," he said, hands going to his face. "Awww, tell me... is my sweet little brat falling for me already?"

She recoiled, face heated. "It's just the heat from the bath! That's all."

"Really?"

He knew. He totally knew. Her hands curled, nails digging into her skin. "Yes!"

"Liar."

"Liar," he whispered, clicking his tongue. Heat pooled in her belly, blush rising as he leant over her, hand either side of her face, trapping her there.

"Oh my..." He tilted his head, looking her up and down in a way that had her bristling. Like a shark scenting blood... only with Leviathan it was her lust instead. "Need a cold shower already, brat? We didn't even get to do anything fun last night..."

"Get out of here already!" She pointed back towards his own bathroom. "I'm just hot from the bath, don't get any stupid ideas."

"Well, I suppose I do make things hotter just by being here."

Kaliana folded her arms tightly across her chest. "I hope you drown," she muttered flatly, edging away from him.

"Aww, how mean," Leviathan said, hand closing around her arm in an iron grip, pulling her hasty retreat to a sudden stop. "But I'm afraid I'll need to explain your schedule for the rest of the day. The printed version hasn't arrived just yet – hence why I'm gracing you with my presence."

"I could do without being graced by your obnoxiousness," she grumbled, looking determinedly at the wall instead of his glorious abs. No. They weren't glorious, she shook her head at the thought, they were just another part of his body, and she had no desire to find out what they felt like.

"Hmm..." He tilted his head. "Seems that tongue of yours is getting sharper. Good. Though I think you'll need to polish up your language a bit... since you'll have to learn about how to insult people and only have them figure it out twenty minutes later when you've completed your business with them."

"Let go of me, dammit," she hissed, shaking her arm, freezing when her towel shifted dangerously.

"I need to tell my sweet little brat of a wife her schedule for the day," Leviathan said, staring up at her, amusement written all across his face.

"And you can do that while I sit over there and you stay here," she said, eyes narrowed as she tried to pull herself loose. "Let go of me already, bastard!"

He bit his lip, staring at her, a smug smile on his face as he opened his mouth. That was enough of a warning for her to know his next words would make her want to strangle him. "But I like seeing you... all flustered and wet..." He grinned, no doubt having spied her reddening ears. It felt like they were on fire, thanks to her irritation of a husband and his annoyingly silver tongue. "You're practically dripping..." Her cheeks burnt. It was like he was still purring those words in her ear. No. No. No. Now was not the time to be remembering her weird dream.

"Get the fuck away from me," she snarled, splashing water into his eyes, scowling when rather than moving away, she found herself being pulled down onto his lap. She gave up on splashing him, instead dunking his head under the waters and Kaliana clawed back the space between them.

He remerged from the waters seconds later, flicking his inky locks back, one eyebrow raised as he took in her panting form. "Do I need to tie your hands together in the bathroom too now?"

"Fuck off!" She splashed him again, uncaring as water spilled over the edges of the bath.

"Tut tut... Making a mess of the bathroom now." He shook his head. "Honestly, brat, you're so much trouble," he said, loosening his grip on her wrists and she stumbled back in the waters.

"Bastard," she muttered, rubbing at her arm.

"Brat."

She scowled. The bastard had ruined her morning. "Piss off already!"

"Do you want me to fuck off or piss off? I don't think I can do both..."

"Argh! Get out of my bathroom!" Kaliana stomped her foot.

"Hmm... How about no?" He smiled. "I'm rather enjoying the view..."

And it was at that point Kaliana finally realised her towel was floating in the waters some distance away.