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It didn’t matter how many years Poppy had resided in Atlantia, hot water at her fingertips would always be a miracle. Most especially when it came to her cycle.
Ever since she’d discovered the wonders of “showering” her habit for using a bathing tub had waned.
However, there was no better treatment for her cramps or aching muscles than the large, steamy bath in her and Casteel’s chambers.
This morning the moment she started groaning in protest at her cramps, Casteel had immediately canceled their every appointment, dumped her in a lavender scented bath and started off for the kitchens to fetch her some willow tea.
Poppy was reluctant to have the day off, despite the wrenching pain in her stomach. Atlantia was still in relatively early days of peace and as Queen, she felt mildly unsettled at leaving the matter of the kingdom’s safety in the hands of their Royal Advisor for the day.
If Casteel was being perfectly honest, he would have to admit to her that his split decision to call off the entire agenda was more motivated by a need to relax than to tend to her regularly scheduled cramps. Not that she was complaining. Not really. Cas had heard her grumble on many occasions how difficult it was not to wince before the crowd as her cycle ravaged her gut. How she felt stiff and then sometimes stiflingly hot just sitting in the throne room.
In the privacy of the steaming, bubble filled tub (though it was more of a small pool to be frank) she privately admitted to herself that she was glad to have the day off.
The rising steam from the bath water stuck the hair that had fallen from her bun to the back of her neck. She was inhaling the scent of lavender deeply, fighting the instinct to doze off, when footsteps sounded behind her.
Poppy looked over her shoulder to see Cas approaching the tub with a cup of tea balanced on a saucer in his hand.
He placed it beside her on the edge of the bath, then laid down on his stomach, propping up on his elbow, setting his sculpted chin in his palm.
“Willow tea,” he murmured, sliding the tea cup closer to her.
She offered a nod of thanks, accepting the cup and taking a deep sip. It would take probably twenty minutes to set in and relieve her cramps.
“Anything else you need, my Queen?” he asked with an arched brow, his tone genuine.
She shook her head this time. “Just your company.”
“Happy to oblige.” He sat up. “Mind if I join you?”
Poppy felt her cheeks flush and smiled. “Certainly not.”
With a wolfish grin, Casteel stood and began stripping off his tunic and trousers. Poppy watched, unable to tear her eyes from his lean chest, his muscled arms and stomach and legs. For someone so strong he moved very lithely. Almost reminding her of a deer or a cat.
He slid into the bath and hissed as he took a seat on the stone bench that lined the inside ring of the tub. “How are you not boiling alive?”
“You weakling,” Poppy smirked.
Casteel snorted, moving closer to her. “Turn your back to me.”
“Why?” she asked with a sly smile. “You’re pretty to look at…”
“You flatter me, wife.” He placed a kiss on her temple. “Just turn. You won’t regret it.”
With a speculative glance, Poppy set down her tea cup and turned her back to him, sitting on her knees on the bench.
His broad hands met her lower back beneath the water and began to knead her skin with equal parts roughness and tenderness. Poppy tilted her head back, appreciative for the relief in her tense muscles. The clenching and unclenching, her hunched posture to alleviate the pain, had done the small of her back no favors.
Behind her, she heard Casteel chuckle.
Poppy looked over her shoulder at him. “Arrogant.”
“With good reason,” her husband replied, grinning again, making her heart flutter.
She lifted her chin, narrowing her eyes playfully. “How did you become so well versed in relieving painful periods?”
He didn’t meet her eyes, just casually continued to massage her back. “I’ve had multiple women betrothed to me. One of the quickest ways to a lady’s heart is being attentive.”
Not necessarily jealous, but intrigued, Poppy pressed. “Shea?”
He flinched slightly and Poppy felt a wave of guilt.
Before she could apologize, he continued. “You forget that I was a prince in Atlantia for quite some time. I courted many women before Shea. Even a few before Giana.”
“And you had the same bag of tricks for each woman, then?” Poppy teased. “How boring.”
“Quite actually,” he admitted. “Flowers, candlelit dinners, chaperoned strolls through the gardens, sweet nothings, doting. My secret weapon was my extraordinary ability of being of great assistance during their cycle.”
Though there was a hint of amusement in his voice, Poppy sensed a sort of nostalgia.
“Do you miss those activities then? I’m happy to accept flowers and doting, you know...”
“I much prefer our sparring and bickering and… our other physical endeavors,” Cas said, inclining his head so his breath tickled her ear.
Again, her face turned crimson.
Behind her, Cas exhaled, his thumbs rubbing circles around the two dips at the base of her spine. “If I miss anything, it’s the lack of blood on my hands I had at that time.” There was a heavy pause. “Before I had earned the title: The Dark One.”
At the sadness in his voice, Poppy shifted to face him, interrupting his massage. He smiled sheepishly at her and she couldn’t help the frown that furrowed her brows. One of her hands came up to cup his cheek.
He leaned into it. “Don’t worry about me, Poppy.”
“You’re not the Dark One to me,” she said softly, a thumb stroking his cheekbone.
For a moment, she could taste relief from him, but sadness quickly followed. Poppy debated on taking it away from him, helping shift his mood.
Cas kissed her palm. “Thank you.” His voice was quiet and his expression seemed embarrassed. “Sometimes I just miss being Hawke Flynn.”
“Cas…”
“I don’t think I truly forgot who I was then, but sometimes I was guilty of pretending that I was no longer Casteel. That I was another face in the crowd, albeit an extremely handsome and lethal one,” he said with a wry attempt at humor. “A soldier who spent time at a brothel. Who caught the attention of a beautiful woman, tasked only with a duty to protect her. The weight of an entire kingdom no longer on my shoulders.”
“We could always abdicate, you know,” Poppy offered. “Run away to the countryside. I bet Kieren would join us.”
Casteel laughed ruefully. “When Atlantia is so lucky to have you for a Queen? No, I couldn’t deprive them of such a noble and powerful ruler.” The King tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Perhaps someday though. Maybe we’ll have had enough. Live a quiet life in the countryside-“
“-tangled up in each other,” Poppy finished, remembering what he’d told her when they’d first arrived in Atlantia. “Perhaps with a family of our own.”
Casteel nodded. “Perhaps. But for now I’m content to dispatch with that reputation I earned by showing people just how benevolent The Dark One is.”
She looped her arms around his neck, turning to straddle his hips. “I think that title has long been done away with, Cas.”
“It has to those who matter most.” He kissed her lips with aching affection. “That’s all I care about.”
Poppy suddenly had the overwhelming urge to devour him. To crush her lips to his and bury her fingers in his hair. To have him inside her, deep and plunging.
But then she was hit by a damning migraine. Poppy ducked her head, hissing in pain and shutting her eyes tight.
When she opened them, Cas was holding her teacup out to him. “Finish it. Trust me.”
Poppy obeyed, draining the tea to the dregs. Another cramp surged through her, not as bad as the ones from this morning since she was soaking in the warm water. The pain she did experience must have been evident on her face, because Casteel’s arms hooked around her waist and pulled her closer. “Every month you do this… It’s absolutely insane.”
Poppy laughed, rolling her eyes. “It’s ridiculous. You have no idea.”
“Once the tea kicks in, let’s get you back into bed. I’ll fetch a heating compress from the infirmary, bring you something to eat,” he resolved. Mischief flickered in his eyes. “Perhaps I’ll fetch your favorite book. I know that your cycle sometimes makes you insatiable.”
“Be that as it may, you inappropriate man, I’m usually in too much pain to do anything about that particular hunger.”
“Then perhaps I’ll starve you for a few days. Ensure your ravenous by the time you’re ready again.”
Poppy smiled, something curling deep inside her that wasn’t a cramp. “Sounds like a good plan to me.”