The Bride of the Immortal by Auriane Bell Page B

deep breath and let it out slowly. The faint waft of air on the back of her neck made her shiver. Adrijan’s fingers were quickly wandering down her back now, skilfully unbuttoning the bodice. It reminded her of how she had changed the clothes of her favourite doll on her seventh birthday: in haste, keen on changing the beloved toy into the pink frilly dress her mother had sewn, yet always handling Rozha with the utmost care. She was astonished that despite the awkwardness he had displayed at first, Adrijan didn’t have any difficulties with undoing her clothes.
    “Have you… done this before?” she asked reluctantly. Mairin scolded herself an idiot. What kind of question was that? Seconds that felt to her like hours passed in silence and when she thought he had decided to ignore the impertinent inquiry he finally answered.
    “No… but it’s not exactly rocke-… science.”
    His grumpy voice confirmed her impression that she had brought up a touchy subject. Maybe he really was a priest – one that didn’t only claim to practise celibacy. Against her curiosity she decided that this time she would pull herself together and avoid putting her nose into other people’s business. Admittedly she had no idea how she could have been so daring to ask in the first place and gladly blamed the fever for her behaviour.
    “Do you want to keep that on?” Mairin felt a gentle tug at her torn undergarments. The thought of being without them didn’t make her feel more comfortable but the option of wearing the constant reminder of what had occurred to her almost made her want to tear the thin fabric off her body.
    “No... if you could just...”
    Never before in her life had she been confronted by such a ridiculous amount of unpleasant choices on the same day.
    “Hm.”
    Mairin didn’t like that sound. Was he displeased with what she had asked of him?
“Hm?” she asked nervously. A moment passed without a reply; then he hesitantly explained his thoughts.
    “The material is quite thin; if I rip it in the back you should be able to stay more or less covered while removing it. Agreed?”
    Mairin silently nodded and before she could prepare herself for what was coming it was already over. The way Adrijan and the attacker had torn apart her undergarments with ease she was seriously considering a change to more protective attire.
    Adrijan’s touch felt cold as ice on her feverish body. His fingers quickly slid away the straps of her undergarments, first over her shoulder, then down her arm to her wrist, causing her to shiver again.
    “I’m sorry, almost done,” Adrijan mumbled, drew the straps under her palms and removed the piece of clothes completely by pulling it away past her neck. Mairin could hear a scarcely audible noise when the light garment landed on the floor.
    “Can you manage to lift your right hand?”
    With only one arm to support herself, her body dangerously started to shake, but her weakness didn’t remain unnoticed. The vibrations of the mattress were proof of Adrijan’s movement. In an instant he had breached the little distance there had still been between them and thereby forced her to use his chest as a back rest. Reluctantly Mairin acknowledged to herself that it was a lot easier for her to remain sitting upright like that, but Adrijan didn’t seem to be satisfied yet and even held her raised arm. The material of the sleeve that was touching her skin was soft, silk maybe, but her current condition made it impossible for her to cherish it. Due to her fever Mairin’s body was hot, yet she felt cold and the thin layer of sweat on her skin made her yearn for a warm bath. Without any further comment Adrijan helped her into the second sleeve. Mairin wished he’d talk to her to keep her mind off what was going on. The more she thought about it, the less she liked it and the more difficult it became to endure. After all she was almost completely naked under the blanket.
    “Won’t you button it