Einin had been braced and ready to blow a handful of bubbles at Rufus, but when another man entered the room alongside Rufus, her eyes went wide with surprise and she sank up to her chin in the frothy water. Rufus was one thing; after everything that had happened, she felt comfortable enough in his presence. For that matter, she trusted he wouldn't bring anyone around her that would hurt her.
But that didn't mean she wanted an audience!
Even if it was an audience that came bearing platefuls of food.
No, on second thought...that was acceptable. For the smell hit her nose then, and Einin's stomach rumbled, reminded that it had been days since she'd eaten more than an apple.
Though when the man said her real name, that rumbling turned into a panicked churning until Rufus reassured her. "Oh," she breathed, relaxing again, and returned his silly grin with a sheepish one. She knew she looked ridiculous. But before she could do much more than turn her head to look at the meal those two had brought her, Rufus suddenly took her by the arm and pulled her forward and partially out of the water.
"H-hey!" Einin yelped, taken off guard, and she had to grab the edge of the tub with her free hand to keep her balance. Which, of course, left her exposed. The quick change from warm water to cool air was not kind on her as gooseflesh rose along her skin, and more sensitive areas responded in kind. Einin's face flushed with more than just the heat of the bath and she shrank back from Rufus as a strange, new mix of emotions mingled with the usual embarrassment: shame, and a hint of fear. It was instinctive more than anything; she didn't fear Rufus or his intentions. But she had spent the last day--or more, she didn't know, time had ceased to exist--chained and naked, beaten and slashed, dragged around, threatened with rape and death. Here she was safe, but she was still just as naked and felt just as vulnerable.
The moment passed just as quickly and, with a gasp, Einin sank back into the water when he released her. She curled up, arms around her belly, throat tight, and breath a little more shallow than usual. She drew a slow breath to try to control her pulse and realized a couple beats too late that Rufus had been saying things, and she should respond.
"I'll, uh, I'll get out in a bit," she finally said. Probably silly to be worried about him seeing anything now--he'd already seen, and touched--tasted--everything. But even knowing that, she still felt body shy. Committed man or not, she was...confused. She still hadn't fully grasped what it meant that he was engaged.
Einin rubbed her arm.
"As for the scars..." She couldn't help but shudder, even in the warmth. She had refused to look at them, but she knew what was there. "I think I want them dealt with sooner rather than later." It was bad enough to have the memories, but to have the evidence etched into her skin?
"At this point, there's no pain I can't bear. In fact..." With a humorless laugh, she pushed wet hair from her face and looked up at Rufus. "As crazy as it sounds, I think I could use some good pain."