"Making sure you don't smell like wet nug," Krem replied then caught his tongue between his teeth, scratching his blunt nails through Cole's hair to work the soap through it to the ends. He was being about as gentle about it as was to be expected of a mercenary with muscles like rock, but he was at least trying not to hurt Cole in the process.

When Cole's hair had been suitably harassed, Krem backed up to allow him to sink back into the water and rinse out the lather. He had the soap and washcloth back in hand, and was already rubbing the former into the latter.