Something grew deep in my stomach, a yearning… a desperate longing to comfort him, to make Charick look away from the awful vision he held of his past and see himself the way I saw him: honest, protective, kind, and oh so sweet.
Was Adtovar right?
Maybe.
Dammit!
Life with Charick probably wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. It might even be… nice. Based on the way he could kiss, it might be way more than nice. A low hot throb began in the pit of my stomach at the idea.
I felt attracted to him. Why deny it? My tongue nearly lolled out of my head the first time I saw him, and now… after getting to know him, the attraction had only gotten stronger. I wasn’t sure how far I wanted things to go just yet. I might never be at the point where I’d agree to be called his mate. I was ready for one thing, though. I wanted to kiss Charick again… a lot!
Even more than just physical pleasures, I wanted to rid him of the regret and recrimination that he wore like a blanket.
“Look at me, Charick.“
He raised his golden gaze to mine reluctantly, sheepishly.
“Adtovar was right about you.” I smiled at the way his eyes widened, uncertain of what might come next.
“What did he say?” The words came out grated, like he didn’t want to ask.
“He said you were a good, honorable male.”
A flash of shock colored Charick’s features. Our eyes met and held as I gave a slow, deliberate nod to let him know I felt the same. Well, not exactly the same, if I was being completely honest. I felt more.
I wanted more.
Slowly, I put my hands on the sides of the metal tub and rose from the water. Charick’s eyes widened slightly in shock, the color turning molten as his gaze ran over my body. How long had it been since somebody looked at me with such desire? Had anybody ever? I was far from a virgin. My husband and I had a good sex life as far as it went, but this… this throbbing, hot, primal feeling that seemed to make the air undulate around me was on a level I’d never experienced.
Charick’s eyes ran up and down my body, as hot as twin suns at noon, and I saw the tip of his tongue wet his lips in a slow, gliding motion, like a lion pondering its next meal. It made the wet throbbing between my legs increase, and from the flicker of Charick’s nostrils, I knew he noticed my scent.
Suddenly shy, I grabbed the towel from the chair and wrapped it around me. Charick almost appeared disappointed. I’d never been this bold with someone other than my husband, and now I wasn’t quite sure how to proceed. Granted, I was an assertive woman, but ordering someone tofuck mewasn’t in my wheelhouse. Especially where Charick was concerned, at least not yet.
“Did you say Zahavi gave you some ointment?” I settled on something innocuous.
Charick had been leaning forward in his chair as if preparing to pounce. At my question, he released a deep breath and leaned back, one hand snagging a small metal container from the tabletop.
“Yes. He said this would relieve your soreness.” Charick’s long fingers twisted off the top, and the air filled with the smell of mint.
“Would you rub some on my shoulders for me?” I asked, daring to meet his gaze with a smile. My shoulders were a littlesore, but not nearly as sore and needy as other parts of my body I wasn’t brave enough to ask him to touch.
“Of course.” Charick rose from the chair and followed me to the cot, standing while I situated myself face down on the mattress, keeping the towel tucked around me.
Just the feeling of Charick settling on the thin mattress beside me was so erotic I nearly moaned aloud.
What was I doing? I seriously had no clue, save one. I wanted to do it. I wanted to feel Charick’s hands on me. I wanted to kiss him again. I wanted to….
At the first touch of his hands on my shoulders, I shivered. Not from the sensation of the balm on my skin. It was warm, like his touch.
“Is this where you are sore?” Charick murmured, his hands running from the top of my shoulders and down over my shoulder blades to the middle of my back, pushing aside the towel to allow for unfettered access. His hands were warm, and every inch of skin he touched seemed to react with a pulse of static electricity. A sound erupted from my lips, something between a groan and a purr. Jesus, I hadn’t made that sound since....
“Does this feel good, little warrior?” Charick’s voice was guttural as his fingers increased in pressure.
I had to bite my tongue to keep from moaning again. “Um… yeah, it feels okay,” I finally managed to blurt. It felt better than okay. It felt like heaven.
Charick issued a sound that might have been a laugh. “You know I can smell your arousal.”
Well, shit!
