That roused her enough, her cheeks warming with color even as she straightened and hiked her proud little chin. "I've been busy taking care of the keep."
We remained silent for a moment, me staring at her and her staring anywhere else.
"I'm not going to summon you to my rut, omega," I said softly, and my chest twinged as I watched her swallow, eyes blinking.
"I see," she said, her voice a little rough. I knew exactly how she would take the words, and I waited for any glimpse of relief. She only guarded herself more tightly than ever. I hated making assumptions, preferring a simple bald truth, but she was not going to give me that—not yet, at least. "What does that mean for me?"
I resisted the impulse to smirk. "It means I have need of you tonight, Brigid," I said, and her eyes flashed to mine, openly surprised. I continued before she could misinterpret me again. "I expect I'll have need of you tomorrow. And the day after. My hope is that by the time my rut arrives, I won't have tosummonyou, because you'll already be in my bed. But that decision is up to you."
I wanted to rise up from the water, rub my cheek against the heat in hers, nibble at those parted lips and slide my tongue inside her mouth before she could respond. It took a tight grip on the ledge of the tub to hold myself in place, waiting and watching. This track was a gamble. As much as I strived to rise as alpha, I wasn't naturally imperious, especially not with a woman. I couldn't make myselfdemandBrigid in my bed, but I would be as direct as possible about wanting her there. If she ran now, I wouldn't chase her—that would be her real answer on whether or not she was ready to be mine.
"I see," she said, and this time as her eyes slid over my body, she didn't hide the appreciation. I leaned farther back in the tub, because I'd seen the way women looked at my chest. Brigid's lips curved slightly at the corners, and she knelt slowly, stare fixed on the dark shimmer of my cock in the water. "Like this?" she asked, reaching for me without hesitation.
"Fuck!" I gasped as her hand found me in the water, and my own flashed down, wrapping around hers before she could pull away, holding her in place. I felt her twitch in my grip for a moment before stilling, holding me just below the head. "Y-yes, but come closer, witch."
Her gaze met mine, wide and unguarded for once, and she shuffled close enough for her knees to touch the outside of the tub, her arm in the water bending at the elbow. My free arm wrapped around her back, stroking up her spine, her breath catching sweetly and her body shivering as I cupped the back of her neck.
"Witch?" she asked, with a furrow on her brow.
"You had me hard with just a look that night," I admitted in a whisper.
Her eyes grew dark, fastened to mine, and I pressed gently on the back of her neck, pleased as she followed the touch without resisting, until our lips were almost touching.
"And tonight?" she asked.
I grazed my nose against her jaw, breathed the scent of her in, forced my hips to remain still rather than pump myself into our still hands. "My imagination was busy as I waited for you," I said, and then helped myself to caress of her mouth, so soft and open to me.
"Mm. Who did you think of?" she asked, the playfulness cracking under the faintest hint of nerves. I would've missed it if not for Ned's revelation earlier.
I would have to kill Barr.
"You, Brigid," I said, taking care with her name. I kissed her again, savored the ragged breath that rushed against me. "It's been you since the night you arrived."
She huffed, a sound of disbelief, and I swallowed it with a rough kiss. I gripped the back of her neck tightly to hold her to me and stroked my tongue against her mouth to plead for entry. She surrendered with a muffled moan, answering my hunger with her own, leaning into the tub. I squeezed her hand on my cock, reminding us both what she held, and she stroked me once. I groaned, caressing her tongue with mine, and then leaned back, pulling my hand from hers to reach up and cup her jaw.
"It's been so long. I won't last this first time," I admitted, gasping as she twisted her hand over the head of my cock.
She frowned, puzzled, and I hid nothing from her, bucking up into her touch, my eyes falling shut and head tipping back. Her sweet fist pumped down and then released me, finding my balls and drawing a loud moan from me, the plea of her name.
"Do you want me to draw it out?" she asked, her voice unfairly clear. Not that it was likely I'd have her panting and moaning when she was doing all the work.
I shook my head, forcing my eyes open. "I want to come. I want you to make me—guh… Yes, like that."
I would've liked to say that I was loud, eager, easy to please because I wanted her to feel confident. The truth was that I couldn't stop the sounds I made, the pleas and groans of approval. It had been years since I'd had anyone else touch me, to enjoy this with, and Brigid wasn't hesitating or teasing. She wasn't shy. In fact, she was merciless, confidently working me into a quivering heap in the water.
"Faster?" she asked.
I growled, sitting up abruptly and pulling her mouth to mine. I didn't want her speaking to me like a doctor, damnit. Better tokeep her occupied, make her as mad with lust as I'd so readily been. I needed her too far gone to run away when this was done.
She whimpered as I nipped her lip, and my growl turned to a purr. I shifted in the water, and she never released me, just squeezed and pumped my cock as instructed. I rose to my knees, and her free arm slung over my shoulders, fingers clutching and body leaning into my side, the bath water soaking into her dress. Her mouth opened, tongue searching for mine, curling, a dark sound of satisfaction rising from her throat and sinking into my chest. I thought I might be able to pull her right into the water with me and she wouldn't notice.
I wanted her wet after all.
I pulled away, hiding my grin against her throat, licking over her pulse and then sucking at the spot with teeth and tongue.
"Is-is this g-good?" she stammered out, her hand barely moving as I rutted into her grip.
I licked my way up to her earlobe. "You have me nearly there, witch," I snarled into her ear, pleased with the way she shook, her fingers tangling into the curls at the nape of my neck. "Play with my sac again if you want to make me wait. Or tighten your hand around me to finish me off."
