"You're one to talk, you walking furnace. Go get clothes so she has something to wear when she gets out."
"Or we could just keep her nice and naked," Bael grins, nipping one of my ears. He whispers so only I'll hear him. "Please tell me I can hold you tonight, baby. I need my mate so fucking bad."
I nod, swallowing hard.
Gods, I like my needy dragon. The rumble of his voice makes me clench my thighs together, trying to hide my body's instinctive surge of want—but he still groans and pulls me flush against him, hugging me tight.
"I'll go get you some food while you get cleaned up, but mostly because I desperately need your scentnotmixed with blood. You have no idea how much of a dick my dragon has been about it ever since we left Everbound. I fucking hate knowing I haven't been taking good enough care of you."
I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss his jaw. "Tell your dragon that I hardly mind wearing the blood of our enemies. And come back to me quickly."
Once Baelfire leaves, I see Everett waiting by the shower, looking unsure. And still very dressed.
"Aren't you getting in with me?"
He clears his throat. "You're exhausted. Meaning, I should probably keep this all…you know. Strictly methodical."
For a model who's posed in all kinds of outfits, including half-naked on magazine covers that I used to see students and even teachers toting around Everbound, he's being strangely shy. Or is he so awkward about getting close to me because he still thinks his curse is an issue?
Either way, I'm okay with a methodical approach because it feels like my bones weigh ten thousand pounds. I've revived three times today and nearlyactuallydied. Not to mention berserking, which always takes a heavy toll. I've been pushing myself hard to get us to safety—but now that we're here, I can'teven bother trying to look sexy as I strip out of my ruined clothes and drag myself into the shower.
When the warm spray hits my skin, I sigh in pleasure and shut my eyes. "Thanks."
It's quiet for a moment, and then I hear the rustling of clothes as Everett removes his. He steps into the shower behind me, which increases the steam significantly, thanks to the chill of his skin.
He hesitates. "My touch isn't exactly pleasant. Are you sure you want me to…?"
I peek open one eye and immediately open the other to get a better view.
Oh, gods. He's so fuckinggorgeous.
I used to roll my eyes about the girls drooling over him at the university all the time, but I get it now. All that perfect skin, the lean muscles, that angelically handsome face and striking white hair, those ice-blue eyes…
Everett blushes so hard that he tries to cover his face. "Cut it out, Oakley."
"Am I making you uncomfortable?" I grin.
"You're making me way too fucking hard to even think about touching you," he mumbles so quietly I almost miss it.
That takes my gaze downtown quickly, and I once again need to press my thighs together. I've sucked his cock in the dark and loved it, but this is my first time really seeing it.
Flawless, just like the rest of him.
Andveryhard. I lick my lips.
"Oakley. Please. You're killing me here," he rasps. "Just tell me if you're comfortable with me touching you to wash you. I don't—we won't do anything else, okay? I want it to be special when it happens, so right now, you really can't let me get…"
"Fucked?"
Because as exhausted as I am, all this tension between us makes me think that's an excellent idea.
Everett covers his face again, muttering a prayer to Arati that I don't catch. "Look. I really,reallyneed to take care of you tonight, but this isn't the right time for my first—ourfirst…damn it. Maybe I should just leave."
How is he this wildly flustered? It's adorable but confusing.
And then it hits me.
His first. As in, Everett is freaking out because… he's never had sex. MeaningI'llbe his first, but he doesn't want to do it here and now. He wants it to be special.
