Perhaps I could stroke his ego just a little? “In that domain you’re way ahead of them. You’re my rock, Daz, my constant companion, the one I depend on for… everything!”
I drew in a long breath and tried to let out all the tension I was holding. I went to him and knelt, hands on his knees.
“Daz, I don’t need to explore that with you. I know I can count on you to be a dependable partner. I already love that part of you.” I lowered my voice a little, breathy and inviting. “Daz, what I need to explore with you is sex; lots and lots of amazing sex.” I mocked a sigh. “If you’re not up for that…”
I held his gaze, those caramel brown eyes wary.
“Am I still blue?” I asked.
His voice was just a little choked up in an odd way when he said, “Yes.”
“So, I’m telling the truth, aren’t I?”
“Yes,” he said, again strained and tight.
“That I want to have lots of sex with you. Heaps of hot, steamy, gasping, groping, wet and?—”
He made a gasping, coughing sound, turning a remarkable shade of crimson.
“So… what do you say?”
We silently gazed at each other for a long time as he considered, still red-faced and practically vibrating. I could see how desperately he wanted to be with me. It was practically bursting out of him. Hopefully, I’d quelled his reservations about the others.
And… I did want to be with him.
Looking up at him now, that chiseled, ruddy face, those deep, soft caramel eyes. He was a dear friend, so very close to my heart. Definitely handsome, but was he sexy?
I tried to picture him naked. I hadn’t seen him fully unclothed in a while, so I had to guess at some bits, but I had a good imagination and I pictured him tall, proud, and ready. Oh! Well, it seemed he could be very sexy, in my imagination at least.
He swallowed heavily before saying. “Your sienna is rising again.”
“That’s my arousal, right?” I smiled. My fantasy had gotten me feeling warm and ready to be with this amazing man who’d always been there for me when I’d had no one else.
“Yes,” he said and quickly leaned down to kiss me. It wasn’t a long kiss, and he drew back looking me over again. “Is that… for me?”
“It is,” I said. And I meant it.
He shuddered. “By Evos,” he breathed. He grabbed my arms and pulled me up to him. His next kiss was not so quick.
CHAPTER 26
Tisera
I drew backfrom that long and breath-stealing kiss, and shuddered as a thrill went down my spine.
“How do you want me?” I whispered. I shifted, kneeling between his legs, and began undoing the tie on his pants.
He gently pushed my hands away, capturing them together between his. Only then did he seem to notice the bandages. “What… happened?”
I breathed a laugh. “I was… confused and frustrated last night. Punching walls seemed like a good idea. Not so much now, though.”
He shook his head slowly and began undoing the bandages. He unwrapped one hand and clasped it between his own. The warmth of his healing flowed into me. The pain vanished. Then he tended to the other hand.
“Doesn’t this tire you?” I said, concerned.
He shook his head again with a faint smile. “These wounds were superficial, minor. Healing them won’t hinder me much for what is to come.”
“And whatisto come?” I asked, breathy, curious. His healing warmth on my hands had only made the rest of me even more heated and ready.
