I was getting pretty good at picking supe races these days. “Welcome,” one of them said, waving his arm toward the open door.
“Thank you,” I replied, startled when Asher was suddenly standing between me and the black-suited bear shifter.
“I’ll get her door,” he said.
Shouldering Asher out of the way, I smiled sweetly. “Actually, I can get my own door. Thanks so much.”
Asher’s lips twitched, but he didn’t smile as I shoved him again, sidestepping him to enter the dark interior first. He was right behind me, sliding across the long bench seat, caging me in against the door.
“You’re a possessive bastard,” I whispered angrily. “If you don’t want me, don’t try and make it so no one else can have me either.”
Asher chuckled lightly. “Who said I didn’t want you?”
Don’t scream. Don’t scream.We wouldn’t have time to replace the car if I blew out the windows and engine.
“Uh, your entire attitude since you detonated into a million pieces and reappeared attached to your crazy mother?”
I said this offhand, like we were just talking about the weather.
Princeps Jones entered the car then, moving in on the other side of Asher, and the doors were closed.
“You’ve gotta look deeper, Maddison,” Asher murmured, so low I almost didn’t hear it. “Always look deeper.”
The only deeper I was interested in right now was how deep I could punch my fist into his balls.
36
“It’s a fairly long drive to the supernatural prison town,” Princeps Jones said. “It’s near Bremen, and both that village and the nearby hidden town are supernatural occupied. They don’t allow step-throughs close by, so this is the fastest way.”
The driver, who was taking off, let out a laugh. “The villages are small, but the prison there is one of the largest in the world. It’s a great area. You’re really going to enjoy yourself.”
Yeah, since my idea of a good time wasn’t hanging out in prison, I doubted that. But, as someone who’d never traveled much, I was excited to see more of Germany. Especially some of their little villages.
At first, all I could see was airport and the nearby large city that we’d landed at, but once the driver was done winding through the streets, we moved out into the countryside, and I could have sighed at how stunning it was. Green as far as the eye could see on both sides, and small villages and mountains everywhere. It was a postcard of perfection, and I felt an insane urge to leave the car and frolic in nature.
I must have sighed or something, because Asher crowded further into me so he could see as well. Eventually I lowered the window, letting in fresh air and the scent of the countryside. The driver was great, pointing out landmarks and tourist attractions. We saw castles and large estates that held both the character and charm missing from most American cities. The history here was so rich and vibrant that at times we could have actually traveled back to the past. It felt that real.
“You like it here,” Asher said, watching me closely. He moved his arm so it draped across the back of the chair. I shifted forward so as not to lean against him, but we were on quite a windy road, so I kept ending up back on his arm. Eventually I gave up and enjoyed traveling through such a dreamy country.
For those few minutes, I forgot everything that had happened. All the hurt and pain. As he leaned across me, surrounding me in warmth, pointing out the landmarks, I pretended Asher and I were still the same people we’d been six months ago. We laughed at children dancing on the side of the cobbled streets, and I made the driver stop at one point so I could grab some brightly-colored flowers sold on the edge of the road.
Asher paid for them, and I let him, because in this minute we were not enemies. I didn’t want to burst the bubble.
But eventually … all bubbles burst.
* * *
“You’re requiredto be at the trial at 7:00 A.M tomorrow,” the man said. I had just opened my door—the room I was staying in was huge and well-appointed, within the supernatural prison village near Bremen. “Please don’t be late.”
I nodded, but he was already moving past toward Asher and Princeps Jones. They were the next two rooms down from me. I quickly closed my door; we’d only just arrived, and it was late. Food was delivered to our rooms, and I was excited to be able to shower and change after traveling.
Also food. I would be getting to that next. Thankfully it was just sandwiches and some fruit and cheese, all of which would wait until I was clean. I was thankful that all the rooms had en suites and I didn’t have to risk bumping into Asher half-naked in the bathroom. I only had so much self-control, and Asher’s body was definitely a temptation I could not resist. Just thinking about his Atlantean ink and the smooth lines of his muscles, not to mention that perfect V he had that I’d licked my way down…
A groan left me and I hit the lever in the shower, getting undressed while I waited for it to heat up. I noticed in the large mirror that my tattoo was glowing golder than ever. Whatever had happened when I was changed into a demigod was still morphing inside of me. What would I be when it was finally done?
There were no answers today, so I focused on relaxing as I stepped inside. A groan escaped again. The water felt so damn good. It didn’t matter if I was in the ocean, a lake, or the shower, just having water across my skin was soothing in a way that nothing else ever could be.
Squeezing some of my soap out, I ran the coconut-and-lime-scented loofah across my skin, closing my eyes as it glided over my breasts and down my stomach. Being with Asher all day had all but destroyed me, and I decided enough was enough. I needed an orgasm, and I needed it tonight. Otherwise I was going to implode.
