Killian scowled. Crush shrugged and stepped into the tub.
Grumbling to himself, Killian set his gun on the counter and dropped his pants. When he got close, Crush reached out, holding him steady as he climbed in. Crush turned Killian to face him as he sat, then turned off the water when it had barely covered Killian’s hips.
“I need most of you out of the water,” Crush explained. “But the steam will help keep you warm.”
Gently, the alpha combed his fingers through Killian’s hair, brushing them away from his face. His fingertips were soothing on Killian’s scalp, trailing methodically from Killian’s forehead to the back of his head. Crush traced his fingertips over Killian’s rabbit ears, base to tip. Pleasure shivered down Killian’s spine.
“You like that,” Crush murmured.
“My ears are sensitive.”
Crush grasped the base of Killian’s ears and did it again. Killian shuddered. The longer Crush stroked them, the wider his smile grew. “You’re so adorable.”
“I’m not adorable.”
“Agree to disagree.” Crush stroked the inside of Killian’s ears, then released them to massage Killian’s face—forehead, cheeks, nose and lips. He carefully brushed his thumbs over Killian’s eyelids, then tipped Killian’s head back and touched his neck.
It was more intimate than any inspection Killian had ever received. Hands like Crush’s... Crush had snapped that man’s neck with no hesitation.
Then again, Killian had done the exact same thing. And yet here he was, holding his own baby.
“What are you thinking about?” Crush asked quietly.
“Has it ever occurred to you how weird this is? You killed people today. And yet you touch me like I’m...”
“Like you’re someone precious,” Crush finished for him. He smiled. “I would do a lot of things to keep my people safe, sweetheart.”
Killian looked down at Naddie, knowing he would do it all again to protect her. “Does it not bother you that I... that I’ve...”
“That you’ve killed people?” Crush sighed. “You were forced to. And you know what? In a weird, roundabout way, I’m glad you have the skills to protect yourself. So if I’m ever away, or out of town, or anywhere that’s not by your side, I know I don’t have to worry, because the bad guys are not the most dangerous thing in the room. My bunny has sharp teeth. You did great earlier.”
“I just gave you spells and bullets.”
“You kept a level head and gave me what I needed to eliminate the threat. I think we make a good team. Don’t you?”
Killian blushed, unsure how to respond.He called me his bunny.
Crush rumbled. He slid his fingertips over Killian’s shoulders and down his arm. He checked Killian’s other arm too, carefully, since he was still holding Naddie. Then he probed Killian’s chest, pressing around his nipples.
“I’ll save the rest of your chest and arm for later, since I can’t reach those,” Crush said. “Time for your back.”
He carefully turned Killian around so Killian straddled his lap, facing the other way. Large fingers skimmed across Killian’s shoulders, rubbing small circles into his skin. They drifted down Killian’s shoulder blades, down the muscles of his back, and over his spine.
Crush paused, suddenly. He drew a slow breath. “Did you always have a bump here?”
Killian’s senses jangled. “What bump?”
Crush took Killian’s free hand and eased it behind his back. Carefully, he pressed Killian’s fingers against a small, almost undetectable bump in his skin. It had been there for a while.
“That’s a clogged pore, isn’t it? One of those things I thought would resolve on its own, but it never came out.”
Silence.
“It doesn’t look like a clogged pore, sweetheart.”
Killian’s breath snagged. “Wh-what does it look like?”
Crush hesitated. “Look, I could grab my phone and take a picture. But I’m going to call the shots here, and just cut it out. Alright? You don’t need more nightmares.”
