I snorted. “When we fought, I was shocked by how heavy she was. I thought it was a dragon thing.”
“Evidently, it's a monster thing.”
“I used my goddess magic on her but now, I'm wondering if it was necessary.”
“Why is that?”
“I used a normal spellsong when I thought she was Meilen and she burned. She even screamed. She healed fast, but that's one of Scylla's abilities—something about her thick skin. After she revealed herself, I used all of my magic against her. I wasn't certain that the spellsong alone would work on her since it hadn't before.”
“But now, you think it did?” Verin's voice went low and pensive.
“I think so.”
“Then why did it not work before?”
“I think that your theory about Scylla's accomplice hiding in her den is correct. The accomplice must have protected Scylla but once she came back to the palace, she was on her own.”
Verin grunted and went back to washing me.
“Meilen's probably dead,” I whispered. “And there I was, calling her a bitch in my head when it was actually Scylla. I condemned her wronglyagain.”
“It doesn't matter.”
“Yes, it does,” I insisted. “I misjudged her and I feel horrible about it. She was jealous and angry but she didn't deserve to be treated like that and she certainly didn't deserve to die.”
“Youcould have died,” Verin growled as he grabbed my chin and angled my head to face him. “I entrusted your life to my guards and they failed me. I will never do that again.Iwill guard you from today forward.”
“Hey, cut that out.” I pushed his hand away. “I don't need you to guard me. I handled Scylla just fine, in case you didn't notice.”
“This time you did,” his voice went even deeper. “Don't tell me that you don't need me to guard you, Elaria, I've helped to protect you before. I know you're powerful and you have a goddess' ability to heal, but that doesn't matter when your enemies are devious. They will find ways to hurt you. And if they hurt you, they hurt me. So, my stubborn lover, Iwillprotect you whether you like it or not.”
“Fine,” I grumbled. “You make a fair point. But don't treat me like a porcelain doll.”
Verin snorted and once again pulled me back against his chest. “I wouldn't love you if you were a weak woman.”
I grinned and said imperiously, “In that case, you may return to washing me, Dragon.”
Verin chuckled. “As my lady commands.”
But as Verin started to move the sponge over my breasts, it slipped and fell into the water. He continued without the sponge while his teeth went to my neck and started nibbling. I moaned in delight and arched back, giving him better access to both throat and breasts. Verin's hands lazily massaged my soapy skin, circling and kneading my flesh before grazing my nipples with his fingertips. The slick strokes tingled through me and tightened my core. I turned my face toward him, and he lifted his mouth to mine. A slow brush of lips and then the tip of his tongue slid forward tentatively. I met it with mine and urged it inside. A shiver of sublime contentment ran through my body. As Verin deepened our kiss, one of his hands slipped into the water and between my legs.
I moaned into his mouth as he began a languorous rubbing. When his finger slipped inside and started slowly pumping, I tried to turn around to straddle him, but Verin held me in place, both his arms and legs tightening around me.
“Just relax,” he whispered in my ear even as his erection pressed urgently against my back. “Let me do this for you first.”
I sighed, leaned my head back onto his shoulder, and drawled, “If you insist.”
I lifted my legs and draped them over the rim of the tub—one just behind the spigot on the left. Since the tub was wide enough to fit us both with room to spare, this meant that my thighs were spread wantonly wide. Verin growled in appreciation and drew his finger out of me so he could use his full hand to massage my sex. Palm grinding firmly and fingers undulating in waves, he brought me into a screaming climax in seconds. As my body trembled and clenched its way through my orgasm, Verin rubbed faster.
“Louder, Elaria,” he growled in my ear. “Let go of your control. Do it for me.”
I bellowed and shrieked, my hips bucking the water into waves.
As I relaxed into languidness, Verin eased me forward onto my knees and propped me over the end of the tub. I sort of fell over the edge and hung there, fingertips grazing the tub's claw feet—dragon's feet, of course. I groaned deliciously as he entered me, the wet slide of his cock reviving instantly. I drew myself up and braced my hands against the glossy rim of the tub as Verin sped up, the water sloshing around us.
Verin grabbed my hair and pulled my head back with it. “Tell me again,” he demanded.
I knew exactly what he wanted. “I only love you.”
