Satisfied that all of his security measures were at full go, Adare skirted the kitchen and headed through his quarters to the master bath. He’d designed the shower himself, years ago, so it was wide and tall enough for him, in addition to being surrounded by natural rock that held in heat. A wide bench ran along one wall, and he liked to sit there when the steam unit was going.
He dropped his clothes and turned on the spray, stepping beneath instant heat and letting out a low groan. His blood moved sluggishly—he’d have to talk Ronan into sparring later to speed up the healing process.
The swish of clothing being dropped warned him the second Grace strode around the rock wall, buck assed naked.
His slow-moving blood turned hot and fast, really quick. He drew her under the stream, watching as the water sluiced over her body to land by her tiny feet and circle the drain.
She ran her wet hands up his chest. “Rumor has it you’ll heal faster if your blood gets pumping.”
He grinned, gathering her hair in his hand and leaning down to kiss her luscious lips. “Are you going to heal me?” She tasted of chocolate with a hint of whiskey. Had she and Faith had a hot toddy?
“Yes.” Her eyes were a luminous green in the steamy shower. “I’m going to heal you in all sorts of ways.” Pushing up to her tip-toes, she nibbled beneath his jaw, sinking her teeth into his collarbone. Her belly brushed against his erection, and he growled, the vibrations sparking down his legs.
He yanked her head back and kissed her, pushing her against the wall and settling a knee between her legs.
She mewled and scratched his chest and abs, her small nails biting in with a force he felt to his balls. He grinned and lifted her, pinning her to the wall with his body and licking her neck to kiss the bite marks he’d left the other day. She shuddered against him.
He leaned back, looking his fill. The female truly was magnificent with desire darkening her eyes and her lips swollen and dark pink from his kiss. “This is the only way to heal,” he murmured, edging his cock between her legs.
She caressed the sides of his neck with both hands, letting him hold her aloft with both hands on her butt. “Good. I need you on the way to recovery before I head to Colorado the day after tomorrow.”
“Colorado?” He settled his hands more securely across the fleshy part of her butt.
“Yeah.” She leaned toward him and licked his nipple.
Shocks zipped through his system, and he struggled to keep his mind on the conversation. “We’re not going to Colorado.”
She gently bit his pec and then leaned back, setting her head against the stone. All of that glorious curly hair cascaded down, sliding over her shoulders and dripping more water. “I know you’re not. You can stay here and spar with Ronan to speed up the healing process. I’m just getting you started here.” She headed for the other side of his chest, and he snagged the back of her neck with one hand, sliding his other across her ass to maintain balance.
“Grace.”
She blinked and licked her lips, still looking at his other nipple. “What?”
He tightened his hold on her nape just enough to catch her attention.
She looked up, meeting his gaze. “Adare?” Her breathy tone amped up his desire.
His cock jumped against her core, wanting inside her. Now. He settled his stance to keep them balanced. “You’re not going anywhere for the next week or so, when we head to Seven headquarters.” The team would need to meet and decide on a plan of action, depending on the decisions made by the Realm nation. But they had this week to heal and rest, and they needed it. Why was Grace talking about Colorado?
“Sure I am.” She caressed his arms, pinched his wrists, and rubbed her palms back up. “I promised Bobbi I’d be there for Rose’s baptism, and they’re gonna need help. Brian is having surgery.” She pressed both thumbs against his collar bone. “Why are we talking about other people while naked in the shower? Let’s concentrate on us.” The last was a purr.
He’d love to concentrate on them. Every nerve in his body, every predator’s instinct, demanded he take what she was so generously offering.
They could talk later.
Yet he had to be straight with her. “No.”
She stopped her exploration, and her gaze snapped up. “No? You don’t want to concentrate on us?” She wiggled her butt, stroking her wet heat across the tip of his dick.
His control started to shred faster than a log in a woodchipper. “Oh, I want this,” he rumbled honestly. “But I also want you to understand what I’m trying very hard to say.” The words were difficult to form when all he had to do was shove forward, and he’d be surrounded by her.
She sighed, need in the sound. “How about we talk after? This is going to end up with us fighting, and I’d rather do that, you know, later.”
So would he, but that wasn’t how he worked. “I feel like I have your attention now.”
“You feel?” she snapped. “Well, that’s a new one.”
Apparently the fight would begin at once. Steam rose around them, cocooning them, even as tension began to permeate the fog. “I’ve never hidden who I am, nor have I ever given you an idea that you’d come and go freely while there’s danger out there.”
