Vaguely, he wondered when it’d started to happen, when he’d started to really fall for the Brumal Prince. When the thought of his forceful touches and domineering presence had stopped absolutely terrifying him and turned into something else. Something potent and raw and primal.
Recalling the pain of the other night had him hesitating the moment he was fully undressed, and that prickle of uncertainty must have shown on his face because, in the next instant, Baikal was on him, forcing his attention back onto the lines of his rock-hard body and all the ways he could use said body to make Rabbit feel good.
He kissed him like he wanted to devour him, tangling their tongues and stroking in deep. All the while, he backed them toward the shower stall, one hand on Rabbit’s hip and the other behind his head, carefully guiding him across the room.
When he pulled away, Rabbit actually made a sound of protest, but Baikal merely chuckled at him and reached into the stall to flick on the shower spray. Then he was back, clutching him close all over again, those delicious lips sealing over his as he pulled him in.
Rabbit yelped at the first splash of hot water against his shoulder, glowering as Baikal quickly went to adjust the temperature, making it a bit cooler.
It placed Void’s arm directly under the spray, and some of the dried blood caked on his skin was washed off. Trails of pink water swirled at their feet, spiraling toward the drain. He gave Rabbit a dark look when he tried to kiss him a third time only to be rejected.
Motioning with his chin to the blood, Rabbit silently reminded him why they were there, much to his chagrin.
Baikal rolled his eyes but reached for the bodywash in the stone cubby set into the white walls, but Rabbit snatched the bottle from him before he could open it.
Applying a generous amount to his palm, Rabbit set the bottle on the floor and then got to work, roaming his hands up Baikal’s solid arms and over his shoulders. He smoothed them down his chest next, appreciating the plains of his abs and the dip of his pecs when he trailed them up again. At his neck, he scrubbed a bit harder, focused on getting rid of every spec of blood he could see.
“Admit it,” Baikal drawled huskily, his eyes partially closed, “this was just an excuse to feel me up.”
“Says the one who seems to be enjoying it the most,” Rabbit countered.
“I am,” he agreed. “I love it when you touch me. I love that youwantto touch me.”
Rabbit’s hands faltered.
“Don’t get scared on me now, little bunny, you’re doing so well. Being so good for me. Keep being good,” he tilted forward on his feet, bringing his mouth to Rabbit’s ear, “and I might forgive one of your transgressions. There were four.” He grinned when Rabbit pulled back and scowled. “I’ve been keeping track.”
He opened his mouth to call him a bastard again, but when Baikal’s brow lifted and his grin widened challengingly, he realized he’d only be digging himself a deeper hole. Rabbit slammed his jaw shut and scrubbed harder than necessary against the other man’s skin.
“If you’re going to be that rough,” Baikal captured his right hand and eased it lower, “I can think of somewhere else I’d rather you lavish with your attention.”
Rabbit slapped at his hand with his free one and then went back to cleaning off his shoulders, the furthest place he could get from the Brumal Prince’s erect cock. This time was different in the sense that he wanted it, completely, without any false protests or that annoying voice in his head trying to convince him that being attracted to someone like Void was immoral and bad. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t still nervous.
That first time had hurt. A lot.
“Why aren’t you asking me?” Baikal’s tone altered, less seductive and more uncertain. It was a bit odd coming from him, someone who was always so in control of everything, including his emotions.
“Asking you what?” Rabbit urged him under the spray so he could rinse the suds off, thoroughly checking to make sure he hadn’t missed any spots of red.
“Whose blood this is.”
Satisfied he’d gotten it all, he lightly pushed Baikal out of the way so he could rinse his own hair. “Why don’t we just say I’m practicing?”
“Practicing?”
“There’s an echo in here.” Rabbit smiled but Void wasn’t taking the bait, still watching him seriously. “For the role. Spouse of the Dominus was never a possibility I even imagined, but I figure this is relatively normal, no? You showing up covered in blood?”
He tilted his head. “I wouldn’t say it’s that common, actually.”
“Really?” He hummed. “That’s good to hear.”
“Rabbit.”
“Yeah?”
“Stop it.”
Rabbit paused as he was washing himself and lifted a brow. “I’m not sure what you mean. No, really, this time,” he added when it didn’t seem like Void believed him. “I don’t.”
