I couldn’t take my hands off of her. Couldn’t kiss her long enough, or deeply enough. Couldn’t fill my hands with her soft skin more fully. Had to fight not to squeeze too hard, or suck too long. Yet, to my delight, Bren didn’t shrink from me, or press me to slow—she arched in, kissing me back as deeply, and once we had each other naked, she clawed hands into my hair and down my back, pulling me closer as I devoured her.
“I need to get clean,” she gasped, her head tipping back into my palm as I curled over her, nipping at her collarbones and cupping her breast. Sliding one knee between her thighs, I swayed with her, slowly walking her backwards towards the built-in stone rectangle tub.
Thank you, God.The Officer’s quarters had been built by men with a commitment to the comfort they believed they’dearned. The bath in my quarters was easily large enough for both of us, and had a high faucet that would allow the water to pour over us even if we stood.
When Bren stumbled up against the wide edge, I didn’t pause, just lifted her and set her in the bath still on her feet, then followed her in.
With a low rumble in my chest that echoed my dragon, I held her by her hair and tipped her head back so I could kiss her more deeply, then reached past her with the other hand to turn the faucet that would release the water in the wide head above us.
I felt her tense, expecting it to be cold. We had tanks on the roof of the building that the dragons warmed in the winter when the sun wouldn’t do the job. Normally, it cooled in the pipes and would take some time to warm. But I’d already bathed, so the water that fell over us was soon steaming.
Bren gasped, and her head fell back against my hand as the warm stream poured over her. My bodyshudderedwith need as I straightened enough to look down on her.
Eyes closed, mouth open in pure delight, her body naked, dirty, but gleaming now with water that would rinse away sweat and dirt and…
Bruises?
I pressed against her, running my free hand down her arm that was peppered with dark smudges, some of which were turning green because they were days old now. But others were an angry red, turning purple. They’d be tender now, and downright painful tomorrow.
Holding her to me with the arm cupping her head, I cupped my hand under the water, then poured it down her back and side, slowly rubbing and sliding my hand over the marks on her hip and shoulder to see what was dirt and what was her flesh.
Very little rinsed off.
Unaware of my examination, Bren laced her fingers behind my neck and let me brace her weight as her head sank back to let the water stream over her hair and trickle down her back. She sighed my name happily and my cock leaped, straining against her because I needed herbadly.But I argued with myself in my mind.
She was a soldier. And in training—difficult, extensive training, even for men. Of course she’d bear the marks—and eventually the scars—of this life. When I’d been young, I’d worn the cuts and bruises of training with pride. A way to prove that I couldtake it.
I’d admired men who carried themselves straight back into the fray when their bodies were hurting. Encouraged young men to learn to set their hurts aside and keep going.
I knew she needed that resilience, too.
But my heart. My body. Myinstinctsscreamed otherwise.
Then her eyes opened and, unaware that my growling had more to do with anger than desire, she reached up to grab my chin and pull me down into a kiss.
We staggered, our teeth clashing, but she reached for me, stroking, sending jolts of pleasure and need up and down my spine. My body howled for her, and the bruises couldn’t be changed now. Still, I did my best to keep my grip gentle where she was marked, and vowed to talk to her about it later.
“Donavyn, what’s wrong?”
Realizing she sensed my distraction, I shushed her and cupped her face, running my fingers through her hair under the stream of warm water and smiling down at her. “I’ve missed you,” I said hoarsely.
It was an understatement. This had been our longest separation since we mated. And even though Akhane’s heat had passed, the bond still pulled at me. I’d been a bear since lunchtime—the men stepping quickly, nervous around me.
By the dinner hour, I’d been so frustrated with myself, I made excuses and returned to my quarters, hoping she’d finish early.
Remembering the hours I’d spent trying to read reports and instead found myself staring out the window, analyzing the bond and attempting to estimate how far away she was.
It was a problem.
“Tomorrow, I’m finding a reason to see you in the middle of the day—”
“No!” she gasped, her eyes flying wide when I picked her up and pressed her against the cold stone of the wall.
Her whole body jolted with the cold of the stone against her back, but she only pulled me closer and clawed both hands into my hair—now wet because I’d passed under the spray. It trickled down my back and over her legs as I leaned into her, hissing and jolting as I slid against the heat of her because she’d opened her legs around my waist.
I tipped my hips to press harder against her, and shivered with the wave of pleasure that rocked through me at the sensation of her, already needy for me.
My breath was already heavy and loud enough to be heard over the running water—but Bren panted as well, her nails scoring my back when I slid against her for a third time and she shuddered, her head dropping back against the stone.
