My stomach chose that moment to growl audibly, making us both laugh.
“I’ll take that as a no,” he said, pressing a kiss to my forehead before reluctantly releasing me. “Shower first?”
I nodded, suddenly aware of how sticky we both were from our night’s activities. “That would be good.”
He rolled out of bed with surprising grace for someone his size, unself-conscious in his nakedness. I couldn’t help but admire the play of muscles beneath his fur-covered skin as he walked towards what I assumed was the bathroom door.
“Coming?” he asked, glancing back at me with a raised eyebrow.
My cheeks heated at the double meaning. “Yes, just—” I gestured vaguely at my own nakedness, still not quite as comfortable as he was.
His expression softened with understanding. He grabbed a robe from a hook on the wall and brought it to me. The garment was clearly his—dark blue silk that would have reached his knees but fell to my ankles.
“Thank you,” I said, slipping it on. It engulfed me completely, the sleeves dangling well past my hands. Rion’s scent surrounded me—cedar and something uniquely him.
He led me to the bathroom, another marvel of his architectural genius. The space was enormous, with a shower big enough for four regular-sized people—or one minotaur and a human with room to spare. Natural stone tiles lined the walls and floor, and a skylight let in the morning sun.
Rion turned on the water, adjusting the temperature before stepping aside to let me in first. The spray was perfect, hot but not scalding. I tilted my face up into it, letting it wash away the lingering sleepiness.
He joined me a moment later, his large body making the spacious shower suddenly feel much more intimate. Water cascaded over his broad shoulders, darkening his fur to a deep chocolate. Droplets clung to his horns like tiny diamonds.
“Here,” he said, reaching for a bottle of shampoo. “Let me.”
I turned my back to him, and his large hands began working the shampoo through my hair with surprising gentleness. His fingers massaged my scalp, drawing an involuntary moan from me.
“Feel good?” I could hear the smile in his voice.
“Mmm, don’t stop,” I murmured, leaning back against his chest.
His chuckle rumbled through me. “Demanding in the morning, aren’t you?”
I turned to face him, rising on tiptoe to kiss the underside of his jaw. “You bring it out in me.”
His eyes darkened at that, hands sliding down to my waist. For a moment, I thought we might get distracted from the actual purpose of the shower. But with visible restraint, he reached for another bottle.
“Conditioner next,” he said, his voice slightly strained.
I smiled, enjoying the effect I had on him. “Then I’ll do you.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Do me?”
“Wash your fur,” I clarified, though the blush creeping up my neck betrayed my awareness of the innuendo.
He turned me again, applying conditioner with the same care he’d used for the shampoo. When it was my turn, I poured a generous amount of his special fur shampoo into my hands and worked it into his chest. The texture was fascinating—soft yet coarse, becoming silky as the soap lathered.
“Is this specially formulated?” I asked, genuinely curious.
He nodded. “Regular shampoo dries it out. This has lanolin and some other ingredients that help maintain the natural oils.”
I continued washing him, fascinated by the differences and similarities between us. His body was a landscape I was just beginning to explore, familiar in some ways, thrillingly alien in others. By the time I reached his cock, it was already hard again, and he made a low sound when my fingers brushed against it.
“Careful,” he rumbled. “We’ll never get to breakfast.”
“Maybe I have something else in mind,” I whispered as I went down on my knees in front of him. I loved the way he looked at me in that moment. A mixture of shock and pure lust.
I wrapped my lips around him, relishing the taste of clean water and musk. His hands came to rest on my shoulders, not pushing, just holding on as I took him deeper. The water continued to cascade over us, creating a cocoon of steam and intimacy.
“Clara,” he gasped when I hollowed my cheeks. “That feels…”
