He nodded. “When we got there, they’d already taken care of things.” He stroked the sponge over her breast. “The Fallen’s dead, and the goddess vanquished.”
“Oh, thank goodness!”
One corner of his mouth kicked up in amusement. “My bloodthirsty mate.”
“No one deserves to go through what she—what theybothdid. Imagine withholding food from someone? Even if it is blood.” Her eyes sparkled with anger. “Yes, the goddess deserved no less.”
“Indeed…” He cupped the weight of her other breast in his palm, his thumb teasing her pert nipple. Lowering his head, he ran his tongue along her clavicle, licking the notch at her throat. Hell, he needed her desperately.
“Wait.” She pushed him back. He growled. Smiling, she took the sponge from him, squeezed more of her lilac-scented gel, and trailed it over his pecs and down his abs. He didn’t trust the glint in her striking eyes.
“Did you know,” she began, “that—”
Before she could finish, he picked her up and braced her against the tiled wall. Her long legs wrapped around his hips, and with her thighs spread open, his cock slid easily along her damp folds, brushing against her clit. Her breathing quickened, and her pupils dilated. Yes, much better.
“Did I know what?” he murmured, kissing her jaw.
She blinked, water dripping down her gorgeous face. “Er… that couples tend to abstain from sex until the wedding night?”
He cocked a brow. “And you’re telling me this why?”
One shoulder lifted as if in a shrug. “No reason.” She traced a finger over the mystical Gaian sword inked on his biceps, the mark defining him as a Guardian of this realm. “I read that in a bridal magazine earlier today,” she murmured after a few seconds, her tone airy. “Besides, you’re immortal, so it doesn’t apply.”
Blaéz narrowed his eyes. What? Mortals could abstain and he couldn’t?
Just because his all-consuming hunger for her seemed to grow by leaps and bounds didn’t mean he had no willpower.
“Very well. If it’s part of the nuptial rules, then no sex until the wedding night.” He dropped her but held her arm when she stumbled.
She blinked the water from her eyes, her lovely mouth falling open. He arched a brow, hiding his amusement. Did she think he couldn’t read between the lines? She wanted to follow human custom; he’d damn well give it to her, no matter his protesting cock.
A moment later, she gave him a tiny smile, one he didn’t trust and wanted to kiss right off those tempting, luscious lips.
“And the one who breaks with tradition first?” she asked, trailing her fingers over his abs and lower.
Ah. A bet. Right.
“Don’t worry, I’ll think up a suitable payment for you,” he teased, ignoring her tormenting fingers stroking the head of his cock.
“I’m sure you will.” Darci rolled her eyes, then reached up and kissed him on the chin. “I’ll see you in a bit for the morning meal.” She walked out of the steamy shower, leaving him with a raging hard-on.
Groaning, Blaéz turned the faucet to cold and thumped his brow against the tiled surface. Maybe he should go take a dive off the cliffs and into the freezing Atlantic and ease his cock back to a bearable state, since unfulfilled desire would be his bedfellow in the coming days.
But for the mate he cherished and would do anything for…naturally, he’d agreed to a case of blue balls. Blaéz shook his head. Awesome!
