It wasn't about sex. It was about him. Or maybeus.
Grayson pulled me beneath the water with him, holding me in his arms with my chest against his. His bare, warm skin felt incredible against mine, and not just because it cancelled out the price of my magic.
The falling water didn't bother me in the slightest with him touching me, and I pressed my cheek to his skin.
I'd missed him. Badly.
A quiet groan slipped through Grayson's side of the bond. I didn't think he meant for me to hear it. He murmured into my mind,"Fuck, I needed this."
"Me too. I didn't realize you could need physical contact,"I admitted."I've been obsessing since we've been apart. I was obsessed before, too, but it's different. Like... an itch. A craving. I never really understood what romance books meant, but I get it now."
"I've been craving you for a fucking century."He dragged his hand slowly over my back, and I leaned against him a little more. Between the water falling around us and the shadows dancing on our skin, I should've been overwhelmed.
Instead, I was at peace.
"What did Jazz and Dante say about your craving?"
Grayson chuckled, burying his hand in my hair."They told me I didn't have a chance with you. When I started itching for physical contact, Dante would drag me into his bed and forceme to cuddle with him. Jazz would eventually join in too. She called it platonic snuggling."
My lips curved. “Your family's dynamics sound so different than mine. Even when Dare needs to be close to one of us, we don't really touch. Not just because of my magic, either."
"Our magic never cost us what yours did, and it's a lot more physical."
"I'm excited to meet them as more than Death, when we get them out."
His emotions grew wistful."It's been more than eleven years. If we do get them out, they won't be the same."
"When we get them out, you'll help them figure out who they are now. You're not the same you were ten years ago, either."
"Not even close."
I pressed my face back to his chest.
He pulled me against him a little tighter."When do you want to track the fallen angel down?"
"As soon as you've figured out the vampire stuff enough to take half a day off."
"Have you talked to her yet?"
"No. Ophelia doesn't do texts, or letters, and it's best to stay away from her unless you have no other option."
"You have so fucking many more connections than I do."
"Millions of immortals rely on us to keep the city's wards alive, so the powerful ones want to know who we are. Now that you're a part of my family, they’ll want to know you too.”
He rested his chin on my head, considering that, and we stood there for a good, long while.
I eventually made him wash up and dry off so he could get to bed. Personally, I could've stood there holding him like that all night, but it wasn't what he needed.
"You should sleep naked," he murmured, stepping up behind me and pressing his bare front to my bare back as I picked up the tank I'd been wearing when we got there.
I considered it, before agreeing. "I can try. Do you usually?"
"Always."He kissed my throat, and I tipped it to the side. "We can make the feeding quick tonight."
"You need sleep more than you need my lust right now, Gray."
"I need you more than I need to sleep," he countered.
