Just call him dumb ass. It was, after all, his new title.
“Mirakel?”
He closed his eyes because the sound of his name from her lips was too much.
“I thought you wanted to find someone else,” she said softly.
Feeling like a resistance band pulled to its maximum, his eyes flew open, and he pinned her with his stare. “Does it look like I want someone else?” he snapped, reaching down and crudely gripping the hard-on that tented his shorts.
Considering how innocent she was, he expected her to shudder, perhaps back away.
When her eyes lowered, it wasn’t to shy away. Oh, no. That female’s gaze raked over his crotch for long seconds. And while she was doing that, someone stole every ounce of oxygen from the room.
Fuck.
“I need a shower,” he rumbled, glaring at her as he stormed across the room to the bathroom, ignoring the steel beam tenting his shorts.
Without bothering to close the door, because, come on, he was a glutton for punishment, Mirakel flipped on the water. He then kicked off his shoes, stripped off his socks, then his shorts, tossed the towel, and stepped into the enormous glass shower, pulling the clear door closed behind him. The water sprayed over his head as he tipped his face up, brushing his hair back. When he brought his head back to level, he opened his eyes to see Briony standing in the doorway.
Watching him.
Like he was a fucking matinee.
Holy. Fuck.
“Turn around, female,” he demanded.
“I’d prefer to watch.”
It was the first time he’d heard anything remotely assertive come out of her mouth. Fuck him, but he liked it.
“Then watch.” With his eyes on her, he gripped his cock in his fist and stroked.
It was enough to capture her attention, her eyes slowly drifting down and lingering as he worked himself with his hand. Her mouth opened slightly and right before his fucking eyes, the female’s little pink tongue darted out to lick her lower lip.
“Briony…” This was not a good idea. Not just not a good idea, it was a royally bad one.
Clearly she’d called his bluff and now he was stuck holding his dick. Literally.
“For fuck’s sake,” he grumbled, releasing himself and grabbing the shampoo.
With his eyes closed so as to limit the temptation, Mirakel went through the motions. He washed his hair, his body, then rinsed himself off, all while his cock pulled a bob and throb between his legs.
He flipped off the water, snagged one of the thick towels from the warmer just outside the shower stall, then wrapped it around his hips.
“I think we need to postpone this,” he informed her as he strolled back into the bathroom, doing his best not to breathe in her sweet strawberry scent.
“Why do I bother you so much?” she asked, her voice trailing behind him.
“I don’t know.” Total lie. Not like he could tell her he’d bonded with her in the way only a male vampire could: with total abandon and absolute disregard for all others who existed within his orbit.
Mirakel paused at the door. He’d come over here intending to open it and usher her out. Now he couldn’t seem to lift his arm to grip the knob.
He inhaled sharply when soft hands came to rest on his back. His body drew up tight, that single touch nearly enough to set him off.
“Briony … I’m warning you, love.”
“Warning me about what?” Those hands moved over his skin, as though she was memorizing every muscle.
