Page 86 of Anchored to the Storm

That warmed my heart. “Me too.” Effortlessly, I brought her body back to how I had her, then I twisted to put her closer to the shower. “Reach your hand in. Too hot? Too cold?”

Dainty fingers—that were getting me fired up again—hung under the stream of water. “What is this for?”

Huh? “For you.”

She smiled as if I was offering her the whole goddamn world. “Then it is perfect.”

Water dripping from her fingers that I wanted all over me, I was entranced again, licking my lips. I thought, Sooo perfect—Then caught myself. Stop it!

Getting even more frustrated, I stepped in, carrying her with me. Letting the water hit my back, I told her, “I say let’s try to have you stand.”

I can’t believe I just went down on your human form, yet you’ve never even stood before!

Sorry, Noma. Your Baby Boy is a pig.

Saleeni’s smile disappearing, she nodded. “Okay.”

Oh God, she’s scared.

Now my fangs were growing again. In anger.

One second, I was ready to fuck this poor creature. The next, I was completely willing to die for her. My mind—my body—wasn’t sure whether to implode or explode.

The only thing I was sure of was that Saleeni’s survival was crucial. Somehow, her standing on her own had me on high alert. Made no sense, since she had legs and all, but my instincts didn’t care what I saw. So, ever so gently, I let her lower half get closer to the shower floor. Keeping her as my complete focus, I watched her reactions, scared she might start screaming out in pain.

What?

One by one, the littlest toes touched the tub, taking more weight as seconds ticked by. As this happened, my lungs accepted air again. My muscles began to ease.

Finally standing, she exhaled. “No pain.” Then, as if we hadn’t just crossed some confusing threshold, she peered around. “Where are we?”

“Oh, uh…” I had to learn my new insanity while teaching her basics. Very challenging. “We are in a tub. A shower. To clean ourselves.”

“Oh, how wonderful.” She eyed the spraying water behind me. “Clever.”

I peered over my shoulder. “Uh, yeah, I guess so.” Then, my mind almost screamed, She wants something! Give it to her!

Blinking, I realized Styx had been trying to reach Silly Rabbit again. Every time he teased me for not playing hard to get, I think the old bastard was trying to get me to realize what he was seeing. Saleeni’s wants, needs, and desires were now the center of my existence. And I needed to get on board. Not fight it.

Trying to surrender to instincts that had felt insane, I stepped aside. “Want to try it?”

“Very much so!” She took a step forward, but her leg gave out.

I caught her and already went back to fighting myself. I begged my fangs to stop their yo-yo behavior while asking Saleeni, “Are you okay?”

She held on to my arms for support. “Very much so. No pain says I will succeed.”

Blinking in dismay. “What does that mean?”

“Some didn’t turn human well. Brittle bones shattered. They screamed in pain.”

“What the—Holy shit.” I pulled her into a hug, praying to any god who existed for her not to go through that. Then I realized I had, yet-a-fucking-gain, been a silly rabbit. Whatever I was now knew Saleeni better than my human ever could. The hybrid in me was mystically aware of her every whim.

Basically, I was her bitch. And so fucking happy to be so.

She sounded muffled against my chest. “You gave me a strong start.”

Oh shit! I’m smothering her!