"Me?" he scoffs.
"Yes, you." I run my fingers along his jaw. "You're losing a sister again, aren't you?"
He's quiet for a long moment. "I know it's not the same…"
I stroke his cheek. "You don't have to make excuses to me, Adi. I understand." My heart aches with love for him. I wish I could make this better. I know he wants Sophie to be happy, and his friend, too, but it's hard when you realize you're probably not going to see that person much anymore because they're choosing a different path. "Talk to me. Get it all out so it doesn't fester."
Adiron lifts his head, rubbing his mouth against my palm. He looks a little sad. Defeated. "It's just that everyone's scattered. There's no sign of Kaspar and Mathiras, and I can't help but worry. I know they can take care of themselves. Just pile that on top of the runt leaving and now this about Sophie…it feels like a lot." He kisses my hand. "I'll be fine tomorrow, but tonight I'm a little mopey."
"I understand. And we're going to find your brothers. And my friends." I give him a fierce look, as if sheer determination can will something into being. "We just haven't had a chance to look yet."
"One crisis at a time," he agrees. "You know what makes me happy, though?"
"What?"
His hand goes to my stomach. "My baby."
I snort-giggle. "‘Your’ baby?"
"Well, yeah." Adiron gives me a lazy, playful smile. "I had the hard job, after all. You're just sitting there and letting it grow. Me, I had to work to get it in there."
"I had no idea you were so delusional." I give a mock-shake of my head. "So sad, all those noodles have finally gone to your brain."
"It's true," he tells me. "My brain is full of noodles. Not even the good ones." His hands slide to my waist and he tilts his head thoughtfully. "Do you think they're salty noodles or the sweet ones?"
I roll my eyes, amused at this line of questioning. "I think you're more like the noodle scraps at the bottom of the container. All fucked up and impossible to get onto your sticks."
To my surprise, a sad expression crosses his face. "When Zoey was little, those were her favorite parts of the noodles. She'd make us cut hers up so she could use a spoon that she had, because she didn't want to use sticks. So we cut her noodles into all kinds of bits."
Well hell, I just reminded him of his sister again. "You know what you need?" I say, wiggling against his hands as they curve around to my ass.
"What's that?"
"A massage."
He looks intrigued. "A…sexy massage?"
"Would I give you any other kind?" I ask playfully.
Lust flares in his eyes, and my pussy clenches in response to the look he gives me. God, he's sexy. I love it when he looks at me as if he wants to devour me whole. My pulse pounds, and it feels as if it's centered between my thighs as he gets to his feet. Then he's looming over me, seven feet of strong, blue muscle. I'm pretty much staring level with his cock as I sit on the edge of the bed, and it's a tall bed.
"Where do you want me?" Adiron asks, voice all husky. I can tell he's completely forgotten about his sadness, and that makes me glad. If nothing else, I can provide a distraction. Really, it's a joy to do so. I don't think I'll ever get tired of touching Adiron. He's just so…delicious.
I'm so stinking lucky.
I put my hands on his belt and tug him forward, just a little. "Are there any parts of you that need a particular massage?" I ask in a flirty tone, peeking up at him through my lashes. "Anything…stiff?"
He groans, hips edging toward me. "Here and there."
"Hmm. Looks like more 'here' than 'there.'" I run my hand over the bulge of his crotch, where his cock is thrusting against the fabric of his trou. The material is tented around him, but he's growing so hard that it's probably going to be painful very shortly. That's all right—I don't plan on keeping him clothed for that long. "Especially right here," I purr. "So very, very stiff. I bet you're just aching, aren't you?"
Behind him, his tail thrashes, flicking back and forth in the way it does when he's turned on. "Definitely could use a good rubbing," he breathes.
"We'll have to take care of that, won't we?" I lean forward, my gaze on him, and lick the length of him through the fabric. Adiron lets out a choked groan, his hand stealing to my hair. I don't let up, nuzzling against his thick shaft and using my lips on him. It doesn't matter that there's a layer of clothing between us. I can tell that he loves this. I do, too.