His eyes were hooded, the desire clear on his face. It was on the tip of my tongue to push him even more, to see how far we’d take this. Because I could see he was struggling with his need for me… just like I was for him.
But then he started massaging my scalp again, and my eyes slowly closed once again. I didn’t think about how I knew he could see my nudity from his vantage point. I didn’t care that the tips of my breasts bobbed slightly above the waterline, the chilled air tightening the peaks further. I didn’t care about any of that, because for some strange, inexplicable reason, I didn’t want to stop whatever was happening between us.
I’d never been reckless in my life, always taking the safe route. But ever since I’d looked into his glowing eyes, even if it had been when I was running from him, there was some deeper connection I felt. There had been this pull that refused to diminish, and instead it had grown even more fiercely with each passing second.
“Let me rinse the shampoo out,” he whispered, but it sounded more like a grated groan. I slid forward, then let my head fall back. I imagined what I looked like to him right now.
Back arched. Breasts thrust out, nipples pebbled. My head was tipped back, the soapy locks cascading down my spine and falling into the water.
I didn’t open my eyes when I heard him start to breathe harder, when I felt his gaze latch on my bared throat, then my breasts… and lower still. His gaze felt like tangible fingers skating along me, and I bit my lip to stop from moaning again.
After a prolonged moment, I started to feel the warm water moving along my head as he scooped up handfuls. I kept my eyes closed, my hands braced on the bottom of the tub on either side of me. I felt so wonton and sexy in that moment, could still intermittently feel his gaze on my body. And I liked it. I liked that he watched me, that he couldn’t keep his focus trained on the task at hand.
“I can wash yer back,” he said in the huskiest voice I’d ever heard come from him.
I should’ve said no. I should have realized things were progressing a little fast. Too fast, if I were being honest. But I didn’t care. After all the things that had happened, all the things I’d learned and seen, letting go and giving in to my desires was the least reckless thing that had happened in my life so far.
I said nothing as I sat up and leaned forward, pulling my legs up to my chest and wrapping my arms around them. I rested my cheek on my knees and turned my head to the side, keeping my eyes closed and just letting the feel of Caelan’s big, soapy hand smoothing up and down my back calm me.
Of course it had the opposite effect, because I was hot and aroused and wanted to just say screw everything and take what I craved.
The warm water was doing wonders to my achy muscles and bones, but it was the feeling of his hands on my body that really did it for me.
Another soft sound left me as the pads of his fingers skated over the slight bumps of my spine. He descended the length and then moved his fingers back up. He did this over and over in a gentle, sweeping motion.
Goose bumps moved along my arms and legs, and I felt my pussy become wet, which had nothing to do with the bath. My nipples were so hard they ached.
I felt that familiar stirring deep within me, the same feeling I’d sensed out in the woods when that man tried to pull me toward his tent to do unthinkable things to me. Although he’d never said the words, I’d somehow known his intent. I’d smelled his disgusting desire.
I’d felt that inner wolf rise up so quickly I knew my eyes had been glowing, had seen the light coming out of them, casting my would-be attacker's terrified face in this ethereal glow.
I’d never felt so fierce as I did then, never felt the kind of strength that moved within me. I’d felt like tearing his throat out and bathing in his blood. It had terrified me so much that I’d stumbled back, whimpering from the intense onslaught of emotions and those powers that had slammed into me so suddenly.
But right now, this was a different kind of feeling as that inner animal rose up. And in my mind, I kept hearing one thing repeated over and over again.
Give yourself to your mate.
And I didn’t fight it, not as I straightened and turned in the bathtub, the water sloshing around me, mini waves moving along my slippery skin. I was hot and cold all at the same time. I saw Caelan’s eyes widen slightly, his nostrils flare as he no doubt inhaled the scent of my arousal. The low rumble that left him told me he was very pleased with what he saw and scented from me.