Page 41 of Forbid Me

"This place is not befitting a goddess," he managed to say in a hoarse whisper.

I took a deep breath, pushed back my shoulders, and lifted my head. "I need a bath."

His lips unpursed and turned upside down into a frown. Good; a frown I could deal with.

"I'm dirty from running through the swamp and fighting pirates."

Those words deepened his frown even more. I made a mental note: his thinking back to me being in danger drew him closer to me.

"I think I'm bruised, too."

"Bruised? Where? Let me see."

I crossed the threshold of the bathroom. Inside the space, I was met with the scent of dampness and mildew. The fixtures were worn and aged. Opposite the sink, tucked into a recessed alcove, sat the sunken bathtub. It was a surprising haven of cleanliness amidst the room's decay. Made of faded porcelain, the tub offered a spacious sanctuary. Its surface was smooth and inviting despite itsage. It was the cleanest piece of furniture in the entire room, likely because of its constant access to water.

I heard Oz's footsteps approaching rapidly, the concern evident in the quickness of his stride. He came up behind me, his presence making the space feel smaller, more intimate.

"The bruise? Where?"

I turned to face him, seeing the worry etched in his features. "It's probably nothing serious," I reassured him.

The concern in his eyes didn't wane. "Show me, Stella."

His proximity, the intensity of his gaze, and the protective care in his touch filled me with a mixture of reassurance and longing. I let him check for any bruises. I hadn't lied. There were plenty. He would have to get my clothes off in order to find all of them.

As I popped the first button of my shirt open, I could see the panther in his eyes. He blinked, and the man was back.

I popped the next button and watched his Adam's apple bob. It was the panther that flashed his teeth at me. It was the panther that growled low, making me press my thighs together. And then he blinked again, and the man was back in control.

"Youarebruised."

"I am?" I'd forgotten my whole ruse. Looking down, I saw the trail of red and slight purple on my bare arms.

Oz ran a finger over my skin. "I want to dive into the water, find each of those pirates, and kill them again."

"I'd rather you soak with me in the tub."

He shook his head and started to retreat.

"You're bruised, too."

"I'm fine. I'll keep watch while you bathe."

"You're not fine. You're more bruised than I am. It's my job to look after you, too, as your mate."

That Adam's apple bobbed up and down like it was caught in a barrel at a kid's birthday party. He did that every time I referred to myself as his fated mate.

I knew he wanted me. I didn't understand why he kept holding himself back. When I put my hand to the hem of his shirt and gave a tug, he didn't stop me. So I pulled the tails up and out. When I got to his torso, I stopped. And gasped.

CHAPTER 28

Oz

The fluorescent light flickered above, casting a harsh glow on the peeling wallpaper and the old, chipped tiles. I breathed in, filling my nostrils with the warm, sweet scent of Stella. Her fingers trailed fire as the soft pads met the hard ridges of my abs.

I was a man unused to softness, unacquainted with gentleness. I'd had a hard-on for this woman since the first time I saw her back in the Crossroads. The erection was easy to ignore. What was happening in my chest with my heart beating erratically; what was going on at the back of my throat, where the rhythmic pounding of my pulse took over my voice; what was happening in my head, where I no longer remembered or cared about the reasons why this woman should not be touching me so intimately, why I should not reach for her in turn. All of that took a back seat.

All I could think of was how to be gentle in return. How to holdmyself from tossing her up against the bathroom wall and sinking into that lush heat. How to keep my claws from piercing the honey-golden flesh peeking through her lacy bra. How to keep my incisors from nipping at the clit I knew had to still be plump after I'd played with it on the riverboat.

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