Page 54 of Villainous Greed

I might not know how to love her the way she deserved, but I’d spend my life trying.

Gently, I coaxed her body forward. Some of her curls were wet as she leaned forward enough to see her back. I cupped my hand in the water, then poured it over her hair and shoulders. She allowed me to wash her hair. The silence wasn’t ominous. It felt peaceful, and my mate leaned into my touch, tilting her head whichever way my fingers dug into her scalp. Goose bumps pebbled her skin, and I could see every bone pressing against her flesh.

Suddenly, I realized she’d given me a gift—trust with her body.

“Thank you,” I said. “I surrender to you… your beauty.”

Nova’s body tensed as she looked over her shoulder.

“All you have to do is ask me. I’d do anything for you.”

Her dark eyes flickered over me, but she said nothing.

I lowered my head. “I’m sorry.”

When I sensed her attention leave me, I lifted my head and materialized a brush. With conditioner in her hair, I brushed through the knots, starting from the bottom.

Nova didn’t speak until I finished. “How did those stories go?”

I frowned.

Nova murmured. “The stories Sofia liked always started the same.”

When Nova laughed softly, an enormous lump formed in my throat.

“Ah… Once upon a time, there was a girl shackled to a mean man. The girl had a family to protect from the warlock. But with her magic locked away, any chance of freedom seemed lost until a boy came to the woods.”

She turned and gazed at me before continuing, “The boy made her feel hope for the first time. He promised to free the girl, but things didn’t go as planned. The boy and girl couldn’t save their family. Then the boy thought the girl had died. She believed he betrayed her. They were unaware that someone had tricked them. When they learned of another wicked man’s deceit, they were angry and hurt.”

Without warning, Nova stood, and water dripped off her body. I told myself I wouldn’t peek, but my focus locked on every part of her back and ass. Suddenly, my body came to life as desire stirred thanks to her absolute power over me.

Looking over her shoulder, she flashed a wide and menacing, sharklike grin at me as I squatted beside the tub. “The boy and girl can’t save the ones they lost, but they can get revenge.”

Standing, I materialized a towel and handed it to her. She took it, lifting a single brow.

I glanced at her ass again, and a hot rush of need shot through my cock. Her being naked and declaring vengeance was too much for a century year old virgin in love with her.

“Cover yourself, my little star. I cannot handle your vengeanceandyour nudity at once. Have some mercy on me.”

Whatever just happened between us made her comfortable enough for nudity, but I didn’t want to push my luck. Besides, if I wanted to hunt down Derrick and Harvest, she needed clothes, or I wouldn’t be able to function.

After Nova wrapped herself in the towel, she waved her hand in the air. “Can you do your thing and bring me something to wear?”

“My thing?”

“When you materialize something out of thin air.”

“You can do thatthingtoo.”

Her eyes narrowed when she asked, “Why did you say it like that?”

“That’s what you called it.”

“No, not the word. It’s the way you practically sang it from your lips in a mischievous way.”

“You can use my power, too. Go ahead. Think about what you want to wear, and it will appear.”

Nova exited the tub and materialized a dress on herself within seconds. Sadly, it was the same style as the depressing beige dresses she wore before being freed.

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