Page 78 of Caged By Dance and Desire

“You’re yourself.”

“Did I faint from orgasming?”

Another pause. “I’d like to claim that, and it was, in fact, the root cause. Which if you think about it, should please you.” I focused on his face, the thin line between his brows he smoothed as soon as he caught me noticing. “But I lost control. Somewhat.”

“What happened?”

“My. . .power tried to merge with yours.”

“I don’t have power.”

“We’ll address your power and its misuse soon.”

Boy, would I avoidthatconversation. All nonverbal cues announced it would be an unpleasant address.

I tried to wriggle out of his arms. “I know about affinities, Andrei, and that other thing. . .ugh, I forgot.”

“Skills. The wild magic.”

“Yes, that. I don’t have any of that.”

Andrei carried me to the bathroom and set me on the toilet. “Relieve yourself. I’ll run us a hot bath.” He paused. “Is there anything you need for aftercare? We still haven’t had that discussion.”

“How much are you picking up from my mind?”

“Enough not to make a big enough mistake to send you howling into the forest.” His lips twisted wryly. “But I’ll need to know what we’re dealing with, Anah.”

“I know.” I smiled at him, then eyed the tub. “Why is your tub big enough for at least three?—”

Right. I could guess what it was big enough for, and my guess was probably several orgies short of the truth.

“And no particular aftercare,” I added. “I’m on meds and they control the worst of my symptoms. I should have taken a pain reliever first, though.”

Andrei, crouched at the sunken edge, messing with levers, glanced over his shoulder and smirked. “My cock isn’t a pain reliever?”

I rolled my eyes. “How can you be your age and have a twenty-something frat boy’s jokes?”

“I try to keep abreast of mortal humor so I can seem approachable.”

“The sad thing is, you actually believe that.”

He rose, unfurling those long, lean, exquisitely honed muscles and walked toward me. Or pranced, because he was showing off, his gait a little too graceful, a little too slinking. . .for a bathroom.

“You do realize I’m a dancer and there’s very little body language that escapes me. You’re so vain, Andrei. And so very satisfied with yourself.”

My bonded stretched in front of me to make my point. “You love my body. And yes, I’m very satisfied. One hand isn’t enough fingers to count how many times I brought you to your pleasure.”

To bring him back down to earth, I finished peeing. Loudly.

“Uh-huh. But you’re how many years old? Skill in the bed is a matter of course by now.”

Some of his smugness faded. “I’m not quite five hundred.”

“Why are you so fresty about your age?”

He narrowed his eyes, then steered me towards the bath and helped me in though I was neither ill nor decrepit.

“Most women prefer older lovers,” he said, a little stiff as he settled down and pulled me onto his lap. “But I assure you?—”

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