Page 94 of Kingdom of Faewood

It was embarrassing, this response he elicited in me so easily. Even though all of his touches were respectful, my starved body wanted more. I wantedhim. Wanted him to touch me in the ways I’d never been touched. I wanted his fingers to slide inside me, his mouth to kiss my skin, his tongue to devour my breasts. Once again, I wanted to give him myvirginity, and I was so aroused by the time he finished, I was nearly panting.

“Did you enjoy that?” he asked in a low raspy tone.

I dipped under the water to rinse all of the soap away. I ached fiercely, and I wanted nothing more than to let his fingers stray south to rub the small nub that would offer me release.

I resurfaced and nodded quickly. “I did. Thank you.”

His gaze locked onto mine, and his aura swelled. For a moment, we both stared at one another.

Not moving, my heart began to pound, and my breaths came faster until the need in me soared to a staggering height.

“I’ll get you a towel,” he said in a gruff voice.

Before I could respond, he strode to the counter even though towels waited on the stool right beside me. When he reached it, he placed his palms on the counter’s smooth stone. For a moment he just stood there, his shoulders tense, his backside taut, his chest rising with deep breaths.

The power of his aura strummed through the room, but with a sharp inhale, he straightened and grabbed a towel off the shelf near the frosted window.

Turning back around, he approached the tub, but he was careful to keep his gaze averted. At the tub’s side, he snapped open the towel and gazed entirely upward, his chin tilting back until he stared at the ceiling.

The need inside me spiraled to an entirely new level as I gazed at his broad chest, strong throat, and square jaw, whichhe probably hadn’t even realized he’d just revealed in that movement. Since he’d spent so long massaging me, my muscles no longer ached, and the only thing that pulsed now was my female flesh.

Standing, I forced myself to breathe deeply and ignore the curling inside me. Water dripped down my limbs, trailing over my scorched skin.

Jax’s breath sucked in when my fingers brushed his as I grasped the towel.

I hastily wrapped it around myself. He didn’t move. He still stood tense, his body looking entirely on edge.

I was so tempted to glance down and see if there was evidence of his arousal. It would be so easy. One tiny look south of his waistband would confirm if he was as turned on as me. Despite his new, fancy clothes, his slacks wouldn’t hide an erection completely.

But as soon as that thought came to me, it fled. Jax had been nothing but respectful and courteous to me in the time since he’d entered this bathing chamber, and I couldn’t bring myself to do anything but show him the same respect in return.

“Thank you.” I knotted the towel at my front.

He backed up and gave a curt nod. “I’ll leave you to get dressed, if you’re all right?”

I nodded hastily. “I am. Again, thank you.”

He walked stiffly to the door, and even though I couldn’t see his face, I did hear him inhale. His jaw snapped before he strode away, and it struck me that with his sensory magic, itwas possible he could detect heightened scents, which meant it was possible he could smell how incredibly aroused I was now.

And had been in Fosterton.

But if he was aware, he didn’t comment. The sound of the door opening and closing came next, and then a fierce emptiness consumed me.

Out of the tub, I sank to the bathing chamber’s floor as conflicting emotions rose within me again and again, pummeling my conscience and making me second-guess and rethink everything.

Because I’d just experienced the most erotic encounter I’d ever had with a male, and it was with a male who was as elusive to me as our distant stars.

CHAPTER 24

Jax returned an hour later, all of his friends in tow. Their masks were in place, their bandanas secured. They all wore the same clothes and uniforms as before, but now that I wasn’t so distracted, I had a moment to study them.

Again, it struck me that Phillen’s and Lars’s uniforms appeared to be what guards would wear.

But guards for what? Perhaps hired hands?Regardless of their status, that had to mean Jax was somebody important if he had official guards under his command. He had to be as rich as Guardian Alleron. Or perhaps he was even a ruler of one of the ten Stonewild Houses. It would certainly explain this chamber’s wealth.

But I didn’t have time to contemplate that further before Jax joined me in the sitting area. The other five spanned out around us.

The Dark Raider’s piercing blue eyes once again werereminiscent of the dazzling Adriastic Sea. An intensity illuminated them that reminded me of lightning striking water, and I knew immediately why he was here.

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