Page 46 of Unleashed

She sighed. She was home.

The gentle lapping of water against the sides of the pool echoed in the chamber; she’d spent much of her time here in the past with her head leaned on the edge of the pool, body floating, listening to these soothing sounds. Now, the noise only reminded her of her loneliness. Though she’d lived a happy life with her parents, her self-imposed isolation from the rest of the world had always cast a shadow on that happiness. She used to savor solitude and the silence it brought. That peace of mind had meant so much to her.But after having a taste of what it could be like to have other people close to her, she wanted more. She wantedthem— her valos.

“Nina?”

Startled by the sound of Balir’s voice resonating in the chamber, Nina turned.

Balir and Vortok stood near the wide steps at the shallow end of the pool, water lapping around their legs. Faces slackened with awe, they swung their gazes around simultaneously, studying their surroundings.

They were valos here, just as she knew them in the real world — fur, horns, scales, and plates of bone — with one difference; Balir’s eyes were the stormy blue-gray he’d had in the first dream, clear and focused,seeing.

Nina dragged her gaze over the valos’ bodies, taking in their size, their strength, their primal sensuality. Her body reacted, growing warmer than the water around her as tingles skittered over her skin.

“What is this place?” Balir asked.

“This…is my home. Bahmet,” Nina replied. “We’re in the bathhouse.”

“Is this real?” Vortok’s voice was low and uncertain.

“This is a real place, but we’re not actually there. This is a dream. My dream.”

“The walls look like they are ofhisdesign…” Balir said.

Nina inwardly cringed. She didn’t want to tell them, didn’t want to spoil this moment, but she refused to lie to them. “Because they are. This was his city, but it now belongs to Orishok and Quinn. And me.”

“What of—” Balir snapped his mouth shut before he finished. She knew he’d nearly asked about Kelsharn, but he shook his head. “He is gone. We three are here now. This…this is our place.”

Nina smiled. “It is. And Aduun? He’s not sleeping?”

“He went to hunt and forage.” Vortok stepped forward. The sound of the water moving around his legs was muted. “It is warm here. Comfortable. And you…” His gaze dipped.

Balir drifted closer, stopping beside Vortok, his eyes just as intent upon her if not more so.

Her smile stretched into a playful grin as she moved toward them. Each step brought her into shallower water, slowly revealing her breasts, followed by her navel until the water lapped just beneath her backside. Here, within this dream world, she could revel in her nudity, could revel in the way the valos’ eyes devoured every inch of her, darkening with desire.

Vortok and Balir moved closer as if compelled by an irresistible force. She didn’t shy away from them; she feltempowered.

“And me?” When only a couple of feet of distance separated them, Nina pressed a hand to each of their chests. Her fingers curled briefly against fur and scales before she flattened her palms over their heartstones. Their hearts beat in time with hers, sending gentle pulses outward through the shimmering water.

“Beautiful,” Vortok rasped.

“You are beautiful,” Balir said with equal awe.

“Would you…like to touch me?” she asked.

Even though this was a dream, she longed to have their hands on her body, to feel their touch, their caress. She longed simply tofeel.

She’d grown up seeing the little displays of affection between Quinn and Orishok — the loving brush of fingers over a cheek, a gentle clasping touch of hands, kisses that were short and sweet or long and passionate and everywhere in between. Nina wanted to know those things for herself. She wanted to experience that physical connection between lovers.

She wantedmore.

Vortok was the first to reach for her, but he stilled before making contact. He scowled down at his large hand. “Why are we not as we once were, like the last time?”

Nina took his hand in hers, tracing his broad fingers with her fingertips. “Because this is how I see you. How I know you. It doesn’t matter to me what you look like on the outside.” She smiled up at him and brought his hand to her chest. It was huge compared to her, and roughly calloused, but her nipple pearled immediately beneath his palm. “I want you as you are.”

Vortok caressed her breast, his eyes intent upon the soft mound, and soon lifted his free hand to show her other breast equal attention. He treated her delicately, his touch ever-gentle, as though he were afraid he might break her. Jolts of sensation swept through her with each of his strokes, feeding a growing, desirous fire within her core.

Balir moved behind her, his long fingers curling over her shoulders to sweep down her back and stop at the curves of her hips. He lowered his mouth to the side of her neck.

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