Page 68 of Shielded Heart

As soon as he gained his balance, Arcanthus tugged his horn out of Drakkal’s hold. Straightening, he faced the azhera and smoothed his hands down his robe, tugging the fabric into place before he swept his hair out of his face. “First you demand I get to work, then you demand I stop. Do you have any idea how frustrating it is trying to keep up with your ever-changing whims?”

“Do you have any idea how frustrating it is to be your friend, bodyguard, and mother all the damned time?”

“I am quite capable of—”

Drakkal lifted a hand; Arcanthus stopped talking, brows falling low.

“As much as I appreciate a good laugh, Arcanthus, I’m too hungry to listen to your jokes. And I didn’t think I’d have to remind you of this after what you’ve put me through the last few days, but don’t you have someone you should be checking on?”

Arcanthus’s stomach sank as he checked the time again. It had beenhourssince he’d sent Samantha away—and even if she didn’t know it, he couldn’t help comparing his dismissal of her to the way he’d dismissed so many other females in the past, females who’d meantnothingto him compared to this one.

“I didn’t realize how satisfying that would be,” said Drakkal.

“How satisfyingwhatwould be?”

“Seeing shame on your face. Don’t think I’ve ever seen that before, and I’ve known you a long time, sedhi.”

Arcanthus scowled. “Let’s go, you overgrown sewer skrudge.”

They left the workshop and walked to Arcanthus’s room, where Arc left Drakkal in the hallway. His heartbeat quickened as he slipped into his bedchamber; seeing her—especially if she were on his bed, or perhaps taking advantage of the bath—was a thrilling prospect, but, now that he realized what he’d done, he couldn’t shake the guilt of having essentially ignored her for most of the day.

Though she would’ve been well within her rights to be upset with Arc, he didn’t think she would be. Samantha was a kindhearted female—sweet, soft spoken, and compassionate. She already seemed to have forgiven him for so much. He understood how her nature had left her vulnerable to abuse, but he wouldnevertake advantage of her demeanor.

She wasn’t in bed. Arcanthus paused to lean over the rumpled bedding and draw in a breath, inhaling her lingering scent.

His anticipation heightened as he walked toward the bathroom; her smell was enough to heat his blood and rekindle his arousal, and his cock already throbbed with the need for release. Now he could finish what he’d started earlier—and if anyone tried to interrupt, Arc would just mute the door alerts until he and Samantha had both been satisfied.

He was thus greatly disappointed when he found the bathroom empty. The dress Samantha had been wearing lay on the floor, beside the dusty, rumpled clothing she’d been wearing before she woke. The sight of it brought a small smile to his lips; it was reminiscent of the first time he’d entered her apartment. He still had her white panties tucked away in a drawer beneath his loincloths.

He bent forward and plucked the dress off the floor, holding it up by the shoulders for a moment before shifting his hold to its waist. He lifted the garment to his face and inhaled.

The scent of her arousal clung to the fabric.

A shudder coursed down his spine, continuing all the way to the tip of his tail.

“Fucking Drakkal,” he growled.

He forced himself to place the dress inside the clothing cleaner, which was hidden within one of the bathroom walls, and adjusted the under fabric of his loincloth to prevent his cock from pushing farther out of his slit. Its ache spread through his groin and into his lower belly. Her old clothing went right into the trash chute; not only was it tattered and filthy, but she had no more need of it. He’d not allow her to hide in oversized clothes any longer—though the thought of her in one of his robes was tantalizing, to say the least.

After returning to the bedroom, he checked the closets just in case she’d somehow closed herself inside one. He noticed that her clothing had been moved, and one of the outfits was missing; it was oddly satisfying to know she’d likely snooped through his things. He’d have done the same were their places reversed.

He swept his gaze across the open space in the closet. Soon enough, he’d fill it completely with whatever clothing Samantha desired—and with whatever clothinghedesired to see on her delectable little body. He’d have filled the closet sooner if he’d known things would move so quickly.

He exited the bedroom.

Drakkal stood in the corridor, leaning back against the wall. He frowned. “Where’s your terran?”

Arcanthus shrugged. “She probably went exploring.”

“So, bring up the surveillance feeds and find her.”

“But that would bypass the thrill of the hunt. I’d much rather prowl the halls in search.”

“I’m too hungry for you to waste that much time.”

Arcanthus arched a brow and gestured toward the end of the hallway. “You don’t have to wait on me, azhera.”

“I do. It’s the only way I’ll be sure you eat.”

---