Page 54 of Leashed

He could feel Hades’s arms wrapping around him, lifting him into the warm water.

“The poor thing is older than you, dear,” Hades laughed, releasing his hold as Bo found his footing on the steps. “Are you getting in with him? I’m heading to the reception hall in case we have early arrivals for the festivities.”

Seph’s gentle hand rested on his head. “Of course. But send a few guards over in case he goes under. I don’t want to get my hair wet.”

*

Sage glanced atthe clock and set her studying aside, rubbing her eyes and picking up her phone to check the missed texts that had come in.

Her lounge shift was covered for the night.

Nixon was angry she hadn’t responded to his message from an hour earlier.

The library’s automated system was reminding her she had a book overdue.

And still, nothing from Bo.

With her Tuesday exam notes running through her head, she collected her clothes and went to shower, hoping the hot water would perk her up before her next cram session.

She needed to text Nixon back. And call.

But she had nothing to say.

He didn’t want to hear about her exams. Or her shifts at the library. He disliked her lounge job, the disdain in his voice every time she spoke of it enough to silence her tongue.

Bo was right.

She turned off the shower, then wrapped a towel around her hair and another around her body.

Maybe you should. Fuck me, I mean.

Squeezing the last drops of water from her hair, she picked up her brush and permitted herself a few moments to indulge in the idea.

But when her mind conjured up a visual of Bo shirtless, something she’d seen an awful lot despite the cold weather, she shook the idea from her head and ran her thumb over her lips.

That was dangerous territory.

---