Page 124 of The Last One
He swipes at the dip between his collarbones.
“Still there.”
He swipes again.
“Still—”
“Will you get it, then?” he says, laughing. He tilts back his head.
I take a soapy finger, dip it into that space, and rub. My skin buzzes as I press. “Done.” My eyes dip down to his shirt. “You also missed…” I motion to the middle of his chest.
A smile inches across his face. “Really, Kai? If you want me to take off my shirt, then just say so.”
“Look for yourself.”
“How can you even see anything beneath my—?” He peeks beneath his tunic, and his smile totters. “Oh.”
“See? I have gifts.”
“That was a guess.”
I shrug. “Maybe.”
He tries to contain his grin as he sniffs, “Well, I didn’t have soapy hot water waiting for me. Must be nice.”
I tilt my head. “Yeah, hot, soapy. There’s plenty of room, but of course you’d have to take off all of your clothes. Including that.” I point to his bandaged hand. “Which you should be doing anyway, since you told me you had prettier tattoos, remember, and you told me that you’d let me see them. Or maybe I’m misremembering. Am I misremembering, Jadon?”
His mouth rests into a soft smile. He watches me with eyes softer than that smile.
I lift my eyebrows and hug my knees to my chest.
Jadon hasn’t taken a breath yet. His jaw isn’t even twitching. He’s trying to maintain control.
He’ll lose.
I already see his defeat in the flush across his face and around his neck. I see his defeat in his loose, unclenched hand. The flare of his nostrils.
He’ll give me what I want—and he knows it.
It’s just a matter of time.
When he still doesn’t move, I lean back against the tub and finish off my wine. I hold out the cup for him to fill.
He does.
“Didn’t you say that I was the prize?” I ask before sipping. “Will you claim it, then?”
He takes a beat before he leans toward me. His breath warms my shoulder again.
“I’m so glad you’re safe,” I say, my voice huskier now, rumbling because he’s close, so close. I want him closer.Move closer, Jadon.
He brushes my hair aside.
I close my eyes.
He kisses my shoulder.
The world blurs around the edges.
