Page 121 of Of Spindles and Nightfall
“I can return some to you—”
“No. Keep it.” He gave her a tired smile. “I was able to get some meat from the kitchens while I was out. I will be fine.”
“Don’t be considerate of me now. You’re going to make me think we’ll die soon.”
“Unfortunately, there is a very high chance of that happening.”
She grasped his hand and urged him forward, pulling him toward the washroom. “Come.”
He watched her carefully as he followed her. Once they were next to the steaming water, she gripped his shirt and lifted it over his head. She stared in horror at the little bite marks all over his body. She’d done that to him. And he’d allowed it, encouraged it, to keep her safe.
She reached for his trousers, undoing them.
Zarathos caught her wrist. “Vampress, you don’t have to—”
She looked up into his uncertain gaze, certainty coursing through her. “I want to.”
She urged his pants downward, exposing him to her. His tail unfurled and swung free behind him. His length before her face. She raised her eyes to his and saw the unabashed desire in his eyes. He liked her here, kneeling at his feet. For a moment, all she focused on was the memory of his cock in her mouth, of his blood sliding onto her tongue and her venom leaking into him. How easily she could make him lose it with her.
How readily she might lose herself in him.
She swallowed and rose.
“Get in.”
He did as he was bidden, stepping into the warm bath. A sigh escaped him as he sank into the water, leaning his head back against the side. Dried blood flaked off as the wetness coated his body. If her many bite marks stung, he didn’t show it.
She grabbed the washcloth off of the ground and pulled the sash on the robe she wore. In a single smooth movement, she shucked it off, letting it glide to the floor.
Zarathos’s eyes roved over her naked form, a hunger sparking even while his lips tugged in a small sign of regret. “You’ve ruined my handiwork.”
“I figured you might enjoy starting over with a fresh canvas.”
He blinked at that, as if unable to believe what he’d heard her say.
She stepped into the water, sinking down in front of him. Zarathos watched her. His glowing eyes gave a slight flicker of hesitation despite the heat consuming them. She drew the cloth up to his chest and ran it around the bite marks on his neck. He flinched slightly.
What had she done to him? “I’m sorry.”
She moved to the next mark on his skin and passed the cloth gently over it. “I’m sorry.”
He grabbed her wrist for the second time. “Don’t.”
She sucked in a shaky breath.
He released her. “Don’t apologize. Not to me. We both know I’m the one who caused this. Don’t ever apologize.”
“Zarathos.” Setting the cloth aside, she inched closer to him. “How can I not apologize when I see how intensely you regretit? What you’re willing to go through to protect me?” With care, her fingertips brushed under a bite mark, then dipped beneath the water. The tip of her nail drew along his cock. He groaned as she stroked it again, this time with all her fingers. It twitched under her touch. He was so damn sensitive to her, and she loved it.
She took him full in hand and squeezed.
“Yes, Vampress. Yes,” he gasped. He reached for her, drawing her closer between his legs. His tail trailed along her ass, then curled upward, wrapping around her waist, holding her possessively. His clawed fingers trailed along the sides of her breasts, tracing the line where the water met her skin. Her breasts felt heavy, a shiver of heat and longing raising goosebumps across her flesh.
She touched his silken hair as she moved her hand on his most vulnerable part. He hardened so quickly, his length extending into her grasp. He moaned.
His clawed fingers sank under the water, gripping her waist and jerking her closer. His breaths blasted against her bare nipples. Parting his lips, his pronged tongue snaked out, flicking against one tit, then the other. Aryana’s grip in his hair tightened. And she released him, pressing her middle to his and rolling her hips, dragging her body, aggravatingly up his cock.
“Aryana,” he groaned. “You are going to be the death of me.”
