Page 37 of Tempting Shadowed Hearts
A smile spreads across my face.
She huffs out a breath and steps in closer to me. “Get in the bath like a good girl while I get undressed.”
My pussy clenches. “Where’s the fun in that? I want to help you.”
I bat my eyelashes at her as I slip a hand under her shirt again. Our skin contact makes her jump—my hand is quite cold—but she quickly recovers and leans into me.
“You’re quite the brat, aren’t you?” I nod, and she continues, “Since you’re already there, why don’t you take my shirt off for me?”
My smile widens when I bring my other hand under her shirt, making her jump again. Once she relaxes, I slide my hands up her sides. As I reach her ribs, I prepare to run into a bra, but she’s not wearing one, so just to tease her, I cup her breasts and pinch her nipples.
Her mouth falls open in a gasp. “Roxi,” she growls. “You’re injured, and I’mtryingto take care of you.”
I roll my eyes and release her nipples. “You’re not being any fun.”
“You’re being a brat, and that normally deserves a punishment, but like I’ve said, I don’t want to hurt you.”
My hands leave her body and fist into her shirt, yanking it up over her head. “Don’t worry about whether or not you’re going to hurt me; just do it.”
“You’ve been hurt enough today.”
“Then make it so the pain I feel has a more recent, pleasurable memory. Don’t hold back just because you don’t want to hurt me,” I say, fumbling with her pants.
Her hand rests on mine, and I stop to look up at her. “If you’re serious about this, I want you to give me a safe word. Don’t hesitate to use it if things become too much.”
I stare at her, contemplating what word I could use. “Bomb Pop.”
“Bomb Pop? Like the popsicles?”
“Exactly,” I exclaim. “They were my favorite growing up. My father said they were healthier for me than regular ice cream because, for whatever reason, he cared about my physique. Now, for yours.”
She rolls her eyes again. “I don’t—”
I narrow my eyes at her. “You do need one.”
A sigh leaves her lips. “Bananas.”
My eyes widen, and I start to laugh, but Vaelyn’s jaw is clenched tight.
“Yes, it’s bananas, and you don’t have to sing the song,” she huffs.
“So cranky.”
Once again, she rolls her eyes. “I’m a harpy. We’re nearly all grumpy. And you’re getting in that bath to soak and clean up before anything else. Now, get in there before I pick you up and put you in there myself.”
Chapter eighteen
Adrestia and I walk down the hallway in comfortable silence until Roxi squeals, which sends my heart rate skyrocketing. The griffin and I exchange a look before we’re barreling through the bedroom door to make sure everything is okay. When laughter drifts in from the bathroom, I will my heart to slow even though I know it won’t until I lay eyes on Roxi and Vaelyn, so I make my way into the bathroom.
What I find has me stopping dead in my tracks just after I cross the threshold. Roxi, having discarded the blanket, is completely naked, straddling a still fully clothed Vaelyn in the bathtub. And fuck if it isn’t hot.
Adrestia approaches from behind and stops right behind me. Her hands come to rest on my hips as she whispers, “I’d say you find this just as appealing as I do with the sudden burst of your arousal that just filled my nostrils.”
I groan, and Roxi’s gaze drifts up to where we stand. Vaelyn’s gaze follows shortly after, those stormy eyes flaring wide when she realizes Adrestia and I are standing here. “I-I, uh. She—”
“We don’t have to explain ourselves to them,” Roxi whispers, biting Vaelyn’s earlobe while she stares me straight in the eyes. “I think they’d like to watch us pleasure each other.”
I clench my jaw, my arousal heightening. “Roxi, you’re injured.”
