Page 5 of Cruel Tides

“Wait, Lee—” Her voice quaked as my tongue flicked in teasing circles. “I’m supposed to be the one cleaning you up.”

Oh, I loved how her comebacks lost their edge whenever my hands were on her. The control she gave me, how her body moved against me, shy but eager for more.

My arms shifted beneath her hips, pulling her closer, and either she or the mirror let out a squeak as her back sank down the washroom wall.

Hands found my hair, winding and tugging, holding me closer. That sting—oh, it made my cock steel so hard I had to press it against the vanity while my mouth worked her over.

Human legs were truly a wonder, and even though hers were the first I’d ever explored, I knew that none could be better than these.

Gasping sounds spilled from her throat as I growled against her, her hips squirming like she couldn’t decide if she should seek higher pleasure by grinding over my face or try to get away. I held her there, my muscles tightening even as the grip of her hands in my hair turned into clawing fists.

“Lee! I—I’m…” She moaned, and my fingers kneaded into her hips, my lips endeavoring to coax her closer, to push her body over that edge. My beautiful mate.

Yes, fucking come for me, beautiful.

I chuckled as her hips twitched underneath me, a low moan building as she found her release on my tongue.

Her head rolled as she keened, her knees clamping on my shoulders until something snapped inside her and she finally yielded, her whole body going pliant in my arms.

I waited until her hands fell from my hair before I set her back down on the vanity. Her eyes were misty when they finally opened.

“I love those little sounds you make.” I brushed a section of hair back behind her ear.

Her lips pursed in the cutest way. “I bet you do,” she panted out. “We were supposed to be getting you a shower, you know.” Her head shook, but I could tell she was still in a daze. “I can’t believe how much hot water we’ve wasted…”

My smirk grew. “Let’s remedy that then, shall we?”

Her expression quickly changed as I hoisted her up off the vanity, delivering her to the side of the shower. I drew back the curtain and stepped inside, taking her into the bath with me.

My back acted as a shield, guarding Claira against the hot stream pouring out from high on the washroom wall. As soon as I set her down on her feet, her eyes wandered over me. She took in each hard angle, every droplet of water trickling off my shoulders, until her gaze simmered hotter than the stream beating against my back.

Slowly, she wet her lips. “Looks like you’ve recovered.”

“Getting there.” Fastening my arms around her waist, I pulled her close enough to kiss. “But I think I might enjoy your help.”

Her palms landed on my chest, and I almost lost my balance as she bounced up on her toes, urging me back a step. Water dripped over my eyes as I passed under the stream, its warmth flowing through my hair and down my chest. When she leaned forward again, I expected her to kiss me underneath the spray of water, but she only snatched up a dark green bottle from the side of the bath.

Popping the top, she poured a good amount out onto a hand. Its strong scent mixed with the steamy air. Her lips sank into a frown as the smooth puddle of goo spread out over her palm.

Concerned with her sudden change of mood, I cupped under her chin, tilting it back until our eyes met. “You don’t like this soap?”

Her head rocked back and forth in my palm. “It’s not that.” She worked the pale goo into a frothy, bubbly mess between her hands before running it through my dampened hair. “It’s just—it’slemon…” Her voice trailed as her fingers worked, massaging heavenly circles all over my scalp.

Fuck, it felt like magic. Every muscle in me relaxed at once until I could barely keep my eyes from drifting shut.

When her fingers paused, I had to hold my tongue to keep from asking for more.Fuck. How did such an innocent caress feel so damn good?

“It’s nothing. Don’t mind me. I was just thinking out loud,” she mumbled. Her fingers drifted lower, massaging over the nape of my neck, but I wasn’t about to drop whatever had made her so unhappy all of a sudden.

“It’s not nothing.” I rolled my shoulders, enjoying the careful attention of her hands on me.

“Time to rinse. Close your eyes.” The scent of the soap hit me full force as she pushed my head back into the stream. “It’s seriously not something I should even be thinking about. Not at a time like this. I mean, I’m in here with you right now and?—”

My eyes opened to a look of guilt spreading over her face. “What? You don’t want me smelling like Kai?”

“Th-that’s not it!” She nearly knocked my head off my shoulders as her hands pulled out of my hair. “I don’t think he was even using this. I mean, he likes the smell of lemons, but he neversmelledlike lemons whenever he—whenever I?—”

Looking absolutely mortified, her eyes cut to the bath curtain exit. If it weren’t for my arm around her, she might have darted out of the washroom, wet and naked.

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