Page 37 of Demonic Prince

“Rosemary,” he says. “The soap is made of olive oil.”

“How do you know so much about luxuries?”

“I’m the bastard son of a king, born in a castle.”

I hadn’t thought of him that way before. “But you’re so rough around the edges.”

He smirks. “Thank you.” Clearly, he takes that as a compliment.

I rub the rosemary-and-olive soap over my arms, then venture lower and wash my legs. Rook isn’t even looking at me. He concentrates on thoroughly scrubbing the grime from himself.

I wonder at the stories behind his scars. When he kissed me, he healed his bruises, though he’s still marked where the blade stabbed his thigh.

He glances at me. There’s vulnerability in the soft way he holds his mouth.

“Why are you doing this?” I murmur.

He looks down. “I was dirty.”

“Why did you invite me?”

“You were dirty, too.”

I laugh at the gruff way he says it. “Is that all?”

“Can’t a man enjoy a bath?” He leans back in the tub as if challenging me to prove him wrong.

“Enjoy?” I repeat, pitching my voice low. “What do you find enjoyable?”

He closes his eyes. “This moment with you.”

My chest clenches with a strange ache. I don’t know how to respond. This isn’t fighting or fucking, and he’s not trying to defeat me.

“Rook?” I ask.

“What is it?” He doesn’t bother opening his eyes.

Without a word, I push myself onto my knees and close the distance between us. His eyes snap open at the liquid noise. I’m still not touching him. His gaze follows the water droplets that trickle down my body.

“Kiss me again.” It’s halfway between a request and a demand.

“The kiss of an incubus?”

I shiver, and not just from the cold. “Yes.”

“Why would you ask that of me?” There’s disbelief in his tone.

“Because it pleased you.” I whisper the words, my heartbeat pounding. “Because it felt so good when you did it before.”

His demonic eyes smolder in the candlelight. “Even a kiss has consequences.”

I’m not sure he’s talking about only a kiss.

“Don’t pretend as if there’s nothing between us,” I say.

“It’s impossible to pretend.” There’s a rasp in his silky voice. “I’ve already tasted your desire.”

I curl my fingers around the edges of the bathtub. He’s near enough to touch and yet still forbidden. A knot of tension tightens in my stomach. It’s both thrilling and terrifying to be this close to him.

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