Remembering that I can’t fuck her yet, I lift us into the shower, and she squeaks when the water hits her backside.

I lather up my hands with soap and use them to clean her body—slowly and methodically.

When I massage her breasts and slide my fingers over her cunt and asshole, she murmurs how much she loves it.

I can scent her arousal even through the water pouring over her. She’s driving me mad with desire and doesn’t even realize it. I’m afraid I’m going to be a two-pump chump once I sink into her.

Once she’s clean, I lift her out of the shower, set her on the vanity, and dry her off. Her hazel-green eyes watch me with a sly smile. Her gaze wanders over my entire body as I also take in her tantalizing, exposed flesh.

I wrap a dry towel around her and carry her back to my room. I set her down on my bed, sitting up, so she hopefully feels less fragile.

“You’re sure you want me?” I ask. It seems like a dream. I pray to the Goddess this fantasy doesn’t turn into a nightmare if my beast loses control. Maybe I should have Maxum take me far away and chain me up while he heals her.

“I want you.” She gently strokes my cheek. “Are you sure you want me? I don’t know if you know, but I’m a criminally ignorant witch.” She gives me a sassy grin.

“That’s a whole step down from evil witch, so yeah, definitely on my bucket list.”

Maxum returns a moment later. He clears his throat and hands Jade a small vial. “It’s safe. Safer than human birth control. Effects are immediate.”

Thanking him, she swallows the entire bottle with a wince.

“Give us a second?” Maxum asks me.

I don’t like it, but his needs come into play here too.

I don’t go far, just outside the door. It’s as far as my beast will allow. It gives them the illusion of privacy, at least.

30

HORNS AND ALL

MAXUM

“You don’t have to do this,” the witch tells me.

It’s true. I don’t.

But I want to.

“If I don’t do this or find another safe way to help you, you will likely die,” I explain. “So I have to.”

Do I sound desperate to sink my cock inside her? Because that’s all I’ve been able to think about since I left to get the potion. Fuck, that isn’t entirely true. I’ve wanted her since she told me to fuck off during brunch. I love a feisty woman. So few are that way with me. Either they are begging me to fuck them, or they’re scared of the power they feel radiating off me and run far, far away.

Let’s just say it’s been a while since I found a female I wanted to fuck and one who wanted me, too. I don’t want to admit it to either Jade or Arran, but I want her around more than for one fuck.

“Is there another way?” she asks.

“Not a guaranteed method, which I am. As for healers? I don’t know who to trust. I’m fairly certain someone betrayed Osen within our outer circle. I won’t expose you to that risk. Besides, the fewer people who know you are alive, the better. Rob believes you’re dead, and I intend to keep it that way.”

“I don’t want you to do anything you’re uncomfortable with.” She tugs her towel higher as if that half-inch of skin offends me.

“All I do is shit I’m uncomfortable with,” I chuckle darkly. “But I would assume you’d be the one who wouldn’t want me since I was an asshole before.”

“You thought I was the enemy. I understand that.”

With my psychic senses, I pick up that she indeed understands.

“I must be in my true form for this to work.” My words come out soft and a bit shy.