Page 36 of Dragon Unleashed
Aries frowns but says nothing. I know he’s trying to come up with another scenario or some other way an intruder could have gotten in—and, more importantly, out. Frankly, so am I. Because something was definitely after us tonight, and worse, now it knows about Aries, which makes it a greater threat than simply being a chandelier ninja. Until I know what or who has discovered our secret, we’re not safe from anyone.
Not even Blossom.
I take a generous sip of my wine then stand and head for my bathroom. “I’m going to grab a shower.”
“Shower?” His confusion is absolute—and adorable.
I forget all about chandeliers and portals for the moment, a smile spreading over my face. “Come here.”
Aries follows me into my small bathroom. The space is tight, made more so by the massive dragon sharing it with me.
“If you loved the sink and baseball, prepare to be dazzled, my fire-breathing friend.”
I lean forward and, with my free hand, turn the knob. Water cascades down into the porcelain tub. Aries stares at it like he’s seeing a damned miracle. The awe in his expression has me smiling wider.
“Magnificent,” he breathes. “It’s your own personal waterfall.”
“Basically,” I agree. “Anyway, you wash yourself with it then turn the knob when you’re done to shut it off. You can make it warm or hot, depending on your preference. Me? I’m going for ‘melt the skin’ temperature.”
“Melt—why would you want to...” He trails off, brows scrunching as he looks down at me. “I assume you are making a joke.”
“Yes, Aries, I am making a joke.” I shake my head then give him a light shove out the door. “Now get out so I can get naked.”
He actually pauses, and my breath catches as I realize the mental picture I’ve just painted for us both.
I almost hope he offers to help me undress.
But after another moment, he turns and leaves the room, shutting the door softly behind him.
I undress quickly then step beneath the hot spray. “Yes,” I groan as I feel my muscles begin to loosen. Knowing Aries will want a shower, too, though, I wash my hair quickly so I don’t take all the hot water.
I’m just hanging my loofah up when I turn around and catch sight of a shadow in the shape of a man looming on the other side of my shower curtain.
Panic grips me, and I scream. Scrambling to rip the curtain open, I slip and come crashing down—hard. My hip takes the brunt of my fall, hurting so badly my scream dies abruptly and my eyes begin to water. My elbow hits the side of the tub, sending stinging agony up into my shoulder. I do my best to ignore it, forcing my eyes to focus on the figure still lurking beyond the half-open curtain.
But before I can make it out, the shadow blurs away as my door is ripped open. Aries yanks open the shower curtain and scans the shower, eyes murderous. “What happened?”
“What the hell were you doing in here?” I demand, too hurt to care that I’m lying in a naked tangle of limbs before the dragon god himself.
“What are you talking about? You screamed.”
“I screamed because you were lurking like a perv,” I say, my voice shrill.
“What? Paige, I came in when you screamed.” He reaches over and turns the water off. In that moment, I am all too aware of how naked—and awkward—I am.
“Towel!” I hiss in pain as I try to stand. Aries offers me the towel, keeping his gaze averted to my face. With one arm, I manage to half-ass wrap it around myself.
My legs are weak, my body on adrenaline overload. I put a hand on the tile to steady myself and step gingerly out of the tub. Aries backs away but only enough to give me space to stand. He watches me warily as if waiting for me to collapse. He’s not far off the mark. I use the towel bar for support then usher him backward as I make my way out to my bedroom. Once there, my scattered brain slowly begins to form coherent thought.
“You’re hurt,” Aries says, watching me hobble across the carpet.
I don’t bother to answer. I’m too busy replaying what he just said. “Wait. You came in after I screamed?” I question once I’m seated on the edge of the bed.
“Yes. Of course. You think I was in there while you were in your shower?” When I don’t answer, his expression hardens, and I glimpse the battle-worthy warrior inside him. “I am not a man who steals glances,” Aries says, haughty. I’ve offended him, great. “If I look upon a woman, it is with her permission, and every ounce of my attention is trained on what she’s freely offering. When I look at your naked body, Paige, you’ll know. And you will have asked for it.”
I swallow hard. I believe him—of course. And if I weren’t so damned shaken, I bet I’d be imagining all sorts of ways Aries could pin his full attention on me.
“What happened?” He kneels in front of me as the realization of what I just saw sets in.
