Page 59 of I Summoned A Demon For A Date?!
I turned the temperature to just shy of scalding, the way I liked it, and stepped under the spray. Aldaine followed a moment later, his imposing frame making the large shower suddenly feel much smaller.
Water cascaded down his body, following the defined lines of his chest and abdomen. I couldn't help but stare. He was beautiful in a way that defied human standards, perfect, yet with an otherworldliness that reminded me he wasn't human at all.
"See something you like?" he teased, reaching for the shampoo.
"Maybe," I answered, trying to sound casual despite the heat rising to my face. "Turn around, let me wash your hair."
He raised an eyebrow but complied, turning to present his broad back to me. I squeezed a generous amount of shampoo into my palm and reached up to work it through his dark hair. He was tall enough that I had to stretch, my breasts pressing against his back as I massaged his scalp.
Aldaine made a sound low in his throat, somewhere between a purr and a growl, that vibrated through his chest and into mine. "Your hands should be classified as weapons," he murmured.
I laughed, continuing my ministrations. "That good, huh?"
"You have no idea."
I worked my fingers deeper into his scalp, enjoying the way his muscles relaxed beneath my touch. There was something profoundly satisfying about caring for him this way, something intimate that went beyond sex.
When I finished, he turned and returned the favor, his large hands gentle as they worked the shampoo through my hair. I closed my eyes, surrendering to the sensation. No one had ever taken care of me like this, with such tender attention to detail.
"You're thinking too hard," Aldaine observed, tilting my head back to rinse the soap away.
"I thought that was supposed to be my line."
His hands slid down to my shoulders, thumbs working at the tension there. "What's on your mind, Rosie?"
I opened my eyes, meeting his concerned gaze. "Today's the day you tell me everything, right? About what's happening between us, what it means."
A shadow passed over his expression, so brief I almost missed it. "Yes," he confirmed. "No more secrets."
"Good," I reached for the soap, determined to finishour shower before diving into what promised to be a serious conversation. "Because I have questions."
"I'd be disappointed if you didn't." His smile was gentle, but I could sense his apprehension. He was nervous about this conversation, which only made me more certain we needed to have it.
We finished washing in comfortable silence, though the air between us was charged with anticipation. When we stepped out, Aldaine wrapped me in a towel before securing one around his own hips. The domestic simplicity of the gesture made my heart squeeze.
I dressed in comfortable clothes, soft leggings and an oversized sweater that slipped off one shoulder. Aldaine opted for his usual dark jeans and a navy button-down that made his warm brown skin look even richer in contrast. The sight of him, casual yet somehow regal, still made my breath catch.
"Ready?" he asked, holding out his hand to me.
I nodded, threading my fingers through his. We made our way to the sitting area of our suite, settling onto the plush couch. I tucked my feet underneath me, angling my body toward him.
"So," I began, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "Tell me about this." I touched the mark on my neck, the one he'd left during our passionate encounter beneath the oak tree.
Aldaine's expression turned serious, his posture straightening as if bracing for impact. "What do you want to know first?"
"Everything," I gestured wildly. "Start at the beginning. Why me? What does this mark mean? What's happening between us?"
He took a deep breath, his gaze dropping briefly before meeting mine again. "The beginning, then." His voice took on a different quality, deeper andsomehow older. "When you summoned me, I expected a typical human contract. Wealth, power, vengeance, the usual requests."
I nodded, remembering how desperate I'd been, how ridiculous my request must have seemed to an ancient being like him.
"What I didn't expect," he continued, "was you." His expression softened, something like wonder crossing his features. "When our hands touched to seal the contract, I felt it, like lightning striking, like worlds colliding."
"Felt what?" I prompted when he paused, my heart racing.
"The mate bond." His eyes never left mine as he spoke the words that would change everything. "In that instant, I knew you were my mate. The one being across all realms created for me, as I was created for you."
I stared at him, trying to process what he was saying. "Your mate? Like, cosmically ordained soulmates?"
