Page 28 of Powerless
MARIPOSA
"Mari?"
"In here."
I was soaking in Reaper's bathtub when his loud, booted footsteps echoed through the suite. Hades ran to me, stubby tail wagging like he hadn't seen me in years.
"Hi, boy. Oh—okay!" I squeezed my eyes shut against the onslaught of licks to my face.
Reaper came into the bathroom a few seconds later, watching us with a lazy smirk.
"I was hoping to get some use out of that thing before we leave." He peeled off his shirt, discarding it on the floor before kicking off his boots.
“This tub’s much nicer than the one in my room," I smiled back. "We leaving soon?"
"Tomorrow morning." He unzipped his pants and shoved them down his thighs, peeling them away until he was just standing there in his birthday suit.
My throat constricted just slightly, although I had no idea why. I'd seen him naked before, much closer than this, and touched just about every part of him that I could see.
"Quit drooling and move over, sugar." He came to the tub's edge and ran his fingers over the surface, splashing me with a grin.
"I wasnotdrooling," I muttered, yanking my eyes away as I scooted to make room for him.
"Sure you weren't." He lowered himself into the steaming water with a sigh. "Now come here."
I moved back to the spot in front of him, where his arms opened. The water had a thin layer of pinkish foam from the bath bomb I used. So while the water was partially opaque, I still felt apprehensive and exposed. I’d had sex with this man half a dozen times at this point. Why did a bath feel so much more intimate?
The feeling intensified as he turned me around gently and pulled me toward him until my back touched his chest. I sat between his legs, which nearly extended the entire length of the luxurious porcelain tub. He let out a contented sigh when I relaxed against him, pressing a kiss to my ear as his fingers massaged into my arms and shoulders.
Jesus. It was likehecouldn't relax until he was makingmefeel good.
That was a dangerous train of thought, and one I'd been trying to talk myself out of all day. I must have walked through every corridor of this outpost today while my mind went in circles about him. I couldnotafford to develop feelings for the Steel Demons president, and I was a damned fool to even entertain the thought he had feelings for me.
But from the way my insides fluttered as his touch drifted over my skin, I had a sinking feeling it was too late for me.
"How was church?" I asked, focusing on a random bubble on the water's surface.
"Marginally more productive than yesterday," he grunted. "We're taking Fischlin's guard home with us."
"Really?" I looked at him over my shoulder, genuinely surprised. "What made you change your mind?"
"Jandro and Dallas made pretty convincing arguments."
"Uh huh. And who put the idea in your head first?"
"Don't get cocky, woman," he laughed. "You're starting to sound like one of us."
"It was just a matter of time, I guess."
"Mm." He pressed a kiss to my cheek before slowly moving his lips down my neck. All the while, his thumbs pressed slow circles into my upper back.
"Why do you do this?" I groaned, letting my head fall back.
"Do what?" he chuckled, knowing full well what he was doing.
"Massage me. Get me off until my clit is completely numb before getting yours. It just seems like a lot of...effort."
"I like making you feel good." Another smoldering kiss dropped between my neck and shoulder. "I think you're worth the effort."
