Page 36 of Tempting Shadowed Hearts
When we make it to the bedroom, she asks, “Sleep first or a bath?”
Knowing I likely still have blood caked on me, I say, “I think I’d like a bath.”
Without another word, she walks straight past the bed into a bathroom that rivals the one at any of my father’s mansions. The vanity’s counter is made of pure black marble with flecks of gold, and the toilet beside it is the darkest black porcelain I’ve ever seen. Across from them is a shower tiled in black and forest green, which seems almost coincidental considering the greenof my eyes, along with the scales of my snakes. Beside that is a massive black marble tub I can’t wait to climb into.
“I can draw my bath,” I say.
“No, let me, please. I want to take care of you. You’ve been through far too much this evening. Drawing you a bath is the least I can do.”
Tears line my lids as she sits me down on the counter. “Thank you,” I whisper.
She cups my cheeks, pulling my face down, and gets on her tiptoes to kiss my forehead. “Of course. I’ll get it started for you.”
Her hands are gone all too quickly, and I immediately miss her touch. Tonight has been absolutely awful, and I just want to curl up in someone’s arms where I know I’ll be safe. Even though things are a little strange right now between us all, I’d honestly take the ability to climb into bed with any of the three women in this penthouse.
Every single part of my body hurts; I’m hoping this bath helps with something. From what I know about gorgons, we’re supposed to have increased healing times, but I’ve never had to find out whether it’s true. I guess today is as good a day as any.
When she starts the water, I chance a look at myself in the mirror behind me. I still clutch the blanket around me, covering my shoulders and most of my neck, but above that, a faint bruise circling my neck catches my eye from where the bag rested. My eyes drift further up to my cheek, where there are distinct finger marks from when one of the men covered my mouth. Moving further up, I meet my own eyes in the mirror and gasp. The whites of my eyes are nearly all red with numerous blood vessels having blown, which intensifies the green of my eyes. And then there’s my hair; it’s going every which way thanks to the bag having tangled it up and the flight here with Vaelyn not having helped any.
I stay like this until I spot Vaelyn approaching me through the mirror. Turning to face her, I drop my eyes to the ground. I’m ashamed of how awful I look.
“Your bath is ready. Can I help you down?” she asks.
“Sure. Thank you,” I whisper.
She moves to lift me off the counter, and I try to tell her she doesn’t have to, but she shoots me one of those looks that means I’m not supposed to argue. I concede and wrap my arms around her shoulders while she carries me to the bathtub. It seemed so far away when I was on the counter; however, it only takes her a few strides to get us there.
“I’ll set you down and turn my back so you can unravel yourself from the blanket and get in. I just want to make sure you get in there safely before I head back into the bedroom,” Vaelyn says.
“You can stay. I kind of don’t want to be alone right now,” I say.
Vaelyn puts me on my feet and turns my cheek to look at her. “You’re safe. No one would dare come into Adrestia’s penthouse. If you’re not comfortable with my being here, I’m happy to wait until you’re done. All you have to do is—“
I bring a finger to her lips. “It’s okay. You can stay. You likely saw me naked when you helped save me. Even if you hadn’t, I’m not shy.”
The blanket falls from my shoulder, but her eyes are on mine. Warmth spreads throughout me, and I let go of the blanket in full. I want her to touch me, erase everything that happened to me earlier in a place I thought I was safe. My free hand snakes around her neck to cup the back of her head, and I bring my lips to hers, giving them a soft kiss before whispering, “Tell me to stop.”
“I’m the wrong person to ask that of. Because I’m going to tell younotto stop,“ she says, her lips brushing against mine with each word.
I don’t hold back anymore, crashing my lips to hers. Every ounce of rigidity rushes out of her. Her arms slide around my back, pulling me until there’s no space between us at all. I melt into her touch and deepen the kiss, a frenzied need taking over me. My hands roam down her back, finding the hem of her shirt, and I slip underneath.
About halfway up, she stops me. “You need a bath and some rest.”
Resting my forehead against hers, I whisper, “I want you to touch me, to erase everything those men did to me.”
“Are you sure? You don’t want Avyanna? She’s already explored your body to an extent, so she’ll know what you like and what you need.”
“I’m sure. I want you. But if you don’t want to do this, you don’t have to.”
She steps back, her brows furrowed as she looks me over. “More than anything, I don’t want to hurt you. You have so many bruises, and I’m sure a lot of them hurt. The last thing I want to do is add to them or make things worse.”
I reach for her hand to pull her to me, but she resists. “You won’t hurt me any more than I already am. Unless you want to.”
She frowns, looking me over once more. Her eyes darken, and I know she’s letting the lust win her over. “I wish I could kill the fuckers that hurt you all over again.”
“They’ll be gone before too long. Get in the bath with me. Please?”
Her stormy grey gaze locks onto me. “Fucking hell. I can’t tell you no already, and that’s going to be a huge problem.”
