Page 35 of Rurik
“That is because you and I have aconnection.”
“A connection,” she muttered, then winced when she shifted. Soreness twinged at her innerthighs.
He noticed, his eyes narrowing. “I was too rough.” A dark frown marred his face as though he didn’t like admittingthat.
“No, you weren’t. I was a virgin, remember? I knew I would end up sore. Now explain what you meant by a connection.” She should have felt shy admitting that, but things had changed between them. Something had clicked like two gears in an antique clock, and for the first time in her life, she feltwhole.
“It iscomplicated.”
She bit her lip. “Why not try me? I’m a biochemist,remember?”
He pulled out of her, and the sudden feeling of emptiness was unwelcome. She wanted that connection again. Rurik picked her up, making her squeak in surprise, and carried her into the adjoining bathroom with its massive tub. He set her down on the edge and turned on the taps, testing the temperature with his fingers. Once it was hot enough, he climbed into the tub and waited for her to join him. She’d never shared a bathtub with anyone before, but Rurik was fast becoming a first for just abouteverything.
“Lie back against me,” he urged, and she didso.
“I’m not too heavy?” She hated to ask it, but she was so aware of herself and didn’t want to remind him that she had a fullfigure.
“You’re perfect.” He kissed her cheek and wrapped his arms around herwaist.
It felt good to be held by him. The hot water rising at her legs felt goodtoo.
“Now will you tell me about how you can affect human women, or at the leastme?”
His raspy chuckle made her laughtoo.
“We attract women because of our confidence, power, and wealth. We’re like catnip just by being who weare.”
“Catnip?” She snorted. “But like you said, women weren’t flocking around you,so…”
Rurik drew the pad of his index finger around one of her nipples, making it harden as he chuckled. “We’re irresistible, but there is intent required on our part. Desire. Would you like me to remind you just how much you want me?” He gently pinched her nipple, and a bolt of pleasure made her moan and arch herback.
She giggled when he lowered his head to her breast and sucked on the tender peak. “Stop distractingme.”
His laughter was warm and sinful, and she squirmed as he continued to lick and suck on her nipple. When he started to move toward her other breast, she caught his cheek in her hands and forced him to look ather.
“But you do havesomeabilities. You said you could manipulate the humans by the palace to walkaway.”
He stiffened slightly at the mention. “We can mesmerize others, yes, but that is not the same thing. We can erase memories or bury them. We can convince people to do things or notto.”
“Including sex? Youdidn’t…”
“No. The only time I ever used that power was to alter how you remembered the shooting, to rationalize why I healed so fast. I didn’t want you to panic. You reacted well enough, but I expected you to be in shock. I feared the reality of almost dying would set in.” He stroked a hand along her waist, finding a sensitive spot that made her wriggle and almostlaugh.
“I remember the shooting. And I remember being worried at first about your wounds.” She stared at him, trying to remember everything. Flashes of it came back. “Wait, I did pull out some bullets, didn’t I? They weren’t justscratches.”
“No, they weren’t. Now you remember everything.” He used one hand to brush soothing fingers along her collarbone. Drops of hot water trickled down herbreasts.
She couldn’t believe that he had influenced what she had thought. “Only you didn’t take my memoriesaway?”
“I try never to remove memories. I change them as little as possible. A dragon could get carried away with exerting that sort ofpower.”
She couldn’t argue with that. If she’d been in his position, it would have been tempting to make someone believe a different version of events in order to hide a more difficulttruth.
“But I admit, I did convince you to dance for me in the cage in my club,” he added with a chuckle. He couldn’t seem toresist.
“The cage—” She blushed deeply, burying her face against his shoulder as she remembered. “Oh my God, thecage.” He massaged her shoulders. The water sloshed around them, and she moved forward so she could twist the knob and turn off the water before leaning back againsthim.
“So what we just did, that was something, wasn’t it?” She knew what had transpired between them had changed everything. There was something between them now; she felt it whisper at the back of her mind. She needed to know what itwas.
