Page 56 of The Werewolf Cowboy
No. Go back to your room.
He patted the bed. “Come here.”
It was all very innocent.Right.
Ciara sat on the bed, leaning against the headboard. Then she yawned. She curled up next to him, resting her head on his chest. Soon she was asleep. Xavier put an arm around her.
He didn’t want to stay like this. Didn’t want her soft, warm body cuddling next to him. So tempting.
But he didn’t want her waking up alone in a strange hotel room, terrified and bewildered.
It’s my fault for not keeping an eye on her, he thought with regret. I should have paired her months ago with a male, let her grow accustomed to him, to the Skin world.
Xavier turned down the sound on the television, lest he wake her. She needed her rest.
Then he felt a tingle rush down his spine that signaled a surge of tremendous power.
Oh shit. Bad timing.
A puff of red smoke and silver, and Gideon, the Crimson Wizard, stood by the bed, along with Tristan. Xavier gently disentangled himself from Ciara.
“You were supposed to be here thirty minutes ago,” he told them.
“I had a hot date.” Gideon studied the sleeping Ciara. “But not as hot as yours. I have seldom seen a nymph, and not in several centuries. I have never seen an actual virgin nymph. And she is quite exotic and alluring. This one will certainly have no trouble finding sexual partners.”
Ciara was not a “this one”. Xavier seized his wrist as the Crimson Wizard leaned closer to Ciara. “Don’t touch.”
“Don’t like anyone playing with your toys, Xavier?” Gideon asked, his tone mildly amused.
“She’s in a very delicate position right now and I don’t want her waking up and seeing you two monkeys staring at her as if she was in a zoo.”
“No, you wish to be the only monkey staring at her.” Tristan shook his head. “Have you selected a male to do the deed?”
“I have one of your cougar shifters arriving tomorrow for the task. Marc. He’s serviced nymphs before.”
Tristan raised a brow. “Nymphs who are sexually experienced, and enjoy alternative sex. Never a virgin. Are you certain about this?”
“I don’t have anyone else,” he admitted.
Tristan and Gideon gave him pointed looks, then looked at Ciara.
“No,” he said, a little more firmly.
He didn’t want to do this. Oh, he was tempted, sorely tempted, but it would be a bad thing for her.
Tristan and Gideon stared at him. “Why not?” Tristan finally asked.
Xavier hooked his arms around his knees. “I would ruin her for anyone else.”
Gideon gave a short bark of laughter, but Tristan did not. He nodded. “I see your point. For you will give her an exquisite time in bed…”
“And then leave her,” Gideon finished. The Crimson Wizard looked weary and more cynical than usual. “It must be so.”
“Why did you call us here?” Tristan asked.
“I need one of you to cover my assignments for the next two days so I can attend to Ciara.” He gave them a hopeful look. “Unless you care to arrange for her sexual partner.”
Both Tristan and Gideon backed away as if he’d asked them to an orgy with ogres. Xavier sighed. Ciara proved to be most tempting, and he suspected he should try to get away from her, before he did something he regretted.
