Page 84 of Fanged Desire
Addison had surprised me in so many ways, not least of all with how open she was to the idea of entering into a contractwith me. It was the last thing I wanted to ask of her, but if she was going to be trusted to keep the Leyore vampires’ secret it had to be done. Humans were permitted to know our true identity through one of two routes; a contract… or a mating bond.
I hadn’t dared consider the latter myself, hadn’t asked myself that crucial question. Some sore, broken part of me was still afraid of what the answer would be.
Once inside my glowing date’s apartment, the floors no longer strewn with evidence and paper trails, Addison kicked off her shoes and headed to the kitchen to pour herself a glass of wine. I trailed after her, settling into the space that was filled with a vibrancy my little office sorely lacked.
When she emerged from the kitchen, twirling a glass between her fingers, Addison fluttered her eyes at me, something playful flickering in her expression. “So, you’ve successfully wined, dined, and dazzled me. What should we do now?”
I shrugged, funneling my hands into my coat pockets, though considering the way she was looking at me, I had a few ideas. “Preferably something that requires taking our clothes off.”
“What about a bubble bath?”
The suggestion had been innocent enough, said with a smile and a teasing lilt to Addison's voice, but it hit me like a brick. She must have seen the way I balked because her face immediately fell.
“I’m sorry,” she said quickly, “I didn’t think… I mean, I forgot. We can do something else, something less…” She hesitated, searching for the right word. “Something less wet.”
I stared at her, taking in the genuine concern on her face. This woman – this maddening, infuriating, brilliant woman – had seen me at my worst and was still here, trying to accommodate my bullshit. A part of me wanted to take it, to retreat from the memory of rushing water and suffocating fear, but the largerpart of me – the part that had slowly started to believe in us – wanted to try.
“No.” I shook my head quickly, surprising even myself. “I want to do this. With you.”
Her voice was gentle when she spoke. “Hunter, you don’t have to. Really.”
But I did. Somehow, in that moment, I knew that I wanted to experience life with her – see the world through her eyes, experience even the small, seemingly trivial things with her by my side.
“Run the bath,” I said quietly, jutting my chin towards the door. “I want to try.”
Addison gave me a searching look, then nodded, setting her glass aside and disappearing into the bathroom. I followed a minute later, standing in the doorway as she knelt by the tub, pouring in some kind of lavender-scented concoction.
The sound of rushing water set my nerves on edge, but I focused on her instead, on the little hum she let out as she tested the water temperature. This was for her, with her. That thought was enough to steady me.
Addison climbed in first, the water sloshing softly as she leaned back against the porcelain.
I kicked off my shoes. The water lapped at my calves as I sat on the edge of the tub, staring at tendrils of steam curling into the air. The sound was almost soothing, the warmth almost inviting, but my chest was tight, my stomach twisting itself into knots.
I glanced at Addison. She was leaning back, her hair damp and pasted to her shoulders, her expression pensive as she watched me. “Whenever you’re ready.”
Her voice was like a tether, but still, my fingers curled around the edge of the tub as I hesitated. I didn’t want her to see this side of me; the vulnerable side that was still haunted by something so simple. But I didn’t want to turn away, either. Iwanted this. Not the bath itself, but the experience. Being here with her.
I stripped down, avoiding my reflection in the mirror, and stepped into the water. The heat crept over my skin and I clenched my jaw as I sank deeper. Every muscle in my body wound tight.
“Turn around.” Addison’s hand reached for me, fingers fluttering on my shoulder. “Trust me.”
I sucked in a breath and slowly, I turned, letting her maneuver me, positioning us so that my back rested against her chest, her arms sliding around my waist to hold me steady. The sensation was... strange. I couldn’t remember the last time someone had held me like this, cradling me like I was something fragile, something worth protecting.
“See?” she murmured near my ear, her voice like a balm. “Not so bad.”
I let out a shaky laugh. “It’s not great.”
Addison’s breathy, teasing laughter tickled my ear. “Well, you’re being very brave.”
“Thanks,” was my flat, griping response. “Could you be more infantilizing about it?”
“I was going for encouraging.” I felt her shrug at my back, rest her chin on my shoulder, and the slippery, skin-on-skin contact was a welcome respite.
Her voice in my ear, her breath against my neck, it all worked to soothe the tension coiled in my chest. Slowly, my muscles unwound and I leaned back against her, letting her hold me. We sat like that for a while, the bubbles floating lazily on the surface of the water.
I curled my knees up as she pressed a kiss to the nape of my neck, and closed my eyes. Of all the directions I had imagined my life going, I had never expected this. I couldn’t believe I had ever wanted anything else.
“It’s nice,” I finally admitted. “I didn’t think I’d like it, but… It’s nice.”
