Anzil (Gladiators of Krix #2) - Miranda Martin Page 0,40

exhausting, and there doesn’t seem to be an easy answer. Fuck it. Be bold. Make a choice and go.

“Anzil?”

Chapter 14

Anzil

“Anzil?” she calls.

Instantly I’m on my feet and at the bathroom door, hand on the handle. My heart races, but I stop myself from throwing that door open. That wasn’t a cry for help, and barging in to her bath is disrespectful.

“Yes?” I ask through the door that my cock is pressing hard into.

“Come here,” she says.

I hesitate. Is this a test? What kind of test is it if it is?

“Are you… sure?” I ask.

“If you don’t get in here, I’m going to rip your balls off,” she says.

That’s as about as certain as she’s likely to be, so I open the door. It takes my breath away. She lies stretched out in the tub. The water hides or blurs most of her, but the tips of her breasts poke above it. They’re dark, brownish, and pointy as sharp nails. The smile on her face is inviting, no hint of anger or that I misread her intent.

I should say something. Anything. I move my mouth, but I don’t have any words to fill it with. I can’t quit staring. My cock throbs, my heart pounds, and my mouth feels like I’ve taken a mouthful of sand from the arena.

“You called?” I ask.

She is resting her head against the edge of the tub, leaning back, eyes closed.

“I can’t reach my back,” she says. “Do you mind?”

I cross the space in a single stride, grabbing the bowl of scrubbing sand and a cloth. She rises in the tub, leaning forward to give access to her back. Taking a handful of the black sand, I touch her perfect skin and drag my palm down along her spine.

She groans softly. “Yeah.”

I work the sand across her skin then dip the cloth in the water and drizzle the warmth down her back. The water runs down in rivulets along the perfect curves of her sides. Her skin is soft. Softer than anything I’ve ever touched.

My cock throbs, jumping with each beating of my heart. When her back is fully scrubbed and has a fresh sheen of exfoliation to it, I set the sand aside. My cock and tight balls urge me towards more touching. Enticing me to reach around, fondle her full breasts, to dive under the water for her pussy.

I don’t. She hasn’t indicated more is wanted from me, and I won’t take anything she isn’t offering. I am not a thrice Widows’ damned Krixian. I know her gifts are hers to give, not mine to take.

She leans back again, and her eyes meet mine. She smiles, a half-smile. My heart leaps into my throat. The lines of her face are so incredibly perfect. Strong cheeks, a small, delicate nose, and those rich, soulful eyes that I want to stare into for hours.

“Patience, huh?” she asks.

“Uh, what?” I ask, distracted by her beauty.

“You tell me I should be patient. I must move slow,” she says. “Patience has never been my strong suit.”

I nod understanding. This is not going where I had hoped. I swallow hard, trying to force my heart back into my chest and get rid of the ache of disappointment. My throbbing cock makes that hard. Rising to my feet, I grab a towel and dry my wet hands.

“If you need anything else, I’ll be in the room,” I say, avoiding looking at her as I walk to the door.

“Hey,” she calls out.

“Yes?” I ask, not turning around. I’m strong, but I don’t think I’m strong enough to resist the temptations her naked flesh entices.

“I thought…” she trails off. I wait, not looking back.

“Thought what?” I ask when she doesn’t continue.

“You might need a bath too.”

“What are you offering?”

“I’m asking if you need a bath.”

“I will bathe when you are done.”

“Oh,” she says, disappointment heavy in her voice. “I thought maybe we—”

“I can’t,” I cut her off.

“You can’t?” she asks, water splashing out of the tub and onto the floor.

A tremble runs through my arms. I’m fighting the urge to turn around, to look at her beauty, to bask in the glory of her naked form. To take her as my pounding balls demand.

“I can’t be in here with you… like this,” I say. “Kiara, I am strong, but I am not that strong. Do not ask me to be here, seeing you naked, and to not take the pleasures I know we both want.”

“I’m not,” she says.

“It’s not fair to—” I stop