less than twenty minutes.”
“It’s not funny.” He pulled her to her feet, holding her by the arms. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” Her expression turned sheepish. “Just lost my temper when she hit you. I didn’t think.”
“You didn’t know she was wearing iron.”
Niamh stepped out of his hold, clutching her fist to her chest. “I didn’t even sense it on her. Too distracted by …” She shook her head. “Why was she wearing iron? Does she know about fae?”
“No.” Kiyo was certain of that. “I think it was just a coincidence. Not many people believe in the fae legends and even fewer know about pure iron.”
Nodding, she seemed to accept that. Then a sadness flickered over her eyes. She wouldn’t meet his gaze, which bothered him more than he liked. “I think, despite the femme fatale alpha front she puts up, that she genuinely loves you, Kiyo.”
“She cares about me,” he admitted. “But you can’t love someone if they’ve never shown you who they really are.” He took a step toward her and finally, Niamh looked into his eyes. His heart pounded, hard enough he knew she could hear it. “I’ve only ever shown one person who I really am. And I’m looking at her right now.”
Hope and light and something he was afraid to name turned her eyes almost gold as she whispered his name in wonder.
“I need a shower.” His next words caused her to blink in surprise and consternation. Kiyo smiled and held his hand out to her. “Join me.”
A flush crested her cheeks and her brilliant eyes sparkled with an alluring mix of sensuality and innocence. Despite what had transpired between them in the last twenty-four hours, there was still a small part of him concerned she’d reject him based on his shitty treatment in the mountains.
Relief flooded him when she took his hand.
Arousal swirled hot and heavy in his loins, but he ignored it for now, leading her slowly into the bathroom and closing the door behind them. Eyes locked with hers, he removed his clothes. After a second or two, Niamh followed suit with her own.
They stood, naked, and explored one another with their eyes.
The delicate, elegant slope of her shoulders, her narrow waist that accentuated the fullness of her lush, perfect breasts. Goose bumps prickled them while her large, rosy nipples were hard and tight and begging for his mouth.
Her gaze lingered on his erection and the blood thickened there the longer she stared. Kiyo could smell her arousal, and his eyes drifted to the neatly trimmed hair between her legs. By the time the night was over, he was determined to have licked and sucked as many orgasms out of her as possible.
It wouldn’t be an uncontrolled fuck like how he’d pounced on her in the mountains.
He was going to savor her, give her pleasure, and make it the best first time any woman had ever had.
A gasp escaped her lips as if she’d heard his thoughts, her body bowing with desire.
Forcing himself to go slow, Kiyo reached into the shower and switched it on. Once the jets of water streamed out hot, he gestured for Niamh to step in ahead of him. She did, deliberately brushing her hard nipples against his chest as she squeezed past.
He released a growl of want and practically felt her ass twitch with satisfaction.
His gaze dropped to said ass, catching a glimpse of its heart-shaped perfection before she turned to face him.
Niamh’s chest rose and fell with shallow breaths as Kiyo stepped into the shower and crowded her back against the tile. He braced his hands on the shower wall at either side of her head and dipped his nose to touch her throat. Taking in a deep breath of her caramel and spicy scent, his dick grew so hard, he couldn’t think past the lust.
Her soft hands settled on his waist and he let out a shuddering exhale.
“Can I wash your hair?” she asked.
He lifted his head to stare into her eyes. He suddenly understood the phrase “to drown in someone’s eyes.” He nodded and stepped back. Niamh reached past him to the shower shelf and grabbed the complimentary shampoo. He bent toward her so she could reach up to release his hair from its tie. Her fingers sifted through the strands with a sensual leisure that made his skin prickle.
“I love your hair.”
“I think I got that.” He grinned at her.
“I love your smile more, though.”
He cupped her cheek in answer, caressing her shower-dampened skin for as