towel wrapped around his waist while he uses another one to dry his short hair. His feet falter when he sees me.
“Peony, I didn’t expect—”
“I’m sorry,” I say, spinning around. “The door was open, and I finished my shower, so I—”
He chuckles, and I hear the sound of a drawer opening and closing. “You’re okay. I just didn’t expect you to be in here.”
“You have…um…good water pressure,” I blurt like an idiot, and his laughter only increases.
“I’ll make sure to let my parents know that you’re a fan of our water company.”
I can’t take it anymore.
I spin towards him so fast, I actually get whiplash. My power fizzles and sparks under my skin, almost like an errant firework accidentally being set off, as I stare up into his handsome face.
“What the fuck are we doing, Alder?” I demand, and he pauses in the midst of putting a shirt on. I’m grateful to see his pants are already in place. Because Karsyn’s cock? I’m not sure even the strongest willed people could resist that.
“What do you mean?” His smile drops, expression turning perplexed at my abrupt question.
“I don’t know if I’m supposed to still hate you or what,” I blurt, mentally berating my stupid mouth for getting away from me.
Instead of answering with words, Karsyn drops his black shirt to the ground and stalks forward on silent feet.
Chapter 41
“What are you doing?” I ask breathlessly, but I don’t step away. I’m not even sure I could if I wanted to.
Which, oddly enough, I don’t think I do.
“Kissing you,” he answers softly. My eyelids flutter shut as I wait for the warm press of his lips against mine.
But instead of my lips, Karsyn gently lifts one of my hands and presses a tender kiss to the underside of my wrist. Directly over one of my scars.
My heart picks up speed as he stares at me through his fringe of sooty lashes.
“Karsyn…” I don’t know if I’m warning him to stay away or begging him to come closer. All I know is that I can feel each brush of his lips like they have a direct line of communication to my core.
“I hate these,” Karsyn murmurs as he kisses another one. “I hate what they represent.”
“I love them.” My voice is breathy, even for me, as he presses his lips to a third scar. “They’re a reminder of what I survived. I’d much rather have scars than have no skin at all, buried six feet beneath the ground.” He pauses his ministrations at my words, tilting only his chin up to meet my eyes.
“In that case, they’re the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.” He stops his teasing kisses when he reaches my inner elbow, his tongue sneaking out to lick at the sensitive skin there. My lips part with an audible moan as his other hand begins to caress my waist, where my shirt has risen up.
“Kar, you don’t have to do this—”
He pulls away from me abruptly, lips thinning. “I want to. Fuck, Peony, don’t you get it? I’ve always wanted to. But you still don’t trust me.” It’s not a question, but a statement of fact. Still, I can tell how much it pains him to say it, if his melancholic expression is any indication. “I’ll stop if you want me to.”
The words tumble out of me like ragweed in a Wild West movie. “Don’t stop.”
“You hold the reins, princess. I’ll do whatever you tell me to.” He steps forward, but I don’t get the sense of being over-crowded. He stares at me as if I’m the one who’s capable of breaking him, not the other way around.
“Get on the bed,” I whisper hoarsely, stepping to the side so he can pass me. He complies easily, perching on the very edge like some sort of descendant of Hercules. With his bronzed chest on display and dark golden hair, he’s an exquisite work of art.
Slowly, feeling hesitant and unsure, I move to straddle him, and his hands come up to cup my ass. My hands tremble as I attempt to pull my shirt over my head, becoming stuck. I can feel rather than see Karsyn’s body shake with laughter.
“A little help?” he teases, the serious mood from only a few seconds ago dissipating.
“Please,” I say through a giggle as he helps me remove the shirt the rest of the way. I hadn’t put on a bra after my shower, so my breasts spring free, nipples already beaded. The mirth drains from