hand, so slowly, to brush a wet tendril of hair from her cheek. Liberty closed her eyes and leaned into his hand, tilting her chin up slightly.
He took her invitation instantly, angling his lips against hers with raw need and none of the gentleness he knew she deserved.
She moaned slightly and allowed him to thumb open her jaw.
He groaned at the sensation. She tasted like rain and honey.
She flowed into his arms, plastering their wet bodies together, their combined warmth flowing pleasantly along with the hotter pleasure she stoked in him with her every touch.
He wanted to touch her everywhere all at once, to shred her clothing and take her on the forest floor.
She whimpered slightly and pressed herself against him, as if she wanted the same.
The shock of pleasure he felt roused him.
This was his mate. He would not take her in the muddy forest like an animal. He would pleasure her until she screamed in the comfort of her own bed.
“Liberty,” he murmured against her mouth. “Liberty, let’s go home. I want to do this properly.”
“No,” she moaned petulantly.
But she allowed him to sweep her back into his arms and carry her toward the farmhouse.
“When we get there, you’ll go straight to your room,” he instructed her. “Remove your clothing and start a hot bath. I’ll deal with the babysitter.”
She nodded, but it was only an excuse to nuzzle his neck and inhale his scent.
Deep in his chest the dragon preened, chest filled with pride.
Mine, mine, mine…
Odin willed himself not to fight it. With Liberty’s soft, needy body trembling in his arms, he was unable to deny her and himself.
Surely there was another way to atone for the wrongs he had done…
19
Liberty
Liberty sank into the tub, the hot water enveloping her.
The sensation of it was almost enough to distract her from the other, deeper pleasure whose rhythm still pounded in her blood.
“Is she okay?” the babysitter was asking Odin from the hallway.
“She just caught a chill,” he replied patiently. “I need to check on her though. Here is your payment for this evening. Thank you for your service.”
“We didn’t get to finish our conversation about diapers,” Cora reminded him.
“I’ll touch base with you tomorrow,” he said.
His voice was calm, but Liberty knew him well enough to taste the frustration just underneath. She smiled to herself at the thought that this time his impatience was for her. He needed to get to her.
She dunked her head under the water, eager to finish her bath before he came in. Colton was fast asleep in his own room after a big meal, so once Cora left, she and Odin would effectively be all alone.
What has gotten into you?
But she refused to listen to her inner critic tonight. She had done what she was supposed to do, fulfilled almost every item on that stupid list. And Wyn had never parted the clouds to show her the sunlight.
I’m on my own now. I can do what makes me happy.
The door burst open, as if he had been waiting for her to make that decision.
For a moment, he was frozen in the threshold.
His chest heaved, dark hair hanging around his shoulders so that he looked like a restless god.
Liberty had never seen anything so beautiful. She was breathless.
“If you don’t want this, tell me now,” he growled.
For a moment she was terrified that she had forgotten how to speak.
“Please,” she managed to whisper. “Please, I want it.”
He was at her feet in two steps, offering her his hand.
She stood, feeling a little self-conscious. It was an odd sensation. Liberty had never really worried much about her body. She was healthy and content in her own skin, not hung up over her shape.
But the dragon warrior in front of her was physical perfection personified. A supermodel would have felt outclassed, and Liberty was no supermodel.
As the bubbles slid down her curves, revealing her to him, any lingering doubt she might have felt disappeared.
Odin gazed at her as if she were a work of art, wonder and lust softening his usual ferocious expression.
She took his hand and he helped her out of the tub.
He grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her.
“I have to talk to you,” he growled, his jaw tight. “I have to talk to you first.”
“Okay,” she replied, trying to keep up.
He led her to the bedroom and gestured for her to climb in.
She crawled into bed and lay against the pillows, hoping that whatever he had to say he would say it