was in the throes of his climax, and that bestial growl he’d released were vivid. All that had stoked the fires inside her to an inferno—both then and now.
He’d made it clear that she’d been the only thing on his mind, that she’d been what had driven him wild, that she’d been all he needed to work himself to completion. And his lingering gaze afterward had told her his appetite was far from satisfied.
Tabitha closed the book, set it aside, and took another long drink of the wine. She bit her lip and glanced toward the bathroom door. Zevris was just on the other side. She’d be spending another night in his bed, lying against that gorgeous body, with his arms wrapped around her. How would she find sleep when her body was crying out for pleasure? When she craved his touch, his lips, his tongue, his…cock.
She needed to take the edge off, to find some relief from the desire thrumming throughout her body, from the ache between her thighs that was worsening with every minute.
Closing her eyes, Tabitha took in a deep, calming breath, and slowly slid her hands up to her breasts. She cupped them, kneaded them, and tweaked her nipples, creating a piddling, unsatisfying whisper of pleasure.
Brows creasing, she imagined Zevris’s hands in place of hers. She imagined his palm smoothing down her belly, his fingers brushing through the small patch of hair before he reached her pussy. Imagined his fingers spreading her, skimming along her folds, dipping inside to gather her slick before moving up to her clit. Those fingers gently circled that spot, again and again, moving rhythmically, allowing her to become accustomed to his touch before increasing in speed.
Tabitha’s breath caught, and she bit her lip harder. The water diminished the sensation, but it was there, building and building…
She snapped her thighs together around her hand as she came, sealing her lips to keep from crying out. Her body tensed, her core contracted, and she moaned quietly as a flash of pleasure shuddered through her.
Tabitha breathed slowly through her nose as her muscles relaxed and the quivering of her pussy eased. Her skin felt flushed and warm—too warm. Rather than assuage her need, she’d only sharpened it. The orgasm had been stale, unsatisfying, passionless.
Pulling her hand free, Tabitha frowned. She knew what was missing.
Zevris.
It wasn’t his hand touching me, no matter how hard I imagine it.
Her hands were smaller and didn’t possess his strength, her fingers didn’t have his calluses or his claws. And her body damn well knew it.
With a sigh, Tabitha drained the rest of the wine from her glass, pulled the tub’s plug, and stood up. Water and bubbles sluiced off her. She reached for the towel hanging close by and used it to dry off before wrapping it around her body. Once the towel was secure, she moved to the sink.
Between the wine and the bath, her body was languid, and warmth lingered on her skin. But the relaxation hadn’t eased the heavy ache of desire in her core.
After a groan, she brushed her teeth and unbraided her hair, letting it fall in waves around her shoulders. She glanced at her pile of folded clothes before sweeping her gaze around the bathroom. Zevris had either forgotten to set out pajamas and underwear for her or had purposely left her without.
She’d bet on the latter.
She didn’t feel like putting her clothes back on only to take them off again in a moment. She’d just have to go get panties and pajamas herself.
Tabitha blew out all the tealights, plunging the room into darkness. She felt her way to the door. As soon as her fingers bumped the doorknob, she wrapped her hand around it, opened the door, and stepped into the bedroom.
Zevris’s eyes were upon her immediately, as fierce as ever. The covers were drawn down, and he was sitting on the bed with his back against the headboard and his hands intertwined over his lap. He’d removed his jeans and was currently wearing only a pair of black boxers. Tabitha found herself both grateful that he had those on and disappointed that he wasn’t naked.
His gaze raked over her slowly, up and down and back again, so intense that Tabitha swore she felt its caress on her skin. Zevris was looking at her like he could see straight through her towel—and like he yearned for what he saw.
He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up. His