Unleashed by the Defender (Brides of the Kindred #25) - Evangeline Anderson Page 0,28

watched, confused, as she disrobed in front of him—though she had her back modestly turned as she did—and stepped into the steaming water of the rain room.

She had bathed him everywhere, which was as it should be, and caused him to spill his seed, which was right when a female Claimed her male. But now she didn’t intend to let him return the favor. At least, not tonight.

Why was she prolonging the Claiming period, J’are wondered? As well as he could, anyway. Since it was after dark, the feral part of him was dominant, making cognizant thinking difficult.

Speaking of the feral part of him, it wanted to ignore what she had said and get into the rain room with her to bathe her anyway. She was so small and delicate—yet so lusciously curvy. He wanted to run his hands all over her naked body and give her pleasure, just as she had given it to him.

No! J’are worked hard to rein in his feral impulses. Above all, a male must respect a female’s wishes, he reminded the wild, animal part of himself. He could not hurt or force her—that would be wrong and it would ruin the Claiming. Besides, she had promised that they would be doing holding and scenting tonight and that was something.

They were going somewhat out of order, his rational mind thought, as well as it could. The Claiming period for a Nightwalker Kindred was normally Holding, Scenting, Bathing, Tasting, and Bonding. Imani had started in the middle, which was a bit disconcerting for his animal side.

But it doesn’t matter what order we go in, he told himself. As long as we get to bonding in the end.

And then Imani stepped out of the rain room, wearing only a towel wrapped around her luscious body and all rational thought deserted him as the feral side took over almost completely.

He could smell her sweet scent, even under the soap she had used to clean herself, and it was intoxicating. J’are couldn’t wait to smell her more deeply—to know her through his sense of smell and touch as he knew her through his sense of sight.

Rising from the place on the floor where he had been crouching in a patient squat as she showered, he looked down at her.

“Now,” he said to her, “Scenting.”

Sixteen

“Uh, what?” Imani looked up at the big Nightwalker uncertainly. He’d been waiting and watching her patiently as she took a shower in the luxurious shower stall—his pale green eyes on her body had made her feel nervous. Now she was even more nervous since he seemed to think it was time to do something she had promised him.

Well, you did promise him, remember? asked that maddening little voice in her head. You told him the two of you could do “holding” and “scenting” whatever that means. Guess you’re about to find out.

Well, not yet, she wasn’t, Imani thought.

“I’m sorry, but I, uh, have to brush my teeth first,” she said, fumbling for an excuse on why they couldn’t do “scenting” yet. “It’s part of my bedtime routine and I can’t skip it. You should brush your teeth too,” she added, frowning. “Good oral hygiene is important.”

“Brush…teeth?” J’are looked confused.

“Look, I’ll show you.” Imani reached for her toiletry kit—which she had brought with her into the bathroom—and pulled out her toothbrush and toothpaste. As J’are watched in bemusement, she began to brush her teeth.

At last he seemed to get the idea.

“Clean teeth!” he exclaimed.

Imani nodded and rinsed her mouth.

“Exactly. Now let me see if I packed an extra toothbrush…”

She started digging through her kit but J’are was already ahead of her. Reaching one long arm over her shoulder, he pressed a small silver panel which was located to the left of the 3-D viewer over the sink. It popped open, showing a selection of long silver styluses that looked a little like a cross between a writing instrument and a dental device.

As Imani watched, the big Kindred plucked one of the silver pens from the panel and pressed a tiny button on its side. At once a beam of pale red light shot out—but it was only about an inch long. J’are aimed the light at his teeth and began to make motions like he was using a water pik.

It was Imani’s turn to be fascinated. Was this how they cleaned their teeth here? Experimentally, she took one of the silver pens and turned it on. Carefully, she tested the short red beam of light against