grinned and held me tighter.
“Even though I am part Drimuti?” I asked finally, when I regained control of myself.
“Even though,” he said wryly, and then he kissed my upturned face before finding my lips.
Immediately, my waterlogged body responded. He swallowed my moan, deepening this kiss until the pain between my legs turned to throbbing pleasure. “Ask Bo to leave,” I whispered against his lips, “so I can feel you inside me.”
He tightened his grip, his cock twitching between our bodies, and muttered, “Gods, woman.” Then he shook his head. “The water would not be a good lubricant, and I would only tear your tender flesh. I must give you time to recover.” He frowned at me. “So do not tease me, Kreia. I have no wish to hurt you and I don’t have the power to resist you.”
I nodded as I considered his words, trying to be serious but unable to keep a smile from tugging at my lips. “It won’t hurt me to take you into my mouth,” I murmured, though that might have been a tiny lie. Even my jaws hurt. I’d had him in my mouth the night before—a lot—and his cock was not small. “And it will not hurt me to…” I moved my hand down his body and clasped his erection. “To touch you.”
He swore under his breath even as his cock swelled in my hand.
“Soap, boss?” Bo called from the riverbank.
Dexx held out his hand and caught the small oval of soap without once looking away from me. “This may kill me, but I will wash you thoroughly before I place you by the fire and feed you breakfast.”
“I like this a little bit,” I said. “Being…cared for.”
He slid me down his body until I was standing, then pushed a strand of hair out of my face and tucked it behind my ear. “You will be cared for now.”
“I belong to you, so suddenly…” I shrugged. “I matter.”
“You always mattered. Now hold still so I can soothe your battered flesh and clean my seed from your body.”
I grabbed his arms and held on, attempting not to become embarrassingly aroused as he washed me everywhere. I failed miserably and had to bury my face against his chest to smother my cries as he gently rubbed my clit with his soapy fingers.
“Good?” he murmured.
But when I attempted to take hold of his extremely large erection, he refused to let me. He picked me up and carried me from the water to the bank, where Bo had built an impressive fire and left the bundle of towels and the thickish blanket they’d been wrapped in.
He set me down, wrapped the blanket around me, and then got dressed as I sat basking in the warmth of the fire. I’d never felt better in my life. Snug and warm, my body tired and sore, but in such a good way. And I felt…secure. Safe. I’d never realized how much I’d needed to be loved until I was.
I could easily become addicted to this. My life on the streets, stealing for Ilen to pay my room and board seemed a lifetime ago. But I didn’t want to think about Ilen, because that would make me think about Galen. I would feel guilty in my comfort because it was something he’d never really known. Life with Ilen was better than the streets, but honestly, not by a lot. We knew hunger and fear and we were attacked often as we walked the streets attempting to steal from people, some of them dangerous.
Galen had died when I was out on the streets. I hadn’t been there to even hold his hand as he’d slipped away. I wondered if he’d called for me. I’d never asked Ilen. I couldn’t.
I buried my face in my hands. “Stop,” I pleaded.
Dexx dropped to his knees in front of me and pulled my hands away from my face. “Tell me.”
I searched his eyes but saw only concern there. “I…my brother. At times I can’t think of him without…” I thumped my chest. “So much pain. So much guilt and regret. I am sorry that I found love and he will never know it.”
His face softened and he stood. “I will send someone for him. He will be taken to Eastmeadow and they will care for him until you—”
“No, Dexx…” I exhaled slowly and calmed myself. “Galen is dead. I lost him. And sometimes the memories are unkind.”
He crouched once more before me. “I know.”
There was something in