Beauty in Ashes (Phoenix Rising #7)- Harper Wylde Page 0,18

his broad frame, pressing myself against his bare chest.

“Yes. It’s the sweetest thing ever.” Tipping my chin up and resting it on his chest, I hoped my eyes reflected how much I appreciated him going along with Ryder’s antics, while also conveying that I didn’t need all of these extravagant things to love them. Killian showed love differently than Ry did, and both methods warmed my heart.

Killian’s tense muscles relaxed in my hold, and he smirked crookedly down at me, wrapping me up in the kind of bear hug that only he could give. He pressed a sweet kiss to the top of my head before releasing me so I could hug the rest of my mates.

Hiro ushered me into the bathroom where Joshua waited, and they both watched with intense gazes as I stripped myself bare before their eyes, stepped into the tub, and sank into the heated depths with a sigh I couldn’t contain.

“Ughrrmmm.” I murmured the long, unintelligible sound as the water worked to steal away the stress and chill of the day—of the last several days actually. When was the last time I’d stopped long enough to practice self-care? Honestly? I couldn’t remember. “This is exactly what I needed,” I whispered, too caught up in the tranquility to break the moment with loud words.

Hiro chuckled. “I think she’s happy.”

Joshua’s hum of agreement was followed by a loud pop that startled me enough to open my eyes. Joshua filled a crystal flute with champagne and brought it to me, perching on the side of the tub in his graceful, elegant way as he handed me the glass.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had champagne before,” I admitted sheepishly as I took a taste, the bubbles playing over my tongue.

I relaxed in the tub until I feared my skin would get wrinkly, and reluctantly crawled out and into the waiting towel Joshua held for me. I was perfectly warm and pleasantly buzzed. He patted me dry and handed me off to Hiro who offered me a fluffy white robe that felt like clouds and cinched around my waist.

“Enjoying yourself, babe?” Ryder questioned when I left the cozy bathroom and passed into the master bedroom. I stopped in my tracks, pressing my lips together to hold back the laugh that wanted to burst forth as I witnessed Killian balancing himself on the tiny ottoman that sat before the green upholstered chair. One by one, he inspected the nail polish bottles, scoffing at the names of the colors as he tried to arrange them into some semblance of sense. Was he sorting them by shade? Oh God, where was a camera when you needed it?

I took a mental picture instead, hoping to never forget this moment, knowing he loved me enough to torture himself by following along with Ryder’s elaborate plans.

“Are you going to paint my toes, Abra?” I bit my lip to lessen the wide, face splitting smile attempting to curve my mouth while I sat in the chair before him.

He grumbled to himself for a moment, and I saw the red tint working its way into his pale complexion as he took one of my feet and propped it onto his bent knee.

“I guess I’m going to try,” he grumbled, but there was no grit or bark behind it.

Leaning forward, I cupped his cheek in my palm, enjoying the scratch of his light beard against my skin. “Thank you, Abra.”

“For what?” His brows furrowed, his emerald eyes keen but confused.

“For loving me this much.” I eyed the polish, and then returned my attention to Kill.

His blush deepened, and five minutes later, a fiery reddish orange polish that reminded me of my Phoenix was being applied to my toenails one brush stroke at a time while I sipped my drink. Killian took his time, painting each one as though he was creating a masterpiece in the Sistine Chapel.

The champagne went to my head, and I was a giggling mess, laughing every time Killian grumbled about getting polish anywhere but on my nails. He’d done a surprisingly good job, and by the time he was finished, it looked like I’d just stepped out of a nail salon that did this professionally.

Ryder whistled as he took Killian’s seat and inspected his work. “Damn. I didn’t think you had it in you. I honestly expected to have to strip this all off and start again.”

Killian glowered, crossing his arms over his burly chest. “If you thought I’d fuck it up, why the hell