it wasn’t. I frowned, and slid against him again, and watched his eyes close as if in pain.
And then, without his gaze on me, I noticed something else about that face. It was drawn and tired-looking, almost haggard; the small crow’s feet were deeper and more pronounced; and there were dark circles under the eyes, as if he hadn’t slept for a week. He looked exhausted, and he shouldn’t be. He’d been fine when confronting Gertie; tired, yes, but not to the point of exhaustion. And even when he’d burst in here, he’d just looked a little winded . . .
“What’s wrong?” I asked, smoothing a finger along one of his eyebrows, dislodging a drop of water that had been trembling there. “What is it?”
Pritkin didn’t say anything.
But then, he didn’t have to. Because I could feel a change in me, too. A few moments ago, I’d been freezing, unable to get warm even in almost scalding water. There’d been a block of ice at my center, radiating shivers outward with every breath. But now . . .
Now limbs that had been painful and cramped were supple and moved freely. The pounding ache in my head and neck was gone, as if it had never been. And instead of freezing cold, I was warm, almost languid, like I’d been basking in the sun for hours.
Pritkin had given me some of his power—a lot of it—but he hadn’t taken anything back.
“Take it back,” I told him now, because that’s how the feedback loop worked. Power from me into him, where his incubus nature could magnify it, feed from it, and then pour an equal or greater amount back into me. The incubus royal line were the only ones with that ability, which was why Rosier had been desperate to have a child.
But Pritkin wasn’t feeding.
He could, I knew he could, and his incubus was definitely on my side. I could feel it now, no longer talking but begging with his whole body. We slid together, soap-slick skin against soap-slick skin, and God, it was good! I didn’t know how he was holding back; I barely was! And then he kissed me and I thought—finally.
But there was no power behind it.
I almost heard his incubus whimper; it was so close, and so hungry. It had given him all it could, ever since the battle in Wales, assuming that the days of fasting were over, that there would be nothing but feasts from here on in. But this was no feast, and I couldn’t force the issue; I didn’t want to. I just wanted him.
There was no way for me to initiate demon sex, and I wasn’t mentally up to a long conversation tonight about why he should. But there was one thing I could do to wipe that look of sadness and exhaustion and defeat off his face. Oh, yes, there is, I thought, and slid my arms around his neck, deepening the kiss.
I tasted his surprise, felt his arms go rigid around me, heard the sound he made deep in his throat. But he didn’t push me away. Which is why I broke the kiss, panting for breath, and stared into his eyes before climbing on top of him.
That didn’t last long. He spun me in the water, sending another wave over the side—Sorry, Gertie, I thought—and pushed me back against the end of the tub.
That was better, I thought.
That was perfect.
Right before I saw his face.
“We’re not doing this tonight.”
For a second, I thought I’d heard wrong. “What? No, I didn’t mean the other thing—”
“We’re not doing anything tonight!”
I frowned. “Why not?”
“Why not?” He looked at me like I’d lost my mind. “Cassie, you have a wound in your side with twenty stitches in it! Not to mention that you almost died a few hours ago! You’re in no condition—”
“Let me be the judge of that.”
I tried to kiss him again, but he pulled away. “You’re in no condition to judge anything! Nobody is under an incubus’ influence! You’re going to bed.” And before I could argue, he was climbing out of the tub, giving me a glimpse of a god-tier physique gilded by lamplight, picking out the golden hair on his chest and thighs, and the muscles moving as he turned, bent over, and plucked me out of the tub as if I weighed nothing.
It felt good to be in his arms, but not good enough. Not nearly enough! Pritkin and I had had so little time to ourselves
Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 1 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 2 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 3 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 4 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 5 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 6 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 7 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 8 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 9 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 10 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 11 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 12 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 13 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 14 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 15 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 16 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 17 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 18 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 19 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 20 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 21 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 22 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 23 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 24 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 25 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 26 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 27 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 28 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 29 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 30 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 31 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 32 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 33 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 34 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 35 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 36 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 37 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 38 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 39 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 40 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 41 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 42 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 43 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 44 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 45 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 46 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 47 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 48 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 49 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 50 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 51 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 52 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 53 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 54 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 55 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 56 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 57 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 58 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 59 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 60 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 61 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 62 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 63 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 64 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 65 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 66 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 67 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 68 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 69 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 70 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 71 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 72 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 73 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 74 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 75 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 76 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 77 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 78 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 79 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 80 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 81 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 82 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 83 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 84 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 85 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 86 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 87 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 88 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 89 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 90 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 91 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 92 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 93 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 94 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 95 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 96 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 97 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 98 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 99 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 100 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 101 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 102 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 103 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 104 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 105 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 106 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 107 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 108 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 109 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 110 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 111 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 112 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 113 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 114 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 115 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 116 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 117 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 118 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 119 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 120 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 121 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 122 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 123 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 124 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 125 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 126 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 127 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 128 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 129 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 130 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 131 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 132 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 133 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 134 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 135 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 136 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 137 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 138 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 139 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 140 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 141 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 142 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 143 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 144 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 145 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 146 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 147 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 148 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 149 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 150 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 151 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 152 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 153 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 154 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 155 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 156 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 157 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 158 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 159 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 160 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 161 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 162 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 163 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 164 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 165 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 166 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 167 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 168 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 169 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 170 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 171 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 172 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 173 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 174 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 175 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 176 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 177 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 178 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 179 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 180 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 181 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 182 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 183 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 184 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 185 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 186 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 187 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 188 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 189 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 190 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 191 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 192 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 193 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 194 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 195 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 196 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 197 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 198 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 199 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 200 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 201 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 202 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 203 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 204 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 205 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 206 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 207 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 208 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 209 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 210 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 211 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 212 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 213 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 214 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 215 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 216 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 217 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 218 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 219 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 220 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 221 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 222 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 223 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 224 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 225 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 226 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 227 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 228 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 229 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 230 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 231 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 232 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 233 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 234 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 235 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 236 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 237 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 238 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 239 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 240