“Yes, Your Highness,” she said hastily.
“Good. The other nymphs are waiting for you.They are ready to join the army we have sent to engageLucifer.”
“We will fight well for you, YourHighness.”
I couldn’t picture these delicate creaturesfighting a turtle, never mind a demon, but all the nymphs had beengathering to join the fight when Lena brought me here.
“Leave us now,” Kobal commanded them.
The nymphs all bowed their heads beforescurrying forward. “Thank you!” I called after them.
They glanced at me over their shoulders,their giggles following them out the door.
“You could have been nicer to them,” I saidto Kobal as he climbed the two steps onto the rock platform where Istood.
My heartbeat picked up as he strode aroundthe steaming pool of water in the center of the platform. He movedwith the lethal grace of a panther, his large body all flexingmuscle and supple grace as he stopped to examine the clothes thenymphs had left behind. He lifted something silver in color fromthe bottom of the pile. The bristles were longer and stiffer thanwhat I was used to, but there was no denying he held ahairbrush.
He walked behind me and took hold of myshoulders. Tingles of electricity slid over my skin, puckering mynipples. It took all I had not to release the material surroundingme and step into his embrace. “Kobal, we must leave thisforest.”
“We will shortly,” he said in a gruffer tonethan what I was used to.
I could feel the strain in the hands on meas he held me before him. Reluctantly, he released his grasp totake hold of my hair. With the enduring patience he’d shown with itonce before, he worked the brush through the tangles knotting myhair.
I nearly moaned aloud when he kissed thehypersensitive skin of my nape and draped my damp hair over myother shoulder. I struggled to recall why we had to leave thisplace behind.
“The scent of your arousal is almostimpossible for me to resist, Mah Kush-la,” he murmured against myflesh.
This time, I was unable to suppress a moan.His thumb and finger grasped my chin; he turned my head until Icould see him. Those beautiful amber eyes filled my vision as hebent to kiss me. Before I could lose myself to the enticement ofhis mouth, he broke the connection and took a step away fromme.
A muscle in his cheek twitched as he movedfurther away from me. My eyes were drawn to the obvious bulge inhis pants; my mouth watered at the enticing outline of his largeerection against the thin material. He walked over to the rocks andpulled the clothing from there. Anguish filled his eyes when helifted his gaze to mine and held the material up before him.
“We must go,” he said in a raspy voice.
“Perhaps I should dress myself,” Isuggested.
“This will be difficult for you to button byyourself.”
“We could call the nymphs back in—”
“Iwill help you,” he cut inbriskly.
I knew it would be pointless to argue withhim. Stepping closer, I released the black material I’d beenholding. It whispered over my flesh as it pooled at my feet. Hiseyes raked me from head to toe; he didn’t draw a single breath ashe drank me in.
My eyes fell on his erection once more; needstruck me so fiercely I nearly collapsed from it. His gaze cameback to mine, and a vein throbbed to life in his forehead. “Liftyour arms.”
He gazed at my heavy breasts when I did ashe commanded. Stepping forward, I could hear his teeth grindingtogether as he lifted the material over me and let it slide down mybody. The soft cloth brushing over my flesh caused me towhimper.
“Leaving your body yearning like this goesagainst every one of my instincts, but if I take you now, I won’tstop, and we have to go,” he said.
“I know,” I whispered, though I felt acutelyuncomfortable in my own skin right now.
“You have no idea how badly I want you.”
I risked resting my hand against his cheek.The contact sent currents spiraling out from my palm as the contactcaused bolts of light to come to life at the tips of my fingers. “Iknow.”
He gave a brisk nod before motioning for meto turn around. Lifting my hair off my neck, I did as he’dinstructed. I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood when his elegantfingers moved over the buttons on the back, slipping them intoplace. Leaning closer, his breath warmed my skin before heshuddered and stepped away.
***
