A shaky cry escapes me as the tension inside me snaps. My whole body tenses, then melts into release.
“There you go,” he growls between clenched teeth.
Theron’s roar echoes in the house, loud and raw, but I’m too spent to react. I collapse against him, completely undone, my body limp in his arms. My head rests on his shoulder, the frantic rise and fall of his chest is the only thing I feel.
I never thought intimacy could be like this.
We stay quiet for a while, both of us catching our breath, the sound of running water filling the space around us. Theron nuzzles his nose into my hair with a motion so gentle I feel like I’d slip right into the stream if he weren’t holding me in place.
“How do you feel?” he rumbles against my ear.
“Very good,” I whisper, my body too relaxed to move.
He chuckles. His claws glide along my back, tracing slow lines before moving up. “I would love to comb your hair.” His claws are already working through the tangles in my locks.
“You’re doing it now,” I murmur, my words muffled against his fur.
“I want to do it like humans do,” he explains, “with a comb.”
“Mm. Tomorrow morning.” I lift my face to look at him, only to find he’s already watching me.
“Hello,” he says, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his mouth.
“Hello,” I mumble, suddenly feeling shy.Why is this so embarrassing?
We stare at each other in silence for a few moments, and then we both smile for real. It feels simple. Warm and nice.
My curiosity gets the better of me, and I ask, “Have you ever done this before?”
His gaze doesn’t waver. “I have not.”
“All these years and you’ve never... found release?” My eyes drift to the beautiful crystals on his forehead as I fight the heat rising to my cheeks.
“I have,” he replies matter-of-factly.
I hum in question, tilting my head to meet his eyes again.
“I have pleasured myself many times before.” His large paws tighten their hold on my thighs.
I don’t mind. In fact, it feels... good.
“Especially since I met you,” he adds. “There have been days I sought release more than once.”
Oh Goddesses above. My eyes widen, and the heat burning my face spreads like wildfire. I swallow hard, staring at him in disbelief.This is too much for me in one day.
Theron rises from the water with me cradled in his arms, then sets me down on the bed before grabbing a fresh set of furs to dry me off.
“Don’t say you can do it yourself.” He grins, wrapping me snugly in the plush furs.
I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face.
He steps back and gives himself a vigorous shake, sending water droplets flying everywhere. I laugh when they hit my face, but the moment is short-lived as he shakes again, splashing me even more.
“Theron!” I frown, though I can’t hide my amusement.
My gaze stays on him longer than I intend. He stands tall, his fur shining from the water, his muscles so defined they seem sculpted. There’s something mesmerizing about the way he stands—graceful and powerful, like he was built for both battle and beauty.
When Theron catches my stare, he freezes.
