Page 6 of Soul of Fire

He’s fine,Idunn drawled lazily.He just finished doing those movements that make him all wet and shiny. I’d quite like to taste him.

And he saysI’mthe menace,I grumbled, trying to tamp down the lascivious dragon as I dragged myself from the uncomfortable bed.

“Spry as a young colt, I see.”

I winced as I turned my neck too sharply to see my bare-chested mate leaning against the door frame that led to the small bathing chamber. The water was running, and he was damp with sweat that beaded in the grooves between his muscles. I blinked several times as Idunn growled in appreciation.

“Do youneed help, Kjære?”

“I’m fine,” I lied, smothering a hiss as I tried to sit up. The feathers from the lumpy pillow had poked me mercilessly all night, and my whole body felt like it had been trampled by a hundred jötnar. I flopped helplessly back down on the bed with a groan. “No, I’m not.”

Arik chuckled, and the running water shut off as I lay motionless in agony.

“I was going to bathe, but I fear you are in greater need.” He appeared over me, his lips twitching in a telltale smirk.

“Just leave me,” I moaned dramatically. “Find yourself a mate who doesn’t fall apart after a day of flying.”

“Never. Let’s get you in the bath.”

“I won’t be able to get back out,” I complained as he pulled me upright and began to loosen my clothes.

“I’ll help you.” He pulled my shirt over my head, which made me cry out from the pain in my shoulders. He quickly pressed an apologetic kiss to each, then began to work on my trousers. “I’ve been neglecting your physical training. It’s my fault you’re in so much discomfort.”

“Agony, Arik. This is called agony.”

“Probably for the best we didn’t do anything but sleep last night.” He nipped my ear, sending a shiver of heat through me. “Although Branka seemed to manage just fine, based on the sounds I heard coming from their room this morning.”

I rolled my eyes and gave him what I hoped was a judgmental look as he worked my trousers down my legs. “I didn’t take you for a voyeur.”

He laughed, pressing a heated kiss to the inside of my knee.I’m not a voyeur if I’m listening, and I can’t help what I hear through these paper-thin walls, Kjære.Now naked, he scooped me up against his bare chest and carried me to the washroom. “Which is whyweshall not be participating. Especially while you’re in pain.”

I groaned as Arik lowered me into the copper tub and warmth encased my sore muscles.

Baldur growled with need down our bond.

“The sounds you make,” Arik murmured, adjusting himself as he knelt by the tub. My mouth went a little dry at the thought of what was happening beneath his trousers, and his eyes snapped to mine. “None of that, or Baldur will lose it and I’ll be taking you over the rim of the tub.”

“Is that a promise?”

“Kjære,” Arik groaned, looking skyward as if for patience. He took a bar of soap from the little stool by the tub and worked it into a lather, then wove his fingers into my hair. I had to bite my lip to stifle the moan of pleasure at his touch against my scalp. “I’m trying to be a gentleman.”

“I give you permission not to be.”

“Paper-thin walls, remember?”

“I don’t mind.”

“I thought you were in agony?” He pressed a kiss to my shoulder before moving his hands to massage my aching muscles there, and I nearly sank into the water in ecstasy.

“I take it back,” I murmured, dropping my head against the lip of the tub. “This is better than sex. Keep doing that.”

Arik chuckled, moving his hands in firm strokes down my arms. “Lean forward.”

I obeyed, and his hands traveled down my back to work out the tension one muscle at a time. No one had ever touched me like Arik did, strong and gentle and commanding all at once, and it sent a heady mix of emotions swelling up in me that I decided to ignore for the moment.

He knows how you feel,Idunn assured me.But I’m not opposed to you showing him.

From Baldur’s responding growl, the feeling was mutual.