Page 109 of Dark Destiny: The Turning Of The Loom

When he cupped her breast under the water, her breath caught, and when he moved his thumb over her nipple, it tightened, and she moaned.

He did it again.

"Khiann."

"Yes?"

"I am enjoying my bath very much."

"I am eager to please."

It was the truest thing he had said to her.

He cupped her other breast and gave attention to the other nipple, which tightened beneath his thumb. He moved to her ribs, the flat of her belly, and then his hand slid down between her thighs and rested there.

She made a needy little sound and pressed up into his palm.

He knew now what to do. He moved his fingers, and as she spread her thighs under the water for him, her hand came up and gripped the edge of the tub.

"Not here," she said, breathless. "Not in the water. Not this time. I want you to see me."

He took his hand away.

She rose out of the tub in one movement, water sheeting off her, and stood on the mat while he got to his feet, which took a moment, and found the towel and wrapped it around her.

He held her against him.

"I want to carry you to bed and I cannot," he said to the top of her head, which fit just under his chin. "I do not trust my balance yet."

"You will carry me to bed thousands of times after you are stronger." She looked up at him and smiled. "Perhaps after the wedding. We will save it for the wedding night, then." She took his hand. "That will be perfect."

"A challenge?"

"Yes."

He took the crutch in his other hand and let her lead him into the bedroom. At the bed, she turned, dropped the towel, and lay back on the covers.

He set the crutch against the nightstand, put one knee on the mattress, and moved himself above her.

Bracing himself on his arms, he kissed her, and there was nothing hesitant about it. His fangs were down, but he did not pull them back, only tilted his head so they would not catch her.

She made a sound into his mouth that he felt in his spine.

When he lifted his head, she was looking up at him with glowing eyes.

"Where did this confidence come from?" she asked, touching his jaw. "A week ago, you hesitated to drop your towel in front of me."

"I will tell you one day."

"Tell me now."

"No." He kissed her throat. "Not tonight." He kissed her collarbone. "Tonight is about pleasure, not about thinking." He kissed her breast, then the other. He paid attention to both, kissing and licking until she was writhing under him. "Tonight is for you. Let me pleasure you and think of nothing but this."

"I can do that."

He went down her body without hurrying, kissing and licking every sensitive spot. Her ribs and the soft place below them. Her belly, the point of her hip, and the inside of her thigh, where the skin was so fine he could feel her pulse against his mouth. She put her fingers in his hair, what little he had, and held his head right where it was.

He looked up at her and put his mouth where she wanted it.