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I craved it.
With my entire being.
And—I was tired of fighting.
I rolled over onto my stomach in the water—my fingers were starting to prune, and Nia’n’an had been patiently waiting all this time.
Making me—I belatedly realized, as he held it up—a goddamned beach towel.
That sealed it.
I was going to fuck the bejesus out of him and his incredibly thoughtful spider ass.
I pulled myself up to sit at the smooth rock at the edge of the pool.
Twenty-One
NIA’N’AN
I’d only been meaningto take Sloane someplace to bathe—I’d sensed the trace of humidity in the air with my spiracles, knew the water would be safe for her, and decided to track it down.
She’d been under the ground for too long. My beautiful mate was starting to crack. Blaming herself for things that she’d had no ability to control. She was spiraling, and I knew I needed to get her out of her own head as quickly as possible. Without the option of exposing her to sunlight or grass, a bath seemed the next best thing.
I had had no idea the cavern would be so lovely, however.
Not as lovely as she was, of course, but it was close.
Half an hour later, I was wondering if I would ever be able to make her leave.
She seemed so at peace in the water. Floating with her eyes closed, her hair flowing around her—I wished she would float like that with me in the air.
I still was not entirely sure how we would fit, although I’d seen her change her clothing now on more than one occasion—and it didn’t matter besides. If I couldn’t get her to see the worth in herself, who was perfect in every way she could be, how could I possibly get her to see any worth in me?
I began crafting her a towel to dry her off, and was almost finished with it when she finally sat up and made her way to the water’s edge.
“Nia’n’an?” She made a question of my name, so I came nearer. “I want to be with you—do you want to be with me?”
I was used to her being far more crude with her thoughts around me, so I found her euphemisms concerning—and her question caught me absolutely off guard. I stepped back in surprise, and watched the emotions shift on her face by the lantern light.
“You,” she whispered, as her jaw dropped. “You can understand me!”
I froze.
Was there a point in denying it anymore?
I nodded slowly as her eyes got wide.
“Get your face down here!” she demanded.
I tentatively leaned forward, wondering if she was going to do what humans seemed to and give me a kiss—when she slapped me, hard.
I reared back and put a hand to where she’d struck me as she cursed and held her hand in her lap.
“You’re an asshole! You and your stupid hard face!” she shouted, shaking out her hand.
Mating seemed to no longer be on the table—if it ever was.
“I can’t believe you heard me all this time. Every awful thing I’ve said, every stupid song I’ve sung,” she said, dropping her head, with her shoulders shaking.
