Allegiance (Causal Enchantment #3)(10)
Realization slapped me hard across the face. This had been Nathan’s home! Of course! I’m such an idiot! I can’t believe I hadn’t realized it before. No wonder Sofie was reluctant to come here. Stepping through these halls must tear open too many old wounds for her, namely the never-healed one she acquired when she accidently killed him.
“Why did we come here, Sofie?” I asked softly. “I mean, I’m sure there was somewhere else we could’ve gone.”
Sofie smiled sadly. “It’s as good a home base as any. We need to get help, Eve, and our help is in Europe, so it made sense.”
Help? That elusive her they were discussing on the jet, no doubt. Who was she? And why did I sense this connection was volatile at best? So deep in thought, I didn’t hear anyone else enter.
“Can I come in?” A familiar deep voice called out, sending a thrill through my entire body like an electric shock. I turned around, that same giant grin instantly on my face again.
Caden’s hands were in his pockets, something akin to a shy look on his face.
“Come, Max,” Sofie said, smacking the giant dog on the rump.
I just got here, he grumbled in my head, not budging.
“I hear deer live in the woods behind us,” she added, figuring he would be reluctant to leave. Like a homeless dog after a soup bone, Max bolted. A tiny smile touched her lips as she continued walking out. When she passed Caden, she reminded him, “Don’t forget … my angel needs her rest.”
He responded with a slight nod and a tight smile. I surely burned like a bonfire in the night, the heat in my cheeks so intense. With that, Sofie abruptly disappeared, closing the door softly behind her.
Finally … alone with Caden.
Completely alone, on solid ground, on my home planet. In a bedroom. I felt heat creep up my neck as I recalled memories of the last night we spent together on Ratheus. With my fingertips trembling, I pushed a strand of hair back behind my ear. Why am I so nervous? I had suctioned myself to him on the plane ride here. And now we stood facing each other like two strangers. I opened my mouth to speak, and realized I had no idea what to say. Thankfully, Caden broke into the silence.
“How’s your neck?”
“Fine,” I croaked, instinctively turning to look into the mirror on the wall, my hand reaching for the wounds again. “A little sore but—” Before my fingers could graze the stitches again, Caden appeared behind me, his strong hand folding over mine and pulling it against my chest. His other hand swept the locks of hair away from my neck, pulling them back until they rested over my opposite shoulder. Without a word, he leaned in until his mouth was an inch from the wound. I watched in the mirror as his lips parted slightly. A cool breeze tickled my skin.
“Does it hurt?” he whispered.
“Not right now,” I forced out, my voice caught in a gasp.
“How about now?” He leaned in that last inch to skim my neck with his bottom lip, hardly touching and yet sending shock waves through me, deep into my belly. My knees buckled. I fell back against his chest. Pressing his body against my back, he buried his face in my hair and inhaled deeply. “I missed you so much.”
I quarter turned and looked up, my nose grazing his jawline as I found a comfortable hollow in his neck to kiss. “I sort of missed you too,” I teased.
“Did you now,” he answered and folded his arms around me. A crooked smirk curled across his mouth before vanishing with the briefest flash of unease.
“What’s wrong …?” I began to say, trying to turn the rest of the way so I could face him. His powerful arm held fast, keeping my back against his chest. Desperate to touch his face, I struggled to pull my arms free but he held me with a viselike grip. A faint smile touched his lips. He was enjoying this. Determined, I rose on my tiptoes and arched my back as best I could, enough to playfully nip at his earlobe with my teeth. He released a low growl, his arms flexing, his jade eyes blazing as they stared at me through the mirror. That look … my legs turned to jelly. Could he read my emotions right now? I flushed, wondering if even the Tribe’s poisonous magic could hide such raw desires.
I caressed his arm as we stood in silence, not speaking, not moving. Warmth flooded my body, desperate for him to let me turn around …
“You should get ready for bed,” he suddenly said. His grip of my body loosened.
“But,” I stammered, thoroughly confused, beginning to turn on my heels.
“Go,” he ushered me forward, nudging me toward the bathroom. With a furrowed brow, I numbly gathered the supplies Sofie brought and headed toward the bathroom, closing the door behind me.
What the hell was that? My tortured conscience screamed out in frustration. Instant paranoia set in. Maybe he’s not as attracted to me anymore! Studying my face rather than my wound in the mirror, I realized that could be entirely possible. The lighting in here was harsh but … wow! I was a mere shadow of my regular self—my sallow, blood-drained complexion contrasted hideously with black circles around flat brown eyes. With my matted, scraggly hair, I could pass for a vagrant. I hadn’t bathed in a few days … I lifted my arm and sniffed. No wonder Caden shoved me in here. Suddenly horrified, I knew I had to rectify this immediately.
“I’ll be out in twenty!” I yelled as I turned on the taps of the deep claw-foot soaker tub.
I shaved and sloughed off days of sweat, tears, and travel in borderline scalding water until my skin was as fresh and pink as a newborn’s bottom. Scrambling out, I quickly toweled off and then proceeded to slather on a myriad of luxurious creams found on the counter, meant to make my body silky smooth and deliciously scented—a different one for my elbows, my heels, my chest … There! Better. Maybe Caden would be more interested now that I didn’t smell like Sasquatch. What did “interested” mean, though? A ball of anxiety exploded in me. What would happen if … What was I about to walk in to? I knew he was way more experienced than I was. I had been unfortunate enough to witness Rachel molest him back on Ratheus. But if he expected more? All of it …