THRAX

by Bonnie Burrows

  With my stomach churning, I glanced at him. "Is whatever you had with Alexandria really 'long, long, long in the past?' Are all your feelings for her completely gone?"

  To my relief, Nick didn't even hesitate. "Yes. Without a doubt. We had a 'thing' at one time, yes, but I was the one who broke it off with her, and I don't have any remaining feelings for her at all, whatsoever. I'll be grateful to her if she's willing and able to magically increase my strength for the fight against Ezra, but that's it."

  "And do you think that she no longer has any feelings for you?"

  Now Nick did hesitate in responding, and he walked with his gaze forward, his lightly golden skin even more golden than usual in light from a streetlamp just up ahead. "Well...I couldn't answer that with any confidence. She took our breakup pretty hard. Though in the past year, she seems to have gotten over this, because like I said back at the lodge, she's helped me by performing magical spells on several of my top men to make them even stronger so that they can better help me defend the town against the wolves."

  "But that just means she may not hold any hard feelings against you. That just means that she probably doesn't hold a grudge. But that doesn't mean that she doesn't still have love feelings for you. That doesn't mean that she doesn't maybe secretly hope that the two of you still have a chance."

  "Well...maybe."

  "And in fact, her helping you might have just been a way of trying to get into your good graces. It may have just been a way for her to get back into your life and have you think positively of her."

  Nick walked along beside me in silence for a long moment. "Well...it's possible, I guess."

  I figured it was just like a man to not have this occur to him earlier.

  I glanced over at him, wrapping a light gray wrap I was wearing around me even tighter as a stiff, chilly, early autumn breeze picked up. "And if that was her intent in helping your men...to get you thinking warm thoughts about her again...that might be her intent if she agrees to help you again now. She might intend to work herself back into your heart over the several days, or however long it takes, for her to help you."

  Nick frowned, his deep green eyes dark in the dim light. "Well...well, maybe."

  We didn't speak for the rest of the short distance to the cabin. I knew he was in a tough spot, because I had to admit that it made sense for him to become as strong as possible before taking on Ezra. And if there was a good chance that Alexandria could increase his strength by doing a few spells on him, I wanted him to take that chance. However, I still wasn't exactly thrilled that the two of them would be spending time together. Especially considering that our relationship was still brand-new. And also especially considering what Damien had said about Alexandria having a "fine form."

  Once inside the cabin, Nick shut the door, kicked off his brown boots, and took me in his arms. "Listen to me, Daisy. I want to tell you something." He paused before continuing, looking deeply into my eyes. "You are the woman I love with all my heart and soul. You are the woman I want a future with. And nothing is going to change that. Not Alexandria being in town for a few days, not her doing spells on me, nothing."

  I had a sudden thought that horrified me and gave me a chill even though I was wrapped in the strength and warmth of Nick's arms.

  "Alexandria's magic. Can she do any spells that would make a man fall in love with her? Like, while she's doing the spells on you that will make you stronger, could she slip one in that-"

  "No." Nick fought a smile. "No, absolutely not. If she could, don't you think she would have done that by now?"

  "Oh. Good point. I guess I'm just a little...." I trailed off, sighing. "I just don't want her to take you away from me, Nick. I just love you too much to ever lose you."

  He brushed a tender kiss against my mouth. "And I love you too much to ever lose you. To anyone, ever. Please believe me when I say that. Alexandria coming to town changes nothing. It's just something we have to get through in order to take out Ezra so that you can be safe. And no matter if Alexandria wants to rekindle our relationship, and no matter if she takes steps to try to do that, what we have won't change. Because you're the woman I want to be with. If I wanted to be with Alexandria, I would never have broken up with her. But I did, because we weren't a match in the end, for me, anyway. So, please believe me when I say that nothing will happen. Nothing will change between us. I have faith in our love, and I hope you can have faith, too."

  I nodded. "I do have faith in our love. And I do feel reassured that you don't still have feelings for Alexandria. Although I'd be lying if I said I'm not looking forward to the time when she's left town."

  Nick smiled, beginning to rock me in his strong arms almost imperceptibly. "Won't be long. And it also won't be long until Ezra is taken out for good. And then, we can get to enjoying our happy life together in peace. But tonight...if I recall correctly, I think I promised to draw you a bath. And considering what you went through today, I think I'm going to make it a bath with extra bubbles. How does that sound?"

  I grinned, wrapping my arms around his muscular shoulders. "It sounds heavenly. And after...maybe after, you'll show me exactly how much you love me."

  His green eyes twinkled in soft light from a lamp with a tan, frosted-glass shade sitting on a foyer table nearby. "Well, I don't know about that. I am awfully tired this evening. I'll probably be fast asleep in bed by the time you get out of your bath. I'll probably already be out like a light."

  Though amused, I tried my best to scowl. "You're mean. You're so, so mean."

  Nick bit back a chuckle. "Yes, now that I really think about it, I'm sure I'll be sleeping. I'm far, far too tired to get a peek of your gorgeous, naked body when you step out of the bath. Far, far too tired to run my hands all over it, too. And without a doubt, too tired to plant kisses all over your wet, glistening skin."

  I pushed against his chest. "All right. Let me go. I'm going back to the council lodge to sleep tonight."

  He pulled me even tighter against his chest, chuckling, and spoke near my ear in a low voice. "Oh, no you don't. Because I am absolutely, one hundred percent teasing. I'm actually not tired at all. And even if I were...even if I'd just flown ten thousand miles in dragon form...I could never, ever, be too tired to physically show you how much I love you, and that's a promise. There's no level of tiredness like that that even exists. There's nothing I wouldn't do to get a peek of your sweet, bare, luscious, naked skin."

  His words caused a little thrill to ripple through me, and I relaxed against his chest, inhaling his clean, woodsy, masculine scent. "All right. Then, I think it's time for my bath now."

  Displaying his shifter strength, he picked me up with one smooth, seemingly effortless movement. "I think it certainly is."

  CHAPTER 6

  Nick carried me up to our second-floor master bedroom, planting slow, tender kisses along my collarbone and the side of my throat the entire time. Throwing my head back to give him greater access, I sighed with pleasure and ran a hand along the hard ridges of his back.

  When we reached the master bathroom, he started the bath, lit a few red, cinnamon-and-vanilla scented candles on the wide ledge of the deep tub, and then slowly undressed me, the touch of his fingers on my skin making my knees a bit weak. Once every single stitch of my clothing was in a heap on the polished hardwood floor, he took a little step back from me and raked his gaze up and down my naked body, his breathing accelerating.

  "Beautiful doesn't even describe you, Daisy. You're gorgeous. You're exquisite."

  A little heat always rose to my cheeks whenever he looked at my naked body, and this time was no exception. Thought it wasn't the kind of heat that might rise to someone's face because of embarrassment or self-consciousness; this was something quite different. This kind of heat was more like from an excited little thrill to be examined so intimately by a man who obviously appreciated my body.

  And soon, that obvious appreciation became more than apparent. We embraced and began kissing, and I felt
Nick's long, thick rod pressing against the curve of my belly, fully erect. I loved it when our pre-intimacy activities got him so worked up to the point that his manhood actually seemed to be straining against his jeans, as it seemed to be doing right now. I became very interested in releasing it from its denim prison, but as soon as I began undoing Nick's belt, he broke the kiss and looked at me with his eyes glassy but twinkling.

  "Don't tempt me with your touch yet. Or else you'll never make it into your bath."

  I suddenly wasn't so sure if I cared.

  But, with the edges of his mouth curving in a sexy half-grin, he gave me one last brief kiss, released me, and began heading out of the bathroom. "You enjoy a nice, warm soak while I light a few candles in the bedroom. I'll be back soon."

  He closed the bathroom door, and I did as I was told, a little reluctantly. Though once I sank into the tub, warm water and bubbles enveloping me, I was glad I hadn't skipped my bath. Closing my eyes, I leaned my head back against the sloped edge of the tub and breathed in the sweet scent of the red candles. Within a couple of minutes, I was in a state of complete relaxation, letting my thoughts wander. And it wasn't long before my thoughts wandered back to Nick's manhood, and how much pleasure he was able to give me with it. A tight, uncomfortable ache developed low in my belly, and I wondered how much longer before he was going to come back into the bathroom.

  Fortunately, almost the moment I began wondering, he returned, wearing nothing but a pair of black boxer briefs, the front of which was tented by his large pole. He was an incredible sight, one that many women might have called a vision of masculine perfection. I trailed my gaze up the length of his body, not only enjoying the sight of his fully erect rod beneath a thin layer of fabric, but his entire physique, from his muscular thighs to his six-pack abs, to his chiseled chest. With only one light on, the spacious bathroom was dimly-lit, and the warm light from the flickering candles alongside the tub made his lightly tanned skin even more golden-toned than usual.

  He knelt beside the tub, wearing a sexy half-grin that I'd come to absolutely love. "Enjoying your bath?"

  I moved my head in the slightest of nods, a bit dazzled by his golden, square-jawed handsome face. "Yes. I might be able to relax even more, though, if I could get a massage."

  Nick's sexy half-grin became replaced by a comical, exaggerated frown.

  "Well, where on earth would we find a masseur at this hour?"

  Fighting giggles, I had to work hard to give him a look that I thought was sufficiently reproachful. "Stop."

  He frowned even harder. "Stop what? I'm just wondering where on earth we'd find someone to give you a massage this late. Unless...." He raised his gaze to a point just a little above my head, still frowning, appearing to be deep in thought. "Unless I might actually give you a massage. Despite the fact that I'm not professionally trained."

  "I think I'll let that fact go. I promise I won't demand to see your massage therapy license."

  He returned his gaze to my face, his half-grin returning. "I'm relieved to hear it. Because there's nothing in the world I'd love to do more right now than run my hands all over your gorgeous, sexy, slippery body."

  To my delight, he was soon doing just that. With his touch firm yet gentle, he ran his large, strong hands up my arms to my shoulders and down to my full breasts, which he kneaded lightly, making me whimper with pleasure. He seemed to be enjoying the activity as well, if a low growl rumbling in his throat was any indication.

  After teasing my nipples by circling them with his thumbs for a little while, which greatly increased the frustrating ache in my belly, he moved his caressing touch lower, to my ribs, then to the sides of my stomach, and then to my soft hips, which he kneaded with his gaze locked on my feminine mound. When he spoke, his voice was husky.

  "I hope I'm not getting to sound like a broken record, but my word, Daisy...you're the most exquisite creature I've ever seen. By far. By miles. You're just gorgeous. Every inch of you...an absolute work of art."

  Even though he'd said similar things to me many times, there was no danger of him ever irritating me by sounding like a broken record. Him telling me how beautiful he found me gave me a little thrill, each and every time, and I knew there was no way I could ever get tired of it.

  Running a bubble-covered hand along one of his muscular shoulders, I smiled, feasting my eyes on the hardened planes of his bare chest. "I love it when you tell me how beautiful you think I am. So please, promise me you'll never stop."

  He leaned farther over the edge of the tub and brushed a kiss against my lips. "I promise. I never will."

  He continued the massage, kneading my upper legs and then my calves, and I became desperate for him to touch me a bit more intimately. But when I whispered this, he moved his head in a slight shake and spoke in a voice that was getting increasingly husky.

  "Can't yet. A good masseur, licensed or not, always finishes a massage. And I haven't done your back yet. So, flip...and let me do my job so I don't get fired."

  Smiling, I did as I was told, and the sound of a long, low growl rumbling in Nick's chest let me know that he very much appreciated the view. He briefly massaged my shoulders and back before moving his attentions to my rear, which he at first cupped and stroked before full-out kneading it with his breath coming in ragged gasps.

  This didn't last very long. I soon found myself being gently turned back onto my back and then lifted out of the tub. Seeming to forget that most people liked to towel off after a bath or shower, Nick carried me out to the candlelit bedroom in his strong arms, kissing me hungrily. I didn't mind at all not having the chance to towel off. I was too busy thinking about satisfying the frustrating ache low in my belly, which by this time was becoming unbearable. Not to mention that being completely wet and slippery kind of felt sexy and fun anyway.

  Nick set me down on the four-poster bed, climbed in beside me after kicking off his boxer briefs, and then resumed kissing me while lying on his side. I became absolutely desperate for him to touch me. And very soon, as if reading my mind, he moved a hand to my legs, gently parted them, and began exploring my slick feminine folds. When he located my throbbing feminine bud and began stroking it with a single fingertip, I moaned, breaking the kiss.

  It wasn't long before I whispered that I needed him inside of me, and he seemed more than happy to comply with this request. He began climbing on top of me, but I stopped him with a hand on his chest and whispered again.

  "No. The other way. The way that makes me feel a bit naughtier than usual."

  The way I was referring to was me on my hands and knees and him behind me. This had been one of the last positions that we'd tried together, and I had discovered that it really, really worked for me. Nick seemed to get quite a bit of pleasure from it, also.

  After helping me into position, he guided the head of his manhood to my feminine entrance and then plunged his granite-hard rod into my slick depths with one slow, powerful thrust. I cried out, the exquisite sensation of being completely and totally filled almost more than I could take. Gripping my hips, Nick soon began thrusting in and out of me with long, unhurried strokes, groaning. And a while later, I cried out again, my pleasure reaching a dizzying, lofty peak. Almost simultaneously, Nick growled his own release, thrusting his very considerable length into me deeper than he ever had before.

  A short while later, after Nick had blown out all the candles and returned to bed, we fell asleep locked in an embrace, our fingers and limbs entwined.

  The next morning was Sunday, when he'd usually bring me breakfast in bed, something I loved. We'd then enjoy the meal in bed together, and it usually led to enjoying other activities together, followed by a long, steamy shower.

  But when I awoke, Nick wasn't beside me, and I didn't hear any distant sounds indicating that he was downstairs making breakfast. I sat up, wondering where on earth he could be. A quick check of the bathroom only left me with more questions than answers. A damp towel in addition to a few little puddles of
water on the floor told me that he'd already showered. Without me. I just couldn't fathom why. Or where he might be now.

  But halfway down the stairs to the ground floor, it finally hit me. Alexandria had likely arrived, and he'd probably gone out to thank her for coming and welcome her to town. A note on the kitchen table confirmed this, and my heart sank. However, I reminded myself, Alexandria coming to town was actually a good thing. She'd give Nick the increased strength he needed in order to deal with Ezra swiftly. And in the meantime, I had nothing to worry about. Nick loved me and me alone, and I trusted him. Though I couldn't deny that it was going to be difficult seeing him spending time with another woman. Even if they were "working."

  Gazing out a window above the sink, I was sipping a mug of tea when Nick returned home and came into the kitchen.

  I turned from the window, suddenly a bit anxious for some reason. "Good morning."

  I searched his face, not even exactly sure what I was searching for. It wasn't like I actually expected to see a sign on his forehead reading I now have feelings for Alexandria again or anything. But, to my relief, whatever I was searching for wasn't there. Nick looked completely normal, except maybe just the slightest bit anxious, like I was.