Playing Their Parts

“TLC?” He narrowed his eyes at her. “Is that like BDSM?”

“Hey, you got it right that time!” Cassie laughed delightedly. “No, TLC stands for ‘tender loving care.’”

Stone’s expression relaxed.

“In that case, I would be pleased to offer you some ‘TLC’ Cassandra. If you truly want me to.”

“I do. Please, Stone…” She looked up at him appealingly.

“All right. If you think you can stand on your own for a moment so I can undress.”

“I’ll be all right,” Cassie promised eagerly.

She couldn’t help watching as her partner stripped down. He looked amazing, she thought as his broad chest and tight ass were revealed. So handsome—it was difficult to believe Kat and Liv’s assurances that he was truly as in love with her as she was with him. Could they really be right?

Maybe it’s time to find out, Cassie thought.

Maybe it was.

Sixty

Stone winced as he saw the purpling bruises his hands had left on his partner’s tender flesh. How could he have done that to her? He knew she didn’t blame him for it, but Stone blamed himself. He would rather die than hurt the female he loved so desperately—loved but didn’t deserve, he reminded himself ruthlessly.

It twisted his heart to see how trustingly Cassandra held out her arms to him to be picked up when he had finished undressing. She had no fear of him, it seemed, even after everything they had been through.

“Come on, Stone,” she murmured in her sweet voice. “Let’s take a bath. We’ll both feel better after a long, hot soak.”

Stone doubted that, but he did hope that the warm water would ease some of her aches and pains.

“Of course,” he murmured, swinging her up into his arms. Holding her soft, curvy body close to his chest, he stepped carefully down into the bathing pool, which was a deep one.

“Mmm, this is nice,” Cassandra sighed as they sank into the steaming water. “Doctor Liv was right—this is exactly what I needed.”

“What about the second part of her prescription?” Stone asked, nodding at the wine bottle which someone had thoughtfully provided. “Would you like a glass of soothing alcohol?”

Cassandra laughed, as she did when he spoke sometimes, even though Stone was reasonably certain he was using the words properly. English was a strange language, however, so maybe he was wrong.

“Yes,” she said, when she finished giggling. “I would like a glass of ‘soothing alcohol.’”

“Then I will pour you one. Will you be all right if I put you down?” Stone asked her.

She nodded. “I’ll just relax here on the edge of the tub.” She leaned back, her arms along the rim of the bathing-pool, and closed her eyes while Stone reached for the wine bottle and poured them both a glass.

“Mmm, good vintage,” Cassandra remarked, after taking a sip.

Stone nodded and took a sip himself. Kindred metabolized alcohol quickly and so were less likely to get inebriated than humans, but he appreciated the calming quality that sipping a good vintage could have on the nerves.

His partner drained her glass and then put it down and looked at him.

“Stone,” she murmured, “What are you doing all the way on the other side of the tub? Why don’t you come over here?”

Stone wasn’t sure if he should. He wanted to be with her—wanted to hold her. But he didn’t deserve to do that. And also, he was afraid he might want to do more. He had, after all, bitten her to inject his essence multiple times. Having marked her as his own, his body wanted to do more—to bond her to him forever. But of course, that was impossible. Even if Cassandra could forgive what had happened in the throne room—and it seemed that she had—she still only wanted his friendship, not his love.

But then she called him again.

“Stone, please…you’re leaving me alone and you know you’re not supposed to. Doctor’s orders, remember?”

“Right. Doctor’s orders,” Stone murmured. Giving in to his desire, he went to his partner and scooped her up in his arms. “Better?”

“So much better.” She sighed and laid her head on his chest trustingly. “Mmm, this is nice. I like being close to you.”

“I like being close to you, too, sweetheart,” Stone murmured, the endearment slipping out before he could stop it. Cassandra didn’t seem to mind, though. She smiled and snuggled closer to him, her bare breasts coming out of the water to show the ripe tips of her nipples.

Stone tried not to look. The rough sex they’d had back on Bachanalius hadn’t done anything for him—especially considering he knew he was hurting his partner as he did it. But the sight of her curled in his arms like a sleepy kitten, unashamed of her beautiful body, so trusting and naked, made his shaft ache with desire.

“You’re so beautiful, Cassandra,” he murmured, unable to help himself. “So perfect in every way.”