“Speaking of water, Navii did tell us to wait until nighttime to take a bath,” Brav pointed out. “Didn’t she say something about the power of the Mother Stone heating the water then?”
“I don’t know but I guess I’ll take a bath tonight if that’s the case,” Danielle said. “I’d rather have a warm one now than wait and take a cold bath in the morning.”
“Again—why shut it off?” Brav asked, frowning. “If the Mother Stone is what gives them light and heat and it’s so beneficial, why not leave it running all day so you can take a hot bath whenever you want?”
“Maybe we’ll find out tomorrow.” Danielle sighed and laid her head back against the vine-covered couch. “I want a bath but I feel too comfortable to move right now. I wasn’t sure at first, but it’s kind of nice sitting here in the warm glow of the, uh, Mother Stone.” She gestured at the fireplace.
“It is nice,” Brav agreed. “Mind if I join you?”
“Not at all. This couch is actually surprisingly comfy.”
Brav came and had a seat beside her. He put an arm across the back of the couch, settling in. As she had said, the couch made of branches and vines was surprisingly supportive and comfortable. The two of them relaxed together, letting the pink beam of energy in the fireplace bathe them with its light.
And Brav thought that never in a million years would he have imagined sitting here comfortably with the curvy little female who had been driving him crazy from the first moment he saw her.
It just went to show that you could never tell where your path in life would take you, he thought dreamily as he gazed into the pink glow…
Eighteen
“You know, it doesn’t really seem to put out heat but it does put out…something,” Danni said, as she stared dreamily into the pink beam pulsing in the fireplace. “It’s almost…mesmerizing.”
“Yeah, I feel like I can’t stop watching it,” Bravik murmured. He was a warm presence beside her and she could smell the campfire/leather/spice scent of his skin again. God, he smelled good!
Almost unconsciously, she scooted a little closer. She couldn’t help it—his scent just drew her in. And the pulsing pink glow from the hearth seemed to tell her it was all right to move towards the big Kindred.
“You cold, little girl?” Bravik rumbled softly. “Want me to warm you up a little?”
“That…that would be nice,” Danni agreed. She scooted even closer and Bravik put one long, muscular arm around her, drawing her to his side.
Sighing contentedly, Danni laid her head against his broad chest. She had a vague idea there was some reason she shouldn’t be doing this, but for the life of her, she couldn’t think what it was. After all, why would she refuse the warmth and comfort of the big Kindred’s touch? Especially when he smelled so good and seemed to know just how to touch her to make her body hum with pleasure?
“Gods, this feels so good, little girl,” he murmured, giving her a one-armed hug. “It’s been such a fucking long time since I’ve been with a female—love the feel of your soft, curvy body against me.”
“I…I like it too,” Danni heard herself admitting. “And I haven’t…haven’t been with a guy in a long time, either.”
“Why not? Gorgeous female like you—I’m surprised you’re not already mated,” Bravik remarked.
Danni bit her lip and shifted against him. Despite the glow from the fireplace, she still didn’t want to tell him about her infertility. Instead she shrugged.
“I came close to getting, uh, mated twice. But…I don’t know. It just never seems to work out for me.”
“Same here,” Bravik rumbled. “Almost mated twice but neither time took.” He sighed deeply. “It was my fault—I couldn’t give either one of them what they needed.”
Danni felt bad for him. Under his gruff exterior, it seemed the big Kindred had the same insecurities she had herself. He, too, was single not by choice but by circumstance.
“I’m sorry,” she said, pressing closer to him and wrapping her arms around him to give him a consoling hug. “I know that feeling. It’s…tough.”
“A failed bonding is the worst,” he agreed, hugging her back and dropping a gentle kiss on the top of her head. “And then you get to a certain age and you think, well—this is it. It’s never gonna happen—might as well concentrate on my career.”
“That’s what I thought, too.” Danni gave a sad little laugh. “But I never thought focusing on my career would lead me to this weird little planet with so many strange customs.”
Bravik rumbled laughter.
“You mean like forcing me to give you a fucking breast massage in the middle of Last Meal?”
Danni felt her body stir at his words and she couldn’t help remembering the slow, gentle way he’d massaged her breasts and caressed her nipples.