The Hunger (The Lycans 3)

“You won’t be far?” The words tumbled out of my mouth before I realized I’d even spoken them. I looked over my shoulder and saw he was already watching me. “You won’t leave me?”

He shook his head slowly. “Never.” Then he left me in the bathroom and shut the door behind him.

I stared at the tub with the steam coming up from the top. I felt my heart tighten at the thought of him making so many trips to fill this up. And because we were using candles, I assumed there was no electricity either. Which meant he had to heat up the water by hand as well.

God, how long had I been out of it?

I scrubbed a hand over my face and then tangled my fingers through my hair. I started picking out little leaves that were stuck in the locks but gave up because I really didn’t care. I got undressed, letting the clothes drop to the floor, then made my way to the claw-foot tub. I bent over to run my fingers along the top of the hot water, then straightened to climb in.

Once submerged, I rested my back against the lip of the porcelain and let my head hang slightly over the edge. I couldn’t ignore the fact that I felt very lonely right now, distant from everything and everyone. I was cold, even in the hot bath, and all I kept thinking about was him.

I looked over at that closed door, licked my lips, and found myself speaking before I could stop myself.

“Caelan?” His name was whispered, probably too soft for him to hear m—

The door opened instantly, as if he’d been standing on the other side, waiting for me. He seemed tense and expectant, and when he looked at me sitting in that tub, his throat bobbed up and down as he swallowed. I swore I saw a flash of light in his eyes. In that moment I felt heat that had nothing to do with the water I was currently in, moving through me at an astounding rate.

“Maybe this isn’t appropriate,” I said softly, “but I don’t care. I don’t want to be alone, and you’re the only person I trust in all of this.”

He ran his palms up and down his denim-clad thighs, and I realized that he’d gotten dressed again. Of course he had. Although I hadn’t missed how naked he’d been in the forest when he turned back into his human form, I didn’t remember anything after that.

“I’m yer mate. There is nothing more right in this world than me being with ye.” My throat tightened at his words. “Would ye like me tae wash yer hair?” His voice was so deep and gravelly, masculine and husky.

I was about to say I didn’t think I saw any shampoo, but I watched as he went over to a small cabinet, opened it, and pulled out a bottle before turning it so I could see.

“I’m sure this is older than ye and me both, but it has tae be better than nothing, right?”

I found myself smiling and nodding, and I noticed the way he kept looking away, as if he didn’t want to accidentally catch a glance of my nudity. For such a larger-than-life man, Caelan almost seemed shy right now. But then I remembered him telling me about fated mates and how all males of the Otherworld didn’t even think of a female unless it was their mate.

Caelan was just as much a virgin as I was. Because if what he said was true—which, after all this, I had no reason not to believe him—it meant he’d never even looked at a woman with desire, let alone kissed anyone.

I didn’t know why that made me all hot and bothered, but I found myself clenching my thighs together as arousal tried to take over my body. It was such an inappropriate time to feel this way, or maybe it wasn’t. Maybe it was the perfect time.

Caelan made his way around the tub to grab the chair I’d been sitting in. He slid it across the tiled floor and then sat behind me. With my head still resting on the edge of the porcelain, I found my eyes closing on their own. It was insane how relaxed and calm I was around him… how much I trusted him.

And then he was scooping water over my hair and wetting the locks. He poured a large dollop of the slightly yellow-tinted shampoo into his palm and started washing my hair. He ran his fingers through the damp strands, his touch so gentle despite his massive size. My eyes closed on their own, and I let myself get lost in the sensations.

A soft moan escaped me as pleasure consumed my core, and I felt Caelan’s fingers tighten against my scalp ever so slightly. I opened my eyes and tilted my head to the side so I could look at him. I could see how tense he’d become all of a sudden.