Total pages in book: 401
Estimated words: 390373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1952(@200wpm)___ 1561(@250wpm)___ 1301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 390373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1952(@200wpm)___ 1561(@250wpm)___ 1301(@300wpm)
“Never, Poppy.” he rasped, the grip on my hair loosening. “I never forgot it was you.”
I shuddered against him.
“Never,” he repeated, his mouth finding mine in a gentle, soft kiss—
“If you think I don’t know what’s happening in there,” came Reaver’s voice, causing both of us to stiffen, “you’d be wrong.”
My eyes snapped open.
Casteel’s sigh turned into a deep growl. “I’m going to kill him,” he said.
I rested my forehead against his. “No, you’re not.”
“He saw you naked.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. “I really don’t need that reminder.”
“Hold on,” he muttered, and I did just that as he eased himself free of me and rose. He placed me on the edge of the bed and then dropped his hands on either side of my legs.
“Are you two done?” Reaver demanded.
“I didn’t mean for that to happen,” Casteel said, ignoring Reaver. “I was caught off guard by a presence in the Solar, and my mind went to the Rev who’d gotten in. And with what has happened the last two days…I don’t know. Instinct took over. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“You didn’t,” I told him.
Reaver’s sigh made it through the thick door.
“I did, though.” Casteel leaned in and pressed his forehead to mine. “I think the only time I’ve heard you scream like that was when a snake was involved.”
My cheeks warmed. “Admittedly, I was caught off guard, but I wasn’t afraid of you.” I touched his cheek. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wanted to,” he said, his voice rich and smoky, “but I wanted to wait until you shifted first.” He swallowed, and I swore I felt his skin warm under my fingers. “I only shifted once before, and I…I didn’t want to do it again. I wanted to share that with you.”
I felt the sincerity of his words. He wasn’t teasing. “I never would’ve been able to keep that to myself.”
His laugh was as velvety as his purr, and that was…well, it was something else.
“Did you not recognize me at first?”
“I did but… It’s hard to explain.” His breath coasted over my lips. “I knew who you were in a…primal way.”
“And what about Reaver and Emil? It didn’t seem like you recognized them at all.”
“Kieran said the whole shifting thing seems to work like when the wolven shift at first,” he said. “The first couple of times are difficult. It can be easy to lose yourself in the more…animalistic side of your nature.”
“Makes sense,” I murmured.
Drawing back, his gaze met mine, and I could tell he knew I didn’t think that. He grabbed the blanket and tugged it over my shoulders. “It’ll be the same for you.”
My stomach tumbled in a mixture of excitement and a little bit of fear at the thought. I rarely heard Kieran’s or the others’ bones snap when they shifted.
“Did it hurt?” I asked. “Shifting?”
“It wasn’t exactly pleasant the first time, but it sounds worse than it feels.”
“I really need to speak to the two of you,” Reaver said from the other side of the door a second before it swung open.
Casteel sighed, and my lips twitched. Reaver really had no sense of self-preservation.
“You okay?” Casteel asked me.
“Don’t mind me,” the draken said dryly. “I’m just standing here staring at your naked ass.”
Casteel stiffened, and I could tell he was searching for patience. A moment later, I heard his voice through the notam. I was rough with you afterward.
I flattened my palm against his cheek. I enjoyed it. A lot.
His chuckle was deep and rumbly. I could tell, but that doesn’t erase the fact that I was rough.
I’m not so easily breakable, I assured and kissed him softly. I’m fine.
“Still staring at your ass,” Reaver remarked.
Casteel twisted at the waist and tugged a blanket over my bare legs. “That is the second time you’ve entered a chamber where she was without permission and were able to walk out. There will not be a third time.”
I grabbed the edges of the blanket, making sure nothing…unmentionable was showing.
“Understood?” Casteel demanded.
Reaver’s nostrils flared as they locked eyes. “Understood.”
Casteel turned back to me. “I’ll grab you something to wear.” He kissed the corner of my lips and then straightened. “Sit tight.”
As soon as he moved away from the bed, Reaver opened his mouth.
“Whatever it is, it needs to wait,” Casteel interrupted as he disappeared into the closet, “until she has a chance to put some clothes on.”
“I don’t understand what the problem is,” Reaver stated, crossing his arms over his chest. “It’s just flesh.”
“It’s beautiful flesh,” Casteel replied, returning with a robe. “And it’s not for your eyes.”
“But your dick is?” Reaver challenged.
I glanced down and saw that Cas was, in fact, still completely nude, He hadn’t grabbed himself anything to wear yet.
And he was still semi-hard.
Oh, my gods.
Smirking at the draken, Casteel crossed the chamber. My gaze dropped to his arousal, and warmth flared in my cheeks and between my thighs.