Rocked by Love (Gargoyles, #4)(48)



Good thing she was so short. It cut down on the trip.

A puff of cool air had her opening her eyes and frowning at the shower settings, but before she could even focus on the temperature gauge, a thickly muscled arm curled around her from behind. It pressed against her just below her breasts, a more effective restraint than a roller-coaster harness. She shrieked loud enough for her bubbeh to hear her.

In Connecticut.

“Hush,” Dag said, hugging her to his naked body. “It is just me.”

Kylie pressed both palms against his forearm and shoved. “Well, just you wasn’t invited, bub, so get out of my shower!”

“No. You are angry with me,” he said, “and while I deserve some of your ire for not protecting you better, I will not allow others to come between us. We must discuss what was said.”

“I’m not interested in a discussion,” Kylie said through clenched teeth. Not only did his arm refuse to budge, but the baseball bat pressing against her lower back told her the rest of him didn’t want to go anywhere, either. “I’m also not interested in anything else you might be thinking about, so I repeat, get. Out.”

“I do not believe that statement to be entirely truthful,” he purred into her ear. His second arm snaked around, and he laid his hand against her belly just above her mound. “Shall I show you why, little human?”

“If you think seducing me is going to do anything but make me more eager to rip your balls off, I have some very important information to share,” she ground out, her teeth clenched together at least as hard as her thighs.

Dag’s hands didn’t move, but then, neither did the rest of him. Well, part of him twitched against her skin, but she didn’t think he could help that. Those things tended to have minds of their own.

“If you will not be seduced, yet you will also not talk with me, what other choices have you left us? I will not allow you to think ill of me forever without allowing me the chance to explain my own actions. It would be unfair to expect as much.”

Kylie tried again to push him away. He didn’t tighten his hold, but he didn’t budge, either. Maybe he really was made of granite. “Fine, you can explain all you want, but you’ll have to do it later. Outside the shower. After we’re both fully clothed.”

One long finger tapped thoughtfully against her skin, low on her belly. Whether the gesture was deliberate or unconscious, it made Kylie’s belly clench and her mouth go dry. She deliberately failed to take stock of any effect it might have between her legs.

“That seems inefficient.” Dag leaned down to rest his chin on the top of her wet hair so that she felt entirely surrounded by him, yet curiously she felt more protected than threatened. “We are both here, and the nature of bathing ensures us of adequate privacy. Also, we should have nothing to hide from each other. We have been skin to skin already, so modesty is not necessary between us.”

“Says you.”

“What is the purpose of hiding from one another what has already been seen and felt by us both?” When Kylie didn’t answer, Dag’s hands gently urged her around to face him. “Do you feel there is some indecency in your lack of clothing? Because you cannot think that the sight of your body would do anything but give me pleasure.”

Okay, so despite her embarrassment and lingering irritation, Kylie couldn’t deny a surge of pleasure at hearing that. Still, a girl had to make a stand from time to time. “This is not about whether or not we’ve had sex.”

“Is it not? That was what you and your friend discussed when you were alone, is it not? And it made you angry. Even before Knox and I joined you in the kitchen, you had begun to grow upset with me. In fact, you were upset before you even left the bed we shared.”

Given the way she’d jumped off said bed, muttering to herself in Yiddish, she supposed a denial would prove pointless. “I was … at myself. At my own behavior. I don’t usually act like that.” She looked down at herself and grimaced. “And I don’t usually have conversations while I’m standing around in nothing but my business.”

Dag’s eyes twinkled. “What is the human saying? Ah, business is good, yes?” When she just rolled her eyes, he sighed and pulled her tight against him, so not even the water rolled between them. “There. Now I cannot see that you are naked, so now may we talk?”

“Oh, sure, because that”—Kylie wiggled her belly against his erect penis—“is not at all distracting.”

“If I can ignore it, I do not see why you cannot.”

“It keeps poking me!”

“It consumes blood supply meant for my brain. On whom, then, does it have a greater effect?”

“I can’t believe I’m standing in the shower arguing about your dick.” Kylie gave up and let her forehead smack against his hard chest. Almost as good as a brick wall. “Fine. Say whatever you think you have to say, then get out. Go.”

At least she’d had the foresight to ensure the house had on-demand hot water, since the only thing that would make this discussion more fun would be the shower turning into an ice bath in the middle of it.

The silent pause told her he hadn’t really expected to win that argument. She just hoped he was enjoying it, because from now on, she’d be taking no prisoners.

“I failed to properly protect you, and there is no apology sufficient for that oversight. I can only admit to my own deficiency and vow to you that I will not again forget my duty or my purpose. I swear to you that I will keep you safe.”

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