Chosen One (Forever Evermore #6)(91)
I hesitated, already having taken the plunge to ask the question in the first place, but with him having that damn nose I couldn’t exactly backtrack because of nerves, so I stated quickly, and quietly, “Yes.”
He was silent for long moments. “Alright, I…would like that, too.” He nodded once, straightening. “We’re exclusive.” Hooded, cautious eyes flicked to mine. “However, I still hate you.”
My lips lifted a bit in relief I hadn’t been the only one wanting—or willing—to do this. “Same to you.”
He grunted, staring at me for long moments. “This should be interesting.”
“It usually is with me.” I grinned cheekily, turning to wash my back off. “Us spirits are just so much fun.”
He choked on a chuckle. “I’ll reserve the right to my opinion on that.” A slow blink, then his lips twitched. “Although, against my own good judgment, the “Castrator” filled many an evening for me.”
My eyes widened. “You did not.”
His wolf huffed. “You were drunk. Wearing damn near nothing. Slathered in mud. Fighting equally scantily clad women.” His brows lifted. “Yes, I did.” A roll of his finger, appearing ticked. “Multiple times, instead of finding a Shifter bed partner.”
I blinked. “I’m glad.” And…I was.
A black brow lifted, but he didn’t comment, and started fixing his black cargo pants, hand on his zipper when suddenly Sin’s voice could be heard not far from the bathroom, and coming closer, “Love?”
Cain froze for a moment, going predatory still, his head cocking like he was listening to something, nostrils flared, then he glanced to me, eyes flying down my naked frame. He pivoted, placing himself in the doorway, shoulders damn near as large as the wide entrance, and he zipped his pants in full view of the room, the sound cracking, then stated on a gravelly rumble, “She’ll be out in a second.” Reached a hand, stepped back, and slammed the door shut.
His wolf huffed quietly as I blinked slowly, watching him stare down at his work on his belt.
A confident knock on the door, two raps. “Love, Elder Farrar’s fixing the mess you made from your temper tantrum, and I’ll put the bed back to rights and air the room out.” A pause. “And I won’t shred him as long as he doesn’t hurt you.” Soft footfalls as he walked away.
I turned the shower off gradually, even as Cain’s wolf huffed again, grabbing me a towel and handing it over, then he started cleaning up his mess on the sink, the action appearing to keep his hands busy since he had never been the tidying type, and he stated gruffly, “Farrar obviously knows about us. I’m pretty sure he did in the past, too, since he asked to speak to me that day at the boxing ring instead of Jacobs, and you’ve said Sin knows,” another huff from his wolf as I dried myself off, trying to remain casual since he seemed…irked, “and,” another huff, “I know you and Sin are close, and mean a lot to one another, but exclusive to me does not mean other men seeing you naked.”
Oh. “Alright. I can do that.” My lips twitched. “Can you?”
He blinked slowly, and navy blue eyes turned to me with a careful expression, stopping his cleaning. “That…I hope was a joke?”
I grinned. “Yes, it was joke.” I waved a hand. “Shifter, naked, normal. It goes hand-in-hand.”
He hummed, his shoulders instantly relaxing, resting a hip against the counter. “What is this shredded business you two keep speaking of?”
I shrugged, stepping out of the shower. “He shredded a Shifter who abused us, and used his bits for fertilizer in our garden one year.” I waved a hand grandly. “Big, damn beautiful flowers came up, too.”
His brows raised a smidge. “As hard as I keep trying to hate the man who sleeps with you every night, I keep ending up liking him.”
“He has that effect on most everyone.” I dropped the towel and tried tying the top around my breasts. “You should know, King Zeller also knows about us.”
Instant. “How?” He moved behind me, and started quickly tying it for me when I couldn’t.
“He was right down the hallway with the other Rulers that evening we had sex. He hasn’t said a word, but I could tell he heard us.” I shook my head. “I don’t think he’ll say anything.”
“I don’t either.” His palms landed on my bare hips, and he bent, pressing a gentle kiss where he had bitten me earlier, making goose bumps pebble on my flesh. “But considering the risks, our Laws, it would be best to be more careful in the future. We weren’t exactly discreet that night. That shouldn’t happen again.”
“Agreed. Wholeheartedly.”
“Good.” Another gentle kiss in the same place, silken lips brushing softly, then he smacked my hip lightly, and moved toward the door, ordering gruffly, “I’ll get your bag.” And I swear, he easily, and deftly, moved out the door, but he didn’t open it very far to squeeze out…so absolutely no one could see inside, then I waited half naked for my bag, feeling damn good about the decision we had made, even in our love to hate situation.
Chapter Twenty
Smack.
“Ahh!” Leric shouted loudly, the ground and walls shaking as he rolled on the bed with the force of my powered slap to his face. “What the hell?”