Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
She had no idea what the night would bring.
19
BRAZE
Braze held her close to his chest—close to his heart. Gods, he’d nearly lost her tonight! That fucking Kriver had zeroed in on her for some reason—he had no idea why. He only knew he had a burning need to check Kaitlyn over thoroughly and be absolutely certain the creature hadn’t wounded her somewhere he couldn’t see. He wanted to run his hands all over her curvy body and be certain she was well and safe and not bleeding or bruised anywhere.
Accordingly, as soon as they got into their suite, he took her directly to the huge bathing chamber.
“Are you all right to stand?” he asked her. She had her head on his shoulder and her eyes were closed but she wasn’t asleep. He could feel a light tremor running through her entire body and it made him even more anxious about her.
Kaitlyn’s eyes fluttered open.
“I…I think so. Yes, I’m fine.” Her voice shook a little, but she didn’t look panicked.
Gently, Braze placed her on her feet. He kept an arm around her until he was satisfied she could stand and then he went to the shower. It was a massive marble alcove with an array of showerheads inset into the ceiling above that rained straight down, covering the entire area, so at least neither of them would be in the cold.
Because Braze fully intended to shower with his Mistress and check her over thoroughly.
First, though, they had to get undressed. Since he couldn’t touch his trousers, due to the non-con manacles he wore, he started with Kaitlyn.
The gorgeous, starry blue dress she’d been wearing to the banquet was completely ruined. It was ripped in several places and covered in purple Kriver blood and cinnamon wine, which must have spilled on her when the table toppled.
“Here, Mistress—let me undress you,” Braze told her.
She raised her hands mutely, obedient as a little girl, and he felt his heart twist in his chest. Was she all right? He feared for her—not just physically but emotionally.
He’d been trained from a young age on Rageron to battle huge wild beasts that resided in the jungle his people called “The Deep Blue.” But Kaitlyn didn’t have his warrior’s background and she’d just been subjected to a vicious attack by a creature that looked like a nightmare come to life.
“It’s all right, sweetheart,” he murmured, cupping her cheek in one hand. “It’s over now—everything is going to be all right now.”
“I know it is. I know,” she whispered and then burst into tears.
Braze felt like she’d slipped her soft little hand right into his chest and was squeezing his aching heart.
“Oh, Kaitlyn,” he whispered and gathered her into his arms. It didn’t matter that the two of them were still messy and sticky—he just wanted to hold her and comfort her.
“It was…it was going to…to kill me. To kill all of us!” she sobbed, her shoulders shaking as he held her close.
“Never,” he whispered fiercely. “I’d never let it hurt you, baby. You have to know that.”
“I do now.” She looked up at him, her long eyelashes matted with tears. “Why did you risk yourself that way? I mean, I know you took an oath to protect me, but you could have run like the servants did.”
“Don’t you know by now I’ll always protect you?” His voice sounded hoarse in his own ears. “I would never abandon you, Kaitlyn. And not just because of my oath.”
“Why then?” she whispered, looking up at him with wet, uncertain eyes.
Because I fucking love you! The words trembled on his lips, and he felt the rightness of them—the trueness—but he couldn’t let them out. What if she didn’t feel the same way? What if she found out his secret desires and started to hate him?
“Because you’re important to me,” he said instead, stroking her cheek. “More important than anything else in the whole fucking universe.” He swiped some tears away from her face with his thumb. “Now are you ready to get in the shower and let me wash you, Mistress? We’re both a big fucking mess right now.”
“In more ways than one.” She gave a little laugh, and he was relieved to hear that it sounded more natural—not like another sob waiting to happen.
“Yeah, you could say that.” He nodded. “Now we’ve got your dress off—we need to take off the panties too. Can I?” He nodded at the tiny wisp of lace between her thighs.
Kaitlyn blushed and nodded.
“Yes…you can take them off me.”
“Good.” Braze knelt on one knee before her. Hooking his thumbs in the flimsy lace, he pulled them down. Kaitlyn steadied herself with one hand on his bare shoulder as she stepped out of them.
When he rose, she looked up at him with an unreadable look in her eyes.