Page 97 of Bad Witch

This was exactly what I didn’t want. The betrayal and hurt in his voice rocked me, because I felt it as well. The idea of never seeing him again hurt me too. “This is not the time to talk about any of this,” I said softly because Fender had a desperate glint in his eyes that I didn’t understand, but it made me want to reach for him.

Reaching for him now would be a terrible idea, though, especially in the state I was in. So instead, I took a step back and yanked off my top.

He growled low and long. “You can’t distract me from talking about this.”

“I’m not trying to,” I said again, with more force. “I have a job to do and so do you.”

He seemed to shake himself then. “Fine,” he finally said. “But we’re talking about this when we get back.”

I nodded, lying, something I apparently did often and easily now, and stripped off the rest of my clothes.

Fender cursed.

I’d never stood in front of anyone completely naked before. I wasn’t thin or statuesque like Aradina or toned and muscled like Zari. I was soft. I had thick thighs and dimples and cellulite and my boobs were too big, but the way Fender was looking at me made it clear he didn’t see me the same way.

“Fucking hell, Tempest. Look at you,” he choked. “You’re so…so fucking beautiful.”

My face heated.

“I want…I really want to kiss you right now,” he said and took a step toward me.

I lifted my hand, and he immediately stopped. “That’s not why I’m naked.”

“You want me to just stand here, with you like that, and keep my hands to myself?” he growled.

“Yes,” I said. “And you will because you have to, at least until I need help with my back.”

His nostrils flared. “Fine.”

I didn’t let myself think about my nakedness as I scooped the fragrant oil into my palm and began smearing it over every bit of skin I could reach, or that I had a huge, growly, enthralled audience of one. His breathing had grown harsh as I quickly and efficiently as possible smeared the oil over myself. When I’d covered every bit of exposed skin I could reach, I risked looking up at him. He stood like stone, an obvious erection straining against the front of his jeans, and he was kind of panting.

“Did I miss anywhere on my back?” I asked as if I hadn’t noticed any of those things.

“Yes,” he rumbled.

“Will you get it for me?”

He held out his hand and I passed the stone bowl to him, then turned around, giving him my back.

Anticipation coursed through me as I stood there waiting for him to touch me, and when he finally did, I jumped. His palm was scalding hot and rough-skinned as he ran it down my spine, right to the crack of my butt, then back up. “Do you all have protective runes?” I asked before I got too distracted and it slipped my mind completely.

“Kurgan and Zari don’t.”

“They can’t pass through without them. Someone will need to mark them with it before they enter the caves.”

“Will marker do?” Fender asked.

“It’ll need to be below the skin.”

“No problem, Rome can do it for them,” he said, then his fingers curled around the back of my neck and he leaned in, his mouth a millimeter from my ear. “All done.”

This was torture. I wanted to forget everything, spin around, and throw myself at him. I wanted him to take me down to the forest floor and claim me like the animal he was.

“Tempest,” he growled. “Stop it, or I’ll do it. I’ll give you exactly what you want, right here, right fucking now.”

My gaze sliced up from his cock that looked in danger of tearing through his jeans, then up to his eyes. Hellhounds couldn’t read minds, but they had excellent noses, and I also wasn’t being very subtle. “Sorry,” I choked out.

“The sooner we do this, the sooner I can get you back to my den and finish what we started.”