Chapter 8 #3
Bright green eyes latched on to me from the doorway, and Bastian grinned.
“Was it good for you too?” He opened his mouth slightly and inhaled. “Based on the indecent scents in this room, I think I have my answer.”
“Róise and Asad sound very talented,” I said calmly, trying hard not to blush. “You’re lucky they take pity on you.”
Bastian chuckled and strode over to the bed, flopping down on it hard enough that I bounced a little on the mattress. “You’re welcome to watch next time.” His gaze slid to me. “Or do you only like to listen in?”
“The entire inn was listening in.” I lost the war against the blush creeping up my cheeks and felt my entire face burning.
“Actually, there are silencing glyphs built into the floor that are always activated.” He reached and trailed a finger down my cheek.
I thought about slapping him away, but that would require raising my arm, and that was too much effort.
“Kieran and I used to stay here a lot, so Elizabeth figured out how to soundproof this level from the rest.”
“I didn’t realize you and Kier were a thing . . .” Kieran had never mentioned it, and I’m pretty sure he would have told me, considering we were friends and I was living with Bastian.
“Not that kind of thing.” Bastian rolled his eyes. “I mean, Kieran’s hot and all, but our fun involved more group activities, and I’m apparently not invited to those anymore now that he’s mated.”
“Are you seriously pouting?” I laughed at Bastian’s bottom lip sticking out a little. “Samara has five mates. I think that’s more than enough for group activities.”
“Oh?” He arched a brow at me. “I didn’t realize you were an expert on such things. Tell me, Princess, what were you thinking about while you sank those fingers into your wet, tight pu—”
“Shut up, Bastian!” I slapped my hand over his mouth, belatedly realizing which hand it was and the fact that I hadn’t cleaned up.
He chuckled as I leapt out of bed, dashing into the attached bathing chamber. There was a tub, but I was absolutely not getting naked with Bastian less than ten feet away, so I settled for a washcloth.
When I slunk back into the room a few minutes later, my cheeks were still pink, but he had his eyes closed on the bed. “Wake me up for breakfast.”
What? He couldn’t seriously be thinking of sleeping in this bed. I’d assumed he’d just come back to check on me, or more likely tease me, and even if he was going to stay here, we were absolutely not sharing a bed.
I climbed onto my side and reached over to poke him in the ribs. “Shouldn’t the gentleman take the floor?”
Bastian’s eyes didn’t open, but his lips curved up into a smirk. “Rynn, love, did anything you heard over the past hour sound like a gentleman?”
I debated shoving him onto the floor but decided that wouldn’t get me far. Bastian was heavier than me, plus he was very stubborn. He’d just climb back on.
“Can’t you spend the night in their bed?” I jerked my thumb towards the wall.
Still wearing that self-satisfied grin, Bastian dashed that hope.
“I never stay after the fun ends, and Róise and Asad wouldn’t let me even if I wanted to.
They enjoy inviting a third into their bed occasionally, but they’ve always been clear about wanting nothing else.
The two of them have been a pack of two for over a decade now.
They have very set boundaries, and I can respect that. ”
“You never stay?” I frowned. “So you just . . . what? Say ‘thanks for the fuck’ and take off?”
Bastian opened his eyes enough for a sliver of green to peek through.
“All the orgasms I provide are thanks enough. Sharing a bed with someone for more than sex gives the idea that you want more. Intimacy. Trust. Things that lead to long-term relationships.” He closed his eyes again. “I have no interest in that.”
“And yet here you are,” I drawled, “sharing a bed . . . with me.”
“You don’t count,” he answered easily.
I wasn’t expecting the sharp pain to hit me at his casual words. “I suppose not.” My throat tightened, and I swallowed to clear it. “Not exactly up to your standards in terms of beauty.”
Again, those green eyes slanted open. “Rynn, my darling, you have bright chestnut hair, startling eyes, a flawless complexion, and a slender build that hints at your flexibility while also showcasing some lovely curves. You are beautiful.” He wrinkled his nose.
“But you called my abs weird. I could never sleep with someone who doesn’t appreciate the perfection that is me.
Therefore, you are firmly in friend territory, and I have no problem sharing a bed with friends.
Even ones that get themselves off to me fucking someone else. ”
I stared at him for several long seconds before a laugh escaped me. “You are ridiculous.” I shook my head and settled back onto my side of the bed. “And your abs are strange. I think it’s because one side is slightly larger than the other?”
“It’s going to be really awkward when I have to explain to Cade that you drowned in a lake on your way to Narchis territory,” he said mildly.
“You’re occasionally clever.” I leaned over and brushed the glyph on the side of the wall. Instantly, the Fae lanterns went out, but a small amount of light filtered in through the window, courtesy of the full moon. “I’m sure you’ll think of something.
“Perhaps we can come up with some stories tomorrow,” Bastian said in a sleepy tone. “I like to have several options to pull from.”
“Promise to keep your shirt on and we have a deal.” I yawned.
“I’ll consider it.” His breathing evened out after a few moments, and I thought he’d drifted off to sleep. “Night, Princess.”
For once, the nickname didn’t instantly irritate me.
“Night, Bas.”