Chapter 35 #2
Before I could open the door, Graysen got there first, turning the handle and standing aside to allow me to enter first before following inside and ducking into the bathroom.
I went straight for the kitchen, switching off the flashlight and tossing it onto the couch as I strode past. I carefully placed the canvas bags on the granite counter, making sure the one that wriggled wasn’t going to fall off, and then I quickly got to work while Graysen was in the shower.
It took only a few minutes. I’d done the same thing yesterday morning, and the residue usually took a day or so to show its effects.
All I was doing was giving it a helping hand by reapplying a second coating.
I discarded the crushed and bruised leaves and the gardening gloves in the trash bin before beginning my second just-as-spiteful-as-the-first plan.
Pulling out the silver kettle, I filled it with water and pressed down the switch to start it boiling.
Sage cocked his head in curiosity, watching as I claimed a coffee mug and the salt shaker from a shelf.
I unscrewed the shaker’s lid and dipped a teaspoon inside to collect the white grains carefully, sprinkling them into the mug.
I heard the telltale sound of the shower being turned off.
Hurrying to the bookshelf, I snatched up a car magazine and swiped my finger along the edge of a single glossy page.
Heat and pain flared from the paper-cut, and a fat crimson bead burst from the ruptured skin.
Sliding the magazine back into place, I moved back to the kitchen and let three droplets of blood splash into the cup, tinting the salt pink.
The shrill sound of the kettle boiling pierced the air as Graysen swaggered out of the bathroom with a towel loosely wrapped around his hips and hung so low that delicious masculine vee was on show along with the smattering of dark hair.
As he strode to his makeshift wardrobe, his gaze flicked to me, lingering on my mouth.
Dark sensuality lowered his eyelids in hunger.
A look he didn’t even bother hiding.
His craving surrounded us both the last few days, thickening the air like a bonfire catching and smoke spilling out with rolling heat.
It would be so easy to step inside the raging flames and let myself burn.
And for a moment, a mindless hum crept up my throat as I briefly closed my eyes.
His sensual stare whispered over my lips, evoking memories of steam-damp skin sliding together when our bodies had entwined.
Ever since the bathroom escapade, he’d been thinking about our kiss, and I’d been thinking about it too.
The way his demanding lips had moved over mine while his brutal hands roamed as much as mine had done.
Both of us at war, wanting to dominate the other with slashes of red poetry, biting teeth, and clashing tongues that spoke more of our truth than we were willing to say aloud.
I’d dealt with my body’s traitorous reaction to our kiss by once more becoming snarky the past few days, while he simply disregarded my blatant rudeness at every single turn.
I tried to ignore the way Graysen’s skin glowed with that freshly showered look, as well as that fine figure corded in muscle and ink.
Nevertheless, it made my heart beat faster, and honey-coated desire flowed over every sensitive place in my body.
He was more comfortable being barely clothed these days, or perhaps more accurately, he was doing it on purpose, taunting me to pounce on him.
Ire lit my blood.
Gods, his damn towel was beginning to tent. He had a one-track mind. Sex. With me.
Rolling my eyes at him, I turned away as steam funneled from the kettle and the automatic click of the switch popped up.
Behind me, I heard the grating sound of a wooden drawer being opened and closed as he snatched out a pair of boxer briefs. Though irritated, I couldn’t help but glance at the polished kettle on the kitchen counter, using it like a mirror to leer at him.
Graysen whipped the towel away, folding it neatly and hanging it over the back of his office chair before bending over.
I raked my gaze greedily down his scar-ruined back to his tanned, taut ass as he stepped into his navy boxer briefs, straightening and bouncing a little on the balls of his feet as he tugged them up and over his godsdamned erection.
Hellsgate, he’s glorious.
Graysen suddenly stilled, his wet hair flicking about as his head jerked to the side as if he’d sensed my appreciation.
Shit.
I got to work pouring hot water into the cup to dissolve the salt, stirring the water with a teaspoon. The plastic struck the porcelain insides with a tap, tap, tap.
There came a rattle of coat hangers and the soft sound of Graysen’s armor being pulled on, a whirr of a zipper, a clipping of buckles.
While he dressed, I untied the knot in the neck of the wriggling canvas bag, opening it wider to peer inside to see a pair of round russet-colored eyes blinking up at me.
Right now, the otherworldly creature was cute and fuzzy and tiny, the size of a squirrel, all fluff with big bat ears and a long rattish tail.
I’d been reading the book that Dustin had given me that detailed Zrenyth’s mites for the past couple of days.
Though at first, I thought the creatures listed near the beginning were of no consequence, I discovered that this one, a Brunnie that lived in burrows beneath trees and loved to eat squirming juicy grubs, had an alternative life cycle if it encountered salt and watery blood.
I blew on the liquid to cool it down before leaning in and lowering the teaspoon of saline water infused with my blood into the bag. The brunnie shrunk back, but its tiny black nose sniffed. Then, a long, thin tongue darted out to lap at the concoction I’d specially prepared for it.