Chapter Seventeen
CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN
Scarlett threw back the covers and hurried to cover her pajamas with her trench coat. She stole into the hallway with only a pair of cotton socks on her feet.
Please don’t let anyone see me.
“There was no one out earlier,” Nori reminded her. “You won’t run into anyone.” The comment eased her anxiety over being seen as she hurried to Brayden’s wing.
When she reached his room, she knocked softly. A second later, he opened the door wearing nothing but a pair of black drawstring pants. His eyes lit up as he saw her, and before she could say anything, he had her in his arms. The feel of his bare chest made her breath catch.
“What are you wearing underneath this coat?”
She let out a surprised cry as he picked her up and tossed her onto his bed. “Goddess above, not even a ‘hello’?” she asked with a laugh.
He sprawled out on the bed next to her. “I’m glad you came back. I missed you.”
She smiled as warmth pooled in her at the sight of him next to her. “I missed you too.”
Brayden reached out and touched the collar of her coat. “Are you going to take this off?”
“Yes,” she said with as much dignity as she could muster. She peeled off her coat and threw it to the floor.
He stared at her silk pajamas as she climbed into his bed, a low sound of approval rumbling in his throat.
“Now that we’re alone, can I see your valor tattoo?” she asked.
He huffed a laugh. “If you want me to take my pants off, all you have to do is ask, Scar.”
He wasn’t wrong about her motivation. “I just did, Brayden. But I really do want to see the tattoo too.”
Brayden chuckled as he sat up and slid off his drawstring pants, revealing a pair of boxer briefs underneath. He flopped back down onto his bed, ready for her inspection.
Scarlett swallowed as her gaze slid to the tattoo on his left thigh. Rising to her knees, she moved to get a closer look. The black-and-white tattoo of a bird made of flames covered his left quad. His muscular legs had a light dusting of hair that tickled her fingers as she traced the valor.
“It’s such a badass valor. Do you love being able to make fire?”
“Yep.” He held up his palm, and flames sprouted all over his hand. “They can get really big.” The little flames flared as if they concurred.
She gazed in wonder at his magic, unlike anything she’d ever seen in Soleil. “How big can they get? Have you ever run out of fire?”
“I haven’t pushed myself far enough to run out.
Hopefully, that’ll never happen. I get exhausted if I use it too much though.
I’ll show you how big they get as soon as there’s a chance.
There are these gorgeous hidden pools up in Mont Noir.
If we go up there, I can heat them up by doing a naked cannonball into the water while I’m on fire. ”
She laughed. The idea of seeing him naked outside was taking her fantasies to the next level.
“That’s incredible. I can’t wait to see it.
” She reached for his hand, stopping when she was close enough that the heat from the flames warmed her skin.
She tried to touch the fire with a single finger, but Brayden pulled his hand away, and the flames disappeared.
“It’ll burn you.”
Her face heated. “Guess that was kind of dumb of me.”
He grinned. “Yep.”
Scarlett stuck her tongue out at the playful jab and then lay back down, this time curling up against Brayden and threading her leg through his. His warmth surrounded her as he began to stroke her hair, and she sighed happily.
“Does a Phoenix have any other cool powers?”
“I told you I’m hard to kill. What I didn’t tell you is I can theoretically come back from the dead.”
Scarlett stared at him. “Seriously?”
“Freaky, right? I haven’t died and come back myself, thank the Goddess, but there are documented instances from the past where firebirds have died of unnatural causes and woken up hours or days later mostly healed. There are hard limits, of course. Please don’t cut my head off.”
She stiffened as the day of the assassination came back to her. The car, the blood… If it had been Brayden who was shot, could he have survived that? The idea of him testing the limits of his magic that way made her stomach clench.
“Will you live longer because of your valor?”
“No. I’ll still age and die,” said Brayden. “I don’t want to live forever. I would hate to outlive everyone I love.”
The fireplace was all but extinguished, the dying embers and the faint glow emitted by Jax and Nori the only illumination in the room.
“I’d hate that too. It’s nice you can’t die suddenly like my parents did,” said Scarlett as she trailed her fingertips over his bare chest. “Is it fucked up that was the first thought I had when you told me?”
“No, it’s not fucked up.” He held her closer. “It’s one reason why we should consider getting the North Star runes sooner rather than later. Especially if you insist on going back to Soleil alone. I’m terrified of losing you.”
“You won’t lose me,” she whispered.
“Life is far from safe for you.”
“I’ll be careful. I’m way too bent on revenge to die,” she joked, trying to lighten the mood. It was late, but Scarlett wasn’t tired.
“I won’t let you die,” he said solemnly, and she didn’t respond, not wanting to point out that he wouldn’t be there.
Brayden spread his calloused fingers over her thigh, gripping Scarlett to him. “Someday you’ll open the borders, and then I’ll come to Soleil. When I do, what’s the first thing you’ll show me?”
Scarlett bit her lip as she touched his collarbone with the tips of her fingers. She could happily spend hours examining every inch of his body now that he was close enough to touch. “I’d love to take you to Lilac Beach. I could teach you to surf, if you want.”
“I’d love that,” he whispered.
“Before anything happens, I get a birth control shot every three months,” she blurted out.
“I got one two months ago, so I’m still covered.
And Alastair and I were only ever with each other.
But maybe you didn’t want to know that.” She covered her face with her hands.
“Goddess, I’m sorry. Was that an overshare? ”
“It’s okay,” said Brayden. “Intimacy is built on transparency, and I want that with you. And just so you know, I have been with people other than Alastair.”
Scarlett smiled in spite of herself as she slapped his shoulder playfully. He chuckled, grabbing her hand and kissing her palm.
“Okay, in seriousness, I haven’t been with anyone since you started talking about coming here to visit a few months ago.
As of my summer solstice doctor’s appointment, I’m also clean.
Although, fun fact—as a phoenix, I can heal from all things, including venereal disease.
But I get the checks because we have to see the army doctor biannually anyway. ”
“So who was the girl from a few months ago? Anyone I know?” She’d meant the words to sound casual, but it came out jealous. “Sorry, I shouldn’t ask that.” She rolled off his chest and onto her side, facing away from him so she wouldn’t have to see his reaction.
Brayden pressed himself into her back as he grasped her chin gently and forced her to look into his eyes.
“Hey, no one has ever meant more to me than you do. You were just thousands of miles away. And taken. I stopped seeing other girls the day you came up with a plan to get here. I’ve been waiting for you, hoping this would happen as soon as we met.
” He gestured to his bed. “And not just this,” he said quickly.
“I used to fantasize you’d come to visit, fall in love with Clair de Lune—and with me—and never leave. ”
He wanted her to love him? His fantasy was so similar to hers… Scarlett’s embarrassment melted away as their gazes met.
“I don’t usually get jealous,” she said. “It’s such an embarrassing emotion.”
Brayden slid his arm around her waist and pulled her back into his chest. “Well, it looks adorable on you,” he whispered in her ear.
He was silent for a moment before he went on.
“I’m flattered you’re jealous, and for what it’s worth, I’d love to travel back in time, punch Alastair in the face, and take his place as your first everything. ”
“Would you?” Her voice purred with pleasure.
“You have no idea how obsessed I am with you. You want the truth?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“I want you so much I can barely act normal around you, and these little scraps of cloth you’re wearing to bed?” He tugged at her shorts. “I want to be the only one you’ve ever worn them for. I’m dying to bury myself inside you so deep you forget there was ever anyone else.”
Her breathing became jagged, and a surge of need rose in her. “Jealousy is adorable on you too,” she whispered. “And if it makes you feel better, these are brand-new pajamas.”
Brayden shifted, something hard pressing against her arse.
She ground herself into him and was rewarded with a quiet groan.
Brayden tightened his arm around her, brushing the peaks of her breasts through her silk camisole.
The heat that had been building since they’d gotten into bed spiked white-hot in her.
It was an ache she didn’t want to ignore.
Scarlett slipped her hand behind her back and ran it over the thick length of him, covered only by a thin layer of cotton fabric.
Brayden groaned as he pressed himself into her palm.
Scarlett thrilled at his response. It made her feel powerful, him wanting her so.
The heat continued to build. Her breasts were heavy with need.
When Scarlett withdrew her hand, Brayden stilled, but when she pulled the silk camisole over her head, he let out a low, rumbling growl. She moved his hand to her hypersensitive breast and pressed her arse into his erection.
Brayden kissed her throat while he fondled her breasts.
What if I can’t finish with him?