Chapter 31
“Condition,” Derek repeated. He sounded entirely nonchalant, as if they were discussing a change in the dinner menu.
“Yes,” Kira answered, holding his gaze without flinching. Her heart hammered so hard she was sure he could hear it echoing off the tiled walls, but she refused to let him see her waver. She had to get this out.
“Undress and get into the tub,” he told her evenly. “Then we can discuss your condition p>
“I’m not getting p>
“Don’t you know the act of seduction gets you what you want faster, wife?” His tone carried a mocking edge, one dark brow lifting slightly. “You should learn to wield that power. It’s a weapon. Now, undress and get into the tub p>
Kira sucked in a deep, steadying breath. Fine. She wanted this over and done with. She would follow his order, but she wasn’t letting him lay a finger on her until he gave her what she needed. Gathering every scrap of courage she had left, she let the silk robe slip from her shoulders to pool at her feet, revealing the tiny nightdress beneath. She met Derek’s unflinching stare with defiance. She would not let him see her cower.
Slowly, she slid the thin straps down her shoulders and let the silk slip away, leaving her completely naked. Cool air kissed her instantly, raising goosebumps in a rush across her arms, her stomach, her thighs. Small, involuntary tremors ran through her, not from the chill, but from the sudden flare of heat in Derek’s eyes. His face remained inscrutable, but his gaze swept over her with such intensity that it felt like physical hands skimming over her skin.
“Come inside.” His voice had gone low, and a raspy edge had further deepened it so that his words came out on a rumbling growl.
Kira stepped into the tub at last, but she chose the opposite end, putting as much distance between them as the tub allowed, and faced him directly. Derek gave no outward reaction to this small act of distance.
“What is it you want?” he asked, the question almost lazy, though his eyes never left her, roaming her shoulders, her collarbone, the curve of her breasts half-submerged in the water.
Kira forced herself to stay still when all she really wanted to do was run and hide. She lifted her chin and met those amber eyes again. “I know what the contract says. Open marriage, no strings, whatever. But I don’t want you sleeping with any other woman while you’re sleeping with me p>
Derek’s expression didn’t shift, no furrowed brow, no flicker of surprise. “Why p>
She had a dozen reasons burning on her tongue, but she wasn’t about to hand them over. “At least until I’m pregnant,” she said, sidestepping the question entirely. Once she carried his child, she would never let him touch her again. Then he could sleep with the entire Dravengard for all she cared. But until then, she needed him faithful.
For a long beat, Derek said nothing. He simply stared at her, blank and unreadable, and for the first time since she had stepped into the bathroom, Kira dropped her gaze to the rippling water between them.
“You’re asking me for fidelity?” he asked at last.
“Yes,” she answered, a little too quickly. “Not for the rest of the year, just until I’m pregnant p>
“Why?” he pressed again.
“Because, I p>
Because I don’t want to catch some nasty disease from your parade of mistresses.
“Because… well, because I’m staying faithful until then, too. It’s only fair p>
Derek studied her face, as if searching for cracks she refused to show. She kept her expression as neutral as she could manage, bracing for him to shoot this down?
“The women I claim are all clean,” he said, as if he had read her mind.
How the heck would he know that? They could be sneaking around behind his back. It wasn’t as if they carried health certificates pinned to their foreheads.
“I receive health reports every time before a rut,” he added, answering her silent question.
Kira blinked. “You didn’t get mine p>
He didn’t reply with words at first. Instead, he reached out, closed his fingers around her wrist, and pulled her to him in one effortless motion. She barely had time to gasp or resist before he turned her, settling her between his powerful thighs. His arms banded around her from behind, one large hand cupping her breast, thumb brushing over her nipple in slow strokes. His arousal pressed hard and insistent against her lower back. A sharp bolt of desire shot straight to her core, catching her off guard. The heat of his chest against her spine, the slide of wet skin on wet skin, the gentle rasp of his thumb over her now-pebbled nipple, all made her inner muscles clench hard. She bit her lip to trap the moan that wanted to escape. He had to agree first.
“Who said I didn’t?” he murmured against her ear, giving her right nipple a light pinch.
Kira inhaled sharply, eyes fluttering shut as pleasure crashed through her in a bright wave.
“When Lorenzo treated you for those whip marks, how did you think he found the poison in your blood?” His hand drifted from her breast, trailing down her abdomen while his hardness pulsed behind her. “He ran every test we needed. And as for your request… I’ll consider it p>
“No.” Her voice came out breathy, legs trembling as his fingers drifted lower. “I want a promise p>
He stayed silent for a moment, breath warm against her neck. “You are impossible,” he growled softly. “Fine. I promise you fidelity until you’ve conceived. But never mistake this for emotions, Kira p>
To Kira, it was a deal. That was all she needed. She wasn’t going to die in this Lycan kingdom, not from some lurking disease or a blade. Before she could scrape together a reply, though, his hand slipped between her thighs, easing them apart with gentle insistence. His finger traced through her folds, finding the swollen nub that pulsed under his touch. Her thighs snapped shut on instinct as a sudden rush of pleasure slammed into her.
“Open up, wife,” Derek murmured in her ear, the words sending fresh shivers racing down her spine. “Humph. You’ve already become wet for me p>
Kira sucked in a shaky breath as his fingers parted her, circling that one perfect spot until her toes curled against the porcelain. She gripped the edge of the tub, biting her lip hard to stay quiet. No way was she moaning like some desperate girl. However, her willpower was currently circling down the drain. One hand kneaded her breast, pinching her nipple in rhythm with the slow strokes over her clit. Between the dual assault, she lost the fight entirely and became a trembling, sobbing mess of sensation.
Then he sank a thick middle finger deep inside her throbbing heat.
Kira let out a sharp yelp—half pain, half reverent ” oh my goddess “—and he stilled instantly.
“I think you’re ready now, wife,” he rumbled low. “Go wait in bed until I finish my shower p>
Kira drew in a ragged breath. Without a word, she rose slowly from the water, her clit still tingling with the ghost of his touch. She didn’t look back at him. She snatched her robe from the floor, wrapped it around herself, and fled the bathroom, aroused, ashamed, and burning all at once.