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His lips quirked up in a mischievous grin. “Bath foreplay?”

“First, we have a job to do.” She cupped water in her hands and poured it over his collar bones, watching it slick over his flat nipples.

“Right.” He settled back against the tub. “Let’s get on with the curse-lifting before we get all pruney.”

Giggling, she filled the pitcher and poured water over her tingling breasts. “I call on these magic waters to clear my fears and all the bad vibes dragging me down. Show me the way to new success for theBeacon. Abracadabra, alakazam. Your turn.” She dunked the pitcher into the water and dumped its contents over his head.

Spluttering with laughter, he wiped water from his long, thick lashes. “Hey, warn a guy.”

“Anointing your head is part of the process.” She poured a stream over his bobbing dick. “You too, handsome. Okay, state your intentions.”

He pulled a sour face. “I feel like an idiot.”

She leaned forward to address his cock. “Your friend is killing the vibe, little guy.”

Xander threw back his head and laughed. “Oho, ganging up on me? All right, here goes.” He adopted a deep, ponderous tone. “Sacred waters, release the curse’s hold on me. Let me…” He flapped a hand, “fly free and…find my own destiny. And if anyone tries to squash me down, let them…”

Hannah raised an eyebrow and whispered, “Pretty sure you’re not allowed to curse anyone else. Kinda spoils the cosmic harmony, don’t you think?”

He huffed a dramatic sigh. “All right, Ms. Buzzkill. If anyone tries to block my growth, may the force of this magic release them from their foolishness. Amen and Hallelujah.” He punctuated his declaration with a huge splash of water that flew right up her nose.

“Oh yeah?” She splashed him back, dousing three candles.

“Yeah.” He snatched the pitcher away, filled it, and dumped it over her head.

“You…you…sea monster!”

Splashing, squealing, and hooting with laughter, they flailed until the tub was half empty and the floor was soaked.

“C’mere, you.” Ignoring her protests, Xander scooped her onto his lap. With nowhere to put her legs, she crossed them behind his back and surrendered to a wet, slippery hug. His lips claimed hers in a deep, passionate kiss that went on and on.

Finally, he broke the kiss and pressed his forehead to hers. “I think it’s working.”

“How can you tell?”

“I’m feeling all tingly.” His fingertips traced dizzying spirals over her back, then down her flanks to dip beneath her knees. He scooped more water over her head and stroked his fingers through the wet strands. “Where’s that shampoo of yours that smells so good?”

She handed him the bottle. He poured shampoo into his cupped palm and sniffed. “Ah, here it is. I love this scent. May I?”

When she nodded, he smoothed the fluid over her hair and worked suds into her scalp, pressing firmly with the pads of his fingers, a seductive, sensual massage that soon had her moaning.

“You know,” he confessed as he wove his magic, “that day when we first met, finding Gus felt like a tsunami knocking me ass over heels, dragging me under.” He filled the pitcher and cupped her nape while he poured warm water through her strands. “But you held me so tight. I remember burying my face in your hair, breathing in this scent.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “You kept me from drowning, Hannah.” His lips feathered over her arched throat. “I’m so grateful to you, so grateful to Gus or the aliens or whatever brought me here so I could meet you, know you, love you.”

A heady swirl of emotion coursed through her—desire, joy, and the sweet, aching burn of new love, as intoxicating as whiskey, as irresistible as sirens’ song. It would be so easy to whisper ‘I love you’ into Xander’s kiss. But hard-won experience taught her that waves like this always crashed against the rocks.

She speared her fingers into his dripping curls and sealed her mouth to his, hoping her kiss would say all the sweet words she couldn’t yet force from her tight throat.

His body tightened, just a flicker of tension. He knew.

But the tightness quickly passed. He relaxed into her kiss and stroked his tongue deep. “It’s okay,” he whispered when they broke apart on a gasp. “Just because I fell fast doesn’t mean you have to. I know I’m asking a lot of you. I’ll take it as slow as you need, Hannah.”

Grateful, she nodded and dove in again, greedy for his taste, his skin, his firm, hot body beneath her and over her and in and all around her. She grasped his wrists and pulled his hands to her breasts.

“Listen,” she panted against his temple, “I want to be with you, Xander. I want to know you, to share…so much with you. And I hate that I’m scared. But I promise you, I’ll keep pushing through the fear.”

His tongue swirled behind her ear, then his sharp teeth bit into her lobe, a flash of exquisite pain. Her clit throbbed in response.

“Maybe Zora has a potion for your cold feet.”