I felt the sincerity of his words. He wasn’t teasing. “I never would’ve been able to keep that to myself.”
His laugh was as velvety as his purr, and that was…well, it was something else.
“Did you not recognize me at first?”
“I did but… It’s hard to explain.” His breath coasted over my lips. “I knew who you were in a…primal way.”
“And what about Reaver and Emil? It didn’t seem like you recognized them at all.”
“Kieran said the whole shifting thing seems to work like when the wolven shift at first,” he said. “The first couple of times are difficult. It can be easy to lose yourself in the more…animalistic side of your nature.”
“Makes sense,” I murmured.
Drawing back, his gaze met mine, and I could tell he knew I didn’t think that. He grabbed the blanket and tugged it over my shoulders. “It’ll be the same for you.”
My stomach tumbled in a mixture of excitement and a little bit of fear at the thought. I rarely heard Kieran’s or the others’ bones snap when they shifted.
“Did it hurt?” I asked. “Shifting?”
“It wasn’t exactly pleasant the first time, but it sounds worse than it feels.”
“I really need to speak to the two of you,” Reaver said from the other side of the door a second before it swung open.
Casteel sighed, and my lips twitched. Reaver really had no sense of self-preservation.
“You okay?” Casteel asked me.
“Don’t mind me,” the draken said dryly. “I’m just standing here staring at your naked ass.”
Casteel stiffened, and I could tell he was searching for patience. A moment later, I heard his voice through thenotam.I was rough with you afterward.
I flattened my palm against his cheek.I enjoyed it. A lot.
His chuckle was deep and rumbly.I could tell, but that doesn’t erase the fact that I was rough.
I’m not so easily breakable, I assured and kissed him softly.I’m fine.
“Still staring at your ass,” Reaver remarked.
Casteel twisted at the waist and tugged a blanket over my bare legs. “That is the second time you’ve entered a chamber where she was without permission and were able to walk out. There will not be a third time.”
I grabbed the edges of the blanket, making sure nothing…unmentionable was showing.
“Understood?” Casteel demanded.
Reaver’s nostrils flared as they locked eyes. “Understood.”
Casteel turned back to me. “I’ll grab you something to wear.” He kissed the corner of my lips and then straightened. “Sit tight.”
As soon as he moved away from the bed, Reaver opened his mouth.
“Whatever it is, it needs to wait,” Casteel interrupted as he disappeared into the closet, “until she has a chance to put some clothes on.”
“I don’t understand what the problem is,” Reaver stated, crossing his arms over his chest. “It’s just flesh.”
“It’s beautiful flesh,” Casteel replied, returning with a robe. “And it’s not for your eyes.”
“But your dick is?” Reaver challenged.
