Page 19

Iris

No one has washed me since I was little, and even then, the sisters weren’t as gentle as Kala is being. In fact, my nipples harden and heaviness builds in my pelvis. My stomach has butterflies, but in a good way.

Kala washes my face, and once he’s satisfied, he switches to my left arm first. He cleans all sides of it and the end of my limb.

I didn’t realize how sensual it would feel until he runs the wet cloth around it.

A shudder runs up the length of my arm, and all the hairs stand up while gooseflesh appear.

He finishes, rinses out the cloth, and cleans my right arm and my hand, even getting in between my fingers, which causes another full-body tremor.

I stare up at him while he cleans me, and it’s hard to tell in the dim light, but there appears to be a flicker of something shiny within the shadows that dance in his eyes.

This is only the second or third time I’ve noticed it, but it’s definitely there.

Nowhere near as bright as Sorin’s, but at least I know now I’m not imagining it.

Kala lifts his gaze from his ministrations to meet mine. The intensity in the depths of his black eyes makes my core throb. I press my thighs together to ease the ache he’s caused, but it doesn’t do any good. The only thing that will satisfy the yearning inside me is him.

He shifts a step to the side, and I realize it’s to block Sorin’s view of me in case he wakes up, although as exhausted as he was, I doubt that’ll happen.

Still, I’m grateful for Kala protecting my modesty.

Although I should have expected it to come, I’m not actually prepared for him to lift my shirt up and over my head so I’m only in my pants and ratty bra. No sexy lingerie for this bottomer.

He drops his gaze to my breasts with their hardened nipples peeking through the thin and tattered lace cups.

His breaths quicken. When he traces one tip with the sharp edge of his clawed finger mine does as well.

I’ve touched myself a million times over the years and not once have I felt an echo of the same touch on my breast in my core.

But Kala’s makes me wet. Really, really wet. Embarrassingly so.

“Your scent.” He nearly groans. “I have never smelled anything like it before.”

“Is it bad?” I cringe. Man, do I stink?

He rattles his head. “It is the most desirous scent, and hardens my cock painfully.”

Oh .

Kala washes the top of my chest next and the water drips down to soak my bra making the thing even more transparent than it already was.

I reach behind and unhook it with a confidence I’ve never felt before.

But the look in his eyes and his comment about my scent gives me the boost to go for it.

I drop it on top of where my shirt fell on the ground and stand proudly with my shoulders back.

Kala doesn’t say anything, but he also doesn’t take his intent stare off me while he runs the wet cloth across my heated flesh.

When he brushes over a nipple, I suck in a sharp breath and my knees quake.

More wetness soaks my underwear. He thoroughly cleans both breasts and my belly even though it wasn’t dirty.

At first I think he’s done since he drops the cloth into the water basin and disappointment fills me. Except I’m wrong. Kala palms both breasts in his large, calloused hands.

“Is this all right?” he rasps out in a gruff whisper. “This kind of touching?”

I nod, because I’m having trouble speaking.

“You must say the words, Iris, so I know it is the truth.”

I clear my throat. “It is more than all right. Don’t stop.”

He doesn’t. Kala explores at will. He cups me, squeezes, kneads, and molds my flesh in various ways, and I can tell that he’s cataloguing each of my responses because the ones that cause the greatest reaction, he repeats.

I’m nearly a puddle on the floor and have to grab his forearm to steady myself.

“Is this the kind of pleasure you wanted to give each other?”

“Yes.” Although it was meant to be more a mutual thing, but for once in my life I want to be a little selfish.

“So you enjoy this?”

I bark out a harsh laugh. If I enjoyed it any more, I’d orgasm. Which isn’t that far off to my shock. “Very much.”

“I am glad. You should only ever experience pleasure, Iris.”

“Don’t stop,” I beg again.

“Not until you tell me to cease.”

Not gonna happen.

“Perhaps we would be more comfortable in our pallet? I still need to wash the lower half of you.”

Having Kala see me topless hadn’t felt like such a huge deal.

Maybe because I actually think my boobs are pretty spectacular.

Not that the rest of me is terrible, but he’ll also be the first man to see me completely naked.

As bold and confident as I was a second ago, it’s slowly wearing off. I hate that it is, too.

A warm hand palms my jaw and I glance up at Kala.

“If this is all the pleasuring that occurs this turn, it is all right. We have the rest of our lives to learn each other’s bodies and what pleases the other.”

My heart skips several beats. How did I get so damn lucky to land a guy like Kala?

He might be an alien who has come from a troubled species who has literally killed my people and who is probably the farthest thing from human, but he’s only ever treated me with kindness.

Our mating might be for Sorin, but I have a feeling it won’t always be that way.

“Are you sure you won’t be too disappointed?” I suck in my bottom lip and bite at it.

His mouth slit parts and he shows me his teeth. It reminds me so much of Sorin’s attempt at a smile that it starts up a funny feeling in my belly.

“I could never be disappointed in my…sweeney.”

My forehead wrinkles. “In your what?”

Kala cants his head. “Is that not correct? This name of affection we call one another?”

I snort and cover my mouth with my hand to smother my laughter. “Do you mean sweetie?”

“That is what you call Sorin, yes? Was there not another name you called me? I thought it was what we call each other.”

Oh my gosh, my mate is so freaking adorable. “I was going to call Sorin sweetie and you honey, but I actually kind of like sweeney. It’s like my own special nickname.”

“It is not foolish that I made a mistake?”

“Honest mistakes aren’t foolish in the least. Besides, there are no rules when it comes to names of affection. If you like sweeney, then so do I.” I rise up on my toes and kiss his mouth slit.

“You are special to me so you should receive a special name of affection.”

I stroke Kala’s chest. Which also makes me remember I’m standing topless in the middle of our tent with our son only a few feet away.

I glance around my mate to check on Sorin.

He’s still fast asleep if the quiet rumbling snores are any indicator.

Love for him fills me up. I shift my gaze up to meet Kala’s. There’s deep affection for him as well.

“Let’s go to sleep. We’ll have many more nights to feel each other up.” I grin.

“I will wash myself if you would like to change your leg coverings for your clean ones.”

“Only if I get to clean you next time.”

“Deal.” For once, Kala initiates a kiss between us even though he just barely brushes my lips. Still, I love that he made the first move.

I slip my top over my head, grab my pajama bottoms, and sit down next to our pallet to wiggle out of my pants, which is awkward to do sitting, but I manage. Before Kala is cleaning up, I’m fully clothed and lying on the bundle of furs. It’s warm inside the tent so I don’t think we’ll need blankets.

My mate rifles through his own chest and brings out a clean pair of hide pants.

Before I can guess what he’s going to do, he strips himself of the dirty ones.

They pool around his ankles and he steps out of them.

He’s partially turned away from me, but it doesn’t matter because there’s no hiding the cock that hangs from between his thighs.

Look away .

Except, I can’t. I stare as Kala grabs the wet cloth and washes himself…

there. He cleans two large sacs that sit at the base of his cock before wiping the long and thick length that makes my pussy ache but also clench in a little bit of fear.

I’ve never been with a guy, and knowing that someday that might be inside me is more than intimidating.

Although, judging by how wet he made me just by playing with my breasts, I might not have anything to worry about. Or at least not much.

The ache only grows worse the longer Kala washes himself. I can’t—don’t want to—stop from sliding my hand inside my pajama bottoms and under the elastic band of my panties, through the hair that covers my sex, until I reach my clit. It throbs and pulses like it has its own heart beat.

I don’t take my eyes off Kala while I rub my sensitive flesh.

I’ve perfected the art of masturbation over the years and I’ve learned exactly how much pressure and speed to use to get off.

My breathing speeds up and for a second he pauses what he’s doing.

I nearly whimper in need, but then he continues.

I’m not sure how long it takes me to realize Kala’s no longer only cleaning himself.

Far too long most likely, because suddenly I know he’s not just washing for the sake of washing.

He’s making a show of it. He’s stroking himself—pleasuring himself—the same way I am.

It’s confirmed when I glance up and our eyes meet.

There’s no hiding what either of us are doing, especially when Kala gives up any pretenses and tosses the cloth in the water basin and uses only his hand to stroke his cock from its base to its tip.

He speeds up the motion and I do the same.

My release is right there . It takes only another few rubs and it hits me. Hard.

I cry out and smother the sound with my forearm.

Kala groans and his whole body tenses. He grabs the wet cloth from the basin and covers himself as he comes.

Our gazes remain locked as he shakes and braces himself on the table while his pelvis jerks.

I drag my hand out from my pajamas and feel the heat pouring from my face and chest. Never before have I done that in front of someone let alone with someone.

Kala tosses the cloth in the water again and grabs his pants.

He pulls them on and takes the basin outside.

I hear the splash, and when he returns it’s empty.

He sets it back on the table and comes over to where I’m still lying.

There’s a brief hesitation where I wonder if he’s going to break his word and leave to sleep outside, but finally, he lowers himself beside me.

Kala’s rigid and stiff on his back with his arms at his sides.

Then again, I’m lying equally as tense. This is dumb .

I roll to my side facing him and pick up his arm so I can crawl under it.

He doesn’t resist, but he also doesn’t help.

I situate myself so his arm is draped over my shoulders and I can rest my head on his chest. Snuggling closer, I release a long sigh and force my body to relax.

“Do you regret what just happened?” I can’t help asking even though I’m not sure I want to hear his answer.

“No. Do you?”

Phew. “Not in the least.”

“I am glad.”

“Me too.” I lay my arm over his stomach. “Maybe next time we can touch each other instead of ourselves.”

Kala doesn’t say anything at first, but finally there’s a soft, “I would like that.”

I smile against his skin. “So would I.”