Page 80 of Hunted By Fear

His laugh echoes around the bathroom, and I should have known it would be as sexy as he is. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve heard Talian laugh before, but not like this. Usually, his laughter has a bit of a bite, bordering on sarcastic. This is pure joy, and even though I know he’s laughing at me, I can’t stop the smile that splits my face, making my cheeks ache.

“Yes, we don’t get cable, but I found a way to get Netflix and a few other apps so we can watch a movie. I’ll grab some popcorn from the kitchen once you’re done.” He pulls himself up onto the ledge, and as excited as I am for that, I can’t possibly focus on it because what the fuck just happened?

I push off the bench, stepping between his legs and looking up at him.

He’s dry.

Well, all except his legs from the knee down, that still dangle in the water.

“Pretty cool, huh?” His breath is warm on my cheek, and I jump back a step and realize just how close I’d drifted toward him.

“Yeah,” I mumble, sinking into the water and running my hand through my hair to wet it, needing something to do.

I mean, it is cool, really freaking cool, but I really need to get myself under control.

I can’t have a crush on all of them; this is silly. Not to mention I’m Lucifer’s mate.

What if I’m not just Lucifer’s, though?

No, I can’t let my imagination run wild like this. I just need to get through my period and maybe find a vibrator to help me mellow the hell out. I mean, they have TV, so maybe.

But then again, this is Lucifer’s castle, so maybe the chances of finding a vibrator aren’t so great.

The reason one might be here makes me irrationally mad, my teeth grinding together as I try to remind myself that I’d only just met him.

“What are you thinking so hard about?” I make a very unladylike squeak before promptly sinking beneath the water.

I can only hold my breath for about twenty seconds before this becomes a problem, and I dramatically come back up huffing and puffing.

“Where’s your soap?” he looks around, and his brows pull in confusion. “Or anything, for that matter?”

Good question.

“Um, I don’t know.” I try to think of a way to explain it without putting all my business out there, but it seems like a lot of work, so I just tell him what happened. “Bast should have been back by now, or at least I thought so. And I have no idea where Ruin went.”

Talian purses his lips before he makes a face and waves something away. I’m not sure if he’s having a conversation with someone or just being extra. A second later, he snaps, and my soap appears on the ledge along with a pile of what I hope are clothes for me on the stool near the door, where they’ll stay dry.

The same stool I sat on not long ago for Bast to brush my hair after bringing me here.

The thought makes me sad. Why is he avoiding me all of a sudden? Did I do something wrong?

I grab the shampoo and start going through the motions as my mind spirals out of control.

Does he hate me now?

“Aeri.” Talian’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts, and I look up at him. Judging by the way he’s looking at me, I’m going to assume that wasn’t the first time he called my name.

“Sorry, what?” I ask.

He points to the water between his legs. “Sit.”

I do because, honestly, I don’t have the energy to argue, and I don’t really want to.

His hands take over, scrubbing the suds into my hair, and I melt.

This is the second time a man has washed my hair for me, and I know I’m in Hell, but you can’t convince me this isn’t what heaven feels like.

“Bast not being here has nothing to do with you and everything to do with him trying to keep himself in control.”