The Warlord by Gena Showalter (free ebook reader for pc .txt) 📕

forever and lots and lots of sex. Taliyah would be forced to choose between her consort and her people. If he was her consort. Was he? Here, now, with his body covered in the blood of their foes, she wondered...

If only she could chat with her sisters. They would offer advice and pep talks, helping her see what she needed to see and ignore what must be ignored. They would also make fun of her for the rest of her life. When every joke was deserved, however, you just had to laugh with them.

“What is this?”

She shook her head, clearing her thoughts and finding Roc in front of her, concern carved into his face.

With a small smile, she told him, “Nothing I need to decide now.”

The bathtub was partially full, the surface covered in sweet-smelling bubbles. Aw. Did the big, bad Astra sometimes enjoy a little pampering?

“If you’re debating the merits of feeding from me,” he said, “let me put your mind at ease. You will do it, no matter what. I want those gashes gone.”

See! This man could never end her. “Healing from my injuries requires blood, remember, not soul. Or, uh, seed.” They had yet to confirm if she’d sneaked past his defenses and taken his soul. Or if that little bit of seed had done the trick, when she’d licked her thumb in the shower. “My phantom side remains nourished.” Mostly.

“Doesn’t matter. You can do it now or later, but you will do it. The blood you’ll take before we settle into the bath. Come. Let’s shower off the phantoms before we enter the tub.” He said nothing else as he drew her tank over her head.

She stripped herself the rest of the way, watching as he undid his leathers. That mouthwatering erection popped free, making her belly clench. When she dropped her shorts, the firstones she’d stuffed in the pockets thudded. She planned to study them. And yeah, okay, she also kind of wanted Roc to work with them to develop an immunity to their effects. If anyone ganked him, it would be Taliyah, not phantoms or Erebus.

To her surprise, his lips curved with amusement as he lifted the shorts and walked them out of the bathroom, disappearing from view. No words of rebuke from him?

“Hey,” she called. “Those are mine.”

“I put them in a safe you can easily open. This is for our protection. I must be able to flash, especially while I’m...otherwise occupied.”

Okay. All right.

In front of her again, he lifted the key around his neck and removed her belt. “You did well out there.”

“Are you kidding? I got my butt handed to me. I’d never fought phantoms before. They disembodied and embodied at random in ways I never perfected because I was too busy pretending I was only casting illusions. Which changes now. Never again will I attempt to hide what I am.”

“Why did you hide your origins in the first place?” He stepped into the shower stall and extended his hand. “Did you expect ridicule from the harpies?”

If she was going to consider being with this man for any length of time, she’d have to share a little about herself. “My mother wanted me to avoid drawing Erebus’s notice.”

When his hand remained outstretched, despite the mention of his foe, she placed her fingers against his.

“Wise of her,” he said, drawing Taliyah closer.

Well. He’d accepted the confession better than she’d expected.

He fiddled with knobs until warm water burst from the overhead spouts. Once the blood and viscera rinsed from their bodies, he pulled her against his chest and bared his neck. “Drink.”

Her gaze dropped to his racing pulse, visible beneath his skin, and she trembled. “Are you sure? If your block is down, I might accidentally steal some of your soul. Before you force me to feed, I mean.”

He gripped her by the nape, his eyelids hooding, his pupils pulsing. “Take whatever you need, Taya. I’ll recover.”

“Okay, but only because you’re insisting.” With a moan, she leaned forward...and sank her fangs into his vein.

He tightened his hold. And yes, his block was down. As hot blood trickled down her throat, she fought not to imbibe any of his soul. Must resist. He’d offered what she needed, but she declined the option of taking what she didn’t.

Heat cascaded through her as she drank, and her veins fizzed. The most powerful medicine she’d ever consumed. Incredible strength flooded her limbs. Gashes wove together at last. Any fractured bones mended.

“That’s the way,” he told her, cupping her backside to grind her against his length. “That’s my Taya. Take more.”

More. All. Everything. What could be better than this?

Drinking him while he thrusts inside you...

Spooked, she gently plucked her fangs from his flesh. “That’s...that’s enough.” Her tremors worsened as she wiped her mouth, scooping up any remaining beads of blood and licking her fingers. “I’m healed.”

“But you drank so little.” He pouted with keen disappointment. “I have more than enough. I can provide all you require, Taliyah.”

“I’m sure you can.” Shivers and pangs blended together, revealing unknown vulnerabilities. This new dynamic between them might require some getting used to. “I’m good, I promise.”

The disappointment dulled, flames of arousal flickering in those golden irises.

They exited the shower. He led her to the tub, eased down at the far edge and pulled her between his legs. Splayed out before him, she presented a veritable buffet of pleasures, giving him full access to places she ached. Fragrant steam enveloped them, painting the air with a dreamy haze.

“I think I know how you are a phantom and...you.” He settled his hands on her shoulders and massaged, her eyelids sliding shut. “I suspect Erebus and his brother did something to your people during their raids.”

He was so close to the truth, yet so far away. “Yes and no. No,” she added when he prepared to comment further. “I’ll say no more on the subject right now.”

“Very well.” Leaning over, he collected a vial of soap and lathered her up. He took great care