Twisted Soul (Cursed Legacies #3)

4. Maven

4

MAVEN

Baelfire's words do something to me. I'm suddenly unable to look him in the eye because I'm dangerously close to getting emotional. It's one thing to do what I think is right, no matter what it takes or who hates me for it. It's another thing for someone else to see me— really see me and tell me I'm still a good person.

I didn't feel like a person for years, let alone a good one.

It's strange to hear.

But also…nice, somehow.

Crypt appears abruptly, sitting on the bathroom counter beside me, making Bael startle and swear. He winks like we share a secret, kisses me deeply, and vanishes again. A moment later, I can't sense his presence anywhere nearby.

"Damned incubus," Everett mutters as he also enters the bathroom. He hands Baelfire a wad of cash and then turns on the shower, testing the temperature.

"Can a snowman like you even test temperatures correctly?" Baelfire points out.

"You're one to talk, you walking furnace. Go get clothes so she has something to wear when she gets out."

"Or we could just keep her nice and naked," Bael grins, nipping one of my ears. He whispers so only I'll hear him. "Please tell me I can hold you tonight, baby. I need my mate so fucking bad."

I nod, swallowing hard.

Gods, I like my needy dragon. The rumble of his voice makes me clench my thighs together, trying to hide my body's instinctive surge of want—but he still groans and pulls me flush against him, hugging me tight.

"I'll go get you some food while you get cleaned up, but mostly because I desperately need your scent not mixed with blood. You have no idea how much of a dick my dragon has been about it ever since we left Everbound. I fucking hate knowing I haven't been taking good enough care of you."

I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss his jaw. "Tell your dragon that I hardly mind wearing the blood of our enemies. And come back to me quickly."

Once Baelfire leaves, I see Everett waiting by the shower, looking unsure. And still very dressed.

"Aren't you getting in with me?"

He clears his throat. "You're exhausted. Meaning, I should probably keep this all…you know. Strictly methodical."

For a model who's posed in all kinds of outfits, including half-naked on magazine covers that I used to see students and even teachers toting around Everbound, he's being strangely shy. Or is he so awkward about getting close to me because he still thinks his curse is an issue?

Either way, I'm okay with a methodical approach because it feels like my bones weigh ten thousand pounds. I've revived three times today and nearly actually died. Not to mention berserking, which always takes a heavy toll. I've been pushing myself hard to get us to safety—but now that we're here, I can't even bother trying to look sexy as I strip out of my ruined clothes and drag myself into the shower.

When the warm spray hits my skin, I sigh in pleasure and shut my eyes. "Thanks."

It's quiet for a moment, and then I hear the rustling of clothes as Everett removes his. He steps into the shower behind me, which increases the steam significantly, thanks to the chill of his skin.

He hesitates. "My touch isn't exactly pleasant. Are you sure you want me to…?"

I peek open one eye and immediately open the other to get a better view.

Oh, gods. He's so fucking gorgeous.

I used to roll my eyes about the girls drooling over him at the university all the time, but I get it now. All that perfect skin, the lean muscles, that angelically handsome face and striking white hair, those ice-blue eyes…

Everett blushes so hard that he tries to cover his face. "Cut it out, Oakley."

"Am I making you uncomfortable?" I grin.

"You're making me way too fucking hard to even think about touching you," he mumbles so quietly I almost miss it.

That takes my gaze downtown quickly, and I once again need to press my thighs together. I've sucked his cock in the dark and loved it, but this is my first time really seeing it.

Flawless, just like the rest of him.

And very hard. I lick my lips.

" Oakley . Please. You're killing me here," he rasps. "Just tell me if you're comfortable with me touching you to wash you. I don't—we won't do anything else, okay? I want it to be special when it happens, so right now, you really can't let me get…"

"Fucked?"

Because as exhausted as I am, all this tension between us makes me think that's an excellent idea.

Everett covers his face again, muttering a prayer to Arati that I don't catch. "Look. I really, really need to take care of you tonight, but this isn't the right time for my first— our first…damn it. Maybe I should just leave."

How is he this wildly flustered? It's adorable but confusing.

And then it hits me.

His first. As in, Everett is freaking out because… he's never had sex. Meaning I'll be his first, but he doesn't want to do it here and now. He wants it to be special.

A strangely possessive warmth hums through me at the thought of being his first. I pull his hands away from his face and nod.

"Wash me. I like your touch."

His cheeks and ears are an adorable shade of pink. "Even though I'm cold?"

Turning over one of his hands, I place his palm against my face. "More like refreshing."

Everett swallows hard, nods, and gets to work. I mostly said he could wash me earlier so he'd have a way to contribute. Still, the more his skillful hands carefully wash away every lingering trace of filth on me, shampooing my hair and working my tired muscles, the more relaxed I feel.

Gods, I think I needed this. I could melt into a puddle and sleep on the shower floor.

His hands shake as he nears my tits, and then he pulls back. "Are you sure?—"

"Everett. I've sucked your dick. That means we're past second base."

He's so taken off guard that an actual smile escapes, showing off his ridiculously photo-worthy dimples. "No offense, but how the hell do you know about bases?"

"Kenzie taught me."

I reach for the soap and lather my hands, reaching for him. He jolts as soon as I touch his chest, closing his eyes. "Shit—I don't know if you should…oh, dear gods, that feels so good ."

I almost laugh when his head falls back with an expression of rapture. Does he really like me touching him this much, even in a non-sexual way? I wash his arms, chest, and back. But when my hand starts to dip lower, his grip encircles my wrists.

I glance up at him, enjoying the torn desperation on his flawless face. "I'll keep it methodical."

"Way too fucking late for that," he grits before he's suddenly pressing his lips to mine.

Immediately, we're tangled in each other's arms under the rain-like spray of the water, exploring one another as I tease his tongue with mine. It's incredibly satisfying to feel just how sensitive he is to everything. When my fingers skim over his side, he shivers, and when I gently nip his bottom lip, he groans and presses me against the shower wall.

That unintentionally presses his erection against my stomach, and he breaks away to swear, hanging his head.

"Gods help me, you're so fucking warm . I can't get enough of you." When he looks back at me, his pale blue eyes are pools of longing again. "Do you have any idea how much I want you? It's been torture since I saw you on that stage. I fucking ache to be yours. If we can just circumvent my damn curse so I know I'm not going to hurt you?—"

I capture his lips again. "You won't hurt me. Just kiss me."

Everett moans and gets rougher and more daring as we kiss in the steam-filled shower. His lips skate down my jaw, and he peppers kisses along my neck, scooping me tighter against him so he won't have to bend as much while his hands slip to my ass and squeeze hard. I close my eyes, dizzy from the lack of oxygen and the blissful hum of desire in my veins.

For someone with no experience, he is incredible at this. I'm so consumed by him that it takes a moment to hear the slur of words.

I've memorized these…yes, sir, three vials of ogre blood…two pinches of stardust…

I stiffen and pull back from Everett. He's breathing just as heavily as I am as he tries to get himself under control, but lucky me, he can't seem to remove his hands from my ass. He rolls his forehead against mine with a soft, tortured groan.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to get so?—"

"It's not anything you did," I say quickly.

A strange emotion floods me as I realize that while I'm in here getting a taste of my ice elemental, my fae is still in terrible shape.

I think they call this emotion…guilt.

"I heard Silas in my head. I should check on him," I explain.

Everett nods as I back out of the glass shower—but the residual hunger on his face leaves me breathless. He licks his lips and drags a hand through his hair, which looks silver when wet. His glacial gaze traces every exposed inch of me, and my mouth parts as I watch his free hand slide down to slowly stroke his wet, straining erection.

Gods. I should be reaching for a towel to cover my wet nakedness, but I can't tear my attention away.

I meet his gaze, determined to get what I want before I go.

"Faster. I want to watch you finish."

Everett's breathing hitches. I expect him to argue, to keep resisting this. Instead, the chillingly beautiful man braces one arm against the glass of the shower and starts stroking himself in earnest as the steam continues to billow around him.

It's so fucking erotic seeing him like this. Dripping, a blush on his cheeks and neck and shoulders as he chases his release, with those crystalline irises pinned on me.

"Maven," he whispers, his gaze still on my body.

"Close?" I murmur, watching his fist fly over his thick cock.

He nods, panting and groaning. Gods, I love seeing him like this. Flushed and overwhelmed, on the brink of pleasure. All that careful, icy composure from when we first met has melted away, leaving this sinfully handsome creature coming undone under my gaze.

"Dear gods, your body," he moans. "And…fuck, I love you watching me."

That makes two of us.

I had no idea I liked watching this much—not that it's a shock when he's so ludicrously attractive. But it's clear Everett enjoys an audience.

I wonder what else he likes. When we get to it, I do want to make his first time special.

My own first time was quick, painful, pleasureless, and ended with the slightly less fun version of strangulation. I didn't get to explore what I did or didn't enjoy with a trusted partner—hell, I only had sex with Gideon out of morbid curiosity and to get him to shut up about his imagined feelings.

Now? I want to explore much more with all of my matches.

"You're gorgeous," I whisper, letting my hand steal down to brush through the new wetness between my legs. I can't help moaning slightly at the pulse of pleasure that sends through me.

Everett swears softly. I watch in rapt fascination, my pulse pounding eagerly as his cock jerks and his cum paints the foggy glass shower wall between us. He's shuddering and breathless when our gazes meet again, but his gaze is now so full of emotion that it pins me in place.

"No holds barred, Oakley," he whispers. "I mean it. If we can avoid my curse, nothing is going to stop me from finally fucking belonging to you."

Too late. He's already mine, whether he's prepared to accept it or not.

I finally break out of the incredibly sensual trance I've been stuck in for the last few minutes, wrap myself in a big white towel, and hurry out of the bathroom.

It's hard to steady my breathing, and now I'm the flushed one.

But when I slip into the room where Baelfire put Silas, my lingering arousal and building hope fizzle to nothing. He's still unconscious, fighting to breathe with a damp cloth on his forehead.

Silas , I try again.

Seven dried ghost orchids…two vampire fangs, his voice slurs back.

It's nonsense. He's completely out of it.

But at least I can fucking hear him again.

Taking a deep breath, I grab a towel and bowl of water so I can at least make sure he's clean while I wait for however long it will take to get my fae back.