Page 21 (1/2)

"Coe Jacuzzi tub, but he and Daegan were largea need toa convenient cradle for Anwyn to lean against Gideon lowered hi in a breath As the hot water closed over his balls, he sent an apology to the sperh he was expecting to produce heirs Last thing he’d ever do was bring a child into this kind of world

"I can help with the washing," he said gruffly "If you want me to"

"You knohat soap is? I’an’s reaze that ht nod of perled his chin toward a bottle of crea with a clean washcloth, he found it had a fresh scent to it that matched the smell he’d experienced on Anwyn’s skin earlier For all that they’d done in the Queen’s Cha this was farthat worked its way below the physical andcould feel more exposed than she ith her wounded throat and chest, the recollection of the bruises and blood He was about to kick his own ass if he didn’t get past his own hang-ups

It’s because she matters to you, you prick Pretend like she’s any other victim you’ve pulled away from a vamp, and you’ll be fine There hadn’t been many of those Only four scant times in his bloody career had he arrived in time to save a vampire’s victiotten them to hospitals, and it hadn’t rattled him like this

He worked the soap in the cloth as Anwyn curled up on her side against Daegan, her arms folded over her breasts Her head rested on the firain, fingers stroking through the strands When he was done, she watched Gideon approach with those intent mer her te her before he began to smooth the soap down her back

He wasn’t sure what she would be couidance caan said quietly "Don’t leave any part of them on her soft skin" He nodded to a basket "If you put some of those soap petals in, then the water will have soap in it and you can take the washcloth below the waterline and rub her with it"

"Sounds like you’ve done this before"

"No Not this"

A particularly harsh sob caught her then Daegan tightened his arainst the side of her head He propped his ar her face from them both

Gideon understood that this was best, to let her cry herself out without their interference, as often as she needed to do it She didn’t need their words right now But he couldn’t helpin closer, even if it h he took pains to clear the his heart out of his chest Daegan put his head down on hers

This was just Part One of the evening’s agenda Soan thought he was leaving Gideon behind for that, he’d better think again

For now, though, Gideon began to rub the washcloth over her skin in slow circles A plaintive sound escaped her lips He could tell she welco, but perhaps the touch reht He knew it reot the sire’s blood and all these wounds disappeared, she’d still have to deal with them on the inside The worst scars never showed on the outside Moving beneath the waterline after depositing the petals as Daegan suggested, he ran the cloth slowly down her side, across her stoh the vampire had said to wash it all off, he avoided her breasts, or too high on her thighs, anything that an’s ar her hand over Gideon’s wrist, she held his

"I’ not--"