Idiot! Do you have bandages? Ugh—some of these look like they need stitches. There has to be a doctor in

the realm. Let’s get these cleaned up and I’ll call for her, and—”

Asterius caught her wrists. “I do not need the healer.”

She frowned at him. “Look, I worked at a hospital. Just take my word for it. You need a doctor.”

He smiled and kissed her gently. “Your care for me warms my spirit.”

“Lovely. I’m glad it does. It would warm my spirit if we’d get the doctor in here.”

“Mikado, I am an immortal. I do not require a healer. The wounds already heal themselves.”

Still frowning, Mikki lifted his arm and stared at it. “You’re right! They are healing.”

“Are you satisfied?” he asked.

“I’m dumbfounded,” she said. “But definitely relieved.” She splashed water over his arms, touching the

newly healed bite marks, watching as the flesh knit itself together. “Is there any wound you can’t recover

from?”

“If you said you no longer loved me, it would destroy me.”

She met his eyes. “Then you will live forever.”

Asterius took the crystal bottle from the edge of the pool. “Let me show you how much I cherish you,

Mikado.”

She stood so the pool’s water covered her only to her waist and then took the bottle from him and poured a

generous amount of the heavy liquid over her neck, arms and breasts before putting it back on the ledge. The

heady fragrance of the Empousa’s anointing scent mixed with the heat of Mikki’s skin, subtly changing it

andiv>‘Ђ† making it unique to her.

Slowly, Asterius slid his hands over her slick skin. He caressed her neck and shoulders before moving to her

breasts and the seductive flesh of her stomach. His hands dipped below her waist, carrying the rose-spiced

scent to her thighs. Mikki felt as if she had turned to liquid heat as his hands slicked over her skin. His fingers

found their way briefly between her legs, where he used his thumbs to stroke her with quick, circular motions,

but then those knowing fingers would glide away, to tease her stomach or breasts before returning again to

her core. She felt as if his touch was calling awake sleeping parts of her body that the warmth of the water

continued to caress even when his touch had moved on. He turned her, and this time took the bottle himself

and poured the soap in a thick line down her spine. Weak-kneed, Mikki leaned forward against the edge of

the pool while his hands caressed her back and then dipped down to knead and cup her ass.

“Remember the last time I came to your dreams?”

She felt his breath hot against the middle of her back as he stayed on his knees and worked his clever hands

across her skin.

“I remember,” she said huskily.

Both of his hands slid around her body. She leaned back against him as they caressed their way slowly up her

thighs.

“We were in a pit of roses.” His deep voice rumbled across her skin, sending little ripples of pleasure through

her body. “I was on top of you. You opened your legs to me.” His fingers found the center of her excitement.

The tempo of his caresses increased. “I was engorged, and when I pressed myself against you, rubbing and

stroking, I could feel your wetness and heat and how your body gathered itself and then exploded with

release.” With a choked cry, Mikki climaxed, hard and fast.

And then he turned her to him, and in one swift motion lifted her through the water and impaled her while her

body still pulsed and throbbed. Mikki arched to meet him, using the edge of the pool as support. His hands

gripped her hips, and with a throaty growl, he extended his claws. His sex plunged in and out of her, exquisite