“I hope you’ll be comfortable, Empress. This was the last room available because of the Valley Festival that starts tomorrow,” Kora said with a slightly anxious note in her voice as she nervously wrung her hands together.
“It is perfect, Kora. Thank you,” Nali politely assured her.
Kora beamed and nodded. “Enjoy. I’ll have food packed for your journey tomorrow. Sleep well,” she said with a nod before backing out of the room.
Asahi looked at the bed before he scanned the room. She didn’t miss the way his eyes briefly lingered on the cushion in the window seat. She chuckled, walked over to him, and gently patted the center of his chest.
“Don’t even think of sleeping in the window seat or on the floor. We are both exhausted and mature enough to keep our hands to ourselves. We will need a good night’s rest if we are to stay strong and alert. I’m going to get cleaned up,” she stated.
She knew he was watching her when she grabbed the soft forest green silk robe that Kora had laid out at the end of the bed. She strode across the room and then paused at the door, looking at him with a sexy smile. Her heart hammered when she saw intense desire glimmering in his dark eyes.
“Of course, you could always wash my back if you want to save time,” she suggested rather provocatively.
Nali internally groaned. That was not what she had planned to say. She wanted to blame her ill-advised choice of words on the look in his eyes, but that would have been a lie.
“Be careful what you wish for, Nali,” Asahi warned, slowly advancing on her, his eyes never leaving hers.
She parted her lips and lifted her chin in a silent challenge. “Be careful what offers you accept,” she countered when he stopped in front of her.
He lifted his hand and caressed her cheek, then he tilted his head forward and paused. Their eyes locked, and she could sense the intense anticipation building between them. She leaned forward and pressed her lips against his.
The robe in her hand fell to the floor. As she slid her hand up his arm to his neck, she caressed his bottom lip with her tongue. In one fluid movement, he grabbed her waist, pulled her into his arms, and deepened the kiss.
Their breaths mingled, becoming one, as their need for each other ignited a fire that could only be quenched with their union. She tilted her head back when he threaded his fingers through her long dark curls. He kissed her with his eyes open, and she did the same. A powerful wave of pleasure filled her when she noticed the play of emotions in his eyes as their tongues danced in a primitive mating ritual. She reluctantly ended the kiss to take a breath.
“Are you sure?” Asahi said, his voice raspy with desire.
Nali gave him a confident smile and slid one hand down between them to cover the telltale bulge pressing against her. He deeply inhaled and tilted his hips forward as he exhaled with a low groan. Excitement zinged through her.
“How do you like the water?” she purred.
“With you in it,” he murmured, placing another kiss on her lips.
Asahi couldn’t drag his eyes away from Nali. She turned on the water to the shower unit before she started to undress. She removed her boots while he removed his shoes. They set them aside and turned toward each other.
He reached up and slowly unbuttoned his shirt. They both removed their shirts and dropped them to the floor. He moved his hands to his belt and waited until she did the same. Together, like mirrored erotic dancers, they continued undressing until they stood before each other—unshielded by clothing.
“You are a very… impressive looking man,” Nali said.
He closed the distance between them. Impressive didn’t even begin to describe the woman standing in front of him. Her long black curls hung down her back and over one shoulder, the curly swath stopping just shy of the dark areola surrounding her taut nipple.
Her skin was the color of rich mocha, and he wanted a taste. He trailed the back of his fingers up her arm to her shoulder. His body reacted to her softly inhaled breath.
“Soft as the petals of a rose,” he said.
Nali lifted a knowing eyebrow and gave him a wicked smile full of promise. He shook his head in grudging concession when she slid her hands around his waist, splayed them across each of his buttocks, and pulled him into the shower. Her parted lips met his as she switched their positions and pushed him back against the wall.
Asahi threaded his fingers through her hair and gripped her hip with his other hand. She ran her tongue along his bottom lip before gently sucking on it. After a few seconds, she reluctantly tilted her head back to look into his eyes.
“I’m glad that you didn’t listen to me when I told you to go east,” she admitted.
He cupped her cheek. Water droplets clung to her eyelashes. She pressed another fervent kiss full of promise on his lips and then stepped back.
He grabbed the bar of soap, and with tender strokes and attention to detail, he washed her. He wanted to take his time to memorize her luscious body. Her muted moan of pleasure made him smile.
His smile faded when she took the soap from him. The touch of her hands gliding over his body created mental images of her lips following every stroke. When she dipped her hands lower and stroked his cock, he gritted his teeth to keep his control, but he loved the pleased expression in her eyes when she felt his immediate response.
He slid his hand down her arm and wrapped his fingers around her
