When Shadows Call

asked, pushing myself up and drawing my knees to my chest. I heard the rustle of fabric as he removed his shirt and discarded it somewhere behind him. Reaching over me, Azriel retrieved the bar of soap from the tray at the side of the tub and dipped it into the water. He worked the bar into a lather between his hands, and I stared, transfixed, as the muscles in his arms flexed with the simple motion.

I barely paid attention as he set the bar back in the tray. But when his slick, soapy hands slid across my back . . . I noticed. Azriel took his time, as if he savored every moment of contact with my flesh. Down my spine and back up again he traveled, over my shoulders and around until his fingertips brushed the swell of my breasts. He paused to lather his hands again and washed my arms with a strong downward caress, his fingertips weaving with mine where they rested at my knees before he pulled away and traveled up again, under my arms this time, grazing my breasts on either side.

Never in my entire life had I envisioned such a delicious torture. Once he’d finished with my arms, he guided first one leg, and then the other, to the rim of the tub. I sank deeper, the murky water offering me some cover, but as Azriel’s strong hands passed from each of my toes, over the arch of my foot, up my leg to my thigh, I couldn’t have cared less about something as silly as modesty.

My lips parted and my breath came heavy. He lifted my leg and gently lowered it back into the water. Heat rushed like quicksilver through my veins as he worked his way back up my body, his fingers passing slowly over each of my ribs. And a moan worked its way up my throat as his fingers meandered over the swell of my breasts. My eyes drifted shut and I allowed my head to rest against the back of the tub. I gripped the porcelain edge as if to keep me anchored to the world, lest I float away on a cloud of pleasure. Azriel plunged his soapy hands beneath the water and cupped my breasts. His thumbs grazed my nipples and I drew a sharp breath as an electric rush chased through my limbs, to my center, and settled between my legs.

“Azriel,” I whispered. “I . . . Henry never . . .” I clamped my mouth shut. I couldn’t bring myself to tell him that I’d never been with a man. Henry had never wanted to consummate our marriage. I was twenty-five years old, a married woman with no more carnal knowledge than a girl of thirteen. I wanted Azriel’s hands on me, craved his touch like I craved the shadows. But I neither understood my desires nor knew how to tell him what I wanted. Again his fingers brushed my nipples, but this time he lightly rolled them between his thumb and finger. I arched my back into his strong hands, desperate for more.

“I am aware of your circumstances, Darian,” he whispered against my forehead. “And do you realize what it does to me to know that I will be your first?” He kissed my temple, down my cheek, and at last laid his lips to the corner of my mouth. “I want you so much, it is torture to be gentle and take my time with you the way you deserve.”

My entire body trembled beneath Azriel’s touch. He took his time, admiring every inch of my flesh with his skillful hands. I tried to sit up, opened my eyes to look at him, but he eased me back against the tub and brushed his fingers across my eyelids. “Just feel, Darian.” He traced a finger between my breasts, venturing lower, down my abdomen. My stomach clenched as he circled my belly button, but when he ventured lower, I couldn’t help the trepidation that stiffened every joint in my body.

“Relax,” he said. “Darian, trust me.”

“I don’t think I can,” I whispered.

He put his mouth to mine and spoke against my lips, “You gave me the gift of companionship. Let me give you pleasure.”

I arched my body toward him, and a small wave of water lapped at the edge of the tub. I may have eased his loneliness, but he’d given me so much more than I gave him. He’d freed my soul from the darkness that had eaten away at me for years. I wanted him. With every touch he made me feel more alive. “I trust you,” I said before pressing my mouth to his in a kiss.

Azriel leaned further into the tub and his hand wandered, caressed, dipped down into the water and closed around my hip. I opened my eyes to find him staring, his gaze drinking me in, and I became lost in its dark depths, hypnotized by his beauty. A drop of water tickled my flesh as it ran from my chin, down my throat. Azriel bent his head and I gasped as his tongue flicked out to lick the water from my skin. He cupped the back of my neck with one hand, while the other wandered from my hip and across my belly. His mouth found mine, a gentle caress of lips. He kissed me with care, plying my mouth to open as his tongue traced my lips. What had been gentle evolved into something more frenzied as my tongue slid against his, tasting, searching, and wanting more.

My body thirsted for something, but I knew not what. Azriel continued to kiss me until our breaths melded together as one. My skin tingled with a pleasant heat and my hips thrust toward Azriel’s hand in a silent plea. I broke our kiss in a gasp as his fingers found my core, and I cried out as he caressed me in a way I had never imagined.

“Azriel.” His name on my lips elicited a moan of approval, almost a growl as it rumbled in his chest. Sweeping waves of pleasure brought me to the precipice of something . . . the answer to the need that had grown within me.

In one fluid motion, he took me in his arms and lifted me from the tub. Water splashed across the tiled floor and dripped from the edges of the tub. Azriel claimed my mouth in a deep, bruising kiss that left me breathless as he carried me into the next room. With total disregard for the pristine bedding, he lay me down on the duvet. I took in his magnificent form, my eyes devouring every inch of his exposed body from his corded arms, to his strong shoulders, down the muscular ridges of his stomach, and past the dusky line that trailed from below his belly button and disappeared in the waistband of his trousers.

His dark eyes shone with an otherworldly light. Awestruck, I could do nothing but stare at his masculine perfection. I’d discarded all thoughts of modesty or propriety. Azriel had become my guardian angel. My rescuer. My savior. I wanted him like I’d never wanted anything in my entire life. Our souls had become one when he made me a Shaede. He had given me strength—both in body and spirit—and an eternity to explore both. And in return I wanted to give him the only thing I had to give: myself.

I eased myself to the edge of the bed. Fingers trembling, I reached out, grazing my fingers on the flat expanse of Azriel’s stomach. His muscles clenched and his eyes became hooded. I cursed my innocence, wishing I could be the beautiful seductress he deserved. Nibbling at my bottom lip, I looked up at him, and lost myself in the endless depths of his eyes while my hands wandered to the fastenings at his waistband.

I took a deep breath, savoring the scent of summer blossoms and spring rain. But underneath the heady fragrance was something sweeter still, like warm honey. “That smell,” I murmured. “It’s wonderful.” I couldn’t describe what my senses absorbed. My body reacted to the scent, pulsing again with need. “It’s you, isn’t it? I think I can smell your . . . your desire.”

Azriel seized my face in his hands, gazing intently into my face. “Extraordinary,” he breathed with a slow shake of his head. “So very special.”

Every word from his mouth was pure seduction. Each glance, charged with sensual energy. Even in these intimate moments, he showed me there were more lessons to be learned. Azriel wanted me as much as I wanted him. He made sure I’d gleaned the truth of it not only from his actions but through the intoxicating aroma surrounding him. No longer afraid or worried for my lack of experience, I released the top button at his waistband, and then moved to the next.

His breath hitched in his throat as I unfastened the last button and slid my hands along his hips to ease his trousers down over his glorious backside. As the fabric pooled at his feet, I allowed my gaze to wander as I memorized every minuscule detail of his body. I’d never seen a naked man before, and marveled at the sheer strength and perfection displayed before me.

“Do you like what you see?” Azriel asked.

Yes. God, yes. I reached out to touch him, to feel the magnificent hard length of him, when he stayed my hands. “Not yet, love. I told you, I wanted to worship you with my mouth,”—he flashed a devilish smile— “and I intend to do just that.”

Azriel eased me down on the bed, passing his palms down my body as he knelt where my legs dangled over the edge. My bones seemed to dissolve as he planted light, warm kisses from my knee, up the inside of my leg. The curls of his hair brushed my thighs and I couldn’t help but reach out and comb my fingers through the silky strands. His breath felt cool against my still wet skin and I shivered.

He guided one leg so it rested on his shoulder. I held my breath in anticipation of what would happen next, but nothing could have prepared me for the bliss that burst upon me when his tongue passed slowly over my center. The way he seemed to savor that first moment of contact as much as I did sent me into a dizzying spiral of ecstasy.