Nora


    I hope ke doesn''t notice my eyes are glued to him as he takes off his clothes. It''s just that I haven''t seen him in what feels like ages, and certainly not like this... Not with the mate-bond pulling taut between us.


    I take a nervous breath. Soon I will be sleeping in the same bed as ke, and I''m not mentally ready for this. My heart is performing somersaults, and I''m all excited. What am I allowed to do, and what should I refrain from doing?


    f**k. I feel like I''m back in high school and on a date with the hottest guy in my ss.


    I really can''t believe this is happening, though.


    After defeating Belphegor, we headed back to Leo''s mansion, and since ke had been missing for so long, Leo said I could spend the night with him to catch up. And now?


    There he is, looking like the human embodiment of every Greek god in existence. I''m gazing at him and drinking in his beauty.


    Does ke have any idea how beautiful he is?


    "You are staring."


    I gasp.


    He did notice!


    "I am not! I was just...nice muscles," I blurt out.


    Nora, you dummy. Way to make yourself look thirsty in front of your second mate. It''s crazy to think just not long ago, I feared him.


    Hah! Who am I kidding? I am still scared of him.


    When he transformed, it was terrifying. I didn''t mean to look so scared and withdraw from him, so I wonder if seeing the fear in my eyes made him feel bad. That must be the case...


    Right now, ke isn''t looking at me directly in the eyes, so it makes me think I hurt his feelings.


    But... I didn''t mean to hurt his feelings. I was just...


    "Tha...thanks," ke says and clears his throat.


    I blink. "You are wee?"


    "I am just thanking you for thepliment," ke says in an attempt to clear up my confusion.


    "Oh."


    Say something, Nora. Say anything so that ke knows that you want to be with him.


    I try to rake my brain for something to say, but I swear crickets are singing inside my brain. I''m even growing nauseous from the tension inside this room. How can you like someone so much and yet don''t know how you''re supposed to show it to them?


    Gah!


    Why is talking so damn hard?!


    "Umm..." ke scratches the back of his head. When he meets my eyes, he looks rather sheepish. "Do you mind if I take a bath?"


    "YES!" I exim way too fast.


    ke blinks at me, and then heughs. Even his teeth are perfect, brilliantly white. "Wow, Nora. You are really excited about my bath. Do you want to join me?"


    I stop breathing.


    Take a bath together with ke.


    Alone.


    With ke.


    My face turns a hundred degrees hotter. I imagine us together, all cozy and naked in the bathtub, and... s**t!


    "Hey, it was just a suggestion. You don''t need to look so mortified. I am not trying to force anything here." ke''s voice is gentle. He steps toward me and ces his palm under my chin.


    I get goosebumps all over my body from his simple touch. His hand feels warm and soft, and I want him to touch me more.


    No.


    Not want.


    I need it.


    "Nora?" ke tilts his head and peers down at me through his long ck eyshes.


    "O...okay. I will help," I finally speak.


    "You will help me? To do what exactly?" ke winks at me, and my cheeks warm at his suggestive gesture. I didn''t mean to say it like that.


    "I don''t know. Wash your back? It''s hard to do on your own," I giggle to hide my nervousness.


    "You are right. It''s very challenging to wash my own back." ke nods in understanding and pretends he has been thinking about it a lot. "You should definitely get in the bath with me, I insist! You don''t have to be shy since we are mates, right?" I draw in a long breath and exhale slowly. My heart is beating fast.


    "I will draw you a warm bath," I offer and stride toward the bathroom without waiting for him to answer. I turn the water on and check the temperature, making it perfect for us.


    I just wish my brain could shut up.


    Am I really doing this? ke will see me naked...I pause as the reality of this situation dawns on me.


    What if ke doesn''t like what he sees? I don''t look like a beautiful fairy princess who has climbed straight out of a fairy tale book. I''m just an average freckle-faced werewolf, nothing special. "What''s the matter?"


    ke''s gravelly voice startles me, so I look at him standing by the door frame. His muscr arms are crossed over his broad chest, and my heart thumps faster. Gorgeous.


    I gulp. "Nothing! Um... The bath is ready."


    ke approaches me carefully as if he doesn''t want to scare me off.


    It makes me smile inside.


    Even though ke was terrifying to me initially, his warm personality is slowly putting me at ease.


    I keep the smile on my face, pausing when ke walks to stand right behind me. He slowly slides my dress off my shoulders while trying to be careful not to touch any intimate part of my body. "You are so beautiful," ke says huskily, and for a moment, I think he will touch me more, but he simply extends his hand.


    I grab it without thinking. I am in a daze as ke helps me into the tub. Why won''t he touch me already? What is holding him back?


    I can''t hold back anymore and ask it straight out. "Aren''t you going to get in with me?"


    My nostrils re after my question, and I keep my eyes on his lower region. ke has only taken his shirt off, and his pants are on. I thought he wanted me. Why is he being so... Distant? ke smirks. "So eager to see me in full nude, huh?"


    "That''s not what I meant!" I''m blushing again. "I thought we were bathing together, so I thought..."


    "Rx, babe. I''m only teasing you. Yes, I am getting in with you." ke''s eyes twinkle in mischief, and I blush harder.


    Without further ado, he grabs the hem of his boxers. I''m wet between my legs even before he has tossed off hisst piece of clothing, captivated by the veins in his arms.


    He is perfect.


    Beautiful.


    I keep absorbing him...


    He has a smooth, muscr body without ws, making me self-conscious about the ugly scar on my face.


    What if ke thinks I''m not good enough for him? He can have anyone he wants. A girl who is just as perfect as he is. Erika was definitely the prettier mate...


    Then again, ke called me beautiful earlier, which must mean something, right?


    As I''m deep in thought, ke joins me, so I move quickly ande closer to him because I don''t want to wait for a second longer to feel his body against me.


    ke''s allure is so strong it makes me dizzy, and I want to feel his fingers trailing all over me.


    He can''t resist me if we are this close, right? I think to myself and lean against his chest.


    ke wraps his arms around me and hugs me from behind but still doesn''t touch me where I want him to.


    Ugh! Since when do men have strong willpower?


    "Do I still scare you?" ke asks while casually soaping my limbs.


    "No...I feel a lot morefortable." I reply, feeling much more rxed as his warmth envelops my entire body.


    ke chuckles against my neck. "You scare me a little, though."


    I gasp out loud. "Me!?"


    "Mhm...you are the most beautiful thing I''ve ever seen, and you have another mate who isn''t a demon... Leo is an angel and an alpha. I''m not even a werewolf. So, where does that leave me? Whose to say you won''t get tired of me and choose only him?" I spin around to face him. "You can''t be serious! You are gorgeous...and...and...perfect!"


    ke tilts his brow. "Perfect? What about these right here?" he points at his long ears, and I burst into a fit ofughter.


    "See? You areughing at them now!" He pouts.


    "I think they are adorable!" I run my fingers through his ck, silky hair. Almost having to climb him to be able to reach. Why are both my mates so goddamn tall?


    "Is that so?" ke looks at me inquiringly, and I feel his longing. His eyes are searching mine, probably to see if I mean my words.


    I meet his blue-blue eyes and smile. He needs me to show him how much I like him. So I lift myself up to pull him into a kiss.