Page 44 of The Powers of Nyx

I glanced towards Elias, who was now looking at me. His nod was barely perceptible, but he seemed to understand the struggle I was going through, battling with the other side of myself. Maybe he understood it too well.

Ivy took my hand and guided me into the second bedroom. It had a similar layout to the one we’d put the children in, with a full-sized bed, two side tables with sunset lamps, and a small porthole above the bed that looked out over the darkened ocean. The door clicked shut behind us, but we didn’t move from the end of the bed.

Tension ran thick between us; it was a palpable energy, humming with power that was becoming unavoidable. My own blood thrummed in my veins as a response to the heaviness in the room. Anticipation flooded me, awakening something I’d long since put to rest.

“Nothing has to happen tonight,” Ivy murmured, her soft, pillowy lips forming a gentle smile. She squeezed my hand in reassurance, but it only served to heighten the need building within me.

My fangs lengthened and broke the skin of my bottom lip. Ivy sucked in a breath, her gaze dropping to the blood. She averted her gaze quickly, but as I scented the air, I caught the gentle aroma of her arousal.

The beast in me clawed its way to the forefront of my mind. It didn’t just want her blood. It wanted more.

I descended upon her without letting reason win and claimed her soft mouth in a hard kiss. She moaned against my lipsand raked her hands over my gear before threading her fingers through my hair. I tore my mouth from her and took in her heaving chest and wild, desire filled eyes.

And yet, hesitation filled me. As much as I wanted her in all the ways that made a bond, I couldn’t muster the courage to take that next step.

Ivy seemed to sense that, and she offered me a soft smile. “Cuddling is also a viable option.”

“But you need—”

She cut me off with a shake of her head. “I’m more worried about what you need, Maeve. I’m fine. And all I need right now is you, here with me.”

I swallowed thickly, bowing my head. The few bags we brought with us had made it to the bedroom, and so I moved towards the one belonging to Ivy. She said nothing as I picked through the items and found a t-shirt and sleep-shorts for her.

Turning, I took in her bloodied gear. “Would you like my help? With…cleaning up?”

Ivy’s soft gaze found mine and she nodded. “I’d really appreciate it.”

We didn’t speak as I helped her out of the gear. Some of it was salvageable, but I wanted it gone. I wanted no memory of the crash, of her pain-filled cries and the sound of her body as the car rolled. I’d heard her almost break her leg. The snap of the seatbelt as it clamped across her chest.

Within a moment, I thought I’d almost lost her.

I’m right here, she whispered through the bond.I’m fine.

A lump formed in my throat as I guided her to a bowl stationed in the corner of the room. Filling it with soaps, I pressed a charm carved into the edge of the porcelain and watched it fill.

“Maeve?”

The beast in my chest coiled tighter as I forced myself to take in her naked, delicate body. The peaks of her breasts hardened,puckering with her arousal, which perfumed the air. But I couldn’t focus on that. The need to make sure she was safe—not hurt, not in pain—overwhelmed me more.

Blood still clung to her skin. To her knees, her arms. Dirt and oil from the crash lined her nails.

“I need to care for you, tonight. That’s it,a mhuirnín.Can I do that?” I asked, my voice hoarse.

Ivy nodded; taking a washcloth off a pile of towels, I dipped it in the water. My mate held her breath as I ran the cloth over her collarbone.

“The first time I found you covered in blood, I almost lost my mind to the blood lust,” I admitted, cleaning the dried substance off her skin. All that was left behind was a bruise, but even that seemed like too much. “I’d thought…I thought you’d been injured. I couldn’t believe you were still alive.”

I skimmed my fingers down her arm. A shiver followed the movement, puckering her skin as I took her hand and brought it between us so I could clean her fingers.

My heart stuttered. “I never gave myself the chance to hope.”

As I cleaned her hands, Ivy said, “I did.”

I stiffened, but she continued, “Maybe it was a little selfish of me. But from the moment I met you—I wanted you.”

I hesitantly met her stare. It was filled with warmth, and the same hope brightened the bond. “I might not have believed it possible to claim you as my mate. But I certainly—selfishly—wanted you, too.”

Blush warmed her cheeks. I cleaned the rest of her body slowly, taking in the pink and white lines that curved her stomach and thighs. It took every ounce of strength and power within me to not kiss each one, to not worship each stretch mark on her body. A body so powerful it protected her when I could not.