Page 37 of Caging Fire
Rowan followed behind me, her small bare feet padding through the dark hallway. She stood in the doorway of my bedroom, hesitantly chewing her lip and wringing her hands, deciding if she should step foot inside. She didn’t have a choice, of course, but it was cute that she still tried to exercise her free will.
“Rowan,” I said impatiently, “Close the door behind you.”
She took a few steps into the room and tugged at the door until a soft click sounded as the latch engaged. The silence was heavy, and I could tell she was on edge by her fidgeting.
“Um, which side do you sleep on?” she asked nervously, pointing to the bed.
“The right side, but I don’t plan on sleeping for a while.”
She subtly squeezed her legs together. I loved when she tried to hide the scent of her arousal. Sitting on the edge of my bed, I leaned forward.
“Come here,” I said, crooking my finger.
She had her usual internal debate before forcing her legs to carry her forward. She stood jittery in front of me, drowning in my oversized T-shirt. The shirt engulfed her, making her look even tinier than she was. Moving my hands under it, I took hold of either side of her lace underwear and slid them down her rounded thighs.
I hadn’t checked earlier, but I was content to see that she had actually obeyed me and put on the light blue pair. The color looked beautiful against her porcelain skin. When the underwear hit the floor, I tapped her feet, and she stepped out of them. I slipped them into the back pocket of my fatigues, saving them for tomorrow’s experiment.
“Take your shirt off, Rowan. I want to see your beautiful body.”
“Put your shirt on, Rowan. Take your shirt off, Rowan. You're awfully bossy and indecisive, Cade,” she huffed, with her hands on her hips.
“You know what? You are absolutely right. I have been indecisive. From now on, I think we’ll just keep you naked all the time. Starting right now. In fact, you’ll stay naked for your appointment tomorrow. I’ll happily drag you across the barracks, butt-naked, kicking and screaming. I’m sure Dr. Zolkos and the science team will love to meet with you while you’re nude.”
She balked at me, horrified at the idea.
“You wouldn’t!”
“I absolutely would. If only to see you come to regret your smart comment. You should test me further and find out,” I said, despite knowing I absolutely would not.
It would require ripping the eyes out of every man on base before I let them see her naked.
She was ours.
Rowan debated whether to call my bluff, but fear of public nudity kept her quiet.
She gripped the edges of her shirt, timidly lifting her arms and dragging the hem up her body. With every inch it rose, a new expanse of skin revealed itself, like unveiling a masterpiece. When she finally stood naked in front of me, I held her hips, spun her leisurely and visually catalogued every part of her perfect form. Her breasts were full and heavy with rosy nipples that pebbled under my attention. A light dusting of haphazard freckles and goosebumps scattered her smooth, pale skin. Her delicious hips curved dramatically to a pinched waist and soft belly.
“You're perfect, Rowan. Especially when you're not fidgeting,” I said, holding her place, and gripping her wrists at her sides. “Stay still for me.”
I heard her take a deep breath, and when she exhaled, her nerves seemed to leave her body. She was finally standing still and breathing evenly. Even her goosebumps dissipated.
That didn’t last long, though, as the next thing I said sent her anxiety rushing back in an instant.
“I’m going to fuck you and mark you tonight.”
Chapter 22: Rowan
No,no,no, no, no! Absolutelynot!
First, I did not want to be bitten again. That had really,reallyhurt.
Second, I was a virgin.
I knew nothing about sex, other than what I had seen in movies and heard about from Harper and Lily. My suppressants had kept my sex drive nonexistent, considering that was the whole point of them. I started rambling, trying to explain, but telling this gorgeous man that I was a virgin at 26 years of age was absolutely mortifying.
“Cade, uh, I can’t.Technically,I’m 26, and you know I was taking suppressants. I just didn’t, uh, didn’t meet anyone, orwant to. I don’t know, it’s just no,uh-uh, I can’t. Sorry, I mean we can sleep, and I don’t know. Cuddle?”
Nothing that had just come out of my mouth was coherent.
