Page 54 of Bikar

Patting the pad, I repeat the potty command several times just like I did while he was outside earlier. Hopefully Gwen’s right and I don’t have any surprises for me in the morning. Giving him one last pet, he whirrs before settling in and promptly passing out. His little chest rises and falls with each breath.

Quietly, I turn and enter our bedroom. I need a quick shower before bed, so I’m fresh and clean for what I’ve got planned. Bikar isn’t aware of it, but tonight’s the night we’re sealing our bond.

I love him, and he loves me.

We’ve been fooling around before bed—over my clothes—and he’s eagerly let me learn how his body is different than mine. I’m not scared of what he’s packing anymore, which I’m sure was his goal. Then there’s the way he touches me… it makes me tingle all over.

I want to know what all the fuss is about sex.

Bikar is still in the communal living room talking to his mam and brothers, so I’ve got some time before he gets here. Heather left shortly after Bikar’s revelation, and told me she would comm me later for details. Ruby and Rowan offered to take Atasha home to get her to bed at a decent hour, so Shagar could stay and continue her conversation with her sons.

I don’t have fond memories of being in stasis, and Bikar knows it. That’s why he kissed me on the cheek when I told him I was going to bed and said he would join me as soon as he could. The fact that his eyes were dull and lifeless worries me.

Bikar is anything but dull.

Hopping into the shower, I make quick work of washing my hair and body before using a neat little tool that lasers body hair off. I have no clue how or why Heather had something like this, let alone gave me one… but I’m glad she did. Knocking the hair off my legs, pits, and bits takes less than five minutes.

Noise in our living room announces Biker’s arrival, and I hurry to finish up. My hair whips wildly when I push the button on the dryer. The second I’m dry, I hit the button again, cutting the warm air off. Now, more than ever, I’m glad that my bestie forced me to take all the lotions and potions she made for me.

Just as I finish putting on vanilla-scented body crème, Bikar walks into the bathroom, and I freeze. We’ve been staying in the same space and sleeping together for a couple of weeks now, but I haven’t let him look at me completely naked. I’ve been too self-conscious about my scars andhowI got them. Making a split decision, I brazen it out, channeling my inner hussy.

“Hey, sugar.”

CHAPTER 48

BIKAR

“Hey, sugar.”

Bambi, the one who holds my hearts, is standing in the middle of our cleansing room, devoid of clothing for the first time. She’s bent at the waist, slathering some sort of warm, inviting scented cream on her legs. The earlier revelations mentally exhausted me, and I was not fully paying attention when I entered thebathroom. Angling my head to the side, I avert my eyes. “My apologies, Bambi. I was not paying close enough attention. I will leave and allow you to finish up.”

Tucking my wings close so they do not catch on the door, I am stopped by a hand on my arm. “No, sugar. You don’t have to go anywhere. This is your bathroom too, and I know you like a hot shower before bed.”

Keeping my head and eyes averted from her exposed flesh is hard, but for my mate I will do anything. My analytical mind does a query search for the usages of“sugar”in this context before my consciousness is aware of what is happening. The results floor me.

She has given me a moniker of endearment.

Movement out of the corner of my eye catches my attention, and I can’t help but turn my head, watching as she ties her mass of curls atop her head. Confused, as she just took hershower, a frown creases my brows.

“Little doe, what are you about?”

Planting her hands on her hips, parts of her jiggle enticingly. “You’re worn out and need to shower, so I’m going to help you.”

Swallowing hard, I look up and pray to the gods of Ruk for strength. “That… that is not necessary. I will cleanse and join you in bed shortly.”

Bambi promptly ignores me because she reaches for my belt, fumbles through the unfamiliar clasp before undoing it, and shoves my trousers down, motioning at me to take my boots off. “I’m not even going to attempt to take those contraptions off. Chop chop, I can smell you from here.”

Lifting my arm and taking a quick sniff, I playfully glare at her, kicking my boots and garments off. “I do not have an odor.”

Dragging me into theshower stall, she giggles and adjusts the temperature settings to my preference. She must realize I am still trying my best not to stare, because she turns me to face her.

“Bikar, it’s okay for you to look at me. Let’s be honest with one another. We’ve been working up to this. If you need me to say it, I will.”

Locking eyes with me, she takes my hands and brings them to cup her pert breasts. The feel of her skin against my palms is like nothing I have ever experienced before. What she says next, though, deepens my love for her.

“Bikar, you’re the love of my life. What those Aynar did to you didn’t make you less of a person. You’re not a machine that lacks emotion and free will. Nothing could be further from the truth. You’re a flesh and blood being with a few extra parts. No biggie.”

Reaching down, she cups the erection that has slipped from my body, hefting it a bit, and I cannot stifle a low growl of arousal.