expected a lot of things when she tackled the Scot with soap, determined to at least force a semblance of cleanliness on him. What she didn’t foresee when she decided to give him a much-needed trim was him caving to her ministrations . Even more unexpected was the attractive man who emerged from the shaggy mess.
Before , he’d resembled a disgusting Sasquatch, all matted hair, rancid stench, and, despite his speech, one step above an animal. Now…now she could see what hid beneath, and quite frankly, it stunned her.
Niall would never be described as a truly handsome man. His features were much too rugged and square for that. His nose too large. His brows too thick, his hair too red, and his skin, freckled. But he bore a strong face. A warrior’s face , and with the stench gone, his shirt torn away in their tussle, and his plaid gaping, she could clearly admire the physique with a musculature reminiscent of the gladiators she’d ogled in her youth.
One big difference, though, became evident , and she meant big. Straddling his waist, she couldn’t miss the pulsing hard-on currently poking against her backside.
“I see a clean body doesn’t mean a clean mind.” She arched a brow at him.
Opening his eye, his vivid blue iris fixed her as Niall’s lips curved into a slow, sensual smile that sent a shiver through her system, one that went on and on, especially once she spotted his sharp fangs. “Lass, if you don’t get off me, all your cleansing work will be for naught because I will take it as an invitation to dip my dick and get sweaty.”
Her nose wrinkled. “You really need to work on your come-on lines. I realize you’re ancient and all, but those kind of remarks went out with the dinosaurs.”
“Does this feel old to you?” He clasped her hips and ground against her ass, transitioning her pleasant shiver into a liquid heat that moistened her pussy.
The shock of it almost made her slit his throat. Aella didn’t like it when her body didn’t behave as expected. And feeling desire for a Scot wasn’t on her list of approved bodily actions. Then again, now that he’d cleaned up, he at least showed potential. Ugh. What is wrong with me? I am not fucking my target.
“You got an erection. Big fucking deal. Anybody with access to Viagra can get one nowadays.”
“You have an answer for everything.”
“But of course.”
“Then answer me this? If you’re so unimpressed, why is your pussy wetting me stomach?”
“I had to pee.”
Biting her tongue at the expression on his face, she rose from his body, giving him a naughty peek at what she didn’t wear under her toga. His eyes fairly smoldered as he stared. To his credit—and her disappointment—he didn’t try to touch. Probably a good thing. She’d sliced off the hand of the last idiot to try that without permission.
When he didn’t rise from the sand, she asked , “Are you coming?”
“I’d like to.”
“With me, you idiot.”
“Didn’t I already say I’d like to?”
Tapping her foot, she glared at him. “Would you stop turning everything I say into a sexual innuendo?”
“No. This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”
“Well, I’m glad one of us is enjoying ourselves.”
“Lighten up, lass. You only live once.”
“Says the drunk I found wallowing in a bar in the most disreputable part of Hell.”
“I have my reasons.”
“And how old are they?”
He scowled. “None of your business.”
“Did I offend you? Good.”
“How is making fun of my misery good?”
“I can’t abide idiots who mope.”
“I wasn’t moping.”
“Then what do you call what you were doing?”
“Getting drunk.”
“For how many centuries?”
“Why do you care?”
“I don’t. I just can’t stand people who fuck up their mortal life and then end up in Hell blaming everyone but themselves for the mistakes they made.”
“I didn’t make a mistake. I was wronged.”
“And?”
“And it wasn’t fair.” His lower