Raze sucked in a breath as he entered the bathroom, his eyes involuntarily flicking over to where I stood beneath the spray of the shower. He hopped up onto the vanity, his hands fisting dirt-encrusted hair. Blood and mud still covered him, and my heart squeezed painfully. He’d thrown himself in front of that monster without hesitation, putting himself in harm’s way to keep me safe. He’d been hurt protecting me. 

Flashes of the fight played across the backs of my eyelids as I tried to keep my breathing steady. “Raze?” 

“Yes, love?” 

“You’re filthy.” 

He chuckled. “I am.” 

I sucked in a breath. “I can help with that.”

Raze was silent, my invitation hanging thicker in the air than the steam from the shower. “You sure, love?” 

I slid the glass door open in response, and he stood, eyes on mine as he dragged his pants and boxers off with a wince. He was still shirtless from when I’d cut it off to patch him up. My eyes drank in every hard inch of him, cataloging  scars, tattoos, and every ridge and swell of his body. There was hesitation on his face, but longing, too. A hell of a lot of longing. 

“Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.” 

There was more than enough room for the two of us in the massive shower Shade had created, and plenty of showerheads to help me wash every glorious inch of Raze. He groaned when the hot water hit his body, dirt and blood streaming down his flesh before pooling on the tiled floor and swirling down the drain. As he stood beneath the flow, I grabbed a clean washcloth, lathered it with body wash, and crossed the distance between us. 

Raze’s eyes opened and locked on mine as I gently ran the cloth over his jaw, down his neck, and over one shoulder. My other hand rested on his uninjured side, whether to steady me or him, I wasn’t sure. Neither of us spoke as I cleaned him reverently, this man who’d literally fought monsters and killed for me. I explored every inch of Raze as I circled him with a washcloth in hand. He moaned softly as I rubbed soap over his back, his abs, his hips. 

“Harlow,” he groaned as I dropped to my knees, running my hands up his powerful thighs, kneading the round globes of his ass. 

“Yes, Raze?” 

He inhaled raggedly as I drew the washcloth over his hip bone and dangerously close to the short, curly hair around his very hard dick. 

“A princess falls to her knees for no man.” 

My heart squeezed with affection, but I smirked. “Good thing I’m no princess then.” 

Raze hissed when I lathered soap in my bare hands before drawing them over the hard length of him again and again. I let my hands roam down the insides of his thighs, over his hip bones, and around his ass as his breathing grew ragged and desperate. “Love…” 

“Shh,” I told him. “Let me take care of you.” With all the soap rinsed off his body, I ran my hands over Raze’s lower abs, over his hips, then let them feather over his shaft. He moaned, body tensing, hands fisting at his sides. I knew he wanted to tangle them in my hair, but he was holding back. I’d allow it, for now. Soon enough, I’d have Raze’s control shattering.