Chapter 366: What She’s Missed ( R18 )

Jax’s heart swelled in his chest, a feeling so profound it was almost painful.

He reached up, gently brushing a stray strand of sweat-dampened hair from her cheek, his thumb stroking her soft skin.

"Yes, you can," he murmured, his voice thick with an emotion he couldn’t name. "And it’s the most beautiful sight in the world."

He watched as her eyes, those incredible, newly-opened windows to her soul, darted around the room again, taking in details with a childlike wonder.

She looked at the melted wax pooling around the candle bases, at the intricate patterns the flickering light cast on the ceiling, at the deep red of the sheets tangled around their legs.

Then her gaze returned to him, and the wonder in her eyes was replaced by something deeper, something that looked suspiciously like love.

But even as she marveled at her new sight, Jax could see the evidence of their frantic, passionate coupling.

She was covered in a sheen of sweat, their combined fluids glistening on the inside of her thighs. A thought formed in his mind, a desire to care for her, to cleanse her not with magic, but with his own hands.

Without a word, he shifted his weight, sitting up and swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He kept his arm around her, holding her securely.

Then, with a grunt of effort, he stood, lifting her effortlessly into his arms. Ashanti gasped, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck as she was cradled against his chest.

"Jax! What are you doing?" she laughed, a light, musical sound that was pure joy.

"I’m taking care of my goddess," he rumbled, his voice a low, intimate murmur against her ear. He carried her through a doorway adjacent to the bedroom, into a chamber that was a testament to luxury. It was the bath chamber, and it was magnificent.

The air was warm and humid, filled with the scent of exotic oils and steam. In the center of the room, sunken into the floor, was a large, circular pool of black, polished marble.

Water, steaming and fragrant with lavender and chamomile, filled it, and a series of enchanted crystals embedded in the walls cast a soft, ethereal blue light across the rippling surface.

He walked down the three shallow steps into the water, the heat instantly soothing his tired muscles.

He waded into the center until the water was up to his chest, then gently, reverently, he lowered Ashanti into the bath. She sighed as the hot water enveloped her, a blissful, contented sound.

He didn’t let her go. He kept his arms around her, holding her against him as he reached for a small, floating tray that held soaps and soft sponges.

He selected a cake of soap made from crushed moonpearls and something that smelled faintly of sandalwood, and worked it into a rich, foamy lather in his hands.

"I’m a mess," Ashanti murmured, though there was no shame in her voice, only a quiet observation as she looked down at the water swirling around them.

"You’re a masterpiece," Jax corrected her, his voice firm. He began to wash her, starting with her shoulders. His touch was gentle, worshipful.

He traced the elegant lines of her collarbones, his thumbs massaging the tight muscles of her shoulders. "You’re so strong, Ashanti. So much stronger than you know."

He moved his hands down her arms, soaping every inch of her skin, from her shoulders to her fingertips. He lifted each hand, kissing her palm before meticulously cleaning each finger.

"To trust me, when you couldn’t even see me... to give me your body, your innocence, your faith... that’s the bravest thing I’ve ever witnessed."

Ashanti leaned her head back against his shoulder, her eyes closed as she simply savored his touch. "It wasn’t so hard to trust you," she whispered. "You made me feel safe."

He moved to her chest, his hands gliding over her full breasts. He was careful, his touch more caressing than washing. He cupped their weight, his thumbs circling her nipples, which pebbled instantly under his attention, not from lust this time, but from a deep, tender affection.

"You feel safe with me, and you make me feel... whole," he admitted, his voice quiet. "I’ve been a warrior, a king, a monster... for so long, I forgot what it was like to just be a man. You remind me."

He turned her in his arms gently, so her back was to his chest. He began to wash her back, his hands tracing the graceful curve of her spine.

He paid special attention to the base of her wings, where the delicate membranes met her skin. He could feel her shiver, a soft sigh escaping her lips as he worked the tension from the muscles there.

"These," he said, his fingers stroking the velvety softness of her wings. "They’re magnificent. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful."

He carefully washed each wing, his touch impossibly gentle, handling them as if they were made of spun glass. "They’re a part of you, and they’re perfect. Just like every other part of you."

He moved lower, his hands sliding over the flare of her hips, down to her stomach. He pressed a soft kiss to her shoulder, his lips lingering against her damp skin.

Ashanti’s breath hitched, her hand coming up to cover his where it rested on her stomach. She turned her head to look at him, her dark eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Jax..."

He finished bathing her, his hands moving down her legs, cleaning every inch of her with a devotion that brought tears to her eyes.

When he was done, he simply held her, letting them both soak in the warm, fragrant water. He had praised her body, her bravery, her spirit. He had shown her a reverence she had never known existed.

"I’m so proud of you, Ashanti," he whispered, his lips brushing against her temple. "More proud than I have ever been of anything in my long, long life. You faced your fears, you embraced the pain, and you were reborn. You’re not just a broken fallen angel anymore. You’re a queen. One of my queens,"

A single, happy tear escaped and trickled down her cheek. She turned in his arms again, wrapping her own around his neck and pulling him down for a kiss. It was a slow, deep, tender kiss that tasted of salt, soap, and a love so profound it defied words.

When they finally broke apart, she rested her forehead against his, a radiant, beautiful smile on her face. "Show me more," she whispered, her eyes sparkling with mischief and newfound life. "Show me everything I’ve been missing."