Chasing Tail [Rᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ x Sʜɪꜰᴛᴇʀs Rᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ]

Part 21

** once again, smut warning

Y/N POV

You tug the sundress over your head and let it fall to the floor. Your undergarments are still lost somewhere in the woods from last night's chase-and-mate extravaganza, so you're left standing completely naked before the hungry panther shifter across from you.

Ash's gaze is fixed on your body with an intensity that practically burns your skin. Immediately, you start to feel shy and try to cover your breasts and mons with your hands.

He tsks in disapproval and moves in, pulling your arms away.

"None of that. You don't get to hide all this beauty from me."

His voice, soft but confident and unyielding, sends a shiver through you. Ash trails his fingers across your collarbone, then down your sternum through the space between your breasts. His touch leaves a trail of goosebumps in its wake.

You're conflicted. On the one hand, you feel that you should probably clarify, at length, what this whole shifter mate bond thing really means and whether Ash and Cody will really be alright if you sleep with both of them. Before you go and get heated with Ash right after Cody just marked you.

On the other hand, one of the most gorgeous men you have ever seen is standing in front of you, buck naked, and you can see how much he wants you. This feels like a dream. Your body is screaming at your mind to shut the hell off and just let this happen, pronto.

Ash takes the decision out of your hands when he picks you up without warning and carries you into the shower.

It's an expansive, fancy shower with jets in the walls as well as a rain showerhead above. There's enough space for at least five people to shower simultaneously. All along the edge of the marbled tile, a bench is set into the wall.

Ash sets you down on your feet and messes with the shower controls until hot water spurts from every jet around and above you. You close your eyes and let the blissfully warm water soothe you.

Ash POV

I can't take my eyes off her. Streams of water run down her glistening skin, caressing her curves and taking all the same paths my fingers want to follow...between her breasts, over her belly, and down her hips to the juncture of her soft, plush thighs.

She sighs happily and brushes soaked strands of hair out of her face. When she opens her eyes again, they land on me, watching me watch her. Then her gaze drops, lingering on my body, like she can't help but take me in.

It's plain in her expression that she's as hungry for me as I am for her. Y/N can't hide what she's thinking—not from me. Not from her mate. And right now, she's thinking dirty things in that sinful, brilliant head of hers.

I stalk closer, circling around her. She stands still, heart hammering, neck craning to keep me in view.

From some dispensers installed on the wall, I fill my hands with shampoo and begin washing her hair with slow movements, letting my nails rake over her scalp. She moans and leans into my touch, filling me with sweet satisfaction. The panther within me is purring loud.

When I'm done, I nudge her towards the rain showerhead spewing water down to the tiles. "Go wash out the shampoo."

She does as I say immediately, which makes me smile. What a sweet, obedient mate I have.

"Come here." I pump some body wash from the dispensers and smooth my hands over her shoulders, spreading the suds across her arms and up her neck.

This shower has a dual purpose—obviously, I wanted an excuse to get my girl naked, but this way I can also personally wash Cody's scent off of her. I'm committed to sharing her, but that doesn't mean I want the scent of dog to be intruding on this particular moment. Right now, Y/N is mine and mine alone.