The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

get some food in us, and eventually—unfortunately—find
you some clothing. Then we’ll talk about everything else.”
At first, my brain got snagged on the whole shower part
and then got hung up on the everything else section.
Everything else was meeting with his parents, the whole
Queen business, and…well, everything else.
“Or we can get some food in us first. It’s up to you,” he
said. “What would you like?”
“I think I would like a shower, Cas.” I gasped as he
nipped my finger.
His eyes opened, shining like citrine jewels. “Sorry.
Hearing you say that just…does things to me.”
Having a relatively good idea of what those things were,
warmth slid into my veins. My gaze crept over his shoulder,
and excitement bubbled to life. “It’s going to feel weird
bathing while standing.”
“You’re going to love it.” Casteel rose then, easily
bringing me with him. His strength was always a shock, one
I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to.
I followed him into the bathroom. Only the faintest light
seeped in through the window above the bench. Casteel
turned the knob on a lamp over the vanity, and a soft,
golden glow stretched across the tiled floor. I watched him
place two thick towels on a small stool between the tub and
shower stall. I hadn’t even noticed that before.
Casteel shucked off his clothing with an utter lack of
self-consciousness that was fascinating and enviable. I
couldn’t take my eyes off him as he walked into the sunken
stall and began fiddling with the faucets on the wall.
Water spilled out of the multiple pipes overhead,
resulting in a heavy shower. I should’ve focused on
whatever sorcery made that possible, but I was mesmerized
by him—by the dusting of dark hair on his calves, the
breadth of his shoulders and chest, and the lean, coiled
muscles of his stomach. His body was proof of a day rarely
spent idle. He enthralled me, everything from the delineated