Or rather, five needs, judging by how her gaze scanned the mate-circle.
I removed the breakfast tray and Claire’s blanket, then took her hand. “I believe we have a massage trial to practice,” I said, my lips lifting with a mischievous smirk.
Her eyes sparked, but then she frowned as she grabbed the edge of my suit collar and sniffed. “Have you been smoking?”
Oops. Underworld problems.
“No, but I walked by some people who were smoking when I was picking up all the human food you asked me for,” I said, casually reminding her that I’d gotten everything she’d requested on her list. And it wasn’t a lie. I had walked past humans who were smoking, although they’d been on the other side of the parking lot. I kissed her cheek. “Are you ready for a massage, Claire?”
Her fingers closed into fists as she looked down at her stomach. “I don’t think I can…” She knew what I meant, and it terrified her. I felt her fear surge through the mate-bond, and it twisted my heart until I could choke on it.
Cyrus joined me, taking her other hand to lift her to her feet. “You don’t have to do anything, little queen.” His confidence seeped into my spirit, reassuring me that Claire could be convinced. We’d never failed before. “Let us adore you,” he said, his tone sweet and regal. “That’s all we ask.”
She bit her lip before giving us a nod, which was all the permission I needed. Her spirit called to mine with such clarity that a melody unfurled in my mind, one where our souls danced together and began a new courtship.
Beautiful.
Cyrus and I escorted her to the massive bed, then I stopped her beside it. “Can I strip you, Claire?” I asked. “Massages are best when naked.”
She licked her lips, then slowly nodded her head.
“Words, baby,” I murmured. “Give me words.”
“Yes,” she whispered. “You can strip me.”
I smiled and rewarded her with a gentle kiss, my fingers teasing the edge of her nightgown. “Thank you, Claire,” I said, loving the act of removing her clothes. So did all the others, but I wanted to remind her with my words and touch, to ensure she felt just as beautiful now as she ever did before. Because to us, she was perfect. Gorgeous. A goddess of the elements, even if they were blocked right now.
Goose bumps pebbled her arms as I slowly pulled the strap of her gown downward. Then she froze as the material revealed her breasts.
Mmm, no, that wouldn’t do.
I wanted her fluid. Warm. Aching for our touch. Not chilled and afraid of what we might think of her beautiful form. I could sense that uncertainty in our bond, had heard it in her voice when she claimed that she might not be able to accept a massage.
Our mate needed to go into phase three feeling cherished and loved.
Not unconfident and alone.
Could she not feel the pull from the source? The very real melody humming in my ears and in my heart and through my soul, begging me to take her? To fulfill the next stage? To give her what her body craved and desired most?
Oh, Claire.
I trailed my lips along her shoulder, urging her to relax, and brushed her spirit with mine, coaxing her closer to the blinding source of our power. A new life had been created here, one that we would cherish together as a family.
But first, she had to know how much she was loved by us all, how much we would always desire her. A child didn’t change this facet of our lives. If anything, it only brought us all closer together.
“Lie down,” I commanded, earning a feisty spark of rebellion in her eyes. She didn’t like to be ordered around, but in this case, she needed to listen to me. She was far too wrapped up in her own self-doubts and fears. I needed her to let go and to give me control right now.
She righted her nightgown, hiding all the luminous skin from us, but lay down on the bed like I’d demanded. I knelt beside her and ran my fingers down her cheek. “I need to love you, Claire.”
I rarely begged, and that was as close as I was going to get to it. She bit her lip before replying. “Well, lying on my back is actually a bit uncomfortable,” she admitted.
I smirked. Oh, well then, I had another position that would suit even better for my mood. “Can you rest on your knees?” I suggested, one eyebrow lifting as the plan unfurled in my mind. “I was going to massage your breasts, but I can work with another area.”
She swallowed and glanced at the rest of the mate-circle, taking note of how Sol and Vox rested near the wall, eager to have a good view of what was to come. Cyrus and Titus had eased around on either side of us, slipping onto the bed with sensual intention that dripped through the mate-bond.
I snapped my spirit magic through her, making her gaze jolt back to me. “But I’m so… pregnant,” she protested, still doubting her beauty. As if the sight of her would dampen our love or deter our desire.
This was precisely why this needed to happen right here, right now.