3. Brandon

3

brANDON

B randon found Morelle's questions about clan loyalty, minor rule-bending, and keeping secrets suspicious. They could have been just part of casual conversation, if they hadn't followed right after tonight's events when she was so exhausted that she'd barely kept her eyes open and was now dozing off against his chest.

He'd never actually explained the code of conduct to her, so this was an odd time for her to ask about it. She'd picked up bits and pieces from overheard conversations, like the prohibition against unsanctioned thralling, and perhaps he should have been more thorough in explaining clan policies, but tonight wasn't the time for a lesson in clan bylaws.

Morelle had been testing the waters, trying to gauge how he might react to whatever she was hiding, and he suspected that it had to do with what she had done earlier. Something other than telekinesis had been at play, and it had scared her.

After that incredible display of power, Brandon had seen the panic in her eyes, and at first he'd attributed it to the shock of what had almost happened. Everyone's hearts had been racing, and even now, he still felt the lingering lethargy that followed the adrenaline spike.

Given Morelle's obvious soft spot for children, her strong reaction seemed natural and warranted, but her subsequent questions suggested there was more to it. Something about that display of power had frightened her deeply, and not just because of the near tragedy she had prevented.

As Morelle stirred in his arms, he kissed her temple.

Whatever was troubling her, tonight wasn't the time to press her for answers. She needed rest and time to process everything that had happened so she could address it with a clear mind tomorrow.

Still, even in her exhausted state she remained incredibly sharp, and he couldn't help but admire her for it. She'd caught the evasiveness in his answers, proving her mind was still razor sharp despite her fatigue.

His tactical mind wanted to let this play out, to give her enough rope to—no, that was wrong. That was how he'd think about an adversary, not the woman he loved. With Morelle, it wasn't about manipulation or strategy. It was about giving her space to realize that she could trust him completely.

When she stirred again and sighed, he leaned and kissed the top of her head. "How about a bath?" he suggested. "It will help you relax and fall asleep."

Morelle's eyes fluttered open, and a weak laugh escaped her. "That might lead to things I have no energy for."

"Just a bath," he promised. "I want to pamper you. No ulterior motives."

She narrowed her eyes at him, but it wasn't in anger. "On one condition."

"Name it."

"I get to return the favor when I'm feeling stronger."

Heat coursed through him at the thought, but he kept his voice steady. "I eagerly accept."

She was really big on fairness and reciprocation, and he admired her for that as well.

"Then we have a deal." She lifted her head just enough to kiss his jaw. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet." Moving carefully, he stood with her still in his arms. "Thank me after the bath if you are still awake."

She wound her arm around his neck. "That's not what I'm thanking you for. I'm thanking you for being so patient with me. I don't know if I would have done the same for you. "

"I'm sure you would." He carried her to the bathroom. "Perhaps I need to stage a scenario when I need you to take care of me."

She frowned at him. "Are you so infallible that you never need help and have to fake it?"

He paused. "I've never needed it before, but it's nice to know that now I have someone who has my back." He kissed her forehead before setting her down on the counter.

She leaned back, her legs dangling over the edge. "Doesn't the clan have your back?"

"It does." He started the water in the large freestanding soaking tub that could easily fit two people. He'd never used it before, always preferring quick showers, but tonight, it would serve its purpose perfectly. "But it's not the same as having someone at home who I can talk to, who listens to all my crazy ideas and gives me immediate feedback without caring whether she offends my feelings or not."

She chuckled. "Is that what you think of me?"

"Am I wrong?" He checked the water temperature and turned to look at her. "Would you give me platitudes instead of the naked, harsh truth?"

She pursed her lips. "You'll get no platitudes from me, but if I didn't like your ideas, I would try to soften the punch."

"That's exactly what I need, and it's such a good feeling that I have someone I can rely on who wants only what's best for me. "

Morelle lifted a hand and put it over her chest. "I vow that's what you will always get from me. I will always tell you the truth, and I will do my best to provide constructive criticism."

"I appreciate that." He chuckled. "My mother's motto is that if you don't have anything nice to say, say nothing at all, but that's not constructive when I need feedback."

Morelle paled. "Your mother? Is she here in the village?"

He stood up, moved over to her, and when she made room for him by spreading her legs, he walked between them and wrapped his arms around her. "My mother does not live in the village. She lives in Annani's sanctuary in the north, and we are not close. She has her life, and I have mine. That being said, she has no doubt heard about you and me being together and is biding her time, waiting for me to call her and tell her the good news."

She arched a brow. "Are you sure she will think I'm good news?"

"Of course. You are a princess and a half-goddess. What mother wouldn't want that for her son?"

"I'm also half Kra-ell and know next to nothing about Earth and its customs. She will think that I'm an ignorant savage."

"I promise you that she will not." Brandon glanced at the rapidly filling tub and the steam rising from the surface. "Do you want me to add bath oils?"

"Yes, please."

He kissed the tip of her nose before leaving the enticing comfort of her thighs and walking over to the tub.

As he added the foaming bath oils, the air filled with a subtle floral scent. He looked at Morelle, expecting her to smile as she inhaled the soothing smell, but instead, she was slumped against the mirror with her eyes closed.

Brandon turned off the water, walked over to her, and began unbuttoning her blouse.

"I thought you said no ulterior motives," she murmured, though there was a smile in her voice.

"Just practicality," he assured her. "I don't think you have the energy to undress yourself."

"True," she admitted.

He helped her out of her clothes with as much clinical detachment as he could manage, then supported her as she stepped into the tub.

A soft sigh escaped her as she sank into the warm water. "This feels amazing," she said, her eyes drifting closed.

Thankfully, the soapsuds covered her nudity, or he would have needed to take a cold shower to keep all the blood from leaving his brain and pooling in his groin.

"Do you want me to shampoo your hair?"

He hoped she would say yes because he had never done that for a woman before, but Morelle was sensitive about the appearance of the new hair growth, so she might not want him to touch it.

"Yes, please." She smiled. "The advantage of having such short hair is that I don't mind washing it every night. In the temple, it was a complicated process to untangle my long strands, so I didn't wash it as often. Having to do it with cold water was another deterrent."

Brandon paused with the shampoo in his hand.

"Why cold water? Was it only you that had to go without, or was everyone in the temple required to bathe in cold water?"

She opened her incredible blue eyes. "The inhabitable area of Anumati is hot and humid, so the water was never freezing, but since it came from an underground reservoir, it wasn't warm either. Still, no one ever thought about heating up water for bathing, and since the Kra-ell didn't need hot water for cooking either, it just wasn't done."

He shook his head. "I have to admit that the Kra-ell physiology lends itself to an uncomplicated life." He began working the soap through Morelle's short hair.

Actually, it was growing out nicely, already thick enough to run his fingers through.

"I love the way your hands feel on my scalp," Morelle murmured.

Brandon smiled, massaging it gently. "I love taking care of you." He reached for the handheld to rinse her hair. "Close your eyes."

She did as he asked.

When he was done with her hair, he reached for a washcloth. "Lean back," he instructed.

As he began rubbing her shoulders, he said, "You know what I think?"

"What?" she asked sleepily.

"I think that you are incredible." He ran the washcloth down her arm. "I've watched you adapt to this new world with grace and courage. I've seen your fierce protective instincts, your deep capacity for love. My mother will fall in love with you at first sight."

Just like he had, but he was too much of a coward to admit it yet.

She caught his hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it. "Thank you. It means so much to me that you think that."

"I know." He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "You are the most amazing person I've ever met. I feel blessed and incredibly lucky that, for some reason, you want to be with me."

A smile tugged at her lips. "The reason is that you are a great storyteller."

She was teasing, he knew that, but he also wanted to give her many more reasons for wanting to be with him.

When Morelle's breathing became deeper, Brandon patted her shoulder. "Let's get you dried off and in bed."

She didn't protest as he helped her out of the tub and wrapped her in a thick towel. He dried her carefully, trying to stay indifferent to her nudity, and then slipped one of his t-shirts over her head.

By the time he carried her to bed, she was barely conscious. He tucked her in, then quickly changed into sleep pants before sliding in beside her.

She curled into him, fitting against his side as if she'd been designed for that space. "Thank you," she mumbled.

"For what?"

"For not pushing. For being patient with me. And for all the lovely compliments. I might get used to that."

"Please do." Brandon gathered her closer, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.