Page 41 of Dark Princess Emerging

"There are several new toothbrushes in the bathroom." She leaned to kiss his forehead. "I'll be right back. Don't you dare go anywhere."

He smiled. "Yes, ma'am."

After a quick shower, Morelle put on a nightgown and dabbed some perfume on her neck the way Gertrude had shown her. When she emerged, she found Brandon sitting on the couch and reading something on his phone.

As he looked up at her, his eyes were glowing, and she smiled, knowing that he was aroused by her. The nightgown was made from a shiny and clingy material that outlined every contour of her breasts, and she wondered if that was what had caused him to react the way he did or if it was the perfume.

Gertrude had told her that both were meant to entice.

Well, that was her plan, wasn't it? She wanted to entice Brandon to stop holding back so much and show her a little more of the pleasures her mother had spoken of in her dream.

"Come join me?" she asked as she slipped under the covers.

Brandon rose to his feet, toed off his shoes, and lay down on top of the covers, fully clothed, impersonating a stiff board of wood.

She turned on her side. "You can't sleep like that. Take off your clothes."

She had a feeling that her own eyes were glowing just from the anticipation of finally seeing Brandon's body without anything covering it.

"I'd better not." He turned on his side as well, facing her.

"Why?"

"Staying clothed helps me maintain self-control."

"Perhaps I don't want you so controlled." She cupped his cheek. When he got that stubborn expression on his face that signaled he wasn't going to cave, she let out a breath. "Can you at least remove your shirt?"

Other than her brother, she hadn't seen any male without a shirt, and she was curious.

After a moment's hesitation, Brandon complied, opening a few buttons and then pulling the fabric over his head in one smooth motion.

Beautiful.

Her hand moved to trace the contours of his chest, feeling the way his muscles tensed under her touch. When his fangs elongated, she felt a surge of feminine pride.

She might be new to this, but her effect on him was undeniable.

"You're beautiful," she whispered, meaning it.

His glowing eyes held hers with an intensity that made her breath catch. "As are you, princess."

His skin was warm beneath her fingers, and his heartbeat accelerated when her hand trailed lower.

"Morelle." He caught her hand. "We should stop."

"Why?" She challenged even though she allowed him to still her movement.

"Because you're not ready. You are still recovering." His voice was strained. "Because when the time comes, I want it to be perfect between us."

25

BRANDON

Morelle gazed into his eyes for a long moment. "I might not have much experience in this or anything else, but striving for perfection is never a good thing. It's paralyzing. The head priestess used to say that only the Mother of All Life was perfect and that mortals should be satisfied with just doing their very best."

"The priestess was a wise female, but given that we are immortal, that does not apply to us. We can strive for perfection and achieve it."

Why was he even arguing the point when he actually agreed with Morelle and her teacher?