Read Online Gilbert by Bailey Bradford - Free Book Online

long? Jihu scrubbed until his skin stung. He washed his hair twice, just because it felt so good to massage his scalp. After conditioning as well, he rinsed off and turned the water off.
    Another look in the mirror as he towelled off and Jihu snorted at himself. He was being an idiot. What did it matter how he looked? Gilbert was his mate, he’d like Jihu any way he came. But even so, Jihu wanted to be attractive for him. Jihu rubbed at his smooth jaw, grimacing when he pressed too hard on the bruise. He’d never grown any facial hair. His skin was still as smooth as a baby’s.
    “Jihu? You okay in there?” Gilbert called through the door.
    Jihu dropped the towel as he startled. If he’d had his senses back, he’d have heard Gilbert’s approach. “Yeah. I’m almost done.” He found the toothpaste and finger-brushed his teeth. It wasn’t ideal, but had to be better than having stank breath. Jihu finished and washed his mouth out before grabbing the towel again and winding it around his hips.
    He noticed his ribs stuck out and was tempted to drape another towel over his shoulders, but what would be the point? Gilbert wanted to see him, and Jihu was going to let him. He was going to fight against his past, try to free himself so he could have a normal life.
    Jihu opened the door and traipsed into the bedroom. Gilbert was reclining on the large bed, and Jihu’s jaw about hit the floor. He squeaked as he skidded to a stop.
    “You’re naked!”
    Gilbert tipped his chin at him. “So are you.”
    Jihu looked down and saw the towel at his feet. His skin heated with the flush of his embarrassment.
    “Don’t cover up,” Gilbert said when Jihu bent for the towel. “You’ve got nothing to be ashamed of.”
    Jihu straightened up and struggled not to put his hands in front of his erect dick. He concentrated instead on taking in every line of Gilbert’s body, the sculpted muscles, thick thighs, and dense body hair. His gaze was drawn to the large cock curving up to Gilbert’s belly, and the big balls between his thighs.
    “Come here, please.” Gilbert’s voice sent a hot flash of anticipation down Jihu’s spine.
    Jihu stumbled forward, unable to look away from Gilbert’s groin. His mouth began to water, and he had to swallow several times as he thought of feeling that thick slab between his lips.
    Gilbert moaned and sat up, gripping the base of his shaft. “You keep looking at me like that, and I won’t be able to check your injuries.”
    “They’re fine,” Jihu gritted out. “Daniel?”
    Gilbert pointed to the room across the hall. Jihu looked through the open door of the room they were in and saw that Daniel slept away in his car seat, safe and in sight, but—“The puppies?”
    Gilbert sighed and stroked his cock slowly. “Garage. I hope I got everything picked up they could have destroyed. Had to put the garbage on the hood of the car, but I can’t leave them outside and locking them up again seemed cruel.”
    “Okay.”
    “Now, stop stalling, unless you really aren’t ready to make love.” Gilbert arched a brow in question.
    Jihu surprised himself with a growl, his leopard purring and chuffing inside him. “I’m ready. I want you to claim me, mark me.”
    Gilbert’s pupils dilated at that and he stood in a smooth move that almost seemed like a dance. “Come here. Let me see you first.”
    “I said I’m fine,” Jihu grumbled, “just bruises here and there, the needle marks—”
    “What?” Gilbert snapped. Jihu explained how he’d been kept from shifting, and how his shifter senses were inhibited. “Oh. Maybe then that’s why we don’t have the mental link yet?”
    “Maybe,” Jihu agreed. He wasn’t sure he was ready to have Gilbert in his head yet anyway. “Now kiss me.”
    Gilbert licked his lips, and his eyes lit with amusement. “I want to look at you first. You have no idea how perfect you are. I’ve always been attracted to men smaller than me, although”—his gaze