Page 8 of True for You

My entire body relaxes in a way it hasn’t since first smelling Parker in the grocery store. A yawn escapes me, my body finally allowing me to get some rest now that the tremors have subsided.

“Would it be okay if I took care of you?”

“How do you plan on doing that?” I tilt my head up so I can take in Parker’s face, noticing the light blush on the heights of his cheekbones.

“Would it be okay if I gave you a bath? I could wash your hair for you maybe? And then help you make a nest to sleep in?” My heart skips a beat. Normally, I would find something like that far too intimate. Those are things saved for someone I know and trust, someone who’s earned my inner’s omega’s trust. Hell, I’ve literally just met Parker and there’s no way I could feel that bond yet. And yet, there’s something about him that makes me feel safe. My inner omega already trusts him, somehow instinctively knowing that Parker is our alpha and won’t do anything to make us uncomfortable. I guess this is what finding your true mate feels like.

“I’d like that. But no funny business,” I tell him with a smile. “Too sleepy.”

“That’s the furthest thing from my mind right now, Christopher. I just wanna make you feel better any way I can.” His words warm my chest and serve to further put me at ease.

“Okay,” I say, nodding my head. I stand up, holding my hand out for Parker to take which he does. It’s such a simple gesture, holding hands, and yet, my stomach is flooded with butterflies.

I lead Parker through my apartment towards my room. In a situation like this, I wish I had a bathroom connected to my bedroom. At least Ben isn’t home to see me like this. It’salmostembarrassing the way I’m letting this alpha take care of me. Almost. If it was anyone else, I would feel uncomfortably vulnerable but knowing this is my true mate, the one who the universe deemed my match? It eases that tension and leaves me feeling taken care of instead of embarrassed.

“There’s the bathroom,” I say, nodding to the bathroom door. “Do you wanna go in there and run a hot bath while I get into my robe?”

“That sounds good.” I’m expecting him to turn away but he surprises me, stopping to lay a gentle kiss to the top of my sweaty head before going into the bathroom. I smile to myself as I step into my bedroom and begin undressing, unable to stop. Is this what it’s like to have an alpha? I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t pleasantly surprised.

I slide my robe on, tying it around my waist. My skin was so sensitive not that long ago, every material leaving me uncomfortable, like sandpaper rubbing against my skin, but now that Parker is here, everything feels different. My robe feels soft. God, bodies and hormones are fucking weird.

“Hi,” Parker whispers, his face breaking out into a wide smile as I step into the bathroom. I smile back, unable not to. I’ll have to ask Jeremy if it was like this when he met Bryce. This all-encompassing feeling ofhomeand my instincts somehow knowing everything is going to be okay with Parker. It’s a weird feeling, it goes against how I would normally act with an alpha, but somehow I’m okay with it, leaning into the feeling even.

“Hey,” I whisper back. For a moment I wonder if it’ll always be like this or if the shine of being true mates will someday fade. But then I remember how Bryce only lights up for Jeremy and realize this really is just what it’s like to have a true mate. Fuck. It’s a lot to take in.

“Come on,” Parker says gently, offering his hand from where he’s kneeling beside the full tub. “Let’s get you in the water.”

With a steadying breath, I take off my robe, hanging it up on the back of the door. I can feel Parker’s eyes run over my body. His scent takes on a deeper note, like someone’s started a fire in the library for me to sit next to while reading my books. I like it.

I take Parker’s hand, allowing him to help me into the tub. I sink down into the water, breathing out a sigh of relief. It’s warm, further releasing all the tension in my muscles until I’m practically one with the warm water. There are bubbles and oils in the water. The insight and thought Parker’s put into starting my bath warms my insides just as much as the bath is warming my outside.

“Thank you,” I tell him, opening my eyes and turning my head to look at him. “This feels amazing.”

“I’m glad.” Parker turns around and grabs the cup off the bathroom sink, the one we use for washing our mouth out after brushing our teeth. “Would it be okay if I washed your hair?”

“Sure. I’d like that.”

“Do I have to use anything special? I’ve never washed such curly hair before.”

“That one’s my shampoo,” I tell him, pointing at the right one with my toe. “And that one is my conditioner.”

“Cool.” Without saying anything more, I lean my head forward so Parker can begin slowly dumping water over my head. I’ve never had someone wash my hair before. It’s intimate and gentle. I close my eyes and enjoy it, overwhelmed with affection for a man I’ve literally just met.

A sigh leaves my lips without my permission as the warm water washes over me. God, this feels downright divine, like Parker was an angel sent from the gods above to give me this bath. Parker's fingers detangle my curls as gently as he can and the care he’s giving to this task makes me feel downright gooey with affection. The smell of my shampoo hits my nose as he works my hair into a lather, taking his time to massage my scalp as he goes. I am putty in his hands, my skin breaking out into goosebumps as he goes.

“This feels so good,” I murmur, my lids getting too heavy to keep open. Exhaustion threatens to pull me under but I fight it, not wanting this moment to end. I startle when a soft finger touches my belly and Parker pulls back, looking sheepish.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” I whisper through a jaw cracking yawn. “I don’t mind.”

“I’ll wait until you’re more awake,” he tells me, leaning down to kiss my temple before going back to washing my hair. It feels nice. A little too nice. Before I know it my eyes are closing again but this time, I don’t even try to open them again, allowing myself to get the rest I so desperately need.

Chapter Five

Parker

I lay on my side,using my elbow for leverage so I can look down and watch Christopher as he sleeps. He fell asleep in the bathtub while I was washing his hair and I couldn’t find it in myself to wake him, so as carefully as I could, I pulled him out and carried him to his bed.

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