Page 10 of Depraved
I close the distance between us, wrapping my arms around her back, smoothing my fingers over her spine. “Shhh. No apologies. You did well.” I hold her for a moment, purring, letting our physical connection and the sound of the vibration inside my chest comfort her.
Then I lead her into the shower, which is slowly filling the room with steam. I place her in front of me underneath the spray, rubbing my hands up and down her shoulders and spreading the stream across her skin to slough off the thin layer of ash that drifted beneath her clothing to coat her skin.
When the water finally stops turning gray, I slowly spin her to face me and reach into her luscious hair. I stroke the soft black strands and the silly white streaks and then massage her skull until her eyelashes flutter closed. Once her entire scalp is soaked, I keep one hand firmly cupped around the back of her head and grab the shampoo with the other.
“You don’t have to—”
“Hush. Alphas take care of their omegas, Elena. Just relax.” I gently lather the suds in her hair and the entire bathroom fills with a coconut lime scent that wouldn’t bother me on anyone else, but it masks my mate’s scent a bit, so my lip curls up in disapproval. All that’s forgotten, however, when my fingers find a spot near the base of her head that makes Elena moan in pleasure.
I smile down as I watch my girl’s face relax. I circle the spot for a minute before saying, “Alright. I need to wash you up before you turn into a prune.”
“No—” She reaches up and tries to keep my hand in place on her head.
“Princess, I said that was enough.” I speak gently but firmly because she might want this massage to go on forever, but she’s not thinking clearly right now. She needs food and rest and she’s going to be too worn out to eat if I keep her up much longer. “Now, turn around so I can wash the rest of you.”
Her eyes narrow as she debates sassing me. I keep a smile from quirking my lips but just barely.
She turns around with a huff. “You’re not nice even when you’re trying to be nice.”
“You don’t mean that,” I say as I reach for some body wash. I lather up my hands and ignore the loofah, instead applying the frothy soap directly to her skin.
“I do mean that.”
“You want a fight, little wolf?” I murmur close to her ear as I loom over her and soap up her taut belly. She’s firm and muscular from all her running, but as I edge upward, her feminine curves become softer and rounder.
She sucks in a breath as I swipe my hand over the underside of her breast. I cup it gently, feeling the weight of it in my hand. It’s soft and small, but her nipple is already beading up and I haven’t even touched it.
I harden automatically, though I don’t press against her. She’s too stressed and worn out for anything but caregiving right now. I fully intend to feed her and tuck her in bed.
But then she grabs my hand and moves it over her stiffened nipple.
I have to bite back a groan and tamp down on the lust that instantly makes my knot start to swell with the urge to take her.
“Elena—” I try to growl out a warning, but her hand rubs mine over her breast and her omega scent starts to mingle with the body wash and shampoo.
“Black. Please. Just … let me forget for a minute.”
My wolf sends me mental images of rutting and biting. And Elena reaches down to touch herself. Together, they nearly eviscerate my control. I only manage to hang on to a tiny thread and I use that to yank myself back.
“Not yet.” I pull my hand away from her. “I need to clean you up and feed you first. And then, maybe, if you’re a good girl, we’ll see.” When I reach for more body wash, I can see her nostrils flare and her eyes light up with defiance.
“Fine. I don’t need your help anyway.” She turns, her hands reaching between her legs.
My arms shoot out and I grab both of her wrists, pinning them to her sides. “Oh no, little wolf. I said wait.”
She tries to yank out of my grip and my hands slide due to the body wash, but her wrists are so tiny that it’s easy to form manacles around her. I let her wear herself out for a minute as she curses at me and tries to twist away.
“You bastard. Let me go. It’s my body. I can do what I want.”
“Elena. You’re tired and overwrought. You need to clean up first. And you need to eat,” I counter. “Besides, have you checked your fingernails? What if there’s ash under there? What if you give yourself an infection?”
She stops fighting and stands sullenly, eyes narrowed to slits as she gazes at the gray tile floor. I don’t let her go immediately though. She’s too much of a spitfire. She might just be biding her time, ready to make a run for it.
I wait until she mutters, “Well, get on with it, then.”
“Are you going to be a good girl?”
Her face twists into a sour expression and she stays silent. I drop one of her wrists and bring my free hand back up to the base of her head, rubbing the spot she liked so much before. “Are you going to be a good girl?” I repeat gently.
