“Yes… no.” Well, that cleared up absolutely nothing.
“Can I come in?”
There’s a long pause, then she responds with an almost inaudible, “Yeah.”
The air in the bathroom is turning thick with steam from the shower. Selene’s perched on the edge of the bath, hugging her arms to her chest, the humidity making her fringe stick to her forehead.
“What’s wrong, Gorgeous?” I ask, kneeling in front of her. She shoots me a droll look. Sue me. She always looks gorgeous—all dressed up or bare-faced and tired, it doesn’t matter.
“My hands. The water stings like a bitch,” she grumbles.
I reach out, hands hovering over hers, not quite touching. “Can I take a look?” Biting her quivering lower lip, she nods. With the utmost care, I draw her hands towards me. Scarlet abrasions mar the porcelain skin in rings around her wrists, and I bite back a growl. Gently I encourage her to unclench her fists, wincing in sympathy at what’s revealed. Her dark nail varnish has chipped off, and her fingertips are bloody and torn. Her delicate palms aren’t much better off. Corbin deserved far worse than an axe to the wing.
“I need to clean them. They’ll get infected if I don’t.”
“I know.” Unshed tears shine in her eyes.
“Are you hurt anywhere else?”
“My ankles, but they’re not as bad as my wrists—the rope was over my jeans.”
“Alright, let’s get the rest of you cleaned up first, then we can treat your cuts,” I say, eyeing the flecks of blood still spattered across her skin. “Can you stand?”
“Yeah.” Her movements are stiff, but sure enough, she makes it to her feet.
“Get in, I’ll be right behind you,” I tell her, stripping off my shirt.
Her jaw goes slack. “You can’t?—”
“No,youcan’t, not with your hands like that.Imost definitely can.” She still looks uncertain, so I add, “Selene. There’s not an inch of you I don’t know and love. Let me do this for you. Let me take care of my beautiful, brave mate.”
“OK.”
Quickly I shed the rest of my clothes, then join her under the hot spray. When it first became clear she’d be staying over a lot, I made sure to get in the body wash and hair stuff she uses, a decision I’m especially glad of right now. Once the dried flecks of blood are erased from her skin, I free Selene’s ebony hair from her ponytail. Lathering up a generous amount of shampoo, I gently massage her scalp, before working it through the long strands. After a couple of rinses, I use the conditioner to untangle the knots until her dark hair hangs in a silky-smooth curtain. Selene’s shoulders finally relax, and she leans back against me, head resting on my chest.
“Better?”
“Better.” She turns to face me, and I do my best to ignore the feel of her full breasts pressing against my chest. This isn’t the time. “Jared?”
“Hmm?”
She presses a kiss right over my heart. “I want you to claim me. I want to complete the mate bond.”
Chapter 30
Selene
Jared’s muscles go rigid. After all we’ve been through, I know it’s not because he doesn’t want this. If anything, I suspect it’s because he wants it so much but thinks he has to be a gentleman while I’m still recovering. Yes, my injuries from the ropes hurt, but I don’t care. I want this.
“Selene,” his voice is pained. “We shouldn’t.”
I look up into his hazel eyes. “I know you love me, Jared.”
“Of course I do,” he replies emphatically.
“Then make me yours.”
“I want to, gorgeous. God, do I want to, but you’ve been through hell tonight. I don’t want us to do this now, then have you wake up regretting it in the morning.”
