“Drink this…” He hands me a small vial with green liquid that I didn’t notice him bring in. I look at it suspiciously. I know what it is since Dean gave me something similar that first day in his room, but Coal and Dean are very different men.
“Poison?” I ask him because, at this point, that wouldn’t surprise me.
“No, it will heal you.” He gives me a look that says, ‘Are you stupid?’
“Seriously?” I ask. “Why are you giving me this? You’re the reason my brain got rattled in the first place.” My tone is snippy, but I don't care if he punishes me right now; at least no one is around to witness it. Let him get his anger out now.
“I didn’t give Jessica permission to touch what’s mine,” he says matter-of-factly. As if that explains why he’s helping me.
I roll my eyes but take the vial and shoot the green liquid back, hoping it doesn’t come back up.
Within just a few seconds, I’m already feeling better. I sigh in relief. My head no longer pounds, and I no longer feel like I might vomit. I watch as the random bruise on my thigh fades quickly as well, and I’m grateful the drink wasn’tactually poison. I suppose if he wanted me dead, he'd do it with his own hands.
“Thank you,” I whisper, annoyed that he’s done something to help me. I prefer his anger over whatever this is… Pity? Kindness…? Nah. It wouldn’t be fun for him to abuse his toy if it was already too broken to play with.
“We already missed Combat.” His words are clipped, and it seems like he’s just as bothered by this unusual kindness as I am.
I get that what Jessica did was an insult to him, but that’s something he should address with her. Why it makes him treat me like this, makes no sense to me. Wait, did he say I missed Combat? Shit, I guess I was out for a while.
“Quil thinks you like being punished. Hurt. That the reason you got so turned on when we spanked your ass is that you like how fucked up we are. Is that true, flower? Did you like it when I spanked you?” He starts stripping his clothes off and turns on the shower. Oh shit, I’m out of here.
The last thing my libido needs is a vision of a naked, wet Coal. Fully clothed, Coal already fucks my head up. The fact that Quil is correct is a secret I’ll be taking to my grave.
I jump to my feet and rush toward the door. “Where are you going? You don’t need to rest, now that you’re healed. You can wash me,” he says with a devilish grin as he lifts his head, scenting the air. Balls, I’ve given myself away. Just the thought of Coal naked has messed with my scent, and he now knows that. Deny, deny, deny.
“That stuff made me feel weird…” I lie, but Coal gives me an unconvinced look, and now, not only have I basically admitted I’m turned on, but he also knows I’m a whole-ass liar.
My mouth gapes open like I'm a fish, and I just stare as heremoves his clothes the rest of the way, leaving only his boxers. Fuck, his body is a work of art… I force my eyes not to follow the trail of hair leading below his boxers as he pulls those off too.
My core clenches, and Coal groans, his eyes dropping to my bare thighs. He smirks, and I watch as he turns the shower off, never turning his back to me, and I lose the fight not to drop my gaze to his dick.
While I stare at the floor, he fills the tub and pours a blue liquid into the steaming water, and as soon as the scent hits my nose, my muscles start to relax. The liquid was some kind of calming potion. I keep my eyes down, refusing to look at his dick again. I will not! I’m stronger than the horny goblin in my brain telling me to lift my skirt…
My clothes are staying on. No matter what. Even if this stupid skirt is hardly a barrier.
When Coal snaps his fingers, my eyes pop up to meet his. He’s in the water, and his nakedness is hidden below the bubbles. I can see his chest well though. The sleepy look in his eyes from the potion he added to the water makes me feel a little less tense.
“Here,” he says, lifting a bar of soap and holding it out to me.
I move to the side of the tub and take it from him. I’m feeling a bit more relaxed because of the potion he poured into the water, so I cup some water in my hands and wet his hair before I rub the soap in between my hands. I sit sideways on the tub and start massaging his scalp. I use my nails, and tug lightly on his sandy hair, getting lost in the silky feeling between my fingers. The position is odd, and I can't hold it long because of how awkward it is. I look down into the water and can see his abs, leading to a very alluring V. I can’t see below the bubbles, but I can’t help but think ofhow naked he is. I wonder if his dick is big enough to be seen over the bubbles if he gets hard. I shake that thought away. My brain is being very uncooperative right now.
Coal must have removed my shoes for me at some point after I passed out, so I kick one leg over the edge, then the other. The water is hot, and as soon as my feet are submerged, I sigh with relief. That feels wonderful. Magical. The urge to sink lower grows, but I manage to resist. I’m not getting in fully clothed, and I’m definitely not getting naked.
I push Coal forward, so I can spread my legs, and pull him back, so his broad shoulders are between my thighs.
“Oh,” I whisper, as I see the scars. How did I not notice these before? Has he always been scarred like this? I drop my fingers to the marred skin and gently caress it. “What happened?” I whisper, a painful ache seizing my chest, as I think of the only things that can scar Wolves. Wounds that nearly kill them, and an Alpha’s claws. I frown, thinking of all the times I’ve seen Coal with his father.
Tears sting my eyes. It has to be from his father. My mother has never so much as spanked me. I can’t imagine what it would be like to have someone who’s meant to protect me, hurt me this badly. The silver and red lines criss cross over his skin. Some of these are new.
I draw in a deep breath, my heart hurting for him. He hasn’t moved, hasn’t spoken since I noticed the scars.
“I think you can figure that out on your own, Delilah.” His voice is low. Dangerous. The urge to settle him washes over me, and I sink my hands into his hair, pulling him back into my body. My thighs are spread wide, my clothes wet and soapy. I don’t care.
After a moment, he relaxes against me, dropping his head back into my lap and looking up at me.
“What?” I ask him, curious about what’s going through his mind at this moment. He looks so calm, so different from what I’m used to. So unlike the angry Wolf I usually deal with.
I stare down at his vibrant blue eyes, filled with pain, and for the first time understand why he’s so cruel. I now know who hurt the once sweet Wolf so badly that he now spends his days hurting those around him. How could I have been so blind?
