The sound of the faucet running next door draws her attention and she looks at the wooden door longingly. “Is that a bath I can hear?”
“It is.” I gently nudge her to sit down on the bed and drop to untie her laces. Pulling off her shoes, I tickle the bottom of her feet, and she gasps out a laugh. “Bastien! What are you doing?”
I sit back up, cupping her face between mine. “You’ve had a busy few days, and I can see how tired you are, sweetheart. Let me take care of you tonight, okay?”
My omega stares at me, her mouth parted slightly with confusion.
Oh, baby. So used to nobody caring that you stopped paying attention to yourself.
Next, I urge her to lie back, and I peel off her soft trousers, dropping them next to us. Her breathing comes a little faster, and I tap her knee, scolding. “None of that, love. Spoiling first.”
She throws a hand over her eyes, grumbling a little as I pull down her underwear. Her slick scents the room in a delicious burst of sugar, and I can’t resist bringing the soft material to my nose and inhaling deeply. Ava gapes at me, her cheeks rosy.
“Bastien,” she groans, wriggling her hips for emphasis. “You’re not helping.”
“Later,” I promise, pulling her back up and sliding her top over her head. Her breasts are heavy and swollen, and she winces as I brush my hands across the lace covering them. I pause, frowning. “Are you sore?”
She looks away, and I grasp her chin. “Tell me,” I command.
She snarks at me. “Are you sure you’re not an alpha? Because you’re giving me the vibes right now.”
Folding my arms, I wait for her to answer the question and she throws her arms up. “Fine! Yes, they’re sore,” she admits. “But it’s fine, Bastien.”
It is not fine.
I reach behind her, unhooking the clasp of her bra and drawing the straps down her arms, revealing the creamy softness of her skin.
My eyes go straight to her reddened, cracked nipples. “Ava.”
She tries to pull her hands up to cover them, the hitch in her voice telling me she’s embarrassed. “They’re fine, Bastien.”
Shaking my head, I duck into the bathroom and emerge with a basket of toiletries. It’s a little overloaded, and her eyes round with curiosity. “What’s that?”
I carefully set the wicker basket next to her. “This is for you.”
We both survey the vast array of lotions and potions on display. There are bubble baths, soaps, and various other soft squishy things that Leah assured me Ava would love.
Ava bites her lip. “You got this for me?”
Rubbing the back of my neck, I self-consciously gesture. “Yep. I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I picked out a variety.”
I search the basket until I see what I’m looking for. “Here it is,” I swallow, showing her the tube of cream. “It should help with your nipples.”
I’m not sure who’s redder right now, me or Ava. But I won’t let her sit there in pain if I can do something about it.
“Bastien,” her voice shakes. “This is…,”
“If you don’t like it, don’t worry,” The lump in my throat threatens to choke me. “I can pack it away. You don’t have to use it.”
Fuck. What if she doesn’t like those scents? I didn’t have a clue what I was doing on the supply run, just trying to remember what I could from what Leah had told me and my research.
Her hand shoots out and grabs my arm. “Don’t you dare take it away.” Her voice cracks. “I love it, Bastien. No-one’s ever doneanythinglike this for me.”
Pulling herself up, she wraps her arms around my chest, and I enclose her, breathing in the warmth of her scent as the knot in my throat finally loosens in relief. “Better get used to it, sweetheart,” I whisper in her ear. “We have many, many plans to spoil you.”
She wriggles. “I think I may be okay with that.”
“Ready for your bath?”
