I shuffled down the hallway with both Wren and Kian behind me, feeling like a complete asshole. I shouldn’t have interrupted their moment like that.
Opening the bathroom door, the smell of bleach hit me. Mom always kept the house sparkling clean growing up. The smell of bleach was strong in my memory. Our bathroom had brown tile with plain white walls. A claw-foot bathtub was set in the middle, with a toilet and sink at opposite sides of the room.
I walked over and started the bath, turning it on warm before glancing back at Wren, who shuffled in the door frame. “Do you want a warm bath or do you take cold baths?”
She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “I’ve never had a warm bath before, so I would like that.”
“You haven’t?” Kian asked, and she shook her head.
“The Arctic Wolf Village only had cold water. There was no need for water heaters since we didn’t usually get very cold. If any of the arctic shifters got cold, they just piled on a few blankets, and that was pretty much it.” She chuckled nervously, and I leaned up, keeping it on warm.
I grabbed a few towels out of the linen closet and set them beside the tub. “I’ll leave these here. Do you need anything else?”
“No, this is amazing. I’m actually really excited.” She smiled up at me. “I haven’t had a bath since I got to the academy since there are no bathtubs. And getting a warm bath is a treat I didn’t know I would be getting.”
My heart squeezed at how adorable she was, and I smiled, despite the circumstances over our heads.
Wren stepped into the bathroom and let me out as Kian scratched his head.
“What about what Damien said? Do we sit in here or sit just outside the door? I don’t really want to invade your privacy like that.” He frowned.
I chuckled. “I don’t mind sitting outside of the door or we can sit in here. Whichever one Wren’s more comfortable with.”
“Um, I don’t mind if you guys sit in here with me. But either one works for me.”
“You’ve been through a lot,” Kian said. “If you want some time alone, I understand.”
I nodded. “There’s no window or anything in here, so you’ll be safe as long as we guard the door.”
“Just sit right outside the door, and I won’t be too long.” She grinned, glancing behind her at the tub.
I shook my head. “Take as long as you need. It’s been a hell of a day.”
“You can say that again,” Kian mumbled.
“Thank you both,” she said as we stepped out of the room and shut the door.
I could hear Wren fumbling with her clothes and the fabric hitting the floor. I groaned, leaning my head back against the door as Kian blushed.
“I’m sorry,” I told him.
He furrowed his brows. “What are you sorry for? I’m the one who needs to be sorry after what I put us through today.”
“Did you not listen to Wren when she told you it wasn’t your fault? Because she was 100% right, dude.”
“I appreciate that.” Kian put his back against the door and slid down it as I followed suit.
“I’m apologizing because I interrupted your moment with her. It looked like you were about to kiss, so I’m sorry.”
He shook his head, but his fingers came up and brushed his lips. “I’ve dreamed about kissing her so many different times. But you didn’t ruin it. We’ll have another moment.”
“I was jealous. Not of you, but of how slow our relationship is progressing compared to others.”
Kian nodded and dropped his voice to a whisper. “You know she doesn’t compare us. All of her relationships are unique. Don’t think about it that way.”
“I know.” I ruffled a hand through my hair. “You’re right. I know that, but I also know that watching our mate be intimate with her other mates turns me on, and yet that makes me long to be the one to make her come like that.”
“I don’t—I don’t know exactly what to say to… th—that,” Kian stuttered.
