I nodded. “I know. Come on. Let’s not wake the others just yet.”
She followed me into the bathroom and leaned against the vanity while I ran the water. I turned around and took in my mate. Last night had been beyond incredible but today, seeing her naked, standing in front of me with all the pretenses gone, that was just as intimate.
“What?”
“You are gorgeous, omega. All of you. Head to toe. Inside and out.”
She worked her bottom lip between her teeth. They were swollen from the night before and now, they were still red and puffy. Her perfume filled the bathroom and reached me and my bear instantly. He roared inside me, telling me to finish what I’d started.
But all of this would go at her pace. The beast could calm the fuck down.
“Thank you. You mentioned that last night.”
Ah. “You thought it was just a heat-of-the-moment thing?”
One shoulder shrugged. It would take time to get her to believe what she meant to us, especially after what she’d been through. Good thing I had all the time in the world to prove it to her.
“It’s warm now.” I got up to get her a snack and something to drink and, when I came back, she was submerged in the hot water, her eyes closed as her head lay back on the tub.
“Thank you. I’m starving.”
I sat next to the tub and fed her cheese and crackers and almonds. We had junky snacks in the pantry as well, but right now, she needed nutrition.
“Can I wash you?” I asked, feeling a bit bashful myself.
Harper opened her eyes and looked at me for a long time. What seemed like days. “You… I’ve never had anyone wash me before.”
I cocked my head to the side. Those ex-alphas of hers were pieces of work. Aftercare of an omega was part of the territory when it came to adoring someone you loved, especially after a heat. “They were wrong not to take care of you after your heats and in general. You deserve a pack who will take the time to care for you all the time, not just when it’s convenient.” I reached for the washcloth folded on the shelf. “May I, omega?” Mine. I left off the mine part.
“Please, Lev. My heat is over, but I want your hands on me again.”
I washed her head to toe, taking care with every inch of her body. Every single inch. She gasped a bit when I moved the washcloth between her legs. “Sore?” I asked.
She nodded and whimpered at the same time. “Yes.”
“I’ll be gentle.” When I was done, she looked at me with needy eyes, but my bear overrode it. She needed to eat and rest before we took her again. She spent an hour in the tub and several times, I had to run some hot water to warm her up. Our omega let me wash her hair. Dry her off. Even get her into a pair of lounge pants and a comfy hoodie. She even asked for one that belonged to one of us. The first one I found was Miles’ hoodie he’d taken off the day before in the living room.
She sat on my lap while she combed through her hair. Miles and Rowan slept through the whole thing. In my opinion, they’d missed the best part of bonding with Harper.
“Thank you for taking care of me,” she whispered as we got comfortable in the recliner and put on a movie.
“I will always take care of you, Harper, if you let me.”
She smiled and leaned up to kiss my lips. No longer in a heat. No more desperation. Her biology wasn’t speaking for her. “I might just do that, big guy.”
Miles and Rowan got up a few minutes after she fell asleep in my arms. “What’s going on?” they asked. “Is that…is that my hoodie?” Miles came over and sat next to me.
“Yes. She needed our scents this morning.”
Rowan stood, hands on his hips. Through our brother bond, I sensed he was pleased with seeing me with our omega. Not a hint of jealousy. “You cared for her.”
I hugged her tight to my chest. “She had a long bath and some snacks. Probably is going to want some breakfast when she wakes up though.”
“Last night was…” Miles started.
“Yeah.” I nodded and kissed her temple. “It absolutely was.”
“There’s no way I can ever let her go now.” Rowan’s love for her could be felt through our bond.
