He glances at me, and I suck in a sharp breath. “I’m not going to let him hurt you.”
I’ve only heard the rumours circulating the pack regarding Ryker, but if he’s as dangerous as everyone makes him out to be, I’m not sure I want to know.
“Are we safe here?” I ask.
Caleb hums. “I made sure my guards kept an eye on Ryker and let me know if he started to come closer. But we should be fine here tonight.”
After a few minutes, I pull away from his grip, needing a second to myself.
“We should clean up your knuckles,” I say as I glance down at the dried blood.
He raises his hands and shrugs. “They’ll heal in an hour.”
“Still, you should clean them.” I fold my arms over my chest.
The corner of his lip twitches. “Would it make you happy?”
“Yes. I-I don’t like seeing you hurt.”
Caleb’s eyes glow. “Let’s go then.”
We enter the bathroom, and I turn on the tap, making sure it’s a nice temperature before washing my own hands. Caleb’s blood slips from my skin, down the drain.
That’s when I feel warmth from behind me. I flick my gaze to the mirror and nearly jump as he slides his arms around me and starts to rinse off his knuckles. He’s over half a foot taller than me, making me look as small as a bug in comparison.
I tear my eyes away from the reflection and stare down at his hands. Before I realise what I’m doing, I reach for his fingers and study the marks that are mostly healed.
“Will you stay?”
I glance up to find his pleading green eyes.
My heart rattles against my ribcage. “Are you going to leave me here?”
“No.” He shakes his head. “I promise.”
I’m still sceptical and have every right to be, but my wolf cries out at me to stay. To give him the benefit of the doubt. Goddess, why am I so weak?
“Say yes,” he pleads. “Let me prove to you that you can trust me.”
I swallow thickly and take a moment to figure out what I want.
“Pups,” he whispers as he squeezes my fingers, and I shudder all over.
“Fine,” I murmur. “I’ll stay.”
Caleb takes down a breath, looking satisfied.
Once the blood is gone from our hands, we dry them and head back into the main room. Caleb’s fingers float to his black shirt before he starts to undo the buttons. My mouth falls open, and I turn away, not wanting to invade his privacy, but all I hear is his deep laugh.
“Oh, come on,” he says lightheartedly. “You’ve seen it all before.”
“Not all of it,” I gawk.
His chuckle filters the air. “I’m just getting comfortable, and I’m exhausted.”
Blood rushes to my ears, and I pluck up the courage to glance over my shoulder. My eyes are immediately glued to his bare toned chest, covered with ink and not an inch of hair. I study his pierced nipples, and it does something to me that it definitely shouldn’t.
He’s working on the belt of his trousers now until they drop to the floor, and he kicks them to one side. Now, all he’s standing in is his dark boxers, thick tattooed thighs on show.
