Once she was nude, Monster wrapped his arms around her waist, feet swaying, as he walked toward the extra-large garden tub.
When he stepped over the side, Carys protested. “I am perfectly capable myself, Monster.” Her voice held a cold and distant edge. Apparently, she’d come fully awake and wasn’t going to be compliant.
“You’re capable of more than even you know, sweetheart, but let me do this for you, please?”
Carys remained stiff in his arms as Monster sank down into the steaming water, but she didn’t protest again.
Once settled, he positioned her in front of him, between his legs. “Relax.”
He coaxed her to lean back. It felt perfect to have her there, and even Ulf relaxed.
For long moments, Monster just held her.
“What’s going to happen to me?”
Monster heard the fear in her voice, and it made him cringe. He’d done that. He let her believe the club might hold her hostage or hurt her. While he never said so, he didn’t dispel her obvious beliefs.
Reaching for the body wash, he squirted a healthy amount onto a bath sponge before drawing it gently up and down her arm.
First one, then the other. Monster reached around and washed her torso under the water. Avoiding her breasts and pussy, he continued to wash her. This was about her, pampering her, making her feel loved.
His choice of words rocked him back on his heels. Was it love? Monster couldn’t say one hundred percent, but the thought of losing her made him want to let Ulf have his body forever so he could sleep until he withered away.
That’s not how it is anymore.
Ulf spoke in his mind with a touch of self-satisfaction.
His wolf was right. Now that he’d found himself, for lack of a better term, Monster didn’t slip away when Ulf came out, and obviously Ulf didn’t slip back when Monster was in the driver’s seat.
“Nothing bad, Pixie.”
Three words were all he could choke out.
“Lean back.”
Gently, he coaxed her back to wet her hair.
Once she was back against his chest, Monster rubbed some shampoo into his palms and proceeded to wash her hair.
Rinse, repeat, and condition.
Carys still wasn’t talking to him.
“Up we go.” Monster stood with Carys and grabbed a couple of towels. She took hers from him rather than let him dry her.
After drying himself, he reached for a smaller towel and started drying her hair vigorously.
Her laugh, distorted by his shaking her head while rubbing her cropped hair, shot to his soul. He was afraid he’d never hear it again.
“What are you doing, Arden?”
Arden.
It flowed from her lips so naturally. It wasn’t spoken with a sneer this time or to create distance.
“I told you,” he said, tossing the towel aside and wrapping his arms around her from behind. “Taking care of you.”
Her laughter died, and she nibbled her lip. “You really hurt me.”
