I indicate my upper arms, and he takes my left arm in one hand while swiping over the area with the washcloth, applying the perfect amount of pressure so I feel clean without hurting. I point to my wrist next, and the cloth sweeps down my arm to circle my wrist, then he takes my hand in his and washes between every finger, massaging his thumbs into my palm before placing my hand back in the water and doing the same for my other arm.
When he gets to the hand I punched his cousin with, he pauses. Nostrils flaring, he carefully washes my cut knuckles, and his eyes lift to mine.
“We can wait, but I can heal these wounds for you,” he says, his voice tentative.
I angle my head in question.
“Vampire saliva…” He takes a deep breath. “It can heal, or it can harm. Based on our intent, our saliva can feel good and heal wounds, or it can hurt and be used to keep wounds open.”
His eyes dart from my still bleeding knuckles up to scan my face, but I look back down at my hand, inspecting it with this new information.
As a shifter, I should have healed already.
“He…” Asher clears his throat and his jaw clenches again. “He must have intended you great harm, since you’re still not healing, even after washing the wounds.”
My eyes meet his again and I see the question in them.
I’m not ready for that yet. I trust Asher with my life, but I also know the attack is too fresh, and I need to let myself relax and feel safe first.
“Can we… Would it be okay if we took care of it later?” I ask.
“Of course. If you want to let it heal naturally, you can do that too. I hate to see you hurt and in pain though, so if you’ll let me, I’d like to help when you’re ready.”
I nod and slip my hand back under the bubbles, preferring it out of sight even if it continues to sting.
Asher sets the washcloth down for now and brings a hand up to run through my hair. I lean into his ministrations, closing my eyes and tilting my head back when his nails scrape my scalp. Safe in his hands, my mind and body finally relax.
33
BURN IT ALL AWAY
RAYA
Asher asksif he can wash my hair, and at my nod, his strong fingers massage shampoo into my roots. I sigh into the sensation, leaving my eyes closed as I focus on the scent of him surrounding me. His shampoo and conditioner, his soap, his hands and no one else’s. After helping me rinse it out, he rests his forearms on the edge of the tub, trailing one hand in the water.
“If you’re feeling okay to be on your own for a bit, I’d like to go grab you some food and water. I have some snacks in the kitchen, should be good enough for now,” he says.
I nod and he leans forward to press a kiss to my forehead as he stands.
“Can you leave the door cracked, though?” I ask. “So I can hear you.”
“Of course, give me a few minutes, I’ll be right back up.”
I grab the bar of soap and run it over my skin again. I can’t smell Chadwick anymore, but his touch and scent linger in my brain, tricking me into thinking it’s still there. Tipping my head against the padded towel Asher placed on the back of thetub, I close my eyes, only to open them moments later when he comes back in with a plate of food and glass of water.
“Sorry to wake you, but it’s probably best not to nap in a tub full of water,” he says, quirking a hesitant smile.
I try to answer with one of my own.
“You’re probably right.”
Asher holds out a wide, fluffy towel for me when I stand and step from the bath, then wraps me up and starts to dry me off.
“I don’t have any clothes,” I say.
“I snagged some of mine you can wear for now.”
Asher wraps the towel around me and I take it from him, drying the rest of my body off as he turns and grabs a folded t-shirt, boxers, and sweatpants. There’s no way any of them will fit me, but I put them on anyway.
