Page 40 of Claimed

“You’re perfect,” I tell her with a pleased grin.

“It doesn’t bother you?” she asks after a moment of silence.

“What?” Chase asks as his fingers trace over her face like he’s trying to memorize it.

“That I’m an omega?”

“Of course not,” I tell her honestly. “Why would you think that?”

Before she can answer, the bedroom door flies open, a wide-eyed Maddox staring at her in shock. She gasps and instantly shifts back to being a wolf.

“Way to go,” Chase says as he flops to his back. “You startled her!”

Chapter 16

Cherry

Glaring at the absolutely amazing shower in my new bathroom, I stomp my paw in agitation. I really want to shower. Especially after what just happened with the twins. But no matter how hard I try, I just can’t shift.

When I woke in that enticing twin sandwich, I’d just had a very dirty dream. Somehow, the memory of that had helped me shift at will. I’d barely even had the thought and I’d shifted. I didn’t need to reach for my magic or concentrate. I just shifted.

Is that my problem? Am I trying too hard?

I stare at the handle on the glass shower door and try to picture myself grabbing it and pulling it open, but when I lift my paw, nothing happens.

I huff out a breath of annoyance as I hear someone step up behind me.

“Are you okay, Cherry?” Maddox asks. I turn to him, feeling frustrated and unsure how to tell him, which just annoys me more. I scratch at the glass door, and he frowns for a second before he seems to get it.

“You want to shower in your human body.” I huff out another breath and dip my head.

He squats down and rubs my neck. “I’m sorry, little mate. I doubt you’d enjoy a shower in your wolf form. How about I give you a bath instead?”

My ears perk up, remembering the last bath he gave me. It was one of the most enjoyable things I’ve ever experienced.

He grins at me and stands up. “Ah, I see you like that idea.” He moves past me to the large corner tub and starts to play with the taps then adds some bubbles. Then he moves to grab a handful of towels and lay them down beside the tub.

Placing his hands on his hips, he looks at me and his lips twist in thought. I tilt my head in question, and he smiles. “You’re adorable, you know that?”

My ears tilt back, unsure what to do with that compliment and he laughs. “This tub makes it a little hard for me to wash you, so I’m going to have to get in with you.” My ears lift in delighted surprise. I try not to prance around in excitement, loving the idea of him being in that giant tub with me.

He strips to his boxers and tests the water with his hand as I take a moment to stare at his body. He may be the shortest of the five of them, but he certainly isn’t lacking. The beautiful tattoos covering his ripped chest and arms beg for my fingers to trace them.

Even his thighs look thick and strong. Before I’m done with my ogling, he turns and scoops me up before stepping into the tub and slowly lowering us both down.

The water is the perfect temperature, although I hear him hiss in discomfort. “Sorry, that’s a bit too hot,” he says, but I shake my head, disagreeing. The heat feels amazing and instantly helps me relax.

He sits behind my back, his legs stretched out on either side of me and instantly starts pouring water over the parts of me not submerged, using a small cup. After that, he shampoos my fur, and I close my eyes, enjoying the massage so much that I sort of lose track of what he’s doing and lean against him.

“Hold on, sweetheart,” he says in amusement. “Let me just rinse out the last of this conditioner, then you can lean against me.” I try to stay upright as he finishes, then he pulls me sideways against him, my nose resting right by his neck as his arms wrap around me.

I take a deep breath, letting his cedar, leather, and ash scent fill me. I’m so comfortable I could easily sleep like this. There is something about letting him care for me and hold me that soothes some part deep inside me.

Wanting Maddox to know how much I appreciate him, I open my mouth as a small tremble rolls through my body. His arms tighten around me, his fingers digging in as I open my eyes and whisper, “Thank you.”

His wide green eyes stare at me in surprise, and I gasp, sitting up and staring down at my very human body. Realizing I’m sitting there naked, I throw myself against him, in a futile attempt to hide my body.

I realize how ridiculous that is, hiding my body from him by plastering myself to him, but I can’t always control my instincts, and when he easily wraps his large arms around me, squeezing me tightly, I forget why I was so startled in the first place.