Page 30 of Freed

“Getting you back benefits the entire pack. Helping us was literally the most important thing someone could ever do for us,” Maddox says, cutting me off.

“We’ll need your help planning it,” Hunter says, offering me a reassuring smile. “We’ll split up the tasks between us, and you can offer your input on everything. How does that sound?”

“Thank you,” I say, letting out a small sigh of relief at being able to help.

“Come on, let’s get you cleaned up and dressed,” Maddox says as he stands up and moves around to us as Bain pushes our chair back, turning us to face him.

Maddox doesn’t even give me the chance to stand; he just leans down and scoops me up out of Bain’s lap as my arm moves around his neck.

“You know I can walk?” I say in amusement as he carries me down the hall.

“I know,” he says, giving me an amused smirk. “But I prefer this.”

“Me too,” I whisper quietly as I lean my cheek against his chest. He carries me right into my large bathroom and sets me down in front of the toilet.

My cheeks heat as I suddenly realize how bad I need to pee.

“I won’t look, I’ll get the shower ready,” Maddox says, as if sensing my embarrassment. I don’t really want him to listen to me pee, but I also don’t want to be left alone. So when he switches the water on in the shower, I quickly sit down and relieve myself.

Once done, I wash my hands, noticing that there are many more products here than last time. I spin around and see an array of shampoos and soap in the shower.

Those aren’t the only new things. The bath mat and towels are a familiar shade of pink, making me think they are Chase’s doing.

Maddox appears before me, using his finger to tilt my chin up so I’m looking into his gorgeous green eyes. “I missed this smile,” he says, making my heart leap in my chest. “I still feel like I’ve barely gotten to spend much time with you in your human form.”

I shrug. “Whatever was wrong with me seems to be fixed now.”

“There was never anything wrong with you,” he says with a small frown.

“You know what I mean,” I murmur, my eyes falling to his lips.

“You’re still recovering," he says, making my head pull back a little in surprise. It feels a little like rejection, like a small slap in the face. But then his actions conflict with his words as he steps closer, his hand moving up to cup my cheek.

“But I would be a fool not to take this opportunity to kiss you.” Then he grips the back of my neck and pulls me in, his lips sealing to mine. My fingers dig into his chest as a small gasp escapes me. Not because he kissed me, but because it feels just as powerful as it always has.

My hands move up to wrap around his neck, and he presses his tongue in, caressing mine and reminding me that I’m his.

His hands slowly slide down my body until they’re grasping the bottom of my shirt, then he slowly pulls it up, momentarily breaking the kiss so he can pull it off, leaving me completely naked.

Wanting to even things out, I start to pull at his shirt, and he helps me, undressing as he continues to devour me. Soon we’re completely naked, our bodies tangled together as my core throbs with the need for more.

He lifts me up and steps into the shower, letting the warm water spray down my back as he sets me on my feet. He slows the kiss until he eventually pulls away, cupping my cheeks as he searches my face.

“I’d love to try and bond with you again,” he whispers, making me gasp with a mix of need and hope. “But not yet. You’ve been through a lot, and I think—” He cuts himself off as he licks his lips.

“What?” I urge.

“I think you should bond with Chase and Hunter before we try.”

“Why?” I ask in confusion.

He’s silent for a long moment, making me grow nervous. When he finally speaks, he asks, “Can you trust me when I say I think it’s for the best?”

I frown, considering his words before I nod. I’m not sure why he doesn't want to tell me the reason, but I do trust him. “Okay.”

He smiles, giving me a quick peck before reaching for something off to the side. “Good, now let’s get you cleaned up.”

The next twenty minutes can only be described as agony. Maddox is careful to clean every inch of my body, telling me he needs to erase every trace of what happened. In the end, as I step out of the shower wrapped in the fluffy pink towel, it’s not just my hair that’s drenched.