I Hate the Way...

Part 64: "You Didn't Scare Me"

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Steam filled the bathroom as Hope stood under the water, her palms braced against the cool tiles as the droplets cascaded down her back.

She let out a long breath, still trying to calm herself down.

The adrenaline was still pumping through her veins, but the rush was slowly fading, leaving a mix of emotions behind that Hope didn't know how to face.

Her wolf had come out very clearly, more than it had in years, and she let it take control.

But even now, with the water pounding against her skin, she could still feel the thrill, the satisfaction of having Josie submit to her so completely. It stirred something deep inside her, something primal and possessive, and it terrified her.

She closed her eyes, letting the water wash over her, trying to push the thoughts away. But it was more than impossible to ignore the way her heart raced at the memory of Josie's breath hitching, the way Josie looked up at her with those wide but trusting eyes.

But Hope was certain she pushed too far, and she let her emotions take over in a way that was almost dangerous.

She wanted to claim Josie, to make it clear that no one else could ever touch her, not even herself.

But now, standing here alone, the weight of it all settled heavy on her chest.

She shook her head, trying to clear her mind, but it was no use. The intensity of her feelings for Josie, the way her wolf reacted to her, it was all too much, too overwhelming.

Because in reality, Josie isn't really hers to claim. And that was a fact that her wolf seemed to ignore.

The sound of the bathroom door suddenly opening brought Hope out of her thoughts. She swallowed thickly, but her eyes never looked up.

She didn't have to. She could practically smell her wife's scent immediately as she entered, another stark change in her senses.

Hope's heart skipped a beat, unsure of what Josie was thinking right now.

Josie didn't say a word as she hesitantly slipped into the shower with Hope, the water instantly soaking her skin and hair.

She immediately wrapped her arms around Hope from behind, pressing her body against the Tribrid's back.

Hope's breath caught in her throat as she felt Josie's soft, wet skin against her own. The comfort and care in Josie's touch was enough to make Hope's heart ache in a different way.

Josie rested her cheek against Hope's shoulder, her arms holding her close as if to reassure her that she wasn't going anywhere. "I'm sorry," she whispered softly, her voice barely audible over the sound of the shower.

Hope closed her eyes again, this time letting herself relax into Josie's embrace. She reached up, covering Josie's hands with her own, holding them tightly as if they were her anchor.

"No, I'm sorry," Hope finally managed to say, her voice thick with emotion.

Josie shook her head gently, her breath warm against Hope's skin. "You don't have to apologize," she murmured, her tone filled with understanding.

"I shouldn't have..." Hope started, her voice subtly cracking as she spoke. "I let my emotions take over, and I–it scared me."

Josie's grip tightened slightly on the Tribrid. "You didn't scare me," she said softly. "You could never scare me, Hope...I like when you're in control like that."

Hope's chest tightened at Josie's words, a mixture of relief and guilt washing over her. "But I wasn't in control, Jo. That's just it," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's like I'm constantly losing control when I'm with you now."

Josie lifted her head slightly, pressing a gentle kiss to Hope's shoulder, "Because of your wolf?"

Hope pauses to think about it. That has to be what's different now, right?

"Yeah..." she furrowed her eyebrows at the thought, "I think so."

Josie nods slowly in understanding, "Do you want to take a break from me siphoning from the hex? If you aren't ready to face your wolf side, or the memories, or any of it, I don't want to pressure you to do something you aren't ready for."

Hope let out a shaky breath, finally allowing herself to fully lean back into Josie's embrace."

Josie's hands began to move, gently rubbing Hope's arms, trying to offer her some sort of comfort and grounding her in the moment. "You aren't alone in this, Hope," she whispered, her lips brushing against the auburnette's ear.

Hope turned her head slightly, just enough to catch a glimpse of Josie's face through the steam.. The tenderness in her eyes was enough to make her heart swell.

"It's not just that, Jo," Hope started. She finally turned in Josie's arms, facing her fully as the water continued to come down over them. She reached up, cupping Josie's face in her hands, her thumbs gently brushing over her cheeks. "I don't want to lose you," Hope admitted, her voice suddenly sounding like it was trembling.

Josie furrowed her eyebrows slightly after hearing that. She didn't think that was the thought plaguing Hope's mind this whole time.

"You won't," Josie whispered back surely, her eyes locked with Hope's. "I told you before, and I'll tell you again, as often as you need to hear it. I'm not going anywhere."

Hope searched Josie's eyes for any sign of doubt, but she couldn't find any. Josie was being just as genuine as she's always been. It was enough to make her lean in, capturing Josie's lips in a slow, tender kiss that was filled with all the emotions she couldn't put into words.

Josie kissed her back just as softly, her arms wrapping around Hope's neck, holding her close before sliding her hands over Hope's shoulders and toward her chest, caressing the markings of the hex gently, as if giving Hope a chance to stop her.

Hope pulled back out of the kiss, resting her forehead against Josie's, nodding her head for Josie to continue. "Be careful, love. You've already siphoned a bit tonight."

Josie nodded her head, letting her fingertips graze over Hope's skin before she finally began to siphon.

She let out a soft moan at the feeling of dark magic coursing through her veins, while Hope watched her expression intently, watching as her veins and eyes darkened.

She felt Josie's fingers twitch against her chest, craving more, and she took it.

"Jo," Hope muttered gently as Josie closed her eyes, her head falling back slightly as she siphoned. "Josie, slow down." Hope's eyebrows creased when Josie didn't listen. It almost seemed like Josie was completely entranced by the magic.

Hope's grip tightened on her waist before she finally reached for Josie's wrists, "Baby—ahh fuck!"

In an instant, Josie's back was roughly pushed against the wall behind her, she hissed at the sudden coldness and force.

Her eyes widened with realization. She felt how tense Hope was, panting into her neck, her eyes clenched shut.

The brunette reached to cup Hope's cheek, trying to look at her, "Hope–oh my god, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to–"

Josie's words died in her throat, her mouth running dry when she forced Hope's gaze to meet her own.

Hope let out an animalistic growl, and unveiled Tribrid eyes met Josie's gaze, two sets of fangs clearly on display. "I remember."

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