Uncaged

Bath Time

I thanked Dylan for his help and asked Collin to handle any pack business that arose so I could tend to Jocelyn. Dylan gave an encouraging "good luck" before closing the door behind him and Collin. I gathered Jocelyn in my arms gently and carried her upstairs to our room. She shivered against me, wrapping her arms around my neck and nuzzling her face against my warm chest. All too quickly we reached the bedroom and I lowered her to the bed. She winced, turning over and reaching out in my direction.

I held in a whimper at seeing my mate in pain. I whispered I'd be right back before running back downstairs to grab the medicine Teresa made up. Taking the steps two at a time I made it back to see her curled up in a ball shaking, my oversized shirt clinging to her sweaty body. Knowing she wouldn't be comfortable sleeping in soiled clothes I went to the bathroom and drew her a hot bath. I walked back into the room and sat beside her on the bed.

I felt guilty for pushing her so quickly. I wanted her to seek out my touch instead of me forcing her to endure it. I wanted to take my time with her and for her tell me about her past when she was ready. No matter how eager I was to find out who had abused her so that I could find them and kill them so slowly that they were begging for the end. To make them pay for everything they did to my mate.

"I drew you a bath do you think you're up for one?" I asked rubbing her back.

My nose prickled at the smell of her fear coming off her in waves. She whined looking at the bathroom door before shaking her head no. I let out a long sigh and ran my hand threw my hair trying to think of a solution. I almost chucked as I lifted myself from the bed and went to my closet before leaning against the door frame across from her.

"What if you wear my swimming trunks and I promise not to look?"

I proposed holding them up in the air. I couldn't help but smile at the absurdity of the situation, most mates complete the mating process within days of finding each other. But I didn't mind being the exception to the rule, in fact, I think I rather preferred it this way. She looked up at me with a puzzled expression before giving me the sweetest dazed smile I'd ever witnessed.

I helped her into a sitting position and slide her body to the edge of the bed until her legs were dangling over the edge of the king-sized bed. She winced placing the palm of her hand flat on her forehead before leaning back into my chest. She was situated in front of me with one of my legs on either side of her supporting her weight as she leaned back against my bare chest. She sat there breathing deeply for a moment before nodding to me that she was ready. I reached behind me and grabbed the shorts placing them on her lap and closing my eyes, much to my inner wolf's dismay. 

"My eyes are closed now lift up," I spoke softly hoping to ease her into being comfortable with my assistance.

I felt her head move against my chest like she was looking up to make certain that I wasn't lying. I raised my eyebrows at her, eyes still closed, challenging her while slowly sliding my thumbs in the waistband of her sweatpants. She let out a gasp and her back arched away from my chest as my thumbs rubbed along her skin.

She shifted her head back looking at me again quickly before putting her hands over mine and raising herself off the bed. We worked together folding forward into each other until her legs wiggled out of the sweat-filled fabric.

My jaw clenched with the effort not to purr at the feeling of our mate pressed against us half-naked, warm and glistening with perspiration. or let my lower half forget about her pain long enough to make itself known. I shook my head trying to clear it of my selfish perverse fantasies. I felt her move against me as she slowly slipped on my pair on swimming shorts.

After pulling them on her trembling hands adjusted and tied the strings before she sagged against me with a small whimper. I wrapped my arms around her pulling her close and nuzzling my nose into the base of her neck. "Almost done," I whisper in her ear.