The 27th

Chapter 18

While her convulsions stopped, she still quivered in my arms, body lax. With her upset stomach, I didn't want to jostle her to much, so instead of cradling her to him like he would a babe, her chest was pressed to mine. Her arms were curled protectively to her chest, hands in fists and I could feel them trembling against me. His own arms held her steady, one around her waist, the other pressing against her back, rubbing it in a soothing motion. Her head rested against his collar bone, legs wrapped around his waist and he couldn't help but feel satisfaction within himself as he held her to his chest.

His scent was faint in the room he was staying in, having only briefly enter it to change. He liked seeing his mate in the space he occupied but it would be much different when she enters his home. It will be a lot more intimate and he was curious how he would act; no one has entered his home besides his immediate family and even then, they must have his permission to enter, she would have free reign.

Slowly setting her to her feet once they reached the bathroom, his hands lingers around her when she lost balance. Instead of accepting his help, she clenched the sink, using that to steady herself. He couldn't deny that it hurt but he knew she just wasn't comfortable enough around him to fully trust him. Another thought that's often came up; whether or not she could even feel the bond they shared. Suspecting that if she did not have her wolf, she most likely didn't feel the bond, which left a deeper ache inside of himself.

Once he was sure she was alright, he left her side to turn on the showers, adjusting it so that it was a pleasant temperature. Checking on her again, he left the bathroom to grab her clean clothes. He only had male clothes, his clothes and he was eager to see her in them, serving as some sort of claim. His instincts craved to have her be seen as his in the eyes of others but he would not force himself upon her.

Returning to her side, she has yet to release the sink, her knuckles white. Testing the water, he felt that it was warm against his skin and he held his hand out after wiping it on his shorts. "Come feel." The tone of his voice was soothing in an attempt to reassure the smaller being.

She moved slowly towards him, head down as she did so. With her finally standing next to him, he took in their height difference. Her head reached just around his pectoral muscles and a surge of protectiveness ran through him; she was much smaller than he originally thought. It pleased him immensely to have someone to rely on him and he would no longer be alone. Her hand shakily reached out to touch the water and upon contact, she inhaled quickly and pulled it back.

"What wrong?" His eyes brows pulled together. "Too warm?" He asked, jumping to her aid in order to right her again. A response wasn't given but she stuck her hand back into the water. "Thaelia?" This time, she shook her head and continued to let the cascading water to run between her fingers.

"It's not cold." She whispered, marveling at the fact.

"You want cold?" He offered and she was quick to shake her head again. "You want women here? To help you?" She refused, taking a step back from him, not offering another verbal response, which he wanted. "Okay, okay." He tried soothing her once again, craving her proximity. "It okay. I be out here if you need me."

He stepped out of the room, closing the door softly behind him as he did so. Even over the running water, he could hear her clothes rustling and her the sound of her bare feet against the tile flooring. He was surprised when he heard her enter the shower without locking the door. After the fact, he turned away from the door to give her privacy.

Sitting on the bed, he opted to just stare blankly around the room while she bathed. Not that he minded but she took a substantial amount of time to clean herself. He suspected that she was just enjoying the water, mostly likely not given the opportunity to bath properly where she was previously.

When she did exit, the first thing he noticed was her smell. The scent of the neural soap that in the bathroom when he arrived lingered in her skin. He could smell the artificial chemicals the soap was made of but at least she smelled of something; the lack of which disturbed him. He would at least be able to identify her now.

His shirt he had given her went to her thighs, further reminding him of their height difference. The sweatpants he brought, which he would never wear here due to the heat, pooled at her feet, hiding them from view. He thought that her being to hide her skin would ease her. Her hands, which once tried to shield herself from him were now at her sides, holding up the waistband of the pants. She attempted to step back, due to his intense gaze but almost had her tripping over the excess fabric that was at her feet.

"Here." He slowly slid off the bed and kneeled in front of her, the only person he would willingly submit to, and when she didn't protest, he began to roll up the pants. Continuing to kneel, he lifted the shirt just high enough to pull the strings as tight as they would go and tied them. They were still loose but at least they weren't at risk of falling off. He backed away before he stood, giving back her space.

Reaching behind her, he grabbed his comb that had been left abandoned on the counter, his own hair most likely a knotted mess, and handed it to her. She stared at it for a few moments and hesitatingly took it from his outstretched hand. Turning it back and forth she seemed to be admitting it, which pleased him, since he had crafted the wooden comb himself.

It was quite obvious that she was not taught how to properly groom when she began to yank the comb through her hair. She managed to get it out before repeating again, only for it to get stuck again. She pulled at it but it didn't budge, only rewarding her with pain.

"Here." He approached her. "Can I?"

When she gave a slight nod, he moved to her side and gently detangled the comb from her hair. Once it was free, he aided her, combing out the mess himself. When that side was done, he went around her front to do the other, carefully, so he did not pull her hair and cause her discomfort.

He felt her relaxed as he groomed her and he too felt an inner peace as he did so. When she deemed him worthy, she turned so that her back was so him, so he was able to get the spots he was unable to get before.

Even after he was done, he ran his fingers through her hair, the strands that were now smooth and soft rather than slick from grime, fell through his fingers. The damp hair was cool to the touch and he was rather content watching as her hair slid between his fingers. Whilst she didn't voice her opinion, the small hum of appreciation she gave urge him to continue, pleased that he could offer her some sort of solace.