Caring For Her

Ivy's POV

I try to stand but the pain hits in waves. I shudder in response as Nathaniel jumps to his feet faster than I can register. He scoops me up bridal style and carries me into our bedroom, sitting on the bed with me in his lap cradling me. I hear him cooing softly in my ear as he rocks me, the tingling of our bond increasing in intensity wherever he touches me but easing the sting of the pain. "Nathaniel... are you okay?" I say softly into his chest. He pulls me tighter against him.

"It's okay. I can handle it."

I can only imagine my scent is driving him wild. I've only really heard stories of mated males and how their female's scent in heat can be maddening. Thankfully, the need for him hasn't grown too intense, but I know it will the more time passes. I groan loudly as another wave hits me and I hear his low growl reverberate in his chest.

"How's the pain so far, Ivy?" He asks me as he pulls my chin up and places a small kiss on my lips.

"It's manageable, but it does hurt like a fucking bitch." I state and he chuckles softly.

He continues to rock me and comfort me as wave after wave continue to assault me, and when I have a small reprieve again, I decide to ask him something that is on my mind, and I move to sit in front of him.

"Were you wanting to hold out on having sex with me until I can't take the pain anymore?"

"I don't want you to suffer this whole time Ivy, but we said we would try our best to spread things out, so I would prefer to wait to have sex with you. With that, you need to keep telling me how you're doing. Don't try to push past it if it's excruciating." The concern in his voice is highly evident, but I think it's a sweet sentiment.

"You know once we start, I'm not going to want to stop." I say cheekily before I wince in pain. He reaches to cup my face with his palm.

"That's supposed to be my line, you know."

There he is.

"It's mine now." I state proudly as I push him playfully and start to laugh lightly. Suddenly my vision blurs and instantly I'm on fire.

Nathaniel's POV

I hear Ivy gasp loudly as she sits in front of me, and I immediately reach out to grab her. Her skin is heated, and I can hear her heart racing faster and faster.

Here we go.

I know she's going into her full heat now, and we're in for a wild ride.

I watch her grit her teeth through the waves of pain, but I can see her physically weakening, which puts me on high alert. It hasn't been that long yet and it's already putting her in a state that I don't like at all.

"I'm going to run a bath with the herbs for you, baby. Be right back." She nods and I get up quickly and make my way to the bathroom to run a cool bath. I get the water started and go out to the cart and grab the salts and one of the bottles of herbs that Althea and Nadine told me I could put in the bath for her.

I return with it in hand and pour the proper measurements in.

I stop dead in my tracks as I hear Ivy moan loudly and I also catch Ivy's scent again and groan myself, my cock hardening with each inhale of it.

Her scent is intoxicating, damning, and fucking delicious.

Mate needs us. We need to please her to appease her heat. We need to make her feel good and safe.

I hear Kiba whine in my head, afraid for our mate in her time of need, and I can't help but feel helpless. I can only hope that I can help her get through this safely.

But fuck, I want her so badly. Trying to control myself has been a challenge.

Once the bath has finished running, I walk back into the bedroom and see Ivy writhing on the bed, rubbing her legs together and I try to keep a level head. Her need for me is increasing.

"Let's get into the bath, songbird." I go over and pick her up again, bringing her into the bathroom and gently setting her down on the chilled counter across from the tub. She shivers and her arousal flares out strong.

"God damn, Ivy." I say out loud, and she looks at me sheepishly. "I'm sorry." She states softly as I shake my head. "Don't apologize." I reach for the hem of her shirt and pull it over her head, exposing her to me. Her skin is slightly pinker as more blood is flowing through her as her temperature rises. Fuck me. I always loved the look of her flushed.

She gently slides off the counter and pushes her sweats off her legs and to the floor, followed by her underwear. I help her into the cool bath, and she sighs in content as she lowers herself into it.

"Better?" I ask and she nods. "It's helping. Thank you."

We sit there quietly as she relaxes in the bath, her head back and eyes closed. Time passes with only a small moan here and there from her, which seems promising.

"You're so beautiful, you know that?" I state and she turns to look at me with those green eyes of hers. "You tell me all the time." She says as she laughs softly. I lean in to kiss her gently and she moans into the kiss, putting her damp arms around my neck, soaking my shirt with water.

We pull away and look at each other for a moment before I crash my lips to hers with such fervor that I startle her. I pull away as her arousal flares out again and she cries out, splashing water on the floor as she holds onto the side of the tub for support.

"I'm sorry baby. I lost control there for a second."

"It's okay. I think the bath isn't helping anymore. I'm feeling hot again." She places her head in her palm. I nod and stand up to help her out of the bath, her legs shaking as if I'd already fucked her. I go to pick her up, but she stops me with a light hand on my chest.

"Nathaniel. I need you. Please." She grasps my shirt tightly before pulling herself into me and I wrap my arms around her naked body, feeling every single point of contact between us.

"Let's try rubbing you down with the salve Nadine made first." She nods and I quickly walk out to grab it and bring it back in as Ivy balances herself on the edge of the tub. I open the container and gather the salve in my hands, rubbing it together and smoothing it over every inch of her skin making sure she's thoroughly covered.

"This feels nice." I hear her say softly as she moans softly, reacting to my massaging of the salve into her skin. "The burning and pain have gone down a bit."

"That's good. Really good. I can sense your heart rate has gone down too. You should rest a little while you can." She nods and we head back into the bedroom, and I tuck her in, kissing her forehead before leaving the room. I check my watch. 6:30pm. Hopefully she can get some good rest.

- - -

I check my watch again. 9:30pm. Thank God she's been able to fall asleep. I head out of the living room and into the kitchen to make some finger foods for us in case either of us gets hungry, and once that's prepared, I head back into the bathroom to tidy up the mess of water from the floor and hang up towels etc. I go to turn around and I'm startled as Ivy is standing in front of me, still fully naked.

I try to restrain myself, but I start to lose the battle. I embrace her and let my hands roam the entirety of her body as she wraps her arms around my neck. I know exactly what she's asking for, and honestly? It needs to happen.

"You sure?" She looks up at me and nods. "Yes."

"Good. Because I don't think I can hold out any longer. I'm fucking you into oblivion."