Chapter 85

Chapter 85

"I think I should draw you a bath then." His hand slid to mine, entwining our fingers as he pulled me from his bed, his voice growing huskier.

He tugged me gently towards a set of oak doors that went to his bathroom, and for a while we stood, basking in the wants of our wolves, our hearts throbbing in unison.

My eyes wandered frantically over the room, which was just as large as the one we had just moved from. The loo was hidden away in a separate room, the shower occupied an entire wall, and then there was a very big beautiful mirror in there to look at yourself while taking a shower.

"Wow," I muttered, glancing at the bathtub that took up most of the space in the center. It had an intimate look that was similar to a hot tub or swimming pool.

I almost cried out when Derrick stepped away from me since I couldn't feel his touch, but instead I watched him go to the two sinks and search the cabinets underneath them for a few bottles before coming back to me.

He turned on the tub's water while kneeling at my feet and then glanced up at me.

"Lavender or chamomile?" I blushed at his questioning stare.

"Chamomile." He arched a brow at my timid decision and started to unscrew the cap.

"Are you having trouble sleeping?" I knew he knew the precise source of our disturbed sleep habits, so I didn't even bother to respond as I listened to the water gushing out of the tap. The crux of the matter was my refusal to yield to our mutual bond.

Instead, I brought up another topic.

My playful comment, "It was really busy at the café today; was it your doing to have half the pack working me off my feet?"

My question didn't go over well with him.

He got up, once more casting his body across mine. His scrutinizing gaze trailed the length of me, causing my skin to prickle until it finally settled on my feet. Steam from the water rose and began to swirl between the two of us as his jaw clenched moodily, a frown settling on his face.

He stepped closer to me, and as he did, my hands clenched into fists by my sides.

"The pack is curious about you, but I will tell them to back off—I don't want you working so hard." His gaze lingered on me as he reached for my disheveled hair, running his fingers through it and brushing against the side of my neck.

His hand moved down, lightly brushing the back of my throat, until his index finger pulled at the collar of my shirt.

We fell silent for a moment as I swallowed tensely, and for once I wished that the mind-link was working and I could poke my head through his skull.

"Will you let me undress you, or would you rather I watch?" His remarks were a certain way to break me. There was no third choice that promised his removal from this room; the first two were equally evil.

Will he stay if I undress for him?

Would he come along if I allowed him to strip me?

Would I regret telling him to go?

"I want you to undress me." I was able to spit out my own words, multiplying my need.

His finger quickly descended forcefully on my blouse, ripping through the few buttons at the top and ripping a slit through the cloth. He removed the tattered material from my flesh faster than I anticipated, leaving me standing in just my bra and jeans.

I watched his chest heave with his hunger for me, and I was left speechless as I stared at him, my eyes wide. It wasn't as if he hadn't seen it all before, but I still felt the need to hide from him, so I tried to remain motionless as he explored my entire body.

He spread his hands over my stomach, staring at me the entire time as I inhaled, and he played with the button on my trousers. Before he tackled the zipper, he unfastened the clasp by running his fingers under the fabric. As he slipped the pants down my legs and I drew my feet out from under them, he pulled me in closer.

He was staring down at me, his hands curving around my hips, and I was officially dressed less than him. Every time his naked fingers touched my flesh, my heart rate shot through the roof. I could feel his hands going up my back, unhooking my bra.

He withdrew it from me, his fingers sliding down the incline of them, causing my breath to quicken and my nipples to tighten. I shivered.

"So fucking beautiful." With his fingers still descending, he let go of the final bit of fabric separating us and groaned out.

I pressed my thighs together and sought to grip his forearm. I was worried that the mood in the room wouldn't go away because it was growing hotter and heavier. There was a mewling sound that escaped my lips, and as his grip on me grew tighter, his hands kept exploring me as though I held the key to everything.

His eyes were getting dimmer as he retreated from me.

"Get in the tub." With unsteady legs, I obeyed the words that felt more like an order than a polite provocation.

With a tiny sigh of satisfaction, I dove under the water and briefly closed my eyes, drowning my limbs. The water seemed like a gentle touch, a salve for the pain that was raging inside of me.

And as he watched me, I allowed myself to forget for a little while and fall apart.

With a desperate growl, Derrick caught my attention, and I looked at him.

As I pushed myself to the farthest edge of the tub, his menacing shape was almost predatory, and his eyes followed my every move before deciding what to do next.