Chapter 37

KATELYN.

"Ouch, please be more gentle when lifting me up, it hurts," I complained as Eli lifted me and I winced from the bruises on my back and chest.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I'll be more careful now," he sighed, and I took a deep breath, trying not to complain about the pain in my body.

Various parts of my body were covered in bruises from my fall into the ravine earlier. I had sprained my leg and foot, and my back and chest were covered in cuts and bruises.

"Be careful not to get water on your arm and back wounds," he reminded me. I had forgotten how I was supposed to wipe my back with a towel, given that my arm was also in so much pain.

"Just lower me here," I replied as we entered the bathroom. I leaned on the table sink, trying to calm my body as the wounds still throbbed.

"Are you sure you still want to take a bath?" he asked, and I nodded.

"And my hair is all muddy. It's so frustrating to shower in this situation."

"Let me help you. I can assist you in getting into the bathtub if you want," Eli offered as he filled the bathtub with water.

"No, thanks. You might take advantage of me," I joked, but deep inside, I was just nervous about him seeing my body. I still had some modesty left, even though I was in this state.

"Suit yourself. Just call me when you need help walking again," he replied, checking the water temperature.

"There, it's nice and warm," he said, and I struggled to take off the t-shirt I was wearing, immediately feeling the difficulty of lifting my right arm.

I glanced at Eli, who was leaning against the wall, watching my struggle. It felt like he was judging me, almost as if he wanted to laugh and say I deserved it.

"Fine, help me, please," I said shyly, and he laughed. He approached me, holding the hem of my t-shirt.

"Raise your left hand up," he instructed, and I lifted it while looking in the opposite direction. We were so close to each other, and he was right in front of me, which made me feel nervous and foolishly anxious in his presence.

"Let me know if it hurts," he commanded, and I nodded, and then he slowly pulled my t-shirt over my left arm and passed it over my head, down my right arm.

My lavender-colored bra was exposed, and my face turned crimson as I realized that my panties and bra were not a matching set.

But when I looked at Eli, he remained silent. He didn't show any embarrassment or concern about my chest or even seeing my body.

Maybe he didn't want to react because he felt embarrassed, and it would only make things awkward between us.

"Can you take off your shorts?" he asked, and I just shook my head without looking at him.

"Okay, I'll do it." He replied shortly, and I bowed my head, biting my lower lip.

I watched as he unbuttoned my shorts and unzipped them. He saw my light green panties and slowly pulled down my shorts.

"Place your hand on my shoulder to support yourself while I remove your shoe," he instructed, and I did as he said. He knelt in front of me and gently removed my shorts from my injured left leg, which was in a cast.

"Lift your leg," he said, and I held both my hands on his shoulders while he took off my shorts from my right leg.

"Thank— ah!" I exclaimed as he lifted me and slowly lowered me into the bathtub, with my injured leg resting on the edge of the tub.

"Are you okay like this? Call me if you need anything," he said, turning away from me. But suddenly, I grabbed his hand to stop him from leaving the bathroom.

"Just wait, could you pass me the soap and a wet towel?" I asked, feeling embarrassed as I glanced at his eyes.

"What else? Do you need shampoo? Can you keep your hair away from the wounds on your back?" he asked, and I shrugged.

"Sorry, but I think I need you here," that was all I could say because I realized that I couldn't handle bathing alone.

"Hahaha, I told you so. Don't be shy; I've already seen you like that before," he replied, making me feel even more ashamed. I just bowed my head because he was right, he saw me during that time when Gadreel left me.

"Just lift your foot there so the plaster cast doesn't get wet, and let's start with your hair first," he explained, and I couldn't help but follow his every instruction.

Eli gently bent me over the tub, preventing the dirty water from splashing on me and protecting my back, which was covered in scratches and wounds.

After that, he tied my hair in a bun and slowly lathered my body with soap. His hands were full of foam as he glided them from my arm to my shoulder.

His palm was warm, and his hand was so big. I couldn't help but feel a bit nervous because I wanted his hands to touch other parts of my body.

"Can you also lift your other leg?" he asked, and I nodded, slightly raising my right leg.

"Let me know if it hurts, Kate. You have so many bruises in this area," he said, as he looked at me while doing his work. It felt like he was giving me an incredibly gentle massage, and the soap made my skin so slippery.

I wondered why he wasn't uncomfortable. Did I lack sex appeal to him, making him treat me like a girl?

The thought slightly hurt my pride as a woman. I couldn't even make him blush while he washed me, while my heart was racing with nervousness.

"Nothing hurts, Kate?" he asked, and I reached for the hook of my bra and removed it. I covered my chest and looked at him.

"It's fine," I replied, and he accidentally dropped the soap he was holding into the water. Startled, he quickly reached for it, but instead of grabbing the soap, her hand touched my thigh near my hidden place.

"Ah! Sorry, I didn't mean to!" He quickly raised both his hands, and now I could clearly see his blushing neck and ears.

I couldn't help but smile in secret. I thought no man would look at me with such a gaze, but I was wrong. There was Eli, ready to blush his cheeks and his whole face out of embarrassment.

I couldn't resist teasing him. I also didn't know why I had the courage to undress in front of him.

Perhaps because he had already seen me in this situation? Or maybe I just felt comfortable with him and knew he wouldn't do anything to me even if I paraded my body in front of him?

"Hahaha, it's okay. I need to scrub every part of my body, so I undressed. You said it didn't matter since you've already seen my body, right?" I asked.

"It's up to you," he replied, turning away.

"Hey, wait, help me rinse off too," I called out to him, teasingly. I felt so liberated today, and I no longer cared if Eli saw my entire body.

"Just hurry up and wash yourself," he ordered, laughing at me, and I obediently removed my panties.

I found the soap and scrubbed my body, making sure Eli couldn't touch me. But I felt my body heating up again.

What was happening to me? Maybe I was going crazy and thirsty for that thing again.

"I'm done," I said, and he turned to me, covering his eyes with one hand.

"You're so dramatic. It's okay if I see you. Don't be shy; you might slip while doing that," I commanded, scratching his nape.

"You know, Kate, don't test my patience," he replied, and I burst into laughter.

"Okay, okay," I teased, but because I felt so brave now, I lowered both my arms, covering my chest just enough for him to see them.

Two melons floating in the water.

"Ah! Kate, seriously!" he exclaimed, and I laughed loudly.

"Hahahaha! You're like a child! Maybe that's why I have no shame when it comes to you, hahaha! It's like you're not even a man, haha—"

"Who's not a man?" he asked seriously, leaning towards me.

He looked at me with a serious gaze, as if he were deeply offended. His arm was resting on the tub, which startled me.

I felt cornered, unable to move.

"Go on, tell me, Kate, who's not a man?" he asked, and I swallowed nervously, feeling his anger.

"Um... Eli, are you alright?" I stammered, and he looked at me angrily. I could feel his frustration through his gaze, his cheeks and neck turning red.

"Could you please not look at me like that, Kate? I've been trying to control myself this whole time."

Huh? Control what? Control this bulge that's pressing against my stomach?