Chapter 68
AMELIA
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked me, his voice soft as butter.
“How are you feeling? Really.”
“Aside from starving, I’m feeling good. I got a better idea to feed my hunger.” I got a better idea, too. I had no doubt he wanted me. I could see it in his eyes and feel it in his touch.
His lips were a thread to mine when I pressed my finger against his own. “Ryden, you almost died. Whatever you are hungry for right now, that can wait.”
He groaned as he dramatically pulled away from me and lay back on the bed. “I just missed you, ladybug.”
“So do I. I was so worried about you, Ryden. I thought you wouldn’t going to make it. Rest your body. We’ll do it once you’re completely healed.”
“Zarah told me that she has to make you sleep.”
“Make me? What’s that supposed to mean?” She stared down at me, reading my face.
“You wouldn’t leave my bed. She magically put you asleep like Sleeping Beauty. On the other thought, she did the right thing.” He traced his thumb on my cheek. “You rested well, gained your strength, and now we’re both awake. How do you feel right now?”
“I was—” Shit. My cheeks burned.
“You were dreaming about me?” A small smile curved up his lips. “You were dreaming about us, weren’t you?”
“What made you say that?” I was both embarrassed and defensive at the same time. And the worst thing was, I was dreaming of getting orgasm from another man. My stomach twisted in guilt again.
“I smelled your arousal when I walked in. Your skin was flushed, and you were surprised that someone was in your room.”
“Shut up.” I quickly kissed him on the lips. “It was probably part of Zarah’s sleeping spell. And yes, you were touching me, and it felt so real. We didn’t get to the part where you promised me to fuck me hard.” I had to lie and swallow the bile rising in my throat.
“Really?” He grinned. His eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. “Then let me do the honor to finish what we started in your dream, ladybug.”
I narrowed my eyes. “We’re still not fully recovered, Alpha. No excessive activities. Remember your dubious plan? How did we end up here? You still have a lot of explaining to do. Now get up and get naked.”
He was still smiling as he got off the bed and pulled the shirt over his head. “Is this what I think it is, Amelia?”
“Yes.” I slid off the bed as well and headed to the door at the corner. “I’m bathing you.”
“You’re messing with me, right? My dick might not stand again. You just hurt his feelings.” He groaned. His smile faded and his excitement vanished. “But you’re joining me, right?”
“Strip off or I will go back to Tahoe,” I said with a determined voice.
“You won’t be safe there, and the plan isn’t complete. I’ll tell you once I’m done bathing. I promise.” He studied me for a moment before he opened the fly of his jeans, unzipped them, and pushed them down.
“Very well. I’ve been dying to hear it.” I went inside the bathroom and started the water running. When it was half-full, I called him.
He lazily walked in and stopped before the bathtub with his mouth hanging open. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. A pink bubble bath and smells like bubble gum?”
“Don’t be choosy. We’re guests here.” He knew I was messing with him. “Why? Does this hurt your masculinity and ego? I thought this is cute.”
His nose flared. “Amelia—”
“Just get in the damn bathtub, Ryden.”
“Yeah, I get it or you’re going back to Tahoe.” He actually had a few choices. He could just shower, and I didn’t mind, but he got in anyway.
“Good boy.” I grabbed the loofah and started scrubbing him. It hurt a lot as I looked at his scars and bruises.
“I feel a lot better now. They don’t hurt anymore. I just wondered why they hadn’t disappeared. Unless you think they’re ugly and look dirty.”
“Self-pity doesn’t suit you. Wait for a couple of days, and they will fade. And your scars remind you and us of your heroic fights.”
“Was it really heroic, ladybug? Did I do it right? Or I was a fool to think that I could bring down Alec?”
“A fool? Maybe, but did you do it right? Probably.” I put bubbles on his chest and carefully ran the loofah on his skin. Playfully, I placed some bubbles on his face and nose.
He groaned again. “What are you doing? Just come and join me. There’s enough space for the both of us.”
“I know, Alpha, but your bath will only take longer. You still have to eat, and I’m hungry, too. By the way, you’re cute in pink.”
He raised his eyebrows. Sadness overshadowed in his eyes. “Making fun of your alpha will only make your punishment harder for disobeying my order. Are you really willing to sacrifice yourself to save me?”
I stared right into his sad worried eyes. Without any ounce of hesitation and doubt, I said what I should have said a long time ago. “Yes. I would give my life to you. That’s how much you mean to me, and that’s why it hurt so much when you left me in the dark about your suicide plan. You should know that by now. And I know you would do the same to save me.”
“Yes.”
“Good.” I got up when my emotions were too much to bear. “I’ll find something for you to wear.”
I loved him no doubt, even if he had to do something behind my back because he thought he did me a great favor.
I met Zeph in the hallway, carrying a suitcase. “You’re back.”
“Yeah.” He hugged me. “I heard he’s awake.”
“Yes. He looks a lot better. What’s that?” I pointed at the suitcase he was carrying.
“Your clothes and his.”
“What the hell, Zeph? You went back to the house?”
“Nope. This was packed after you left.” When he lost me, he added, “Before the challenge?”
“Oh. Yeah.” I huffed out a breath. “He planned everything, right?”
He rolled his eyes, and he didn’t even look funny. “You have to forgive him and give him some credit, Am. He’s just doing the right thing. He thinks you still have a mission to complete.”
I rolled my eyes, too. “Right. Find us some food to eat. Our alpha is famished. I’ll see you in a few.”
I took the suitcase from him and went back inside the room. Ryden was done bathing. He was already in the room with only a towel secured around his narrow waist.
“We can still do it. I promise it won’t take long.” His offer was tempting. His smile was infectious.
“Shut up.” I couldn’t help but smile as I opened the suitcase and searched for something for him to wear.
He came behind me and made me feel his length. He then wrapped his arms around me and kissed his mark. “After what I did, you still did not leave my side, you still took care of me up to this moment. You saw the best in me when I was losing my shit.”
I turned around and cupped his head. “Beetle, mantis, slug, dragonfly, I know you’re an asshole since you were young who caught a ladybug and threw it at me to scare me, who laughed at me when I cried. We lost nearly everything, and you almost screwed us up, but what I wouldn’t want to lose? Is us. So you have to suck it up if I disobey your orders because it will happen on a regular basis.”
A full-blown smile broke out on his face. “Yup. I’m starting to get it now. And you’re a badass luna.”