21. Ava

Points to Brody,because he recovers quickly from his shock. "Of course," he answers, wrapping his arms around me with a strength that promises protection. He carries me to the small en suite bathroom and sets me down with a gentleness that contrasts his sturdy frame. "Use the toilet if you need. I'll be right back," he says, leaving with a soft click of the door that feels like a whisper against the burgeoning tension between us.

Once alone, I quickly take care of necessities and sit back down, my thoughts swirling. The bathroom feels like a world apart from the rest of the universe, with its modest sink and the clean, organized space. The shower especially, with its modern head that promises a cascade of warmth, stands out as a sanctuary.

When Brody returns, the air shifts, becoming thick with anticipation. "Shower," I state before he can ask if I want a shower or a bath, my voice steady, despite the fact he is about to see me naked.

"I thought you'd say that," he replies, his eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. He unveils the shower seat and turns on the water, the sound filling the room with a soothing rhythm. The steam rises, blurring the lines between us, making everything outside this moment fade away.

And it is exactly what I need.

"How are we going to do this?" My voice is a mix of curiosity and challenge as I contemplate the logistics. The edge of my borrowed T-shirt brushes against my skin, igniting a trail of heat that seems to pool deep within me, making me feel alive.

He blushes—a charming contrast to his earlier confidence. "You'll need to take your clothes off," he says, the words laden with an unspoken invitation.

Spurred by his presence, I remove my shirt, the fabric floating to the floor. The air thickens with tension, an electric charge enveloping us as the steam curtains off the rest of the world.

The pain in my thigh and ankle is a distant echo against the drumming of my heart, and a different kind of ache begins to demand my attention. It's a slow burn ignited by the prospect of his touch, a yearning so potent, it threatens to overwhelm my senses.

His eyes linger on mine, a storm of blue that seems to hold a world of promises. "Lift up," he instructs gently, guiding me with a care that brings us closer, both physically and emotionally. The air around us crackles, charged with the electricity of our connection.

As he carefully slides my underwear down, the world narrows to just us, to the heat of his gaze, the warmth of his touch, and the unspoken desire that dances in the space between us. Each movement, each breath, builds a tension so thick, it's almost palpable.

The steam from the shower envelops us, like a curtain that hides us from the world, leaving us suspended in a moment filled with the promise of unspoken possibilities.

As he secures the protective cover over my leg, his fingers brush against my skin, sending shivers down my spine. The clinical task can't mask the undercurrent of his desire that seems to echo my own.

"Ready?" he asks, his voice husky, betraying the control he's clinging to.

I make the mistake of looking down his body. His erection is pressing against his sweats. I look away quickly, though my clit is telling me to ride that thing until I scream his name.

Focus, Ava.

"Yep," I say, my voice a mix of apprehension and excitement. The stark contrast between my naked vulnerability and his clothed assurance as he prepares to lift me into the shower sends a shiver of anticipation through me. The act of him carrying me, so bare and exposed, into the warm cascade of water feels like the most intimate moment we've ever shared.

When the shower's heat envelops me like a comforting embrace, I let out a contented sigh as he gently places me on the seat. Towering above me, he adjusts the showerhead, demonstrating how it works. "The showerhead is on a track," he explains, lowering it until the rainfall head douses me in a warm, soothing deluge. I close my eyes, tipping my face up into the stream. Yes, this is exactly what I craved.

"Shampoo and conditioner are right above your head. Soap too," Brody tells me before stepping out, his shirt clinging to his skin. I can't help but watch, my gaze locked on him as he peels his shirt off, revealing a torso rippling with muscles that flex seductively with each movement. A rush of heat floods through me, compelling me to press my legs together, the rustling sound of the protective bag silently betraying my growing desire.

His eyes catch the movement, darkening with an unspoken promise as he takes in a slow, deliberate breath. A shiver of anticipation runs down my spine, electrifying the air between us.

"I might need some help," I admit, my voice thick with a desire I no longer wish to hide. It feels like we're characters in a sultry fantasy, yet the fire blazing between us renders any embarrassment moot. His smirk deepens as he hooks his thumbs into his sweats, lowering them. The fabric snags on his arousal, and the sharp intake of breath from both of us fills the steamy air with unspoken yearnings.

He steps into the shower, the curtain drawing closed behind him, sealing us in our own private world. Reaching over me to the shampoo, he kneels before me, his closeness sending waves of desire crashing through me.

With the shampoo in hand, he begins to work up a lather, and I seize the moment to steer the growing tension toward something seemingly mundane. "Did you always want to be a doctor?" I ask, craving to know more about the man igniting such a storm within me.

"No," he answers simply, sparking my curiosity further.

"Really?" My surprise is genuine. "It seems like most doctors have always known their calling."

He chuckles softly, a sound that resonates deep within me. "I was a paramedic with the others. Ethan and I both started in nursing school. We chose paramedic work because we loved the pace. Being a wolf, I can shift and reach a patient much faster than an ambulance in traffic or on back roads." His hands begin to massage my scalp as he shares his story, each word punctuated by touches that feel like heaven.

I resist the urge to moan, even though that is exactly what I want to do. There is just something about having another person wash your hair.

"So you actually liked being a paramedic?" I press.

"Yeah, there was this one time, when the ER was short-staffed right after we brought in a patient. It just clicked for me. I was doing rounds and didn't even realize I'd started. The very next day, I applied for med school," he shares, his voice filled with a mix of pride and wistfulness. His fingers drag down the strands of my hair as he leans back. "Clean."

"And just like that, history was made," I say with a smirk, rinsing the foam out and flipping my hair forward, letting the water sluice the last traces of shampoo away.

As I straighten up, water momentarily blinds me. When I finally blink the droplets away, Brody's gaze locks onto mine. Gone is the casual storyteller, and in his place is this intense, almost primal presence. It's like staring into the eyes of a wolf who's found something precious.

My heartbeat kicks up a notch as I meet Brody's gaze, feeling a spark ignite between us, fierce and undeniable.

He moves in closer, and his chest brushes against mine as he goes for the body wash. The feel of his body sends a shiver down my spine.

He pours the body wash into his hand and then onto my skin, his fingers painting trails of heat across my body. I let out a little moan.

His gaze darkens, filled with a desire that mirrors my own, as his hands glide over my skin and down to my thighs. He's careful around my injury, but at this point, I'm so lost in the sensation that a little pain wouldn't even register.

I turn so my back is to him, soaking in the feel of his touch. Our bodies slip against each other, slick from the soap, and when he pulls me closer, it's electric.

His hands trace up my back, and he plants hot kisses along my spine. Every kiss is like a spark setting me aflame, especially when his lips find the nape of my neck, sending shivers straight through me.

I can't help myself, I have to face him again.

Brody grips my hips as I face him, and my body reacts, my thighs parting like they are in on the secret too. His breath catches, and I arch my back, the tension between us thick enough to cut.

My heart pounds as he pulls me closer, and we're barely inches apart. His eyes bore into mine like he's searching for something deep inside me.

"It's hard for me to believe that you're here in my arms, whimpering for me, reaching out for me, your lips parting in anticipation of my kiss. All my life, I've dreamed of finding my mate, and now…" he murmurs, admiration and something deeper in his voice. "Here you are—the promise of every tomorrow I've ever craved."

I'm speechless, so I look away, feeling too much and not knowing how to reply.

He tilts my chin up gently. "Don't hide," he whispers, brushing his thumb softly over my lip.

I take a deep breath, letting down my guard and meeting his eyes again. Our connection zaps through us, full of unspoken promises and a yearning that just won't quit.

He edges closer, and shadows play across his chiseled features in the dim light, revealing raw hunger and something softly vulnerable. He leans in without looking away, and his lips brush against mine.

It starts slowly, like we're both testing the waters, but the moment our lips touch, it's like someone lit a match between us. Our kisses quickly catch fire, growing more urgent, more filled with passion by the second.

His hands wander from my hips up into my hair, while I loop my arms around his neck. It's like every part of us is drawn together, pushing us to deepen the kiss even more.

With the water pouring down on us, I forget everything else. It's just us in this moment, and it feels like something we've both been waiting for forever.

Eventually, we need air, so we pause and lean our foreheads together as we try to catch our breath.

"Oh," I whisper, totally breathless.

"Say you'll let me taste you," he whispers, his voice so husky, it sends a shiver straight to my core. His eyes, so dark and intense, roam over me, making me feel like I'm the only one in the world.

I lick my lips and nod, completely swept up in the moment.

"Spread for me, luna," he rumbles, and his voice has this echo in the shower that sends my heart racing. I'm excited and nervous as I do as he asks.

I shift, spreading my legs, the warm water teasing my skin in a way that's erotic. I react to his touch, every part of me waking up and paying attention. The warm water feels like liquid fire on my skin, sparking every nerve into life.

He dives between my legs with an intensity that's just this side of wild, driven by a need I feel just as much. I grip the slick shower seat, trying to anchor myself, and his tongue dips inside of me.

Brody's eyes light up with wild desire that resonates with something deep inside me. His tongues dives in and out as he does exactly as he asked, tasting me.

"Fuck, you taste like ambrosia," he says, his hands gripping my hips as though I may pull away. The roughness of his hands against my smooth flesh lights up something fierce inside me.

My hips roll toward him, my thighs squeezing his head.

Brody moans his approval. He's loving the effect he has on me, taking his sweet time teasing me before diving his tongue in and out before he slows again. His tongue tastes me with hungry moves that send pleasure zipping through me.

"You're so fucking wet." He's all-in, giving every sensitive spot the attention it deserves. "Ride my face, luna," he says, and damn if that doesn't light a fire in me.

My body trembles beneath his touch, wound up from being near them, from their little touches here and there. I know I'll explode sooner than I'd like, and when he nips my clit, I'm hit by a wave of ecstasy. His every touch draws out an intense sensation, causing me to tremble, coming undone in his hands.

A sob almost escapes me when he zeroes in on my clit, sucking and swirling his tongue in a deliberate, mind-blowing way. It's almost too much in the best way possible. My hips lift off the seat, seeking more of his relentless attention.

His tongue works magic, finding the right speed and pressure, coaxing out moans and gasps from me like he's conducting an orchestra to its crescendo. The way he manages this cocktail of pleasure and power is intoxicating, and I'm lost in it.

"Oh, Brody, yes," I beg as each of his touches and licks drives me closer to the edge. He's more than willing to step it up, his tongue doing this incredible thing that has me seeing stars.

He hums against me, and those vibrations do wonders, sending shockwaves through me. The way his tongue dances around, paying special attention to all the right places, has me gripping his hair like it's the only thing keeping me anchored to this world.

I'm right on the brink, trembling from his relentless pursuit, until I shatter, breaking apart from a bliss I didn't even know existed. My heart pounds so loud, it drowns out everything else, leaving a bubble of pure, raw pleasure that's all about us.

As the last of the tremors fade, I catch my breath and look down at him. His lips are shiny, and his dark, hungry eyes are filled with… Well, it's a mix of pride and something a bit softer, like he's just as caught up in this as I am.

"Look what you've done to me," he challenges, his voice thick with arousal. Leaning back, he supports himself on one hand, while the other wraps around his length, stroking with a deliberate slowness. The dim light plays over his muscles, highlighting the contours of his body as he loses himself in pleasure, his moans breaking the silence. His gaze locks onto mine, sparking a silent exchange filled with longing and unspoken promises.

"See how much I want you, how my body reacts to your moans of pleasure?" His words are a seductive whisper, reaching out and wrapping around me. I'm captivated, my eyes glued to his movements. "Watch me Ava."

I lick my lips as he tips his head back, pleasure playing across his features.

A deep groan cuts through the air as he reaches his climax, his hips pumping into his hand. Slowing down, he opens his eyes, his breathing heavy. In a moment of intense intimacy, he extends his hand toward me, offering me a taste. This act, so deeply personal, knits us closer, a tangible symbol of our growing bond, and the kiss that follows is intense yet tender, a promise sealed without words.

As he touches me again, I'm hit by a wave of everything—pain, pleasure, the whole deal. Every touch is like lightning, sparking something fierce inside me, and in this rare moment of quiet, it hits me—I want more than just the physical. I want to know all the little things that make them tick, the stuff that brings them joy and lights up their eyes.

It's a weird, complex feeling, this mix of desire and belonging. As I sit here, I can't help but wonder if I've found something real. Could it be that with them, I won't just find desire, but a place where my restless heart can finally settle down?

This thought kindles a fire in me, pushing me toward a future filled with hope, and we all know hope can be a very dangerous thing.