CHAPTER TWELVE

GREEK

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Sofia stood before me, her hands moving with deliberate ease as she removed her shirt. My mouth dried as the fabric slid from her body, revealing smooth, creamy skin that begged to be touched, kissed, and worshipped. Each piece of clothing she removed left me more breathless, my boxers growing unbearably tight as my body reacted to the sight of her.

Her curves were a masterpiece, delicate yet toned, perfect in every way. Though she was undressing like it was nothing, I noted the way her gaze kept drifting to and from mine, gauging my reaction. The way she moved, confident but not without vulnerability, made my omega purr in approval.

Her fiery hair cascaded over her shoulders, loose and wild, framing her face like a halo of flames. She was a goddess, standing there as if she were oblivious to the storm she was stirring inside me. She opened the shower stall and turned the knob.

“I’ll let the water warm up,” she told me.

All I could do was nod. I watched as she strode over to the counter, where the sink was, my eyes following her every movement. She grabbed a towel from underneath it, bending over to do so. She was turned to the side, but the silhouette of her body was beautiful.

Clutching two towels, she returned to the shower and stepped into the stall, pulling the door shut behind her. With her back to me, she stretched her arm up, draping one towel over the neck of the showerhead so that it wouldn’t get wet. As she did so, I got a view of her backside. I thought my knees might give out. Her ass was perfection.

My fingers itched to touch her, to trace every curve, to feel the warmth of her skin beneath my palms. The glass didn’t obscure her, and for that, I was thankful. If it had, I might have lost what was left of my fragile self-control and ripped the door off its hinges. Nothing—no barrier, no shred of plastic or plexiglass—was going to keep me from seeing her like this, naked and exposed, every inch of her searing into my memory.

Sofia turned the knob, increasing the amount of water that fell, then stepped under its spray. The sound of the water cascading from the showerhead filled the room, drowning out the erratic beat of my heart. She gasped, her head tilting back as the warm stream hit her body, her hair darkening and sticking to her skin.

I’d never been jealous of hair before. Not until today. Not until this moment. Not until Sofia. She grabbed the bar of soap and lathered her towel, then began bathing. My breath caught as I watched the droplets race down her neck, pooling in the hollow of her throat before sliding lower. Steam rose quickly, curling around her like a lover’s embrace.

It blurred the edges of the glass, but not enough to hide the way the water glistened on her skin, catching the light. Each droplet seemed to cling to her curves, accentuating the fullness of her breasts, the soft dip of her waist, the flare of her hips. The ache in my chest became unbearable.

My omega was stirring, restless, clawing at me, demanding I act. My scent spiked, betraying my desire, but I couldn’t find it in me to be ashamed. Why should I? Sofia was amazing. How could I not crave her? My shame could go to Hell. All I could focus on was her—her beauty, her grace, the way she stood there as if she didn’t know she was driving me mad.

My cock throbbed against the confines of my boxers, aching to be freed, to be touched, to be hers. I swallowed hard, trying to push back the surge of need, but it was a losing battle. The more I watched her, the more I wanted her. Her presence, her scent, her everything—it called to me in ways I’d never experienced before.

The room was thick with steam and arousal, and I felt like I was drowning in it. But it wasn’t suffocating. No, it was intoxicating, like being submerged in a pool of her essence, her scent wrapping around me, claiming me even though she hadn’t touched me. My hand twitched at my side, my restraint slipping as my need for her threatened to consume me.

Through the glass, I saw Sofia turn, her eyes meeting mine briefly before she smiled. It wasn’t a coy smile or one meant to tease. It was soft and inviting as if she knew how badly I needed her here with me. She wanted me to feel it and wanted me to know I wasn’t alone at this moment.

My throat felt tight, my body trembling as I took a step closer to the stall, drawn to her like a moth to a flame. She tilted her head slightly, her wet hair brushing against her shoulders, the droplets falling in a hypnotic rhythm. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think beyond the overwhelming desire to be closer, to join her, to lose myself in her completely.

“Sofia...” Her name left my lips in a hoarse whisper, a prayer, a plea.

My omega howled inside me, begging for her, needing her. Desperately wanting this Little Beta. My scent filled the room, mingling with the steam, wrapping around us both as I inched closer. Closer to the stall. Closer to her. Closer to surrendering entirely. But then the fear hit me again, hard and unrelenting, like a fist to the face.

Each step I took closer to the stall caused more memories of the shed to claw at my mind like nails dragging down my spine. My heart hammered against my ribs, the rhythm erratic, my breathing shallow. The air felt too thick, the walls of the bathroom too close, like they were pressing in, threatening to suffocate me.

I clenched my fists so tightly my nails bit into my palms, the pain sharp enough to keep me tethered to the present. I wasn’t there. This wasn’t the shed. This wasn’t them. Sofia’s soft humming reached me, cutting through the static in my brain. The sound was an unexpected melody I didn’t recognize, light and sweet, weaving through the air like a lifeline.

It pulled me, steadied me, whispering that I wasn’t alone. My gaze drifted back to her, to the way her body moved under the spray of water. Droplets cascaded down her pale skin, catching the light, making her glow like something ethereal, something forbidden. I swallowed hard, my throat dry, my chest tight.

I was with Sofia. She wasn’t Nathan. She wasn’t Natalie. And I wasn’t the same Greek I’d been under their control. I was free. I took another step forward, my feet leaden but moving, drawn by her. Her hum was my siren song, and I’d gladly crash through my fears to get to her.

I stopped just short of the stall, my breath hitching as my trembling fingers reached for the door handle. The smooth metal was cool under my palm. I could feel the slight vibration of the water running behind the glass, each droplet striking like a soft drumbeat beating in tune with my heart.

“Whenever you’re ready, Greek,” Sofia said, her voice low and free of judgment.

That tone, so soft, so damn understanding, wrapped around me and held me together when I felt like I might splinter. I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. I stood there, hand on the handle, watching her like a man possessed. The curve of her neck, the arch of her back as she tilted her head into the stream of water, it was hypnotic.

Droplets slid down her collarbone, rinsing away the suds, catching on her breasts, tracing paths over their rosy peaks, peaks I wanted to flick my tongue over. The droplets dipped between the valleys of her body, drawing my gaze lower. Hunger rose within me. She was bare, completely bare down there.

I could see her clit, the pink flesh glistening with droplets of water. My tongue darted out to wet my lips, and I wanted—God, I wanted—to drop to my knees, to press my mouth there, to suck and swirl my tongue around her until she was trembling and crying out my name.

“Eyes up here, Little Rabbit,” Sofia purred, and my gaze snapped back to hers.

There was no malice, no mockery in her tone. Only teasing warmth, like she wanted me to look, wanted me to feel this desire that was thrumming through me like an electric current.

“You can only look down there if you join me in here,” she purred.

Her words sent a jolt through me, melting some of the fear that had rooted itself so deeply inside. I wanted to join her. I wanted to feel the heat of the water on my skin, to feel her against me, to let go of the cold and filth of my past. My fingers tightened on the handle, my breath catching as I wrestled with the war inside me.

I placed my other hand against the glass, the cool surface a stark contrast to the heat building inside me. Sofia placed the soap and used towel on a nook in the shower, then moved closer to me and pressed her palm to the other side of the glass, her hazel eyes meeting mine through the haze of steam.

Her skin was flushed from the heat, her lips parted, her breath fogging the glass between us. Her hand was much smaller than mine. The glass was the only thing preventing us from touching or holding hands. We stood there, separated by a thin pane, our hands mirroring each other.

My omega stirred inside me, practically vibrating with need, with longing, urging me to move, to cross the barrier, to claim what was waiting for me. Her. Us. I couldn’t speak. I could barely think.

I just stared at her, chest heaving, every muscle in my body tight and coiled, ready to break free of the chains of my fear. I could do it. I knew I could. For her. The words Sofia spoke next felt like a lifeline tossed into the ocean of my fear, her voice a beacon cutting through the storm that raged in my head.

“They no longer have power over you, Greek. You’re free, physically. You can be free mentally, too. But it won’t happen overnight. It takes small steps to get there. I’ll stand beside you, and when you’re ready, I’ll hold your hand and take those steps with you. If you want me to.”

My throat tightened, her words stirring up my longing to embrace the freedom she described. To be truly liberated from those who only wanted the worst for me. I’d escaped them, but I hadn’t escaped the cage they’d put me in. It was time to truly step out of that basement, the one in my head, the one still holding me captive.

“I’m ready,” I whispered, though the tremor in my voice betrayed my confidence.

“It’s okay if you’re not,” she replied.

I shook my head, clenching my fists at my sides. “I want to be ready. I need to be ready. I’m tired of being afraid. I want to be free.”

Her lips curved into a smile so beautiful it made my chest ache. She stepped back, her movements cat-like and sensual, even when she wasn’t trying to be. She continued moving backward until she’d pressed herself against the wall of the stall, making room for me.

“Whenever you’re ready, Little Rabbit.”

I swallowed hard, every muscle in my body trembling as I reached for the door handle. The metal was cool against my palm. With a shaky breath, I pulled the door open, the sound echoing faintly in the steamy bathroom. This was it. No more looking back. I was no longer chained to the past. I was soaring into the present.

And though I knew there were still things I needed to overcome, fears I needed to face head-on, I was okay with that. As my angel said, it wouldn’t happen overnight. I stepped into the stall, and before I could second-guess myself, I closed the door behind me, shutting us both inside the small space.

The sound of the door clicking shut was final, decisive, and for the first time in years, I felt like I was taking control. It felt scary. It also felt exciting. Warmth enveloped me as I took another step forward. The water hit my skin like a baptism, washing away the filth of my past, the weight of my fear.

It wasn’t just water, it was release, renewal. It was freedom. It was like standing in the rain, but so much better. The heat chased away the lingering chill of memories I couldn’t shake, the droplets cascading over my body like a thousand tiny whispers, telling me I was safe.

“See?” Sofia’s voice pulled my attention to her. She was smiling, her hazel eyes filled with pride and something that looked dangerously like hope. “Not so bad, right?”

I couldn’t speak. The lump in my throat was too thick, and my emotions were too raw. All I could do was stare at her. The water clung to her skin, trailing down her curves, catching on her lashes, and making her glow in the dim light of the bathroom. She looked like something out of a dream, impossibly beautiful and enticingly real.

She wasn’t just a beacon. She was the damn sun. Mine . The word surged through me, undeniable and feral. My omega purred, echoing the sentiment. The warmth of the water cascading over us was nothing compared to the heat building in my chest. My hand twitched at my side, an uncontrollable urge tugging at me to close the distance between us.

Every part of me wanted to touch her, to feel the softness of her skin beneath my fingers. I lifted my hand slowly, afraid that if I moved too fast, the vision before me would disappear, proving she was just another one of my hallucinations. My fingertips brushed her arm, light, hesitant, trembling. She didn’t pull away. Instead, she stepped closer, her smile widening, disarming me with its sincerity.

“You’re safe, Greek,” she whispered, her voice so gentle it felt like a caress. “You’re always safe with me. And I feel safe with you.”

Her words struck a chord so deep inside me that it nearly brought me to my knees. Tears welled in my eyes, but thankfully, the water concealed them as they slid down my face. Safe. Did she truly feel safe with me? I wasn’t strong enough to protect her yet, but I swore to myself that I would be.

One day, I’d become the kind of man who could keep her safe from any threat. But for now, I’d guard her with my life, even if it cost me everything. My fingers traced a path up her arm, tentative and slow, savoring the warmth of her skin. The shiver that passed through her didn’t escape my notice, nor did the sudden spike in her scent.

She swallowed, her breathing hitching, and I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the way her nipples hardened under the spray of the water. My chest tightened, my omega purring with satisfaction at her response.

“Greek,” Sofia whispered, her voice husky, like velvet dragging across my skin.

“Yes, Sofia?” My throat was dry, the words coming out rougher than I intended.

Her lips curled into a teasing smile, and there was a flicker of mischief in her eyes. “Are you going to take your boxers off?”

Boxers? Fuck! My boxers!

My gaze dropped, and I cursed silently. I’d stepped into the shower wearing my boxers. I’d been so caught up in everything going on inside my head that I hadn’t even realized it. Her hand flew to her mouth, and she stifled a laugh, but her eyes danced with amusement. The sound was contagious, and before I could stop myself, I smiled.

The tension broke as laughter spilled from both of us. Laughter . Just yesterday morning, I was wishing I was dead. Today, I was laughing in the shower with a beautiful woman. I’m so damn thankful I hadn’t given up – so grateful that I hadn’t completely lost hope.

Hooking my fingers into the waistband of my soaked boxers, I tugged them down, the fabric clinging to my skin before finally giving way. I leaned forward to slide them down my legs, then stepped out of them. Sofia’s laughter was still echoing softly in the stall.

With a flick of my foot, I kicked the wet fabric into the corner, out of reach of the water. When I straightened, her laughter ceased. Her gaze wasn’t on my face anymore. She was staring lower, her lips parting slightly, her eyes wide with what could only be described as awe.

“Okay,” she finally said, her voice thick. “Okay,” she choked out again, making me feel self-conscious.

“Okay, what?” I asked, wondering what she saw when she looked at me.

“Okay, that’s... bigger than I imagined.” Her gaze flicked up to meet mine. Her cheeks flushed a deeper shade than I thought possible. “Does it feel heavy?” she asked, the curiosity in her tone was so damn adorable.

I chuckled, her reaction easing the knot of nervousness that had been coiling in my stomach. “I... don’t think so.”

The laughter that had filled the stall moments before faded, replaced by a different kind of tension. Her hazel eyes locked on mine, and what I saw in the depths of her gaze made me want to pounce. My fear was gone now, replaced entirely by something raw and needy.

I reached out, the movement instinctive, my fingers catching a stray strand of wet hair that clung to her cheek. I tucked it behind her ear, but my hand didn’t retreat. It lingered, my fingertips brushing against her skin, reveling in the softness I’d only dared to imagine before now.

Her breath hitched, and my heart thundered in my chest, my omega urging me closer. The world outside the stall didn’t exist anymore. There was only her – Sofia, drenched, radiant, and so achingly close. I didn’t move. Neither did she. But the electricity between us was undeniable, crackling in the air, daring one of us to take the next step.

“Can I bathe you, Little Rabbit?” she whispered, placing her hand on my side, lightly touching one of my waterproof bandages. “I want you to just relax and enjoy the steamy water while I clean you, okay?”

I nodded, eyes glued to her.

“Use your words, Little Rabbit,” she told me.

How the hell was she a beta? She felt alpha as fuck to me. And I was okay with that. I was more than okay with that.

“Yes, Little Fox,” I answered, making her smile. “Yes, I want you to bathe me.”

I wanted her to do more than just bathe me. But I needed to be clean for what came next. So, I told my omega to relax and just enjoy having someone take care of us for a change.