Shannon sighed, making quick work of my door before darting into my room and turning the water on. “I would have given you a heads-up if I’d known,” she called from the door.
“My guess is that’s why you weren’t in the loop,” I responded, glancing longingly at my bed. My body was crying for sleep, even as my stomach growled in desperate hunger.
“Out. Both of you,” Shannon ordered as she stepped from the bathroom, glaring at the two red wolves who stood sentry by my swaying form. For a moment, I didn’t think the twins would listen, but they turned and left, and I shut the door behind them, sagging against it. The anger that had been fueling me through the morning drained away, leaving behind shaking muscles. My legs trembled like a fawn’s, barely managing to hold my weight. “Ah, angel,” Shannon murmured, hurrying over to me. Shannon’s arms went around me and scooped me up against her chest as though I weighed nothing. Something inside me snapped, and I burst into tears. Heavy sobs racked my body as I burrowed into Shannon’s chest, wrapping my arms tightly around her neck as she settled onto the lip of the tub. “I’ve got you,” she whispered, her lips pressing into my hair, uncaring of the sweat and tears soaking into her shirt as she held me tightly. “I’ve got you, angel. Cry all you need to.”
Chapter Two
Shannon
Pixie’s sobs shook her tiny frame, her arms holding onto me for dear life. I reached out gently and shut off the water so the tub didn’t overflow. The scent of lavender filled the room, mingling with the sweat and dirt that clung to Pixie’s skin. I’d known Fillian and Alarick had been pushing her, I’d warned them more than once that they were going to push her too far, but both had turned a deaf ear to my advice. Idiotic males. Training her body could only go so far if they broke her damn spirit.
I hummed softly, any tune that came into my head, as I stroked soft hands across her hair and down her back, the steam from the tub filling the room with the soothing scent of the herbs I’d used. Pixie’s sobs slowed, turning to sniffles, and I could feel her shoulders tighten as embarrassment settled in. “None of that, angel,” I murmured, brushing another kiss on her head. “You held me while I cried, remember?” Granted, I had been buzzed out of my mind, but that didn’t change anything for me. Pixie had been there for me, and I was going to be there for her. Step one, take care of her body. Step two, help her kick the asses of every male in our group. “Do you trust me?” I asked her seriously, tipping her chin up so I could look into those sweet blue eyes. My wolf whined, rubbing up against the female in my arms, as desperate to care for her as I was. It was as much of a need for me as air was, and seeing her hurt like this was tearing me apart.
“Of course!” There was no hesitation there, no duplicity in those cerulean depths, and I smiled, leaning down to kiss her nose lightly.
“Good.” Watching her carefully, willing to stop if she asked, I slipped the cardigan from her shoulders and slid her into the warm water. Pixie sighed and settled back to rest her head against the edge of the tub. I leaned over to the counter and grabbed a tissue to wipe the remainder of the tears from her face before tossing it into the trash. “Just relax,” I told her softly, reaching down to squeeze her shoulder. She made a murmuring noise of agreement. I tugged a washcloth from the ledge on the tub, lathering it with more of the lavender bubbles she enjoyed, and rubbed it across the side of her neck and over her collarbone. Her eyes popped open in shock as she looked up at me, her mouth wide in surprise.
“What?” she whispered.
“I just want to take care of you,” I assured her softly. “You’re so tired. If you don’t want me to, that’s fine. I’ll wait here or even outside. It’s up to you.” A flush stole over her cheeks, one I knew was caused by me rather than from the bath she lounged in.
“I’ve never had someone help wash me,” she murmured, looking up at me through her lashes. I leaned down to brush a light kiss across her lips.
“It doesn’t need to be sexual, Pixie.” I let my lips curve up in a smile, let her see the fire in my eyes. “That’s not to say that I don’t find you sexy as hell. Believe me, I do. You’re gorgeous. But I really did mean that I just wanted to help. I thought I could give you a hand really quick. Wash your hair. Help you brush it out. Then we can work on getting you some food.”
“And if I wanted it to be sexual?” Pixie’s question was throaty, her eyes hooded as she looked up at me, and I nearly tumbled right into the tub with her. Holy hell. I hadn’t been expecting that.
“Angel, you’re worn out,” I reminded her. “I don’t want to take advantage of that. You and I have never—”
“Not because I haven’t wanted to,” Pixie interjected, reaching up to cup my face, the bubbles on her fingers tickling as they popped against my cheek. “I just don’t know how to do this between us. I mean, I barely know how to with the guys. With you, it’s different, and I don’t want to do anything wrong.” Her eyes sought mine, pleading with me. “I couldn’t handle hurting you, Shan. It would break something in me. It doesn’t mean I want you any less.”
My heart squeezed in my chest, wanting to break through my ribs and present itself to the angel in front of me. I leaned down and pressed my lips lightly to hers. “You couldn’t do anything wrong between us. Just be yourself. Take things at your own pace, and I’ll follow,” I told her. I kissed her again, my lips working against hers. She pulled back slightly, and I hesitated when she chewed on her lip.
“I haven’t brushed my teeth,” she mumbled, and I laughed lightly.
“I’m sure you still taste sweet,” I teased her softly. A knock on the door had my wolf snarling. “Think you can stand, angel?” I questioned, ignoring whoever was at the door for the moment. At her nod, I smiled. “Why don’t you brush your teeth and wash anything you don’t want me to while I deal with that. I’ll be back in a couple minutes to at least help you with your hair. We can take everything else from there.” I swiped my thumb across her bottom lip. “There’s no pressure, Pixie. I hope you know that.” My eyes searched hers, but I only saw heat mixed with the exhaustion that was her ever present companion lately.
“I know,” she breathed shakily. I stood and slipped from the bathroom, leaving her to her business before heading to the door. I tugged open the door and faced off with all four of Pixie’s men who were waiting for her. Stepping outside, I shut the door tightly behind me to help block some of the noise from reaching her ears. I crossed my arms over my chest, lifting a brow as I took them in. They’d all taken the time to hurriedly shower and change before heading over for what was clearly an attempt at a lecture, if Alarick’s and Fillian’s body language were anything to go off of. I resisted the urge to snort—that was so not going to happen.
“Can I help you?” I asked frostily.
“Pixie wasn’t done with her training lessons. She had time to clean up and eat, but she seems to be dawdling. I gave her the courtesy of knocking rather than using my key. She needs to meet us downstairs for a weapons session. You should change as well,” Alarick told me, eyeing the soaked shirt I wore in confusion.