Page 32 of Knotted By the Demon

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 herlashes, 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 thespray 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.

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