Page 4 of My Pucking Life

Benny slaps his hands against the top of the island as he springs from his seat. “Sounds like a plan. Night, everyone!” And just like that, he’s bounding down the hall towards his door as the rest of the room slowly rises.

As much as I want to drag Roman away, I also have this need to be sure everyone is settled in and has what they need. Slate and Andrei are the next to call it a night. After everyone has made their way to their rooms, I begin to hear water running throughout the townhouse as everyone prepares to cleanse themselves of everything we encountered. Khaos finishes saying a few words to the woman and then gives me a giant bear hug—or maybe a wolf hug—and quietly walks away. The twins are whispering at each other, and it doesn't look like they’re having a pleasant conversation. I don't think I've ever seen them so quiet or irritated with each other—or anyone for that matter.

Roman must also notice it because he cuts off my train of thought when he barks at the twins, “Is something wrong with you two?”

“Yes,” “No,” they answer in unison, Dolos looking more irritated while Eris looks like someone kicked his pet.

Roman raises a single eyebrow and just stares at them, waiting for one of them to say something, but when no one does, his irritation seems to rise. “I'll give you the night to get your shit together, like everyone else, but you will tell me what's going on with you two in the morning.” He leaves no room for discussion and begins to walk away. I can't help but peek around Roman on our way to our room to check on them, finding Dolos watching the quiet woman.

“Are you not going to talk to her at all before tomorrow? Does she even know where she's sleeping?” I know I shouldn't push him, but speaking from experience, finding out you have family that you didn't know existed, especially when you thought you were all alone in the world, you should treasure every moment, no matter how hard it is to face the truths that come with them.

He doesn't immediately answer me, but he does lift me off my feet and crash my body against his chest like he needs to hold on to me, or I could float away.

“Roma-hmph—" I'm cut off with his finger on my lips.

He turns us through the doorway of our room and kicks the door shut behind him before gently setting me on my feet and turning to his dresser, fidgeting with the few things he has sitting on top of it.

“It would seem that you are far stronger than even I gave you credit for…how do you continue to handle this over and over?” He turns toward me with so much pain in his eyes that it makes my knees buckle.

“Oh, Roman.” I open my arms to him because I don't trust my legs to carry me across the room. He rushes into me and just holds my body plastered against him with his nose resting in the crook of my neck, just breathing me in.

“I'm here,” I soothe, and it's my turn to run my hands up and down his back—like he's done for me so many times. “I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere. And I'd be willing to bet that once you give her a chance, she won't either. I know it's hard. I know it's scary to have someone else to care about. I know it's hard to realize you don't know everything about your own life. But we'll get through this. All of us. Together.” I repeat the words he’s also told me so many times now.

We stand there just existing and holding on to each other for dear life until I gently pull myself from his embrace and lead him to his bathroom.

When we enter the bathroom, he goes to take charge and prepare everything, but I stop him, “Let me take care of you this time?”

He looks perplexed, like the thought of someone, anyone, taking care of him is such a foreign concept.

“You do know you're allowed to let others care for you as much as you care for them, right?” I whisper softly as I approach him and wrap my arms back around him. I just can't fight the need to be in constant physical contact with him right now, especially when he needs me like this.

I pull back slightly, allowing me to look him in the eye. “We really need to work on sharing those kinds of responsibilities here, okay?”

He nods. “But you've been through far more than me, let me—”

“No. I mean, yes…My shit tends to hit the fan more often and harder, but this is heavier for you, and I want to take care of my...mate.” I smile warmly, remembering that using those words can help when I need to get my way, and this is one of those situations.

“That's unsportsmanlike conduct,” he says with a sweet smile, peeling his body from mine to allow me to prepare a bubble bath for him. Not only does he need to relax, but I need to see my big, hunky werewolf sitting in a bubble bath.

“Well, if you had just agreed, I wouldn't have had to pull out my secret weapon,” I try to say without laughing and fail. I turn the water on nice and hot, adding the same chamomile bubbles he gave me after he rescued me.How does that already feel like a lifetime ago?

I dim the harsh white lights in the room to a dreamier aesthetic, lighting a few vanilla candles on the white marble countertops. I get him settled in the bath and lean in behind him to massage his massive shoulders. He slowly melts under my touch and groans when I work out a few especially hard knots, which is actually most of his neck. He's wound so tight I wonder how he's able to move as gracefully as he is, both on and off the ice. He finally sinks into the water on a low groan and gives in to the magic a bubble bath can provide.

I move to step away from him when he gently catches my wrist. “Don't go,” his husky voice breaks the silence, begging me with a deep pain and need in his eyes.

Allowing him to pull me back to the tub, I rest my hand on the side of his face and kiss his forehead. “I'll be right back. Please rest.”

His eyes search mine before he nods and relaxes his head on the back of the tub, resting his eyes.

I scurry back into the room as quietly as I can, searching for my phone. When I've finally found it, I tip-toe to the bathroom door and line up a perfect picture of Roman in a bubble bath that I will treasure forever. Except I wasn't properly prepared for my covert mission, and when I snap the picture, it makes that god-awful shutter sound that phones make. My cover is blown, and his eyes fly open and catch me ogling him.

Instead of fessing up and brushing it off, I panic and bolt away from the door, like he doesn't know it was me standing there, taking a picture of him. If I could see my wolf right now, I think it's safe to say she'd be rolling her eyes—which she apparently heard me think because she huffs in agreement, causing me to giggle.

“What are you planning on doing with that picture? Is this where you tell me you're really a witch and now you’re going to try to blackmail me?” he hollers from the bathroom, and I'm finally able to relax a little at the humor in his voice.

Quick, Leera, how can we distract him from the fact that I just wanted to keep this moment for myself?

The thought is instant, and I grin to myself like an idiot because I'm that proud of myself, but it's a good plan.

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