Page 66 of Threads of Fate

“Uh…yes. If you’re sure?” Nix nods he’s hauling Finn along by the hand. He stops abruptly, turning to address the other two. “You won’t leave, right?”

“Never,” Jay reassures him and it seems to be enough.

Nix seems to stall once they’re in the restroom and the door is closed. Finn turns the lights on but dims them so they’re low and won’t hurt Nix’s new Were sight.

“Finn? You not—You won’t think Nixie is u–ugly, will you?” The words are convoluted, but the sentiment is clear. Nix quickly realizes what he’s said, and his eyes bug out. He covers his face with the sweater. “What did I say?” Finn pulls his hands down gently; their mate is looking down and away in embarrassment, and even in the low light, Finn can see the blush on his cheeks.

Finn takes his tiny hand in his and puts a finger under his chin. “Nix, you have never been, nor could you ever be ugly. You are beautiful to me, no matter what you look like. Okay?”

Nix smiles, still unsure. He seems to decide to trust Finn’s judgment for the moment and eventually, he takes a deep breath and nods. “Okay, Finnie.” Finn smiles back and tries to calm his heart. He turns and shows Finn his back, so he can get the tie to the gown. When he unties it, Finn tries to keep his eyes forward and almost misses it when Nix tries to hand him the sweater for safekeeping.

He hangs it up and scoots around their omega to get the faucet turned on in the shower, making sure the temperature is perfect. Nix is still holding the gown to his chest, but when the water is at the right temperature, he slides it down his arms and freezes.

“Finn.” He looks at his scar-free arms and then at Finn. His red mouth is parted, and he’s breathing fast. Finn can see they are in for a crash of epic proportions in a small, enclosed space. The burnt cookie smell is strong and in the steamy air, it’s going to take them both down.

So Finn does something he’s never done in his entire life; he grasps Nix by the back of the neck in a pseudo-scruff and uses a bit ofa pushin his alpha voice. “Nix. You are healed and you are all better. You’re safe.” None of it is a lie, but he hates it immediately. Finn values informed consent and using his alpha voice is contrary to something he holds in the highest regard. He wants to take it back immediately, stomach rebelling and a cold sweat beading on his forehead.

Nix shakes his head and his eyes glow blue for a split second. “Nix is all better?” He’s still looking skeptically at his arms, where the burns used to be.

“Yes, baby. All better. We’ll talk about it a little bit, but Jay wants to talk about it with you himself, okay?”

Their omega hesitates, rubbing his hands over his newly unblemished skin, but then nods. “Okay. Later, though?”

Heaving an internal sigh of relief, Finn says, “Absolutely.” He offers him a hand and helps him into the shower, handing him a washcloth and the basil-scented soap.

Nix grins then and holds the bottle to his nose. “Yum!”

Finn smiles ruefully and nods. Nix uses it to wash his face, body and even his hair, refusing any other product they’d brought from home. It’s not enough to wash away Nix’s natural vanilla scent, but now it’s combined with basil and—if possible—even more alluring. Finn swallows a mouthful of spit and tries to focus on anything but what’s going on behind the shower curtain. Adds lusting after his confused mate to his list of shameful deeds he’s performed today.

“Everything good, Nixie?”

“Yes, Finnie. Shower is so good.” It’s the second time he’s used the nickname and Finn feels it in his belly: an undeserved swirl of heat and happiness.

“Are you ready to come out?”

“Yes!” and the shower curtain is flung wide, making Finn swallow harshly at the sight that awaits him. Miles of golden skin covered in the occasional spray of freckles. Compact, lean muscles laid over a tiny frame. He’s reminded that the change has been good to Nix Rena, but Finn wonders at how The Goddess improved on what Finn thinks was already perfection.

There are fluffy white towels on a warmer, and Nix raises his arms to be dried when Finn tries to hand him one. “No, you please?” Drying his mate satisfies his wolf, and again chips away at some of the lasting guilt. Finn will probably have to talk to Nix about that night at some point in the near future. He needs his mate to hear his apology, even if he can’t expect forgiveness.

He crouches and dries Nix’s tiny feet, calves, and pale thighs. Once again, he’s reminded of his desire that first night to press his nose into the crease between his hip and thigh but finds he can still find the restraint to hold back. Promising his wolf thatsomeday soon, they might get the privilege. He runs the towel over his mate’s small, semi-hard cock, and up over his belly and chest, trying to be as perfunctory as possible. He stands up and sees Nix’s mouth open, taking tiny breaths.

“Finn?” Finn isn’t sure what he’s asking, but he does know now isn’t the time. They stare for a bit until Nix shivers in the cooling air.

“Soon, baby. Okay? Let’s talk and then, when you know everything, we can get to know each other better.”

“Soon.” Their omega seems satisfied by that and shivers again. “Cold.” Finn decides that he is not strong enough to use the basil-scented lotion today but adds applying it on Nix’s soft skin to his future list of promises to himself.

At this rate, both mental “lists” will be longer than his arm.

He picks up the sweatpants he’d dropped on the floor, and they smell suspiciously like pizza in the small space. They both crinkle their noses at the same time and giggle. “No thank you. Stinky.”

“Just the sweater for now, then.” He slides it over Nix’s wet hair and settles it into place over his butt. It’s way too large, but seeing the familiar sweater paws pressed to his mate’s nose is as thrilling as it had been the first time.

He runs a warm towel over his head and his hair until it fluffs out again. Finn boops his tiny nose and wipes a drop of water off his cheek just to hear him laugh. He throws the towel and the dirty gown into the hamper, even if he thinks he should have just thrown it into the biohazard bin.

“Ready?” He holds out his arm like they’re about to promenade.

Nix curtsies a bit and giggles. “Yes, Dr. Merritt. Thank you.”

---