Page 23 of Omega Island
I had lost weight with Straten, but that was different. I was not meant to be this skinny. My muscles had lost mass. Straten had said he liked my look, but I hated being hungry and working out. I hated how exhausted he’d made me.
When Senta could finally move again, stretching out his legs, letting his hand fall from my own at his shoulder, he said, “Help me up.”
“Yes.”
He stood on shaky legs. I was worried he would fall. “You should take more time to rest.”
“No. Take me to the shallow end. I need to get in the water.”
I didn’t want to follow his order, but I said nothing as I shoved my shoulder under his and helped him walk.
Our skin rubbed deliciously together, the sensation between us electric. I focused straight ahead as Senta stumbled, leaning most of his weight on me. Whatever these unusual heat waves were had done their job of nearly incapacitating him.
“Just a few more feet,” I said.
When we got to the pool steps we waded in together. Senta glided out of my grip, knees bending until he was immersed to his chin. He closed his eyes and sighed.
“That’s better,” he said.
He drifted. I stood by him, the water up to my knees, ready to grab him if he convulsed again and went under. My flowered shorts were tight in front, my hard-on far too close to his head.
I lowered myself waist-deep, the tepid water cooling my skin. But like my shower last night, it did nothing to curb my arousal.
“You don’t have to stay.” Senta floated in a half-circle, his breathing calmer now.
“If you have a heat wave while in the water, you could drown,” I protested.
“I won’t drown.”
“If your muscles cramp—” I’d learned as a kid that cramps in water could kill even in small bodies of water that weren’t deep. If you couldn’t move, couldn’t relax, the water became your enemy.
“The water is helping,” he replied.
“I’m not going anywhere. I wouldn’t do that. And if things were reversed, I don’t think you would leave me here alone, either.” There. I’d said my thoughts firmly. He had nothing left to protest.
He didn’t answer.
“Well, you wouldn’t, would you?” I pressed.
“No.” His head was down, chin denting the water’s surface. The back of his neck was long and elegant, the dark hair fringing the nape.
“Okay, then.” I was shaky. “Let me know when you want to get out and I’ll help you.”
“Having you this close to me is—is not ideal.”
I froze. I didn’t think about that. Was I bothering him by being an alpha? An aroused alpha? He didn’t have much choice. He had not been able to move by himself for the past ten minutes.
I cleared my throat. “I understand. But you already told me not to call anyone.”
“There’s nothing to be done. I think the pills are beginning to work. I’ll be able to get myself home in a few minutes.”
“Okay. But ideal or not, I’ll help you if you need me.”
“Raimi, it’s not fair to you. That’s all I meant.” His voice had grown a little stronger in the past minute.
“What? I’m happy to be here. This is a wonderful place. I can’t pay you, so at least I can help you get back to your house if you need me.”
Need me.I hadn’t meant to say exactly those words. It sounded weird. But he did need me.
