Page 63 of Bonded By Christmas
I chuckle, shaking my head.
I haven’t had a bath since I was a kid, but for Lacey, I’ll soak in scalding water just to keep her happy.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Lacey
Grim never fails to make me feel safe and supported. I’m addicted to the look on his face as he helps me out of his T-shirt and Wilder’s sweats.
My mother is the epitome of the societal expectations for an omega. She’s stacked with luscious curves, and she looks amazing in anything she puts on. That’s not me, and growing up, I was pretty self-conscious about it. As I got older, my concerns only increased because I convinced myself that it was a sign I would never actually have a heat.
Teenagers can be hateful, but seeing Grim’s eyes darken as he studies my nude form seems to soothe the side of myself that got picked on relentlessly in high school. While I know I’ll never look like a typical omega, I’m content with my body.
Grim strips out of his long-sleeve T-shirt, and I cross my arms over my chest. It’s a bit chilly in the bathroom, and I can’t wait to sink into the warm water.
Technically, I don’t need a bath since I showered with Wilder a few hours ago, but I want the opportunity to spend one-on-one time with Grim.
He’s hairier than I realized when I woke up snuggled next to him this morning. He has strong, broad shoulders and asoft stomach. I know from experience how comfortable he is to cuddle with.
Grim is a whole experience, and I’m here for every second of it.
“I’m going to get the hot water running.” He pats my bare arms and bends to kiss my forehead. “Why don’t you make a quick trip to the toilet?”
My head tilts.
I do have to pee.
New relationships are always strange. I probably would have just held it until after our bath if he hadn’t mentioned it.
“That’s not a bad plan.” My hands fall to Grim’s bare forearms, and I stretch up on my tiptoes, kissing his cheek. “You’re an excellent caregiver. I’ll meet you in the tub.”
He gives a low, playful growl, and my heart soars. I’m grateful the bond seems to be healing his mind, but I hope he never loses that slightly feral vibe. He’s rough around the edges, and I eat it up.
Grim is already stretched out in the tub by the time I make it back into the bathroom. He’s so big that his legs take up the entire length of the massive bathtub.
I’m sure I could sit between his thighs and rest my head against his chest, but we can always do that next.
“Have I told you how much I love your beard?” I ask, climbing onto his lap facing him. “Wow, the water is perfect.”
“You’re perfect,” he growls, wrapping his forearm around my lower back. “I damn near singed my balls off when I climbed in, but I’ve heard omegas enjoy borderline scalding temperatures, especially the closer a heat is.”
“That sounds painful.” I tease my fingers through his fluffy facial hair. “We can add some cold to level it off. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
“Nah.” He chuckles. “I’ve acclimated. Although, if you ever want kids, we’ll probably need to count on Callum or Wilder to make that happen.”
I laugh, shaking my head, but my eyes circle back to Grim’s. “And if I said I never wanted kids, would you be okay with that? I have a birth control implant, and I’m pretty attached to it for a reason. I’m not sure I ever want the responsibility of raising children.”
“I’m a caregiver,” he says. “Even if I try to shut it off, it never lasts for long. It’s one of the ways that I show I care. As long as you’re okay with me directing that energy toward you, I think we’ll be just fine.”
My stomach tightens. “I don’t want you to be fine. I want you to behappywith the life we build together.”
“I know I mentioned my dads during one of our sessions, but I don’t talk about my mom very often.” His arm tightens on my lower back, and he brings his free hand to cradle my cheek. “She died when I was seven during childbirth. It’s been so long that I barely remember her, but I know it broke my fathers. They never recovered. They’re still living in that same house on the side of the mountain, just waiting for their time to die.”
“Grim, I’m so sorry…”
“It’s hard to grieve someone you hardly remember.” He shrugs. “Most home births are perfectly safe. Hell, she had one with me, and we were both fine. That’s life, I guess. Everything is a gamble, but I’ve never felt like I need children to have a fulfilling life. I do, however, know myself well enough to understand that I need someone to focus my energy on. The pull is much stronger now than it’s ever been, but I think that might have to do with our designations.”
“I really love it when you feed me by hand or pick me up and carry me around. Is that what you mean when you say you’re a caregiver?”
