Chapter 116


    3rd Person


    “I should,” Ethan grumbled. “I should make you go back.” He stared down at Jane, with her wide eyes


    and vulnerable expression, then sighed. “But my wolf didn’t want to let you out of our sight in the first


    ce, and now I realize he was right.” Ethan offered Jane a wolfish smirk, “You, my naughty little mate,


    are much better off where I can keep an eye on you.


    Jane’s nose crinkled and a shiver ran down her spine at the sound of his heated tone. “I don’t think I


    like the sound of that.”


    Ethan chuckled, “And that’s exactly why I’m going to do just that.” He leaned down and brushed his l!ps


    over her brow, “now tell me what I can do to help you feel better.”


    A little while earlier, Jane had only wanted physical affection. However the IV fluids were gradually


    returning her to her usual self, and she realized just how much damage two days lying on the floor of


    cramped staff quarters had done to her hygiene. She felt sweaty and dirty, there was a sour taste in her


    mouth and she was worried she was beginning to smell. The idea of getting into Ethan’s clean sheets


    in this state was unthinkable. “I want a bath.” She decided firmly, though her voice came out hoarse.


    Ethan studied the curve of her elbow, covered in tubes and medical tape. I think that can be arranged,


    but we’ll have to keep your arm out of the water.


    Jane nodded, “Okay.”


    Five minutester, Jane was floating in Ethan’s huge whirlpool bath while its powerful jets massaged


    her aching muscles. It felt incredible, but the tub’s basin was so deep she couldn’t actually rest against


    the porcin frame- it was clearly made for a shifter the Alpha’s size, and not a diminutive omega.


    Jane huffed in frustration, looking over at Ethan hopefully. He was sitting beside the bath, keeping an


    eye on the IV and taking the opportunity to ogle his beautiful mate under the guise of helping” her


    bathe.


    When Ethan dragged his eyes away from her long legs and luscious bre*asts, instead zeroing in on her


    lovely face, he smirked. Something you want to ask me, Janey?”


    Jane flushed scarlet, “It’s too deep.”


    Ethan surveyed the huge bath, nodding in agreement but giving no indications he intended to help. “I


    think you’re right.”


    Jane’s eyes narrowed to slits, Well?”


    Well what?” He asked innocently, though his dark eyes glinted with mischief.


    “Are you going to get in with me, or not?” Jane eximed, pouting.


    That depends, do you need me to get in, or do you want me to?” He teased, still not moving.


    “I need you to.” Jane told him stubbornly, far less willing to admit how badly she wanted him now that


    her senses had returned. I can’t swim and clean myself at the same time.”


    Then how about I clean you from out here.” He suggested, his wolf rising to the surface as he imagined


    the great care he would take to ensure every inch of her body was squeaky clean. He knew it couldn’t


    go anywhere, she was too ill and needed her rest, but he could still enjoy pampering her while he had


    the chance. Despite her decision about the pups, Jane was still fighting her feelings for him, and he


    understood that some walls didn’te down so easily – especially not with all their history.


    It would take time, but until then Ethan nned on taking advantage of every opportunity he could to


    show her how good they could be together – whether it was her heat, or vulnerable moments like this


    one. He hadn’t forgotten about the pups, far from it, but right now they were speeding towards them asN?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    fast as they could and there was nothing more he could do to get them there quicker. On the other


    hand, Jane needed him now, and though he had every intention of giving her what she needed, he


    wasn’t going to make it too easy on her either.


    “Ethan!” Jane objected sullenly, softening her tone when he simply stared back at her expectantly.


    Please?”


    of course baby.” He answered, rising to his feet, you know you only ever have to ask.” Jane shot him


    an unamused scowl, but Ethan could see her squirming with anticipation as he undressed.


    For a moment he wondered if it was cruel of him to tease her when she felt poorly, but his wolf quickly


    shut that idea down. This is the way it had always been with Jane. She never submitted easily, even


    when her omega side was fully revealed. She needed to be chased, to be caught and dominated, her


    wolf had to be convinced that Ethan was strong enough to provide and care for her and their pups.


    Besides, making her want him wasn’t the hard part, she already wanted him plenty, it was making her


    see that it was safe to give in to her desires, that she could be open with him again without fear of


    betrayal. He was not sure what revtions had led her to reconsider her decision about the pups, but


    he knew a single epiphany could hardly fix everything.


    Jane’s pain ran deep, and it would take time and lots of work to rebuild the trust between them.


    Jane’s eyes were glued to Ethan’s muscr body as he removed his clothing piece by piece, and the


    Alpha had to have some strong words with his wolf to keep himself from rising to the asion speak.


    Guiding Jane’s slender form towards the front of the bath, he sunk into the steaming waters behind her


    and pulled her between his legs. Jane leaned her back against his broad ch3st, sighing with


    satisfaction as she was finally able to rx.


    Her bandaged arm remained perched on the rim of the tub, safely out of the water, but every other inch


    of her skin was flush against Ethan’s and she was still trying to snuggle closer. Purring softly, Ethan


    soaped up a soft sponge and began to drag it over her body, but Jane stiffened. “I don’t actually need


    you to wash me, Ethan.” She insisted, reaching for the loofah. I’m not a pup.”


    Ethan lifted the sponge out of her reach, “You only have one hand,” He reminded her, nuzzling her


    neck. “Besides, it has nothing to do with being a pup. When is thest time you actually let someone


    take care of you, hmm?”


    Jane started to think that she’d been letting Linda take care of her, but the truth is that she hadn’t


    actually given her friend any control. Linda did what Jane asked, but she hadn’t asked for more than


    the bare minimum she needed to fend for herself. If Jane was honest, she hadn’t trusted anyone


    enough to let herself be truly vulnerable since bing Ethan’s prisoner. Sure, Ethan took control


    when she went into heat or when they crashed in the mountains, but she hadn’t really had a choice in


    either case. I don’t know.” She murmured softly, turning her face into his neck.


    “Don’t you want that?” Ethan asked, returning the sudsing loofah to her skin, “don’t you want to be able


    to let go? To just rx and let someone else take the reins for a little while?” The sponge, both soft and


    rough at once, gently scrubbed her body clean as Ethan spoke, his firm and steady movements


    complimenting the bath’s jets and unwinding all of Jane’s tension.


    “Yes,” Jane admitted in a whisper, “I do want that, but it’s impossible.”


    “Why is that?” Ethan pressed, sliding the loofah over her bre*asts and making her arch in response.


    Easy baby, you’re not up for that tonight.”


    ?Then don’t touch me there.” Janeined.


    “But you need to be clean there too.” Ethan replied slyly, earning a grumpy humph from his mate.


    Smothering augh, he forged on. “Come on, tell me why it’s impossible.”


    Because the pups are in trouble, I won’t ever be able to rx until they’re safe.” Jane confessed.


    And once they’re home I have to worry about raising them and keeping anything like this from ever


    happening again. Parent’s don’t get to rx, Ethan.”


    “Everyone has to let go every now and then, Janey.” Ethan answered.


    “Not you.” Jane argued, “You’re always in control.”


    That’s why I have you.” Ethan replied, “I’m hardly in control in the middle of a rut – in charge maybe,


    but not in control. An Alpha’s mate is their only release .


    But I haven’t been here.” Jane reminded him.


    “oh I’m well aware.” Ethan chuckled, but don’t you see, that’s why we need each other. Being together


    is how we both get what we need.” Jane’s head was beginning to loll as Ethan’s soothing touch and


    tender words lulled her towards sleep. “You can trust me to take care of you, Jane.” He vowed, his l!ps


    moving against her ear. “I’m going to prove it to you once this is all over. We can be happy together,


    you’ll see.”


    Jane tilted her face up towards his, blinking her tired eyes open to stare into his own. “You promise?”


    “I promise.” Ethan professed, trailing k!sses over her face, wondering how much of this conversation


    she would remember in the morning. She was already drifting off to sleep, floating on a high of drugs


    and Ethan. He finished washing her while she dozed, then transferred her to his bed.


    Ethan considered crawling under the covers with her, but it was still midday, and he wanted to speak to


    Eric about their n now that Jane and Linda were in the picture. He only nned on stepping out for a


    little while, knowing the drugs the medic gave Jane would keep her under for a long time, but it was a


    mistake to leave. Without him, the nightmares which had been guing Jane for days returned,


    stronger and more powerful than before.


    Her sleeping mind was consumed by images of her pups lost and alone in a far off jungle, struggling to


    survive and unaware of the dangers surrounding them on all sides. Little did she know that these


    weren’t mere nightmares, but visions sent by the Goddess herself.