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Chapter 5

Elise

“The shower is to your left and a couple of steps forward and to your right is the double sink,” Ezra says leading me into the bathroom that seems to be connected to the room we were just in.

The room I invited all four Alphas to stay in with me tonight. What was I thinking?

I shouldn’t be alone with them like this with my heat due at any time. There are signs to watch out for and I’m pretty sure Weston felt something earlier. My scent probably got to him and caused that protective posturing. These men saved my life and now are stuck with a hurt Omega who is also calling to their biological urges.

What a mess…

“Thank you, Ezra,” I say breaking the hold he has on my hand. “I think I can find my way.”

There is a few seconds of silence before I feel his warm hand wrap around mine once again.

“Let me at least show you how to work the shower. It’s a special kind and since you can’t see, I should show you how it works.” He explains and I kick myself for not realizing I would need some instruction on working the shower without being able to see anything.

“Right. Okay.” I say feeling my face heat.

This time he slides his hand along my lower back and I suck in a sharp breath. He pushes slightly and I let him move me easily.

“Watch your step.” He says just before my toe hits a small ledge.

I step over and feel a smaller pattern of tiles under my feet. They also feel a little rougher which I’m guessing is to keep anyone from slipping when they get wet. Ezra stops me and turns me slightly to my left before taking my hand and holding it out in front of me.

“There is a small panel here that has a couple of settings.” He says covering my hand with his and directing me to feel the small buttons lined up on a smooth cold surface. “This first one turns on the shower which is right above us. It’s one of those rain shower heads.”

A what now?

“The next two buttons are on top of each other, they control temperature.” He moves my hand up and down so I can feel the placing of the buttons. “Next is the rhythm controls. How fast or hard you want the water to be.”

I try my best to feel any differences in the buttons so I can distinguish them better but they are all cool and smooth.

“The last one is…lighting.” His voice comes out with an exasperated sigh that I can’t help but smile at. “Sawyer added that. He said mood lighting is important and a variety of colors can help with moods. It’s fucking dumb but when he has his mind set on something it’s impossible to say no.”

I laugh. “I could see that being the case.”

Ezra makes a humming sound of agreement and we fall into a bit of awkward silence.

“I’ll leave you to it then.” He says suddenly and I hear him step away from me.

His warmth is gone and a few moments later I hear a door open and close. I’m alone.

I’m not sure what to do honestly. Back at the auction house, they sprayed us over with a hose and sometimes threw us a bar of soap. This is luxury for sure but it’s a lot to deal with when I can’t see it all. What were all the buttons again?

Uh, this is going to be difficult, to say the least. I take another moment to build a small amount of courage before I reach for the hem of my thin shirt and start to pull it over my head. I drop it to the tile floor by my feet just as I hear the door open again.

“Elise I forgot to- shit. Sorry.” I recognize Archer’s voice right away.

“It’s okay,” I say wrapping my arms around my now bare chest.

“I-I was only going to remind you not to get your shoulder bandage wet.” He stutters out and I realize I’d forgotten about the fact I had been shot.

You don’t realize how used you are to pain until you forget about even feeling it.

“Oh ok! I’ll be careful.” I promise him but I don’t hear him leave. “Archer? What’s wrong?”

Is he okay?

“Nothing…I….” I furrow my brow and tilt my head at him.

What’s he trying to say?

“Are you alright?” I ask because I’m not sure what’s happening.

“I…don’t know…I’ve never felt anything like it before. You…you’re just so…beautiful.” He says softly and I’m stunned silent.

I’m not sure how to respond but it would be rude not to say anything right?

“Thank you.” That is all I get out before going silent again.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” He says quickly and somehow I know exactly where he is.

I reach out, forgetting my modesty, and grab him before he can leave.

“Wait!” Wait? What am I doing? “Can you help me turn on the shower? I’m still a little lost on which buttons to press.”

Ezra had shown me but all of the buttons had the same feel to them, so it would still be hard to distinguish which is which.

Archer clears his throat and I realize he must be getting a full view of me. I quickly let go of him and wrap my arms around my chest to cover myself again. My face feels like it’s on fire and I’m sure it’s bright red right now. I just flashed the poor guy!

Not that this is the first time I’ve been naked in front of a man before but those men saw me as nothing more than an object. These men…I’m not sure what they think of me as.

A lost Omega with nothing who they feel obligated to help?

That sends a wave of guilt and anger through me. I don’t want to be someone’s burden or a charity case.

“Sure. I’ll start it and then you can tell me how hot you want it.” He says and I feel him brush past me.

A few moments later I hear the sound of water falling and I turn. Keeping one of my arms around myself I reach out a hand to try and feel the water. I move my upturned hand from side to side but I don’t feel a thing until Archer’s hand wraps around my wrist and he pulls me gently. I step forward and feel a warm waterfall along the tops of my fingers. It’s warm but not nearly enough.

“A little warmer please,” I say keeping my hand under the flow of water that does feel a lot like rain.

It’s quiet but I feel the water get hotter and it sends a shiver up my body. I don’t wait another second before moving beneath the water and lifting my face and letting the water flow down on me. My eyes are shut tight and I get lost in the feeling of warm water and the soft sounds the drops are making on the tile at my feet. It feels like forever since I last showered like this, and it feels amazing.

So amazing that I forget that Archer is still here…in the shower…with me. This moment makes me glad I can’t see him because I’m not sure I want to see the look on his face.

“A-archer?” I ask wrapping myself up again. “Arc-“

Before I can finish getting his name out I am pulled against a firm body and lips land on mine before another word can escape me. Shock hits me first and I know I’m too tense but when Archer’s hand runs up my back and wraps around the back of my neck chills run through me. That shock quickly fades away and I melt into him instead. His body feels so warm against me but it’s not enough. Whatever heat that’s been simmering beneath my skin bursts forward and when Archer’s tongue glides along my lower lip I let him in.

He groans and holds me tighter against him. I feel like I’m going to burn up if he keeps doing this. His kiss is desperate and hungry like he’s been starving for this his whole life and given that this is my first kiss I would have to agree. I had always imagined my first kiss to be sweet and chaste but this is nothing like that. It’s rough and desperate and amazing.

I become a woman possessed and start pulling at his shirt. He moves back for a split second to tear the offending piece of fabric away and steps back into our kiss without skipping a beat. My hands land on his chest and I let myself feel and explore his lean muscles chest while his hands move along my back and my waist.

We shouldn’t be doing this…

I barely know him and there is so much more to think and worry about.

But…

Maybe it’s the heat building but I feel like I need this. Like it’s exactly what I want and nothing is going to stop me. At least that is until the hot water seeps through the bandage of my wound and the burn makes me cry out.

“Elise!” Archer yells when I stumble back from him and throw my hand over my wound.

The pain hits me like I’ve been shot all over again and I have to gasp for air through clenched teeth. The pain is so bad that my head starts to spin and I nearly drop to my knees.

“Shit. Shit. Elise, I’m so sorry.” Archer says when he carefully steadies me. “I shouldn’t have done that. I-I don’t know why I…shit, I’m so sorry.”

His voice sounds pained and broken like he’s…scared. But why?

“Archer…it’s okay. It wasn’t you. I-“ I have to suck in another breath as another wave of pain hits me. “It was the water. It got under my bandage.”

“Oh…oh…okay. Yeah, we should remove it and dry the wound. Hold on…” I feel his hands slide away from me but I grab him before he can leave me.

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