Chapter 6

Ethan’s POV

I stood under the scalding spray longer than necessary, letting the water pound against my shoulders. Steam filled the bathroom, thick and blurring the edges of everything, but it couldn’t blur the memory of Noah’s face across the dinner table, wide-eyed, guarded, trying so hard not to let me see how much the whole evening unnerved him.

I shut off the water, stepped out, and wrapped a towel low around my hips. The mirror was fogged; I swiped a hand across it and stared at the man looking back. I looked tired. Hungry in a way that had nothing to do with food.

I reached for the bottle of body wash, then paused.

It had been two years since anyone scrubbed my back.

That small, intimate ritual belonged only to my mates. Tommy’s hands especially, stronger than they looked. He’d always taken his time, pressing his thumb into the knots between my shoulder blades until I melted against the tiles.

The simple act had felt more vulnerable than sex sometimes. No one else had ever been allowed that closeness. Not servants, not lovers before him, not even pack members who would have jumped at the chance to serve their Alpha in such a personal way.

And now the thought of Noah’s hands there, smaller, hesitant, and trembling just a little, sent a dark current through me.

I pushed the memory of Tommy away, the way I’d learned to do. It still hurt, but the hurt had dulled to something manageable. Manageable enough that I could replace it with something else tonight.

I dried off roughly, dropped the towel, and pulled on a pair of loose black lounge pants.

I crossed to the intercom beside the door and pressed the button.

“Jace.”

A beat of silence, then my night guard’s low voice answered. “Alpha?”

“Send Martin to me. Now.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

I turned away from the door and stared at the far wall, then crossed my arms over my bare chest.

My pulse was steady but heavy, like the beat of something larger waking up inside me.

Maybe this would help. Maybe letting Noah close to me would settle the restless thing in my wolf. Or maybe it would only make it worse.

I didn’t care which. I just needed to know. A soft knock came and when I responded, Martin entered. He paused at the door and widened his eyes when he saw me shirtless.

“Alpha.”

“Bring Noah here,” I said. “Tell him I need him. Nothing more.”

Martin’s mouth opened, then closed. He swallowed hard, barely noticeable, but I noticed.

“Of course, Alpha.” He bowed his head and left quickly, the door clicking shut behind him.

I moved to the wide window, and watched the dark forest beyond the glass. The moon was a thin crescent tonight, barely enough light to silver the treetops.

My reflection stared back at me—hard jaw, shadowed eyes, the faint scars across my ribs from fights a long time ago.

Another knock came, but it's lighter this time.

“Come in.”

Noah stepped inside, still wearing the navy button-down from dinner, sleeves rolled to his elbows, jeans clinging to his thighs.

His hair was mussed, like he’d run his fingers through it too many times. His eyes darted around the room before landing on me, then darted away again.

“Alpha,” he said quietly. “Martin said you needed me.”

“Close the door.” I ordered, but he hesitated for a moment, before doing as instructed. After a while of silence, I finally turned to him fully.

“Strip.”

Noah blinked. “I—sorry?”

“You heard me.”

“I already showered. Before bed.”

“I didn’t ask you to shower.” My voice came out lower than I intended. “I asked you to strip.”

His face turned pale instantly, and he quickly looked down at his hands, then back up at me, eyes wide and uncertain.

Slowly, and reluctantly, he reached for the top button of his shirt, then began to work each button open. Noah shrugged the shirt off, and let it fall to the floor.

He moved to his jeans next, popped the button, and dragged the zipper down. The denim slid over his hips, and pooled at his ankles.

He stepped out of them, kicking them aside, then hooked his thumbs into the waistband of his black briefs.

He hesitated there, and looked up at me, probably expecting me to say something. However, I remained silent, watching him with keen interest.

Finally, Noah pushed them down and stepped free, naked before me. My gaze dropped immediately, and I saw his cock hanging softly between his thighs.

It's thick, even flaccid, uncut, the head just peeking from the foreskin. The dark hair at the base was neatly trimmed, trailing up in a thin line toward his stomach. His balls were drawn up slightly from nerves, heavy and full.

I stared at it for a moment, letting the sight sink in.

"I'm done," Noah finally said, drifting me off my thoughts.

“Bring me the soap,” I said with a hoarse voice, and he swallowed hard, then crossed the bathroom tiles on bare feet, and picked up the bottle from the counter. He returned and held it out.

I took it, then nodded toward the shower. “Sponge.”

He fetched the soft sea sponge from the shelf, and brought it back. I stepped under the rainfall showerhead and turned the water on.

“Scrub my back.”

Noah froze for half a second. Then he stepped behind me.

When he stared, it felt like he wasn't there at all. The sponge moved in quick, nervous circles across my shoulders, down the center of my spine, then back up.

I braced one hand against the tile wall.

“Take it gently,” I roared. “We’re not going to war.”

“I’m sorry,” he whispered immediately, then began to slow his movement. I closed my eyes and let the water beat against my chest.

“Have you ever been naked in front of anyone other than yourself?”

Noah froze as soon as I finished speaking, the sponge hovering behind me and dripping.

I turned my head just enough to catch his reflection in the glass shower wall. His eyes were widened, his cheeks flushed, and his lips slightly parted.

“I asked a question,” I said, turning to him fully with reddened eyes.