Chapter 26
My fingers traced tentatively adoss his muscles. He was solid strength beneath my touch. A tribal marking stretched across his chest the mark of the Moon Shadow Alpha lineage. Another pattern encircled his upper arm, symbols I recognized from ancient
wolf lore.
Jace closed his eyes as I explored, his jaw clenched tight. He seemed to be fighting some internal battle. I remembered what Gabriel had told me about Phantom – Jace’s unusually powerful wolf spirit. Was he struggling for control right now?
I reached for the pine–scented body wash, pouring some into my palm. Might as well be useful while I was here. I spread it across his broad chest and down his sculpted abdomen. His muscles terised under my touch.
“Turn around,” I instructed, surprising myself with my boldness.
He complied without question. His back was a canvas of power – muscles rippling beneath tanned skin. A massive wolf marking dominated his upper back.
I worked the soap across his shoulder blades and down his spine, stopping respectfully at his waist. When I finished, he stepped under the spray to rinse off.
Once clean, he turned and pulled me close, kissing me deeply.
“Thank you, Ria,” he said, his voice rougher than before.
“You’re welcome, Alpha.” The title slipped out unintentionally.
A small smile played at his lips. He didn’t correct me.
“Let me wash you now, little one?” he asked, already reaching for the soap.
I nodded, turning to give him access to my back.
His large hands moved with unexpected gentleness, starting at my neck and shoulders. He massaged the tension from my muscles as he worked, his thumbs finding knots I didn’t know existed. His touch moved down my spine, then carefully across my lower back.
“Let me help with your back,” he murmured.
I faced him, heartbeat accelerating. His hands continued their careful work, cleaning my shoulders and arms before moving to my stomach. When his hands reached my breasts, his movements remained respectful yet thorough. Finally, he knelt down to wash my legs.
The intimacy of the moment overwhelmed me. No one had ever touched me this way – with such care and restrain
“I can smell you, Ria,” he said quietly, his voice thick with desire.
My face burned with embarrassment. Of course he could. Werewolves could smell emotions, arousal.
“Don’t be embarrassed,” he said. “It’s natural.”
He stood, bringing his face close to mine. “Would you like me to… take care of you?”
I… My voice caught. “I’ve never had a partner.”
I know,” he said softly. “I can tell. I won’t cross that line. I just want to make you feel good, help you relax and sleep better.”
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Chapter 26
I swallowed hard. “Okay. You can touch me.”
Jace guided me under the spray, rinsing soap from my body. The warm water cascaded down my front, then he turned me gently so it flowed down my back. When tried to turn back around, his hands gripped my shoulders firmly.
“Stay still, little one,” he commanded softly. “Just like this.”
His voice carried that Alpha tone – not quite a command but more than a request. His hands moved to my waist, holding me steady as the water continued to flow over us.
My breath caught as I felt him move closer behind me. The treat of his body radiated against my back without touching me. Just his hands on my waist, his breath on my neck.
“Do you want this?” he whispered.
My brain told me to say no. To remember Warren. To remember every warning Gabriel had given me about Alphas and their power.
But this wasn’t Warren. This was Jace. And while everything logical told me to run, everything inside me screamed to stay.
“Yes,
breathed. And I stepped back into his embrace.
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