ELEVEN
My eyes started to close,but I shook myself awake.
Shower.
I needed to shower, then I could sleep.
Forcing myself out of bed, I set my feet on the floor and grabbed the nightstand, swearing under my breath when I almost fell over. My legs were like jelly.
I carefully made my way across the room, hands out at my sides, and my knees bent a little like I was ready to catch a basketball or something.
Pulling the door open, I stumbled across the hall. One of my knees decided to give out when I’d almost reached the bathroom, and I went down with another muttered curse.
Warm, strong arms wrapped around my waist before I hit the ground.
“Easy,” Elliot murmured.
That was the moment I realized why his ears had been red.
I was naked.
Absolutely, completely naked.
And while I had a kid, he was doubtlessly a virgin.
Shiiiit.
An inward groan almost escaped, but I held it back, mumbling, “Thanks.”
He eased me back up to my feet, slipping an arm around my waist as he silently helped me into the bathroom.
“I’ve got the water,” he told me, after shutting the door behind us. Something inside my abdomen clenched a little as he turned the lock, and I chalked it up to the lingering stress of what had happened the last time I’d been locked in a room alone with a man.
Elliot wasn’t SD, though.
Not even a little.
So I forced myself to continue breathing, relaxing with my back resting against the bathroom countertop.
The water turned on, and I mumbled, “Who’s with Evan?”
I knew Elliot enough to know that he wouldn’t have left Ev alone, and also knew it hadn’t been long enough for Sabby to get to his place from hers. Ours.
Eh, I wasn’t really sure how everything was going to work, yet. And wasn’t conscious enough to think hard about it.
“My wolf wouldn’t let me leave the room while you were asleep,” Elliot said calmly, his hand testing the water even though we both knew it wasn’t warm yet. I was pretty sure he was just avoiding turning around, so he wouldn’t get another eyeful of my nudity. “Dax stayed the night, and took care of Evan when he needed milk. He went home this morning, and Ford came over to take his place. He’ll leave when Sabrina gets here, unless she wants the help.”
Good.
That was probably good.
Maybe.
My brain wasn’t working well enough to say for sure.
“Alright, it’s ready.” Elliot stepped back, his gaze fixating on the wall.
Some part of me wanted him to look at me—to trail his eyes over my skin, like I was his mate, and not just Evan’s mom. Men had looked at me so differently, before I had Evan. And I’d never regretted my baby, but I did wonder what it would feel like to be sexy again.