Talons

Chapter 129: The Ears

Colton's POV

My mate didn't allow me to carry her back to our suite and insisted on walking, despite being barefoot. I didn't like it, but I left her alone after convincing her to thoroughly let me make sure her ribs weren’t broken.

Mandy and Holly accused me of fondling my mate over mind-link, and while I didn't mind touching her, I was genuinely concerned.

Dolton isn't as fast as me, but he is quick, and heavy. I saw his feet connect with Rhea’s side, so I know she's at least a little hurt, but as usual, she reminds me of my past sins by telling me that she would know if her ribs were broken.

When we got back, Rhea immediately went into the kitchen, pulling out random things from both the cabinets and fridge.

I silently watched her make preparations and when I realized that I was making her uncomfortable I tried to make myself useful.

"Is there anything I can help with?" Rhea considers for a while before a task I can aid with actually occurs to her.

"In my room, I have something called a foot spa under the bed, and in the top drawer of the bathroom cabinet, I have cotton swabs and petroleum jelly; can you bring them to me?" I don't know why, but I feel like I absolutely cannot fail this task.

I go into ‘her room,’ amazed with how neatly everything is arranged and because Rhea doesn't allow Crystal to work more than a few hours on school days, I know it's my mate's doing.

I find what she asked for and bring it to the kitchen where she now has something boiling on the stove.

"What are you making?" I ask, and she tells me it's an antibiotic ointment. "Why not just get some from the… Never mind," I say, realizing that Marcy may not actually give my mate what she asked for. 

While poisoning a pack member is a crime, Rhea, as she has pointed out to everyone, is just a visiting rogue. She also doesn't bear my mark, so her rank, while important, is little more than honorary.

Unable to stop staring, I asked my mate why she tried to trip Dolton and she shocks me by telling me she just wanted to give him a hard time. 

Rhea has never struck me as the kind of person to enact petty revenge. However, I can tell that her actions were important to her.

"Why?"

"Miracle needed more time to run. She isn't that fast," Rhea responds, and I can't help but to let my next question escape my lips.

"Why do you believe that Dolton wants Miracle, but don't believe that I want you?" My mate freezes, and I'm sure it's because she doesn't have an answer, but she thinks up a lame excuse to change the topic.

"Can you help me plug the foot spa in and fill it with water?" I really wanted to refuse until she answered me, but this is also an opportunity for me to bond with my mate, so I concede.

Rhea's POV

Colton has me stumped with his question, and I guess my answer is that I've spent way too much time being afraid of him to see him as anything other than a bully. 

Even now, I'm pretending not to be afraid so that he can learn to trust me. I've seen what men who have unwanted partners can do, and I won't take the risk.

General marked a mate and he still abused her physically before promising within her hearing to reject her for me.

I do not want to give Colton the opportunity to hurt my wolf again. Especially since I think that bearing his mark might trigger me into feeling the bond.

“He's staring again," Sylvia says in concern, so I send Colton away by asking him to set up the foot spa for me.

Truthfully, I don't need his help, but the longer he stares at me, the more nervous I become. I know what he meant when he said that he really wanted me, but I’m not ready to give up that leverage without the promise of a rejection.

When Colton comes back, I limp my way into the sitting room and pour some of my concoction into the water before mixing the rest with the petroleum. 

I have a feeling that I will need the stuff regularly, and Sylvia tells me that I should also make more anti-inflammatory cream just in case I end up getting into multiple fights because of Colton.

I soak my feet in the water and wince a little at the sting which put Colton on edge.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” I say, relaxing into the couch as I allow my sore foot to soak. Sylvia can still focus-heal, but we haven’t had to use it in a while, and I don’t want Colton to start asking questions, so we won’t be using that method this time around.

Colton is staring at me again, and I find myself repeating his question to him. He must not have known he was staring because he decided to lie by asking me what cotton swabs are for.

“Have you never cleaned your ears?” I question, and Colton shows me his pinky. “You’re joking,” I reply, and the man shrugs. I find myself extremely curious about what the inside of Colton’s ear looks like, and he catches me trying to look.

Colton’s POV

My mate is sneakily trying to peek into my ears, so I use the opportunity to scoot closer, and allow her to get a good look. She literally gasps, which is not the reaction I was expecting. I wash my ears with every shower, so they can’t be that bad.

I turn to look at Rhea and she already has a cotton swab at the ready, almost as if she were going to clean my ears whether I wanted it or not. 

I don’t even protest as the cotton swab gently brushes my ear, but when Rhea shows me the result of just a quick pass, I’m immediately embarrassed.

“I swear I clean them regularly.” My mate just makes a face of disbelief and I find myself wanting to wipe the judgmental expression off with a kiss, but she gestures for me to come closer.

“Don’t make this weird,” she says, letting me know that this is oddly satisfying to her and nothing more.

She completely cleans the ear out, and I cringe at how many cotton swabs it took before she was done. I turned to the other side, except there’s no way for her to clean it unless I lay on her lap, and while she asked me not to make it weird, I jumped at the opportunity.

Her legs are perfect for my head; she’s warm and soft, and I find myself snuggling in as she gently wipes my ear. 

I can imagine this being a weekly thing between us in the future. This and cuddling, and any other activity she wants to do; even if I’m forced to watch romcom for the rest of my life, this is worth it.

“We can’t lose her,” Orlin says, loving the pampering feeling that our mate is giving us right now.

“We can’t and we won’t.”

Colton’s POV

Colton lying on my lap was a little too much, but once I looked inside of his ear, the gross part of me forgot all about my discomfort and wanted to see how many cotton swabs it would take to clean this one out.

I have never seen mahogany brown earwax; not that I go around looking, but I feel like I know enough men to have seen it at least once. I’m amazed by how much comes out, and I wonder why none of his girlfriend’s said anything to him.

“Jealous women can be petty.”

“I know but.... Wouldn't you want your boyfriend to look good?” As soon as I said it, I understood why no one said anything. They wanted to keep him ‘unappealing,’ which is sad.

With Colton’s ears fully clean, I try to gently nudge him off my lap, but he doesn’t move and snuggles in closer to my stomach.

“Please, let me stay here for a while,” the man says, and I start to hyperventilate.

“This is bad,” Sylvia says, recognizing that there is no way we can push him away without offending him, which may in turn spell disaster for us. “Just close your eyes and focus on breathing.” I do as my wolf says, and eventually I’m pulled into sleep.

Colton’s POV

I hadn’t meant to fall asleep, and I woke to the light sounds of Rhea’s steady breathing. I was surprised to see that she had also fallen asleep, only she’s in an uncomfortable position that forces me to move.

"Be careful. Remember the oath her parents took. If she gets scared and attacks you…"

"I know," I say to my wolf who I can feel is scared.

We needed that nap with our mate, and I hope it did more than just calm my lust. I want Rhea to see that we can have meaningful encounters without s*x because I want all of her, not just her body.

I slowly sit up, and when I see that my mate’s feet are still submerged, I curse.

"Rhea," I whisper. "Please wake up."

Rhea's POV

I'm hypnotized by the most beautiful green orbs I have ever seen. I can feel myself blush as the boy with curly blonde hair continuously tickles me.

I don't know what he wants to stop, so I keep feeding him chocolate, but eventually I start tickling him back. 

“What are you still doing here?” I look up to see Luna Stone, and she doesn't look happy. It's then that I realize the boy is Colton and I'm obviously dreaming.

Colton starts to leave, but I hurry to catch up to him. His hands feel warm, and although we don't speak the same language, he is nice...?

Sadly, one of my sister's wasn't happy about us holding hands and pushed me. I scramble to my feet, feeling sad that they don't like me, while Colton inspects my hands.

I hear them talking, but it's all blah blah blah until Colton suddenly kisses me.

I pull back and look into his beautiful eyes, confused by what just happened, but with my sister crying, I know we're in trouble.

I usually don't go outside without my mother, but Colton made me feel like it was okay.

"Rhea, please wake up." That voice did not come from within my dream, and I'm pulled back into consciousness where I stand up too fast and slip-on water.