The Alpha's Bondage

Tender Pause

♛Harley♛

“Come here,” Archer said as he came back into the room. I didn’t move, and it wasn’t because the sheets clung to my skin. The room smelled like s*x and heat, but that wasn’t why I didn’t move either. I was exhausted. Archer came into view and slid one arm under my knees and the other behind my back.

“Wait, what are you doing?” I asked as he lifted me. My body tensed up, but the heat of his skin relaxed me. I hated that I reacted that way. Still, I wrapped my arm around his neck.

“Just…we are going to take a bath to help us relax,” he explained.

“I can walk,” I argued, even though I wasn’t sure if I could walk.

“I’m sure,” he shot back as he carried me into the bathroom. While the smell of s*x still clung to our skin, the scent of lavender made me smile. The bathroom lights had been dimmed, and the tub was full. The steam curled off the surface, and the bubbles made it look enticing. Thankfully, Archer didn’t try to put me down in the tub. Instead, he set me on my feet, and I watched as he slipped into the water with ease. “Come on,” he urged. He meant for us to bathe together. I hesitated for a moment. Surely this wasn’t normal. Was it?

“Is this…normal?” I asked curiously. “Or am I just special?”

“This is for both of us,” Archer said softly. “After sharing such an intense s****l moment like that, it helps to bring the calm back in a way that…” he glanced at the bubbles and shrugged. “I don’t know how to explain it, but a warm, relaxing bath helps ease our bodies,”

“Hmm,” I hummed as I carefully climbed into the tub. We settled together, him behind me, and the heat of the water immediately helped to relax my body. Archer had been right. I didn’t want to think too much about that. While my body did relax after so many intense orgasms, I still remembered the way he had touched me. The way he had explored every inch of me. I blushed, and I was glad he couldn’t see my face.

“It won’t always be like that,” he said as he reached for a bottle of body wash. I tensed up for a moment. “May I?” Archer then asked. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it, but then I sighed softly.

“You can wash me,” I said, and in a way, I surprised us both. But he hesitated. I felt it in the stillness of the water. But then he squirted some of the liquid onto a sponge, and he moved my hair out of the way. Archer washed my back, and I shifted uncomfortably. “Ah…maybe not. It feels romantic,” I pointed out as I glanced over my shoulder. “It’s just…a bit much,”

“Ok,” he said and immediately handed me the sponge. I avoided his gaze while I quickly washed my body. As soon as I had rinsed off, I stood and grabbed one of the towels he had set aside.

“Thanks,” I said as I wrapped it around myself and climbed out of the tub. I left him alone in the bathroom as I hurried back to the bedroom. I towel-dried as quickly as I could before I got dressed. As soon as I entered the kitchen, I felt somewhat normal. I needed to do something, and when my stomach rumbled with hunger, I grabbed a pot and filled it with water. I set it on the stove and concentrated on making us something to eat. I was so in the zone that I didn’t even hear Archer join me in the kitchen.

“It smells like a truce,” he remarked, and I startled. I looked over to see him leaning against the doorframe.

“Maybe,” I said as I finished off the simple meal.

“Eat with me?”

“Sure,” he agreed. I dished up for the both of us and we sat down at the small kitchen table. We ate in silence for a moment, and then he smiled at me. “This is good…thank you,”

“I have to ask…what did you mean…?”

“Ah…when?”

“When you said it won’t always be like that,” I said, and he sighed softly.

“Because it won’t always be like that. Sometimes I won’t have the time to enjoy being with you…or to explore or tease…sometimes, it will be quick. Sometimes it will be hard and fast…and sometimes I will stay the night,” he explained. “And yes, sometimes I will want to unwind with you…in a bath…or a shower…or even like this,”

“Oh…” I wasn’t entirely sure what to say to that.

“It really just depends on us and how the day goes,”

“Ok…for you or me?”

“Both of us, Harley,” he said, his tone soft. “Sometimes you won’t want to…sometimes I won’t show up…”

“Right,” I murmured as I stared at the food in my bowl. We finished eating in silence, and when he was done, Archer got to his feet.

“I hate to just leave…but I have to go,” he said, and I frowned. “The pack…”

“Right. You have duties,” I whispered, and he nodded. I felt conflicted. A part of me was disappointed that he was going, but another part of me was relieved.

“I will see you tomorrow,” he said before he left. I heard the door lock behind him, and I sighed loudly. The quiet unfurled, and I finished off the last bit of food in my bowl. When I was done, I cleaned up the kitchen. I kept waiting for something. I wasn’t even sure what, but I felt uneasy. Unsettled.

“Something is different,” Nyra said. She felt it too.

“I know, but what?” I asked a loud.

“I’m not sure…but it is strange,”

“It is,” I agreed. Nyra went still, and I went into the living room. Archer was right about one thing: after such an intense s****l experience, my body was all sorts of tense. While the bath had helped and even the warmth of the food, I still felt off balance. I curled up on the couch and turned on the TV to watch a movie. I wasn’t sure what tomorrow would bring, but I couldn’t wait to see Archer again.

♛♛