**brief sexual content/language**

I stumbled back into the wall as blurry Asra smirked at me. He advanced a step, following my motion so I had no choice but to press myself against the cold tiles of the shower. My back arched at the contact, a surprised gasp leaving my lips.

Through the pouring water, he stepped until he was a breath away from me. "Tulip..."

Despite the tension, I found my lips parting with words. "Butterscotch..."

His eyebrows furrowed as he licked the water that beaded from his upper lip. I had never thought the man could get more attractive, but here we are, soaking wet and not just from the shower. I shuddered.

"I don't think I am fond of that name." He muttered. "How about we try a new one?"

I exhaled shakily. "Like what?"

"Hmmm..." He cocked his head. "Alpha, Sir, Baby..."

"Alpha Sir Baby? Bit of an odd one." I spluttered, despite the urge to get out of here.

His lips curled with a smirk, unaffected by my ignorance. "You just love to ignore my words of wisdom, don't you?"

I licked my lips, wanting to move the hair from my face but failing to gain the courage. He hovered over me, his body wide and blocking most of the light and shower from pouring down on me. It cascaded down his back and shoulders, caressing his waist before falling lower and lower... I flickered my eyes back up when I settled on his... yeah.

"Something wrong, Tulip?" His hand came to move the hair from my face.

I cleared my throat, quickly shaking my naughty thoughts away. "Nothing... and I don't exactly think your words are wise."

He chuckled darkly, his hand moving to caress my throat. "First, I tell you to run away, and you do not listen. Then I tell you to not defy me, and yet you do."

I swallowed, and his eyes dropped to where his hand lay at the column of my neck. "I do not defy you. I simply disagree with your wishes."

He grinned, flashing his teeth. "Is that what it is? You disagree?"

"Yes." I met his gaze.

His eyes were dark blue, a colour of an ocean under the night sky. I gazed into them, getting lost in their depths. It was an infinite pool, one so deep that I found myself getting pulled by the current. It was warm and safe in here as his intensity enveloped me, and I found my heart racing to catch up with the rhythm of his own beating in his chest.

Asra's hand flexed, fingers tickling the mark upon my neck. I shivered, my eyes closing as I arched my neck to allow him more access. He hummed softly, a gentle grumble that vibrated my chest from his proximity.

"Asra..."

His soft lips traced my jawline, sucking the beading water from my skin. I shuddered, my body arching into his until my hands fell upon his chest, my breasts pressing against his upper stomach. His other hand snaked down my waist, grabbing at my hip. I gasped when he gently brushed his mouth against mine, briefly enjoying the taste of his lips.

Water beaded down his nose, falling onto his lips. My tongue darted out, tasting him, savouring him. He groaned, closing the remaining gap and securing his mouth to mine. I melted in his touch, sliding my arms up and around his shoulders to grab at the back of his neck. I tugged his hair as both of his hands now tugged at my ass.

My body lit up in flames as his tongue danced with mine, the sounds of the shower drowning out my moans. My calf brushed against him, my body aching, begging to be touched as goosebumps blossomed on my skin. One of his hands moved, wrapping around my thigh and knee and hoisting it up around his waist.

I gasped when I felt his hardened member press against my lower stomach, unconsciously grinding into it. He groaned softly, his lips leaving mine to kiss and suck down my jaw and neck. My head fell back, eyes closed as a million stars blinded my mind. My breaths were heavy, my chest heaving as I panted to catch my breath.

But Asra didn't stop. He ground into me, my body scorching where we touched. His other hand hitched my other leg until he wrapped me around his waist. The fact he could hold me up so easily...

Even though we were head level, his mouth fell to my chest. He sucked at my skin, leaving sweet little marks along my cleavage before he took my nipple into his mouth. I shrieked quietly, jerking in his hold as he flicked his tongue against the hardening nub before moving to the other.

Speaking of hardening nubs... I could feel it from up here, now and then brushing my core. It made my thighs clench around him, the aching hollowness inside me taunted by his length. I was in a world of my own, lost and begging for help, for salvation.

"Tulip..." He panted

"Asra..." I moaned in return.

"Tulip."

"Asra..." I sighed as his mouth left my skin.

"Tulip."

I groaned, forcing my eyes open to stare into his. His pupils were blown as he watched me, my skin no doubt flushed and full of colour.

"What?" I snapped.

Despite being in the throes of passion, he had the decency to smirk. "I will not mate you."

"What?" I gasped.

"I will not complete our bond in the shower." He tutted. "I may be an animal, but I want your mind to be clear, not under a mating spell. If I keep on going, I am afraid I will not stop."

"But... the bond is..." I spluttered, confused.

I could feel it pulsating between us, begging us to join. Like the temptation of a sweet dessert after a fast, it wanted me as much as I wanted it.

He shrugged it off casually. "Can wait."

My mind whirled with questions and emotions, all of which he must've felt by the frown on his face. I had allowed him back into mind as we kissed, and he must've felt every passionate thought that crossed my mind. I flushed, embarrassed. This bond thing really was a tease.

"I..."

"It's okay, Tulip." He chuckled. "Besides, call this your punishment."

"Punishment?" I gaped at him. "What have I done?"

"Disobeyed your alpha." He smacked my ass, causing me to jump in his arms.

"Alpha?" I snorted.

He growled, his fingers curling in my skin. "Yes?"

"You... You..." I spluttered.

"See, doesn't Alpha just fit so much better than Butterscotch?" He teased.

I narrowed my eyes at him. Being head level gave many benefits.

"I have done nothing wrong."

"You refused to meet with me in my office, you defied my orders and took upon a job when you are the luna." He quirked an eyebrow.

"Not yet." I interrupted, scoffing.

He glowered at me, his lips in a firm line. "Not only that, you shower in a different room, away from me."

"That room is technically mine."

"This is your room. You are mine, and I am yours, and we share this space." He demanded, trying to threaten me. "We sleep, eat, dress, shower, everything in here. It is our space, our room."

It only seemed to do the opposite effect. Instead of feeling intimidated by his attempt at telling me off, I found my chest filling with warmth. It was an odd thing, being told that something was mine. I had never truly had anything.

Growing up, mother forced me to share space with Arabella. Then I was made to work, despite how much I loved it, for my family's wellbeing. Then every penny I earned was for my family, and then finally, I lost everything to Darius. Possessions, my mind, my body... Nothing in that house was mine. The clothes were things he chose; the house was always his, and I should do well to remember that.

"I could strip you of everything, Ailia. You are nothing without me. You have nothing without me." Darius would taunt.

A hand caressing my face had me jumping back to reality, my eyes blinking to clear the water that built up in them. Asra was staring at me, concerned, his head cocked as he entered my mind. His eyes hardened at my most recent thoughts, and I batted him out of my head with a huff.

"Tulip..." He retreated.

"Don't." I sighed, shaking my head.

He slowly set me on my feet, nodding once. I was glad Asra knew boundaries. It was one thing I admired about him. The fact he let me have what I want, share this space, own this space...

Wait, did I just say that I admired him?

Shit.

Was he growing on me?

I eyed him skeptically, running my eyes along his form, avoiding the semi-hard length between his thighs. He crossed his arms under my scrutiny, making himself tense up and appear larger. I cursed, looking away to glare at the floor. My eyes caught the sight of my body, pale, freckly arms and legs... What was I even doing here?

Asra grabbed me, shoving me under the water again. I shouted out loud, cursing at him before jumping back out.

"What was that for?"

He shrugged, clicking his tongue. "Get out of your head."

"I am out of my head. I am out of my own fucking body." I shuddered.

He laughed, actually laughed. It had me pause to stare at him in awe. Such a sound had never sounded so magical. It was deep, but youthful, a noise that had my body warming up to its vibrations. Realising his amusement, he softly stopped the laughter, clearing his throat with a smile.

"You shouldn't swear."

"I can do what the fuck I want." I crossed my arms and nodded firmly.

"I don't mean it like that." He chucked. "It is oddly a turn on."

My cheeks flushed with embarrassment as I caught the wrong end of the stick. I should've known Asra was going to switch this up. He was good at this game, way better than me, that's for sure. Ten minutes ago, I was ready to jump his bones and ride the glory stick to victory.

Clearing my throat, I changed the topic. "Why did you carry me here, anyway?"

"I told you. It's your punishment for defying me."

"You are not the boss of me." I muttered.

"You enjoyed it." He cocked his head, his eyes blazing. "You shower here now, every time with me."

"What?" I squawked.

"You have a job, so you broke the deal." He shrugged. "You shower with me now. Whenever I hear you shower, I will be right here."

"That is... that is..." I spluttered, shaking my head.

"Wonderful. I know, I'm looking forward to it too." He grinned.

How was I supposed to survive the next few weeks of our bet if I had to shower with him every time?

Asra seemed to notice my surrender because he laughed again. "Come, I will show you the benefits of showering together."

I already had one thought in mind...

Asra grabbed my arm softly, pulling me into the large showerhead together. He pressed a button on the wall, which seemed to turn on more shower heads that were hidden within the tiles. It was warm, but I still stepped closer to him. His palms ran down my arms and sides before he reached around me to grab the shampoo.

"Turn around."

"What?" I reared my head in surprise.

His eyes flickered, a stern expression in place. "Turn."

Swallowing, I turned until my back faced him. I heard the cap of shampoo open and close, his arm coming around me to put it back. I swallowed when his chest brushed my shoulder, his breath exhaling along my cheek. Standing upright behind me, Asra's hands found their way into my hair. He rubbed the shampoo in, massaging my head in just the right places. I hummed, closing my eyes and allowing him the feature. It felt really fucking good.

He took care in rinsing it, tilting my head back and exposing my throat. His hands stroked down my head and hair, his face moving until his breath ran along his mark.

"Only I get to see you like this. Naked, wet, and exposed..." He purred into my ear as I went to shy away. "Never turn your back on anyone, never expose your throat if threatened. You are above them all, and you are mine."

I shivered as he growled the last word. My mouth parted, ready to protest my status, but a quick tug on my hair had me shutting up and holding back a moan.

"But I don't care what you were told. Your body is yours; you do not owe anyone anything." He demanded. "You own your own body, Ailia Thorne. Believe me when I say what a marvellous creature you are."

Goosebumps rose on my flesh as I softly thanked him. The shower fell quiet then, and his body moved to rub conditioner into my lengths. I stayed quiet as he tasked himself with cleaning me, scrubbing my every part until I was sudsy and clean. I let it happen, enjoying the feeling of his hands gliding over my body, his nails scratching my skin just right.

When it came to his turn, it surprised me to find he was still, his body calm, although I was on display to him. It was an odd thing for me, one that had me questioning my appeal. But then he growled and kissed me forcefully, snapping me out of my daze, reminding me it was not always about sex. I blinked through wet lashes to find him looking at me with so much... emotion; it was breath-taking.

What had I gotten myself into?