Chapter 227: An Exercise in Self-Control

{Third Person}

Amara was not nearly as fast as Alexander, so he slowed his pace and took her hand as they made their way back into the house.

His long strides had already carried him several steps ahead before he seemed to remember that she was following behind him, and from then on, he kept her close, his fingers wrapped securely around hers.

When they reached her bedroom, Mrs. Woods was there, sorting through some of Amara’s laundry.

She immediately stood and greeted them with a respectful bow.

Alexander gave her a brief nod before looking at Amara. "Prepare a hot bath for her."

Amara opened her mouth to protest, but one look from Alexander made the words disappear. His fingers gave hers a gentle squeeze, and she closed her lips again.

Mrs. Woods smiled faintly at the exchange before walking into the bathroom to make the preparations.

Amara stood quietly beside Alexander, watching him with a mixture of amusement and helplessness.

A short while later, Mrs. Woods returned and informed them that the bath was ready. She then excused herself, explaining that she needed to make sure dinner was being prepared.

After giving Amara one last look, she left the room entirely.

Then, Alexander turned toward Amara. "Go and soak in the bath."

She stared at him for a moment, then a playful smile slowly appeared on her face. "What about you?"

Alexander’s eyebrows lifted slightly. "Me?" He looked very confused.

"Don’t you want to soak in the bath as well?" She cocked her head to the side.

His eyes narrowed. In this moment, the suggestion affected him more than he expected.

His heartbeat picked up, and somewhere within him, his wolf immediately became alert. The idea of sharing the bath with their mate was far more appealing to the wolf than Alexander cared to admit.

Alexander cleared his throat. "Stop being naughty and go take your bath."

Amara’s smile widened. "I was only asking."

"I know." He looked away from her before his expression could betray him. "I will wait here. When you are finished, I want to check your body temperature myself."

Amara nodded obediently, still wearing that amused little smile. "Alright." Then she turned and walked toward the bathroom.

Alexander watched her disappear through the doorway before releasing a slow breath. He shook his head, then walked over to one of the seats in the room and sat down.

For a man who had once spent years keeping everyone at a safe distance, he was beginning to realise that Amara had a strange way of making even ordinary moments difficult for him to handle.

After a while, the sound of small splashes from the bathroom became the only thing Alexander could hear.

He remained seated, occasionally glancing toward the closed bathroom door while waiting for Amara to finish.

Then her voice came from inside. "Alexander?"

He immediately looked up. "Yes?"

"Can you help me with something?"

He stood immediately. "What is it?"

"My slippers. They are in my walk-in closet. I cannot step out of the tub because Mrs. Woods forgot to put the mat beside it, and the floor is slippery. I might fall. I at least need to wear my slippers before I come out."

He became alarmed immediately. "Do not take a step out of the tub," he instructed, already moving toward the bathroom.

His first thought was to carry her out himself, but just as his hand reached toward the door, he stopped.

Amara might not be wearing anything.

His heartbeat suddenly accelerated. His wolf stirred almost immediately. "She is our mate."

Alexander frowned. That did not make the situation any less complicated.

"She is your wife," his wolf reminded him.

"I know that," he muttered under his breath.

"Then what is the problem?"

Alexander was about to shut out the irritating voice when a sharp yelp came from inside the bathroom.

"Ah!"

A loud splash followed.

His blood ran cold. He pushed the door open without another thought and rushed inside.

"Amara!"

He found her gripping the edge of the bathtub, her body bent slightly forward as she tried to regain her balance.

Water had splashed across the tiled floor, forming several small pools around the tub.

He stopped for only a second when he realised she had a large towel wrapped securely around her body, beginning just above her chest and falling to her knees.

Her wet hair clung around her face and shoulders, with several strands curling naturally from the water.

He moved toward her without hesitation.

Amara looked relieved when she saw him. "I almost fell."

He reached for her hand and held her firmly, helping her straighten herself inside the tub. "What happened?"

"I was trying to wrap myself in the towel before you came in."

His eyes remained fixed on her face.

"I had just secured it around myself when I lost my balance," she finished.

"You should have—"

The words stopped in his throat.

He could not very well ask her why she had not stayed in the tub when he had been coming to get her slippers.

If she had followed his instruction and remained there without wrapping herself first, he would have walked into the bathroom and found her completely naked.

Alexander swallowed the rest of his reprimand, instead tightening his grip on her hand. "I will carry you out."

Before she could object, he carefully lifted her from the bathtub. She instinctively wrapped both arms around his neck.

"Take me to the walk-in closet."

He gave a brief nod and carried her out of the bathroom, his steps steady despite the water scattered across the floor.

Amara remained securely in his arms, trusting him completely. Alexander, however, was having a considerably harder time keeping his composure.

The warmth of her body pressed against his, and the scent of her shower gel lingered around her skin.

Her wet hair brushed against his neck whenever she moved, while the softness of her body made it increasingly difficult for him to think about anything except the woman he was carrying.

His jaw tightened.

His wolf was far too pleased with the situation, but he ignored him and simply kept walking.

Amara, unaware of the battle taking place in his mind, rested comfortably against him as he carried her toward the walk-in closet.

For her, it was nothing more than him helping her avoid a dangerous fall.

But for Alexander, every step was becoming an exercise in self-control.