Chapter 203
Xena’s POV
I stood up and walked past Ryder, heading for the bathroom. Just as he door was about to close, I heard them falking.
“Damn it,” Logan muttered under his breath.
“This is going to be interesting. I’ve been waiting for her to explode Ryder’s tone carried an almost amused edge.
“I’ll get everyone ready. Xena’s coming back,” Logan said just before shut the door completely.
The shower water was hot, the stream pounding against my muscles ike a massage. I rotated my neck, letting the heat soothe every ache. Though my shoulder hurt the worst, my knees were killing me from having my legs bound together.
However, when I tried to wash my hair, I realized I had a problem.
“Ryder?” I called through our mind link.
“What is it?”
“I can’t even wash my own hair.” I could feel him trying to suppress His amusement, but not quite succeeding.
He didn’t answer me. Instead, I heard the bathroom door open, followed by rustling sounds before Ryder stepped into the shower.
“Turn around.” He slipped in the water, getting himself wet. I obeyed his command, turning my back to him. The sound of the shampoo bottle cap opening and closing filled me with anticipation, knowing he was going to wash my hair for me.
“Where’s Logan?” The thought of Logan sitting in the living room while Ryder was showering with me felt at least somewhat
uncomfortable.
“He went downstairs to get everyone ready.” Ryder turned me around gently massaging my scalp.
After a moment of silence, I finally said to Ryder, “I’m sick of feeling like I have no control.”
The moment those words left my mouth, I felt a release, like a weight had been lifted from my chest that had been sitting there for far too long.
“Good,” Ryder said simply. He turned and opened a bottle of conditioner, starting to work it into my hair.
“Good?” His response caught me off guard. I had expected him to tell me to calm down or to be patient.
“Yes. I’m glad you’re not letting what happened hold you back. You’re taking control of your emotions and turning them into something positive. I’ll stand with you every step of the way, but this just shows me how strong you are.” Ryder had me turn again as he rinsed my hair.
“I love you more than anything. I’ll always stand beside you, and I completely agree with you. We’re taking back our powe efficiently grabbed a bottle of body wash and began cleaning my body.
His tone carried determination and love, and in that moment, I knew that whatever happened, we would face it together. It only fueled the fire burning inside me.
“What about Logan?” I asked as Ryder repositioned us so he could shower too.
“He’ll be standing on your other side.”
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Chapter 203
Three people instead of one lighting alone. The power of that omity hade me feet incredibly secure. We are a team, a family Nothing could break us.
༣༥འི་ལོ(1)
“The only ones who might have an issue are your parents, 1 said.
“I’ll stand firmly by your side. Ryder ‘shrugged. He was rinsing the shampoo from his hair. His eyes were cloned, just letting the water cascade down from the top of his head, I felt a little sorry for Him.
Ryder turned off the water, pulling me from my thoughts. He kept lif hand on my waist, helping me out of the shower, and began drying me off.
“I can do it myself,” I said.
“I know.”
There was nothing sexual about his actions; it was more of a primal caretaking, as if he needed to ensure every inch of my body was okay. This wordless cre touched my heart more than any words could have.
My ankles and wrists had turned green, but they still looked angry. I had random bruises on my legs, stomach, and chest. Some bruise I wasn’t even sure how I got.
“Let’s get dressed and go downstairs,” Ryder said, having just finished combing my hair.
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