425 It's Your Fault That I'm All Fired Up Now

They had stayed curled around each other for a little longer before begrudgingly, Adam had torn himself away from her, persuading her to join him in the bathroom as he helped her into the bath and as she sank into the water with a sigh of happiness, Adam reached for the washcloth and one of the various lotions that sat on the side.

"Adam.." she began but he shushed her gently.

"I swear I'll shower and be ready to leave as soon as I've taken care of you." He murmured, gently running the lotion and wash cloth over her body, "I feel as though I haven't taken care of you as I should have been doing while you've been doing the hard work of growing and carrying our pups…as an Alpha and as a mate..I feel like I've failed you."

Ann turned to him with a frown of disbelief and she covered his hand with her own.

"Don't be silly Adam," she said softly, "You've spent every single day protecting me and our people, and fighting to build a kingdom and a world that our children will grow up in without fear."

"Yet still Brad had to step in when I was absent to protect you." He grumbled unhappily as he continued to wash me carefully, "And I should have been here to care for you, to stop you from being overworked…you passed out for goodness sake!"

"That's just the nature of the roles that we hold now," Ann said softly, "Things will be easier with time, we're so close to having everything settled now," she murmured and reached for the cloth, "I can finish up here Adam, it's fine. We have all the time in the world for you to run about after me to your hearts content after the Lycan King is finished."

Adam sat back on his heels and sighed.

"No arguments Adam," Ann said sternly as she flicked water at him, "Go shower and get ready. The sooner this is over with, the sooner you can fuck me to your hearts content."

Adams' eyes darkened as she smirked up at him.

"I could always fuck you again..right now…we still have time.."

"Adam!"

"Ok fine." he huffed sulkily as he stood and turned towards the shower, "But you had better be prepared for not leaving the bedroom for at least a week after the pups are here…the things I' have planned…"

She watched as a low growl rumbled from his chest and chuckled as he swore and readjusted himself, trying to get rid of the erection that had appeared at the thoughts running through his mind.

"Look what you did to me.."

"You did that to yourself," Ann snorted, turning away and finishing cleaning herself, suppressing the laugh that wanted to escape as she listened to him mumbling to himself unhappily and then the sound of the shower starting as he stepped inside.

As soon as she was done, she got out of the bath and got dressed, slipping out of the bathroom and realising that she actually had a few minutes to try and catch up with a little work before anyone could tell her off.

She had lost track of time as she worked through the paperwork on her desk, but as she heard the sound of doors closing a little firmer than she was used tro, she looked up.

Adam had stopped in his tracks when he saw her at the table instead of the chair that she was meant to be using. He didn't say anything straight away, but Ann knew what he was thinking.

It was written clearly in the flicker of irritation and the concerned frown that he was trying his best to erase from his face.

"You're cutting it close," she said with a rueful smile and Adam sighed.

"I know. The reinforcements are already waiting at the portal." Adam replied, "I wish I could have stayed longer."

"We both know that's impossible at the minute," Ann murmured as she glanced back at the paperwork, suddenly feeling a wave of sadness, "How long until you have to leave?"

"Probably only a matter of minutes now," he said matter of factly, and Ann nodded once if she spoke now, she was bothered that her voice would break and she didn't want to make it any harder for him than it already was.

He stepped closer, stopping just short of the table and for a moment, neither of them spoke. Ann's gaze swept over him briefly. He was already dressed for the battlefield with his combat gear firmly in place.

"You look like you mean business," She offered with a laugh that didn't sound as convincing as she had wanted and his mouth tightened.

"Ann, I promise you that I'll come back. Don't worry yourself about the alternative because it will never happen."

"Mm." she replied, avoiding looking at his face as she felt the tears building behind her eyes. She hated saying goodbye, especially under these circumstances.

Adam exhales and plants a hand on the table, leaning in slightly.

"You're supposed to be resting, you know."

"I'm sitting aren't I?" Ann shot back with a smirk, grateful for the redirection.

"That's not resting."

"It's as close as you're getting today." She scoffed, "Especially after your idea of resting this morning. It's your fault that I'm all fired up now."

He huffs softly, half frustrated and half resigned to the fact that Ann would do what she pleased while he was away whether he liked it or not. His gaze dropped to her stomach before he could stop himself and he felt his throat tighten.

"Ann…"

"I'm fine," she replied, knowing that this must be tearing him up inside, "Stop doing that. You know that you're leaving me in good hands, there's nothing for you to worry about."

She watched his jaw set firmly as he made the decision not to argue. He just straightened slowly, his eyes never leaving her face and Ann didn't give him time to redirect.

She had been wanting to bring this up for a while now, but there hadn't been a time that it had been possible before now. Now that they were alone, he wouldn't be able to dodge the question.

"Adam, before you press forward with taking the castle…don't you think we should talk about Greyson?"