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# Chapter 57 - Tender Bonds and a Shocking Omission

I looked at Rhys's outstretched hand, water droplets sliding down his arm. His eyes held nothing but warmth and invitation, no pressure or expectation.

"You sure?" I asked, clutching my towel tighter. Despite everything we'd shared, I still felt a flutter of nervousness.

"I'm just offering a bath," he said with a gentle smile. "Nothing has to happen."

The honesty in his eyes broke down my hesitation. I let the towel drop and slipped into the warm water opposite him, our legs tangling comfortably. The tub was massive enough to fit us both with room to spare.

"This is nice," I sighed, letting my head fall back against the porcelain rim. The heat seeped into my muscles, soothing aches I hadn't realized were there.

"Here," Rhys said, grabbing a bottle of bath gel. "Turn around."

I shifted in the water, presenting my back to him. His hands, slick with soap, began to move across my shoulders in slow, deliberate circles. I couldn't help the moan that escaped me.

"God, that feels amazing."

His fingers worked their magic, finding knots I didn't know existed and gently easing them away. "You carry a lot of tension here," he murmured, thumbs pressing into the space between my shoulder blades.

"I wonder why," I said dryly. "It's not like my life has been stressful lately."

Rhys chuckled, his breath warm against my neck. "Fair point."

His hands moved lower, tracing my spine, then back up to my shoulders and down my arms. Nothing sexual, just pure comfort and care. I melted under his touch, trusting him completely.

"Your turn," I said after a while, reaching for the soap. He turned obediently, presenting his broad back.

I took my time washing him, admiring the lean muscles that shifted beneath my fingers. His skin was warm and smooth, and he made small sounds of contentment as I worked.

"You're good at this," he murmured.

"I've never done this before," I admitted. "Washed someone else."

He twisted to look at me over his shoulder, surprise in his eyes. "Never?"

I shook my head. "Never been close enough to anyone."

Something soft and tender crossed his face. "I'm honored to be your first, then."

We finished bathing in comfortable silence, occasionally exchanging gentle touches or knowing smiles. By the time we stepped out and wrapped ourselves in fluffy towels, I felt clean in a way that went beyond physical.

Back in the bedroom, Rhys sat on the edge of the bed while I rummaged through the dresser for clean clothes.

"Hazel," he said quietly. "Are you okay after everything with Ronan?"

I paused, considering. "Yeah, I am. It was intense, but in a good way."

"And would you be okay with me? I don't want to push if you're not ready."

The question hung in the air between us. I turned to face him, taking in his beautiful features, the genuine care in his eyes. My body responded to his proximity, a familiar heat building inside me.

"I'm ready," I said softly. "If you are."

His smile was radiant. He stood and crossed the room to me, letting his towel drop as he approached. My breath caught at the sight of him—all golden skin and defined muscles. He gently tugged my towel free, letting it pool at our feet.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered, hands hovering just above my skin, not quite touching. "I've wanted you since that first day."

Unlike the explosive passion with Ronan or the tentative exploration with Silas, Rhys's approach was unhurried, reverent. He guided me back to the bed and lay me down with such care, as if I were made of something precious.

His lips found mine in a kiss that started gentle but quickly deepened. Where Ronan had been fire and urgency, Rhys was a slow-building warmth, equally powerful but differently expressed. His hands mapped my body with deliberate attention, learning every curve, every spot that made me gasp.

"Tell me what you like," he murmured against my skin. "I want to make this good for you."

And he did. He listened to my every response, adjusting his touch accordingly. When he finally positioned himself above me, his eyes locked with mine, asking a silent question.

"Please," I breathed.

He entered me slowly, a smooth glide that had us both gasping. The connection was immediate and overwhelming—like a missing piece clicking into place. I felt the third part of my soul surge back into me, filling spaces I hadn't known were empty.

"I feel it," he gasped, his rhythm faltering for a moment. "The bond—it's complete now."

The sensation was indescribable—not just physical pleasure, but something deeper, more fundamental. We moved together as if we'd done this a thousand times before, finding a perfect rhythm that built steadily toward something transcendent.

When we finally reached our peak together, the bond between us flared so brightly I swore I could see it—golden threads connecting our souls, weaving us together in a pattern that could never be undone.

Afterwards, he gathered me close, pressing soft kisses to my forehead, my cheeks, the tip of my nose. His tenderness almost undid me more than the passion had.

"I'm falling for you, Hazel Thorne," he confessed quietly, his blue eyes serious. "I know it's happening fast, but I can't help it. I'm falling hard."

My heart swelled. "I'm falling for you too," I admitted. "For all of you, in different ways. Even Jaxon, as impossible as he can be."

Rhys smiled against my hair. "He's worth the effort. They all are. We are."

A knock at the door interrupted our moment. Ronan's voice called through, "Lyra's here with food if you guys are hungry!"

Rhys laughed. "Perfect timing. I'm starving."

We dressed quickly in comfortable clothes and emerged to find the room transformed. The other boys had arranged pillows on the floor in a large nest-like formation. Lyra stood beaming, surrounded by pizza boxes and soda bottles.

"Thought you might need refueling," she said with a knowing wink that made me blush.

"You're a goddess," I told her gratefully, noticing how Rhys's eyes immediately sought out Jaxon, who stood slightly apart from the others, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

We all settled into the pillow nest, pizza boxes open between us. Ronan and Silas argued good-naturedly about the merits of different toppings, while Kaelen quietly observed, a small smile playing at his lips. Jaxon eventually joined us, keeping a careful distance from me but no longer radiating active hostility.

The evening felt perfect—warm, safe, surrounded by my bonds. My men. The thought no longer frightened me.

Then it hit me like a lightning bolt.

"Oh my god," I gasped, sitting bolt upright and nearly knocking over my drink. "My mom's doctor! I was supposed to call him!"

Panic flooded through me, icy cold and paralyzing. How could I have forgotten something so important? My mother needed me, and I'd been so wrapped up in my new life that I'd completely neglected her.

"What time is it?" I demanded, scrambling to my feet. "I need my phone. Where's my phone? They're going to think I've abandoned her!"

The men exchanged glances as I frantically searched for my phone, tossing pillows aside in my growing hysteria.

"Hazel," Silas said calmly, catching my wrist. "It's okay. Kaelen already spoke with your mother's doctor."

I froze. "What?"

"The day after you arrived. He explained you'd be away at a special program and might not be able to call regularly. The doctor isn't expecting to hear from you for a few days."

Relief washed over me, immediately followed by anger. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" I demanded, yanking my arm from his grip. "I've been sick with worry!"

Silas stumbled back slightly, hurt flashing across his face before he looked to the others for support.