Derek watched as the doctor checked over his mate. He didn't like the way the woman ran her hands over the edges of the wound, applying pressure causing Stiles to take a quick intake of breathe in pain. After cleaning and re-bandaging his wrist, she turned back to Derek with a professional nod.
"Everything looks fine. The cuts to Stiles' wrist are not deep and I would just keep it clean and bandaged for now. The stitching on his side was well done. It's going to leave a small scar but otherwise it should heal just fine. I'll prescribe a round of antibiotics but you should keep an eye on it just in case. Look out for any redness or heat. Don't hesitate to bring him in if you have any concerns."
Stiles let out a small huff of amusement catching both of their attention. "I'm sure that Derek will bring me in at least twice no matter what." Derek didn't bother to deny it. He already had made plans to take Stiles to the doctor in a couple of days to have her recheck the healing wound. Humans were so fragile, their healing so very slow and the idea that he could lose Stiles to something as simple as an infection scared him to the very core.
The doctor smiled up at the alpha. "Should I just make you an appointment for Thursday?" She pulled out her phone to add it to her calendar.
"Let's do Wednesday instead. Just to be safe." The doctor's eyes crinkled in amusement but her lips never twitched.
"Wednesday it is, Alpha Hale. Stiles it was nice to meet you. Make sure you keep your incision dry for at least five days." Snapping shut her small bag the doctor headed out the door and down the stairs while Derek moved closer to run his hands lightly over Stiles. He had found himself needing the constant reassurance of touch over the last hour to convince himself that his mate was alive and well. Stiles smiled and leaned deeper into the touch.
"I feel all icky." Stiles moaned as he pressed his cheek to Derek's side. "Everything is starting to itch and I can't do anything about it."
Derek lightly touched his mate's hair feeling the grittiness of the dirt and smoke from the explosion at Zillarrezko. He could smell the dried sweat and grime that clung to Stiles' skin from the adventures of the day.
"I think I can get you cleaned up without getting your stitches wet." Derek pressed a kiss to the top of his dirty head inhaling the core scent of his mate.
"If you can I will love you forever." Stiles joked as he wrapped his arms around Derek. As soon as the words left his mouth his mate stiffened. Derek held him lightly in his arms waiting as Stiles processed and decided how to respond to his own comment.
"I already do, you know." Stiles didn't look up, just tucked his head deeper against Derek's stomach. The alpha wondered if his mate knew that wolves considered this a very intimate position. The stomach was a vulnerable area and to allow someone to rest against it was the ultimate sign of trust. "Love you," his mate added lifting his chin to look up at Derek through dark lashes.
Derek found himself fumbling with the words to explain how much Stiles meant to him. From the way Stiles started to let his arms drop from his sides Derek knew he had waited too long to respond so he flooded their link with every emotion he felt toward the young human; his love, affection, annoyance, attraction, and deep need poured through the bond.
Stiles shuddered, head thrown back and eyes closed as the bond between them expanded. The emotions between them flowed back and forth, echoing and growing until Derek lost track of where he began and Stiles ended.
A small twitch of pain pulled both of them out of their bond and back into the world. Derek had dropped to his knees and pulled Stiles tight against him, one of his arms wrapping around his waist to keep him close which had brushed up against the wound.
"Sorry," Derek pressed an apology to Stiles' shoulder.
"It's okay." They stayed like that, Stiles sitting on the edge of the bed with Derek on his knees in front of him, arms entangled and bodies pressed as close as their skin would allow, until Stiles slowly pulled away.
"I'm still filthy and I think you promised to clean me up without getting my stitches wet." Derek smiled as he stood, reaching out to catch Stiles' hand and tug him into his arms. He led the way to the bathroom grabbing the desk chair along the way.
Stiles sat as directed and Derek leaned him back until his head was resting on the edge of the sink. Derek could feel a touch of nervousness flow down the link from Stiles but it was quickly replaced with the knowledge that Derek would never let him come to harm and his nascent fears calmed almost immediately.
Derek's warm hand cupped the back of Stiles' neck as he poured the first cup of warm water over his head, letting his fingers rub against his mate's scalp. Stiles' eyes closed as he relaxed even more into Derek's palm.
Once the shampoo was added and Derek built up a lather the slide of his fingers picked up speed. The bond allowed Derek to feel exactly where Stiles enjoyed his touch the most, the flares of pleasure as his nails gently scraped the nape of his mate's neck almost electric down the link.
Curling one hand around the back of Stiles' head Derek used the other to wash and push back the bangs that flopped forward into Stiles' eyes. He paused to let his thumb rub slow circles along the hairline and Stiles' lips parted with a sensual gasp that had the alpha growing hard in seconds.
After rinsing he rocked the chair forward so that all four legs were on the ground. Stiles blinked slowly up at him through lidded eyes. Derek caught the ragged hem of the dirty shirt and it slipped easily over Stiles' shoulders and landed in a heap at the edge of the door. Encouraging Stiles to his feet with a gently tug Derek popped the button of his jeans and slid them down his legs. Stiles wobbled slightly, using Derek's shoulder to steady himself as he stepped out.
From the floor Derek had a glorious view of his mate. While not as heavily muscled as the alpha, Stiles was hard and lean in all the right places. Derek let his hands travel up his legs from his ankles to his hips, stopping briefly to let his thumb dip into the indention there.
Stiles abdominal muscles were smooth ridges that begged for the warm touch of Derek's lips, the heat of his breath. His mate arched up on his toes as Derek slipped his tongue around the curve of his belly button before dipping in briefly.
"You need to either help me get clean or help me get off. Pick one soon Derek before I go out of my mind." Stiles ran fingers through Derek's hair before catching a double handful and tugging gently to force the wolf to look up at him.
"Impatient?"
"I'm eighteen. I think impatient might just be my middle name. If not, I'm contemplating changing it." Derek chuckled pressing his lips against the side of his mate's hip, holding him against him as Stiles wiggled.
The meek cry of dismay as Derek stood, lifting Stiles with him, was adorable. Not that Derek would ever say that out loud to his mate; he enjoyed sleeping in the same bed with the clingy human too much to risk having to sleep on the couch for even one night.
Derek carried him to the edge of the huge bath tub and sat him gently on the ledge. He turned the water on and let it run, testing it to see if it was the right temperature before wetting the washcloth and building a foamy lather.
He started on the top of Stiles' shoulders and worked his way down his back. He rinsed often, keeping the suds from sliding very far down his back. His mate leaned forward to rest his head in his hands and by the time Derek reached the curve of his ass Stiles was almost completely relaxed.
Derek stepped around to the other side of the tub. Grabbing another washcloth he started to lightly rub at the layer of dirt on Stiles' neck and collar bones, working the lather in with slow circular strokes. His mate tilted his head back exposing the long line of his throat. Derek's hips lurched forward on their own, the jerky movement causing Stiles to peek out of one eye, a lazy smile curling on his lips.
"Are you getting impatient too?" Derek responded with a quick nip to the long column before sucking on the warm flesh, bringing the scent of warm blood to the surface of Stiles' skin. By the time he pulled away there was a dusky mark left behind for all to see. Stiles let his fingers trace over it, outlining it with eerie accuracy. The look in his eyes sent a wave of heat through Derek's body.
"You have no idea." Derek made quick work on Stiles chest taking care so that the wound was untouched. He washed down his mate's legs and between each toe before dropping to his knees in the middle of the tub.
"If you do that, I won't last. Not at all." Stiles was panting, his hands kneading restlessly on Derek's shoulders.
The body wash foamed quickly as Derek rubbed in between his palms. He never let his eyes leave Stiles', keeping the contact as he leaned forward taking Stiles into his hands. His fingertips moved smoothly around his balls before encircling his shaft and moving up and down in a slow stroke.
Stiles buried his face in Derek's shoulder as his hips rocked forward in tempo with Derek's caress. "Can't, can't, can't…"he moaned.
"Shhhh. I've got you Stiles. I've got you." With a shudder that racked his entire body Stiles came. He let his head fall backwards, trusting that Derek would catch him and keep him from falling.
As the body shaking reduced to small tremors Derek finished rinsing Stiles off, toweled him dry, and easily lifted him into his arms to carry back to bed. His mate melted into the mattress. Feelings of exhaustion and satisfaction shimmered down the link letting Derek know how close Stiles was to falling completely asleep.
Pulling the covers over Stiles, Derek was about to step away but was stopped by his mate's soft touch to the inside of his wrist. "Stay."
Derek had Gerard and Kate Argent to find and shred, Chris Venator and his daughter to question, and an entire city of frightened humans to calm and reassure. Looking down at his mate, the other half of his soul he decided that he needed to prioritize the important things first. Sliding into the bed he pulled Stiles closer until he was draped over his chest, head tucked under Derek's chin as their legs intertwined.
"Thanks," Stiles sighed as he slipped into slumber. Derek stayed awake for a while longer tracing patterns on his mate's back and guarding him from any nightmares that might interrupt his sleep.