Surrogate for My Brother-in-law - Chapter 36: Chapter 36

Leo
Leo was restless. For the last few nights he had barely been able to get to sleep. His wolf paced within the confines of his mind.
Leo understood his wolf's distress, but he needed to rest. The Rogues were becoming more and more active by the day. Packs all around his territory reported random attacks.
He needed to be ready to defend his pack again. He had to be at his best. And that meant he had to rest, and complete his healing.
As the sun sank below the treeline and the moon rose high, Leo found himself pacing his sitting room. He felt jittery and unsettled. There was no way he was getting to sleep without help.
Mate. His wolf was, as always, helpful.
Yes, time with his mate would soothe his wolf enough that he should be able to sleep. The problem was, Eva was carrying a pup and it exhausted her. She needed her rest even more than Leo did. He couldn't call her to his rooms if she was already asleep.
What else could he do?
Tessa's face floated through his mind. Well, yes, the maid did have an oddly calming presence. And she often worked late into the night, so she would likely still be awake.
It was perhaps a little odd to seek out the company of a servant to calm his wolf. But she was pack, wasn't she? Pack wolves supported each other.
It should do no harm to ask. He would just make it clear that she was free to refuse and find her own bed. And that he only wanted her presence for her company, nothing else. He was a married man and his vows mattered to him.
Leo sent a message to Tessa with one of the archivists. He knew that many wolves found it difficult to refuse a direct request from an alpha. He didn't want to influence her decision. If she was tired, she should rest.
To his relief, Tessa knocked on the door several minutes after he sent the message. She wore her usual plain clothing and carried a tray laden with tea and small cakes.
“Your message said you were having trouble sleeping,” she explained. “I thought some soothing tea might help. And a little sweet snack, too. That's what usually helps me.”
“Thank you for coming,” Leo said. “I do appreciate it.”
Tessa ducked her head as though embarrassed. “It's my job as your personal maid,” she said, “and I want to help. It's miserable when you're tired and you just can't get to sleep.”
“Do you have insomnia often?” Leo asked.
She sounded like she was speaking from experience.
“Sometimes, especially lately,” Tessa said. “I find my mind just won't stop running in circles.”
“Why especially lately?” Leo asked. What was stressing her out in particular?
“Oh, uh, well combining the packs added a lot more work, and I've never been anyone's personal maid, it's just new. That's all,” Tessa said in a rush.
He had the feeling she was hiding something, yet again. But the whole point of asking her to come to his rooms was to help him relax. He couldn't relax if he was trying to figure out her secrets. And she couldn't be soothing if she was stressed by him trying to figure out her secrets. So he let the matter drop.
“Will you have tea with me?” he asked instead. “Since it seems like we both need help getting to sleep?”
“Sure,” Tessa said, “that sounds lovely.”
Leo and Tessa took seats kitty corner from each other in the sitting area. Tessa placed the tray down on the coffee table and poured two mugs of steaming hot, fragrant tea. Leo put two little cakes on each plate and passed one to Tessa.
Leo and Tessa talked while they drank their tea. Leo kept the conversation light. Tessa was tense at first, but eventually she relaxed enough to laugh at one of Leo's jokes.
The sound of her laugh made the wolf inside Leo come alert. The tea and company had done pretty much the opposite of what he needed. The wolf was even more restless than before.
“Are you all right?” Tessa asked after a few minutes of silence from Leo.
How could he tell her that his wolf was more agitated than ever, because she was near? It made no sense! Eva was his mate, so why was his wolf calling for another woman?
“Maybe a cold shower,” he muttered.
“Alpha?” Tessa leaned closer, which did absolutely nothing to calm Leo's wolf.
The worst part was, he was convinced that she wasn't trying to seduce him. He'd had women try before and he should be able to tell the difference. This wasn't a scheme, she was just concerned.
“How is Ethan doing?” he asked instead of explaining himself. Maybe the reminder that she was dating his best friend would shut his wolf up.
“Ethan was fine the last time I saw him,” she said. “Why do you ask?”
“No reason. I should invite him to dinner at the manor soon. It'd be an excuse for you to see him.”
“I, uh, have to work, serving dinner,” Tessa pointed out.
“You can have the evening off,” Leo promised. “I'll set it up.”
“Oh. Thank you. So you... really don't mind?”
Leo minded. A lot. But he shouldn't, because he was married and she had a right to find a mate.
“It's fine,” Leo managed to grit out with something she might mistake for a smile.
They'd finished the tea and little cakes. He should send her away to bed. But he really, truly did not want to. He flailed around for an excuse to keep her just a few more minutes.
“Ah, Tessa, would you be willing to draw a bath for me? Maybe soaking in some warm water would help,” he said.
Tessa nodded. “Sure, no problem, Alpha. The kitchen workers sent up some bath salts that should help. They're infused with lavender.”
“That sounds nice,” Leo said. “Do you like lavender?”
He'd noticed she mostly smelled like citrus, nothing flowery. Was it her soap, or the cleaning supplies she used?
“Not really, it makes me sneeze,” Tessa admitted. “I prefer vanilla. I keep a little pocket of vanilla infused cotton balls under my pillow.”
“Does that help?” Leo asked.
“Sometimes. If you'd like to try it, I can prepare one for you while you soak.”
“At this point I'll try anything,” Leo admitted.
He eased himself into the water while Tessa bustled around, doing something intricate with the bath salts and little bits of cloth and cotton. Watching her move was relaxing. He sighed into the water.
He wished his wolf would make sense. Why did it yearn for the maid's presence? He was married and she was dating his friend.
Once his bath was finished, Tessa handed him a towel and neatly stacked his night clothes next to the tub. Leo dried off and dressed while she politely faced the wall. He took a moment to relish being able to do all that without assistance again. His recovery was going much faster.
“Here, just tuck this under your pillow,” Tessa said, holding out a small pouch.
He sniffed it, catching notes of vanilla, lavender, and a faint trace that just said, “Tessa” to his senses. His wolf whined pitifully within him.
He leaned closer, caught the scent of her breath. Was it his imagination, or did Tessa lean closer, too? Her eyes drifted closed, and he caught her shoulders.
Would her lips be soft and yielding, like he imagined?
Leo shook himself, and stepped back so quickly they both stumbled. He'd made a vow to Eva! Why did he almost kiss this woman?
“Sorry, I'm more tired than I thought,” Leo said. “I'm almost asleep on my feet.”
“Me, too,” Tessa agreed, cheeks pink with embarrassment. “I should get to my room. Sleep well, Alpha.”
“And you.”