Jasper's POV
If she had a little bit of strength still left, she would have punched me directly on my jaw, no doubt. The stubborn glint in her eyes made that fact crystal clear. I watched as she struggled weakly in my hold, her body frail yet her spirit untamed. A smirk crept across my lips, curling slowly with mischief as a worse idea brewed in my mind. The most inconvenient, annoying idea for her, but right now, it sounded perfect to me. I bent immediately and scooped her into my hands, feeling her body tense against mine like a coiled spring ready to strike if only her strength would cooperate.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean? If you want a baby so badly, you could have spoken to your chosen mate about it. Take me down right this minute!" she roared in anger, her voice surprisingly fierce for someone barely holding herself up. Her words laced with venom and defiance, but for some twisted reason, I was thoroughly enjoying her tantrums. The flush of frustration on her cheeks, the spark of fury in her eyes, it was all too entertaining to pass up.
"I will take you to the bathroom now, or do you want me to get something for you to pee on?" I teased, biting on my lower lip, doing everything I could to suppress the laughter threatening to erupt from my throat. Her expression alone was priceless—livid, embarrassed, and ready to explode.
"You're insane," she voiced out, her eyes narrowing as she smacked me hard on the chest, the slap echoing softly through the room. I smiled wider, unable to contain the growing amusement in my chest, and that earned me a harder smack, this one with more irritation behind it.
"Jasper, let me down. I obviously don't need your help. I'd rather crawl to the bathroom than let you carry me like a day-old," she shouted at the top of her voice, her anger boiling over, flooding the air with thick, heated tension. Her stubbornness only made her more captivating, her fiery spirit glowing brighter despite her weakened state.
"I will do just that, baby," I let out, voice teasing yet laced with unwavering confidence, as I began to stride towards the bathroom. Her kicks became harder and more determined, each one landing with increasing desperation. I could have thrown her onto the floor in a split second if I wanted to, but no—I wanted to wound her ego, to frustrate that stubborn pride of hers so deeply she'd never forget it.
"I said let me down, you fool! Don't you get it? Are you that dumb in English, or have you suddenly gone deaf?" she hissed, her voice sharp as she kept kicking relentlessly. I ignored her protests, kicked the bathroom door open with ease, and walked straight in, the sound of the door hitting the wall behind adding drama to the moment. Slowly, I lowered her onto the toilet seat, her glare digging into me like daggers. But I wasn't done brushing her ego yet.
When I lifted her gown up slightly, her hand flew like lightning, a hard punch smacking my hand backward almost immediately, her strength fueled by pure indignation.
"You can leave," she commanded, her voice authoritative, like she was barking orders to a soldier. She forgets that I'm her Alpha now, and she should know better than to think she can command me.
"I am not leaving, my love. After all, we're mates—we shouldn't hide a thing from each other," I replied, my voice cool, leaning casually against the bathroom wall, one leg crossing over the other like I had all the time in the world.
"What? This is insane. Jasper, you can't stand there and watch me poo. I need you out!" she yelled, her cheeks flushing a deeper shade of red, her embarrassment battling fiercely with her rage. I chuckled lightly, the sound low and rich, slipping my hand into my pants pocket, my eyes never leaving her.
"I am going nowhere. I won't even take a step, be rest assured," I let out, my stare fixed firmly on her like she was the most interesting movie I'd ever watched. Every twitch of her brow, every tiny frown, every little gesture—I wasn't missing a second of it.
"You're not serious, right?" she asked, her voice dropping to a lower, almost pleading tone, but I wasn't budging. Not tonight. I was bent on frustrating her life completely.
"Wifey, I am serious," I mumbled, my voice coated in playful defiance, my hand still in my pocket, eyes pinned on her like a predator watching its prey.
She closed her eyes briefly, drawing in a deep breath like she needed every ounce of patience left in her. Slowly, she lifted her gown, her movements stiff, refusing to meet my gaze. I watched her closely as she pulled off her panties, her face averted from me completely, her heartbeat pounding so loud I could almost hear it vibrate through the air. If she could, she'd have snapped my neck in a heartbeat, no questions asked. But right now, all she had was her pride, and I was steadily bruising it.
The dropping sound of liquid hitting the toilet bowl echoed louder than necessary, and I smirked, finding the whole moment oddly satisfying.
"You're just so weird," she muttered under her breath, stretching her hand towards the tissue roll. She stood up cautiously, wiped herself clean, and pulled on her panties before fixing her gown back in place. Her hands trembled slightly as she flushed the toilet, her left hand resting against the wall for support, her legs visibly trembling beneath her. She was trying so hard to hide it, to act like she wasn't weak, but I noticed every detail.
"You can go now. I don't need your help," she spat out, rolling her eyes with such exaggeration it almost made me laugh again. Yet, I remained silent, standing there, eyes locked on her without moving an inch.
"You still want to watch me walk? You're just so pathetic…" she started but didn't get the chance to finish her sentence. In the next second, she slipped, her foot sliding beneath her, and she crashed onto her buttocks with a loud, painful thud that echoed through the small bathroom space.
"Asking for my help couldn't have killed you, you know," I let out, walking over to her without hesitation. She bit her lower lip, her jaw tightening as she tried to suppress the pain radiating through her body, her pride crumbling visibly.
"I missed a step, it's normal. I don't need your help," she insisted stubbornly, her voice shaking, but I wasn't interested in more pointless arguments tonight. Without another word, I scooped her into my arms again, her body warm and soft against mine, and carried her out.
"Bring me down, I've got legs," she yelled, but I ignored her as we walked to the bed. I dropped her onto the mattress almost immediately, watching her sink into the soft surface.
"I want Grace to be here with me," she demanded, her voice laced with frustration. I chuckled lightly, staring at her creased eyebrows, the stubborn line of her lips only fueling my amusement further.
"I am your husband and mate. Taking care of you is my responsibility."