Chapter 976 Taking A Bath

Chapter 976: Chapter 976 Taking A Bath

On another note, Hera was also genuinely happy that Minerva seemed to have truly changed. The fact that she was even considering apologizing to Logan was already a huge step forward, even if she hadn’t bullied him much in the past; the thought of her humbling herself to apologize said a lot about her growth.

It reassured Hera that Minerva was really moving in a better direction. She could only feel glad for Rafael as well; now he wouldn’t have to worry about his sister the way he once did.

More than anything, Hera felt happy; everything was moving in the right direction, and her life seemed to be getting better with each passing day. After receiving everyone’s confirmation that they would attend the debut concert with her, she finally set her phone aside and allowed herself to rest.

Zhane gently scooped her into his arms and carried her upstairs to the second floor, with Rafael following close behind. As the doctor, Zhane carefully helped Hera out of her clothes, while Rafael prepared a warm bath for her, ensuring everything was ready for her comfortable bath.

"Zhane, Rafael, I can let the nurse handle these things. You two should rest for a while, you’ve been taking care of me since earlier, and I know you must be tired..." Hera pouted as she tried to gently push Zhane away.

After all, she really had hired a nurse. But so far, the nurse had hardly done anything; Emerald had grown so bored that she ended up helping in the kitchen and around the penthouse like a servant.

Thanks to her, Amy was finally able to rest properly these days while keeping her injury dry. In fact, it almost seemed like Emerald had completely taken over Amy’s duties. That made Hera’s earlier offer to have Amy call in someone else to cover for her so she could return home feel entirely unnecessary now.

"It’s okay. I actually feel relaxed taking care of you. You know my profession—I’m a doctor. So, making sure you’re fine is the least I can do to ease my worried heart," Zhane said gently as he helped Hera out of her upper clothes.

As if suddenly remembering something, he reached into his bag and pulled out a black bag before heading toward the bathroom. Hera’s gaze followed him curiously.

"Rafael, pump this up for me," Zhane instructed as he handed the bag over. "It’ll help Hera stay comfortable while she’s lying in the bathtub."

Rafael, who had just stepped out of the bathroom with his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, took the bag from him. The motion revealed his well-defined forearms, catching Hera’s eye for a brief moment.

"What’s this?" Rafael asked, raising a brow as he accepted the black bag and slowly unzipped it. From inside the bathroom, the sound of running water continued as the bathtub filled with warm water.

"An inflatable backrest, along with supports for Hera’s arm and foot, so they won’t get soaked," Zhane explained. He knew Hera hadn’t been satisfied with just sponge baths; after days of nothing more than towel wipes, she’d been yearning for a proper soak. As both her doctor and her lover, Zhane wanted to make sure she could finally enjoy one safely, without risking water seeping into her cast.

"Alright, leave this to me," Rafael said before heading back into the bathroom with the black bag in hand. He didn’t even need a manual pump, an automatic one was tucked inside the bag, small but efficient, making the task effortless for him.

Meanwhile, Hera’s face lit up the moment she realized she would finally be able to soak in a proper bath. She looked up at Zhane with barely contained excitement.

"Zhane, can you tell Rafael to raise the temperature of the water? You know I like it hot..." she said with a playful giggle, her eagerness plain on her face.

"Don’t worry, Rafael’s got it covered," Zhane replied calmly. After spending so much time with Hera and even helping her bathe a few times, he, Rafael, and the other four had already learned her preferences. One thing they knew for sure: she loved her bathwater scaldingly hot.

At first, Zhane had been alarmed. He even wondered if Hera had issues with her sensory receptors, unable to feel heat properly. But after checking, he realized it was simply her personal preference; she just felt more relaxed that way. When he, Rafael, and the others had tried dipping their hands into the water, it was so hot they swore they might be cooked alive in the tub.

That was when Zhane remembered: women generally had different temperature sensitivities than men. They tended to feel colder more easily and often preferred hotter showers, while men were more sensitive to high heat.

Realizing this, Zhane stopped worrying. Since the heat didn’t affect Hera’s health and actually helped her relax, he allowed her to indulge, especially since she loved lingering in the bath for as long as she could.

"Alright..." Hera murmured softly, humming as Zhane gently undressed her piece by piece. She no longer felt as flustered as she once had. After all, it had been days since he, Rafael, and the others began caring for her and even bathing her.

By now, she’d grown a little more accustomed to their presence, her skin developing a sort of callus

But when Zhane reached for her bra and underwear, a fresh wave of heat crept up her cheeks. Hera shifted slightly, her blush betraying her lingering modesty. Seeing her expression, Zhane couldn’t help but chuckle before leaning closer, his tone playful as he teased her.

"Well, I could say I don’t care about gender when it comes to my patients," Zhane murmured, his voice low, "but you’re my lover first. So, seeing you like this, so shy, it only makes me want you more."

The heat of his breath lingered against Hera’s ear, sending shivers down her spine. His suggestive words left her speechless. She was completely bare before him, exposed to his gaze from head to toe. And though he was only teasing her, she could see the truth in his eyes, the hunger barely restrained beneath his calm exterior.

Honestly, if not for her broken ribs and the casts on her arms and legs, Hera was certain Zhane would have already pounced on her by now.

"Alright, I’ll bring you to the bathroom now..." Zhane said, his voice low and slightly hoarse. Hera couldn’t help but notice the bulge straining against his pants—proof of just how much seeing her naked had affected him. Her cheeks burned even redder, and she lowered her gaze, flustered.

Zhane slipped a towel over her body to give her some modesty before lifting her carefully into his arms. The simple gesture eased her shyness, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck for support.

When they entered the bathroom, Rafael had just finished inflating the backrest and the snake-like supports designed to keep Hera’s injured arm and leg out of the water.

"You came at the perfect time," Rafael said, lowering the backrest into the tub to let it settle before positioning the floats for her limbs.

Once everything was in place, Zhane carefully set Hera into the warm bath while Rafael rolled over a cart stocked with shampoos, body wash, and other toiletries.

The water wasn’t filled to the brim; it reached only halfway up the tub. That way, Hera wouldn’t have to strain by holding her arm and leg too high while Zhane and Rafael helped her wash. With the two of them working together, everything felt effortless: Zhane focused on her hair while Rafael tended to her body.

Rafael soaked the sponge in the tub before pumping out Hera’s favorite body wash, the familiar scent he always associated with her. Meanwhile, Zhane adjusted the showerhead, lowering the temperature just enough so the scalding water wouldn’t harm her scalp or affect her hair growth.

After rinsing her hair, Zhane squeezed a measured amount of shampoo into his palm, rubbed his hands together until it foamed, then began massaging it gently into Hera’s hair. His fingers worked with practiced care, pressing lightly against her scalp, moving from roots to crown with slow, soothing motions.

Hera melted into the sensation, the hot water around her, Zhane’s fingers massaging her scalp, and Rafael’s gentle strokes as he washed her skin with the sponge. A soft, satisfied hum escaped her lips before she could stop it, and the sound made both men smile warmly at her.

"My queen, how’s the pressure? Does it please you?" Zhane teased, slipping into the role of a devoted consort. His voice carried a hint of coquettish charm, making Hera giggle as she closed her eyes and leaned back against the soft backrest.

"You’re doing well, my good consort," Hera played along, her laughter bubbling. "I’ll reward you with many gold bars later."

Rafael, watching the two fool around, couldn’t resist joining in. "Little minx, no, I mean, my queen," he corrected himself dramatically, lips twitching with a smile. "And what of my work? Does it meet your royal standards, or do my rough hands scratch your delicate skin?"