moved over the still-healing gouges and cuts, the
torn flesh, and the red-and-purple blotches that covered my chest and
abdomen.
―It‘s not so bad anymore.‖
He nodded, tipped his head for me to roll over. It was worse on the
back. My bruised face with my black eye was already fading, but my sides
where claws had sunk into my flesh still looked raw. As my face hit the
pillow, I sighed deeply. The bed smelled like Logan, and I inhaled deeply,
filling myself with him.
The warm, callused hand slid down my spine, stopping on the small
of my back, pressing down gently before making the return trip, settling in
my hair, petting me.
―I‘m so tired.‖
―Then go to sleep.‖
―But I don‘t want you to leave.‖ I didn‘t trust him not to go kill
someone if I wasn‘t awake to watch him.
―Love‖—his voice dropped low, deep and filled with gravel as he
smoothed my hair back from my forehead—―I am not leaving your side.‖
―Promise?‖
38
Mary Calmes
―I promise,‖ he said, and I felt the soft lips pressed between my
shoulder blades. ―Close your eyes. I can tell that you‘re barely holding
on.‖
―Could you… just… for a minute.‖
I heard him moving before the bed dipped behind me, and I rolled to
my side so he could spoon around me. The heat rippling off the man made
me shiver.
―Cold?‖
―No, just… you feel so good.‖
―You missed me.‖
―I should have gone like you asked.‖
―Yes.‖
―Sorry.‖
―There were reasons you stayed, and I agreed with all of them at the
time, but I think we both understand that your entire life needs to be
revaluated.‖
I stiffened. ―Wait, what does that mean?‖
―So stubborn,‖ he breathed down the side of my neck. ―I am not
telling you not to work or attend to your duties as reah, but there are
considerations that will have to be met.‖
―I don‘t––‖
―Stop,‖ he soothed me, nuzzling my hair away from the back of my
neck before he kissed the mark he had put there six months ago, the scar
that proclaimed me the mate of a semel. ―Rest, just rest. Your body is
trying so hard to heal and has not been able to as you have not felt safe
enough to truly sleep.‖
He knew me so well. I didn‘t feel safe anywhere. I slept in short
spurts, always with the light on, afraid that if I let my guard down,
someone would be there. If even my sheseru, even scary Yuri Kosa, had
been unable to keep me from harm, how could I be safe alone? And even
though I knew it was crazy, irrational, I was at the mercy of nightmares
that would not let me go.
―I have you,‖ he said, his lips grazing my bare shoulder. ―You‘re
mine.‖
The shiver tore through me as I arched back against him, pressing
my ass into his groin.
Trusted Bond
39
―Stop,‖ he said almost sadly, his breath warm on my ear. ―Your
brain will explode if I do anything right now, so stop teasing.‖
―I had a very different homecoming planned,‖ I whimpered, unable
to keep from rubbing up against him, my body in pain but also terribly
needy and very hot.
―Christ,‖ he groaned, gripping my left hip tight to make me stop
moving. ―Are you trying to kill me?‖
―You‘ve been gone so long,‖ I said, wriggling in tighter, trying to
seat myself so that I could feel the bulge in his jeans against me.
―Jin.‖ His whisper was harsh, dangerous, and sent a current of need
right to my groin. ―I don‘t think you realize that you smell like––‖
―I‘m wounded,‖ I said softly, my voice deep, ―and there‘s a part of
you… the animal part… that likes that.‖
―Stop,‖ he scolded, burying his face in my hair. ―Just let me hold
you and look at you. God, I don‘t even think I should be this close to
you…. I bet you hurt all over.‖
And he was right, I was in pain. My body was stiff and sore and
tender to the touch, but being close to my mate… it was like being
covered with a warm blanket on a