Page 74 of Ruin

I nodded. “We’ll be there soon.” But all I really wanted was to be with Connor, to touch him and convince myself we were both okay.

B’nar nodded and left.

Connor turned and brushed my face with his calloused fingers. “We are fine, love.” He inhaled and a tingly feeling washed over my skin as his eyes travelled over my body, hidden only by a thin hospital gown and cotton sheet. His deep scent thickened. “And I want you just as much…”

Shannon huffed a husky laugh. “Gods, you two are enough to make me want to play as a threesome.”

Connor whipped his head towards her and growled. She grinned and winked. “Chill, boss man, I’m going. But you might want to give her some time to recover and eat before you pin her to the mattress. Besides, I think the pack would appreciate seeing their king.”

Connor grunted and squeezed his eyes shut, but Shannon was right and we both knew it. Four days… And I doubted Connor had left my side. Owen would have cleaned up after the attack and organised the camp in Connor’s absence, but the shifters needed to see their king, to know what the future held…

“Good to see you awake again,” Shannon said and she smiled. I returned that smile. For once there was no sarcasm in her words.

“Glad you’re okay too, Shannon.”

She nodded and left.

“Come on, get me up. I need a shower, and I need to brush my teeth. My mouth is disgusting.”

Connor’s deep chuckle resonated through my body, causing my nerve endings to twitch. Damn, hearing his voice, or feeling his touch was like lighting a match to my skin. I had always been turned on by Connor, but this wasn’t that. This was...

I stilled. Damn, it couldn’t be, could it? I racked my brain, trying to remember when my last season had been. I couldn’t think. It didn’t matter, I couldn’t be with Connor if it was, I had no contraception.

Still, once this meeting with Walker was done I should discuss it with him. I shifted uncomfortably, I wasn’t sure either of us were at the point in our relationship where we wanted children. I mean, there were still demons out there, for Mother’s sake. They needed hunting down. And we still had to figure out who had been supporting the warden and Doherty. Someone was, both financially with the prison and with gaining voyeurs for the fight rings, because those people sure as shit hadn’t all been humans...which meant supernaturals of one form or another were a part of that sick practice.

If I got pregnant, Connor would never let me continue to fight. I frowned. Would I even let myself? My nostrils flared as I placed a hand on my lower belly, the thought of Connor using that stunning, powerful body to help me through my season, made my legs weak. Though repeated sex with my mate was one reason not to be sedated through my season this time, or lock myself away for my safety. I bit back a groan as a wave of need hit me.

Connor raised a brow, only making himself look sexier. “You okay?”

I swallowed hard, only able to nod. Now wasn’t the time for lust. I needed to see Walker before he left again.

“Yeah, well, stop going where that dirty mind is taking you, or I am not letting you out of this bed,” he growled.

Swallowing hard and wishing I could take him up on that threat, I held out a hand. “Fine. But you are so keeping me and my dirty mind in bed after this meeting is over. Now, give us a hand up, would you? I feel a bit shaky. And if I don’t get to that toilet in the next five seconds there’s going to be one hell of a mess on the floor.”

Connor grinned. I yelped as he bent down and lifted me. “Can’t have that, now can we?”

“Nope.” I smiled, but more words wouldn’t come. A ball of emotion tightened my throat and I nuzzled into his neck, blinking back the burning in my eyes. The fear in my chest eased as I breathed him in. He was alive and unharmed. “Did we do it? Is the rift closed?”

“It is. You did it.”

“We did it,” I corrected.

Connor kicked open the shower room door and let my feet slide to the ground. Not caring if he watched, I planted myself on the toilet and sighed as I released my full bladder. “Damn, it’s amazing how good that feels.” Then heat swamped my cheeks as he leaned on the door frame, watching me—and grinned. “Hey, turn around. You can’t watch me pee!”

He laughed out loud. “It’s a bit late for that.” But he took pity on me and turned away to flick the shower on, rifling through the cupboards of the hospital cabin’s bathroom for shampoo and shower gel.

Gods, it was hot in the shower and my skin felt so sensitive that I only grazed over my nipples and nether regions. Maybe it was the drugs, or perhaps the remnants of letting Fire soar free, but I couldn’t ever remember the build up to a season being like this. It was usually slower and less brutal. I only hoped I made it through the meeting and had some time to talk to Connor about it before it hit me fully. I was sure Drake would have something to dampen the effects—or at least some protection if Connor didn’t want to risk a pregnancy. Goosebumps peppered my skin, despite the hot flush swamping my body. I moaned as I inadvertently grazed my sensitive lady bits with a finger.

“You okay in there?”

I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth, trying to smother my lust. Gods, just the sound of his voice had a burst of arousal slicking the skin between my legs. I gasped, my hand slapping against the shower wall as my stomach cramped and my legs shook.

“Yeah, sure...nearly done,” I yelled, hoping the glass shower cubicle would keep back the scent of my need for him. A heavy sex session was not appropriate right now.

Connor’s shadow loomed on the other side of the shower door, hesitating as if contemplating getting in with me. I fisted my hands, half-praying he would yank it open and take me no matter how many people were waiting on us. A few seconds more and he turned away. I released a breath and quickly rinsed away all evidence of my desire, not sure if I was disappointed or relieved.

Thirty minutes later, I was showered and dressed in clean clothes, and my hair was dry. Connor had made sure I had food and a steaming hot cup of tea waiting for me when I stepped out. It had been months since I’d tasted a decent cup of tea. Being English, coffee didn’t always hit the spot. I smiled up at Connor. “Thanks.”

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