Page 23 of It's Kind of a Bunny Story
“That was an oversight on his part. You’re definitely going to get eaten.” Glancing toward the fireplace, I caught Linc’s smirk and the wicked gleam in his eyes. “Over and over.”
My entire body flushed at the implication, and I gave myself over to the beanbag, willingly allowing it to swallow me soI could hide—not from embarrassment over his words, but to keep them from seeing just how badly I wanted them.
My reprieve was short-lived. A hand reached into the depths and pulled me from the belly of the bag.
“You’re so tiny, we’ll have to be careful not to lose you.” Copeland grinned down at me. “How do you feel about wearing one of those kid leashes?”
I wrinkled my nose in disgust. “How do you feel about having me shove a glowstick up your dick and cracking it?”
“If it means having your hands on me, I don’t mind.” Copeland headed toward the kitchen. “I’m going to make us some food before I decide to take you up on that offer.”
I gaped at his retreating back.
And this is why you’re supposed to date people before marrying them, Charlee. You have to give them time to slip and let their crazy show.
I tried not to wonder about what other things he might have been into in the bedroom.
Don’t panic. As long as it doesn’t involve leaving cookie crumbs in the bed, I can handle it. Probably,I mentally assured myself.
Copeland dippeda spoon into the bowl of soup and held it to my lips. “Open wide.”
“That’s what she said,” I snickered, but obediently parted my lips.
As the warm broth hit my stomach, I was reminded of how long it had been since I’d eaten regular meals. We’d had thefood in the cave, but that was very different from a home-cooked meal. I fought the intrusive thoughts that wanted me to snatch the cup from his hand and guzzle it down in a few big gulps.
Copeland noticed my struggle and lifted the bowl to my lips so I could take bigger sips. “There’s no rush. Once we make sure the soup broth settles your stomach and doesn’t make you sick, I’ll make you a plate of real food.”
“I should have gotten you out of there sooner.” Fletcher let out a string of curses. “And I shouldn’t have pushed us so hard to get here. If we’d stopped to rest more, you wouldn’t be starved and exhausted.”
Swallowing the liquid in my mouth, I leaned toward him and caught his hand. “If we’d slowed down, we might not have made it before their hired coyotes. We made it. That’s all thanks to you.” I squeezed his hand, hoping to reassure him, but Fletcher wasn’t having it.
Pulling his hand from mine, he grabbed my chin. His grip was firm, but not painful as he forced me to look him in the eyes. The self-loathing and pain I saw swirling in those golden depths shattered my heart.
“We both know it was the stress of the journey and the toll it took on your body that sent you into heat early! You’ve practically had a feral heat—and don’t even try to deny it!” he added the last bit, seeing I was about to protest. “If the wolves hadn’t shown up when they did, you’d still be in pain—if you were conscious at all. There’s only so much one mate can do!”
“But they did show up.” I brushed my hand along his cheek. “It all worked out. We’re safe and we get to stay together.”
“You don’t get it, Charlee!” Fletcher’s breathing was ragged, forcing him to pause between words. “I wanted to save you, but I very nearly killed you!” His eyes glittered with angry tears, shocking me more than his sudden outburst.
In all my years at the burrow, I’d never seen a male rabbit shed so much as a single tear. Not even when losing a loved one. Too stunned to speak, I could do nothing but press my palm against his cheek, hoping to comfort him.
“I took you from the burrow, so you’d have a choice in who you bonded with. Only to see you bonded to two wolves you don’t even know!” Fletcher shot a quick look at the wolves. “No offense.”
Linc shrugged. “None taken.”
They might not have been offended, but I was.
“Stop this right now!” I pulled my face free of his grip, straightened my posture, and glared at him. “You and I both know this is infinitely better than the situation I was in! The two aren’t even comparable!”
“Either way, you are being forced to spend your first heat with strangers!” Fletcher argued.
“I bonded with two men who pledged to protect me and my heart. I’ve been snuggled, cared for, and fed by my fluffle during this heat.” Blood pounded in my ears as fury took control. “Have you forgotten what awaited me on my first heat in the burrow?”
The muscle in Fletcher’s jaw flexed, and his eyes darkened with barely suppressed rage. He hadn’t forgotten.
But I was angry and couldn’t stop myself from reminding him. “The burrow can frame it however they want, but we both know the truth. The moment I went into heat, I would have been given a room in the bunny brothel. The burrow can claim that the building was created to give the women a community and keep them safe, but it’s a lie. They built it to keep us like pets for their entertainment and pleasure.”
My chest tightened with each sentence, making it harder to draw in a breath, but I wasn’t finished. “I would’ve had no say in which men from the burrow bought, won, or earned the right to come into my room. The council knows that my rabbit wouldhave formed a mate bond with each of those men—men who don’t care about anything other than getting their rocks off with the newest piece of cottontail. No one cared. Why would they?”
