Page 47 of The Wolf's Appetite
I was whole, and I’d kill anyone before I let anything touch her again.
29
LENNOX
I’d taken Aisling to our room when I was confident she was well enough. But she was fully healed. No scratches. Not even a bruise marred her perfect body.
Then I’d checked on my family, the vampires, the mates, and everyone’s children. After that, I got food for my mate, needing her fed and sated and content.
I’d explained everything that had happened with the elder witch to her. I’d assured her that the females and children were okay and that her family was safe. After all of that, she’d cried, and I held her for as long as she needed.
Now, I watched as she finished her meal, my thoughts on Magdalena and her sacrifice hangingheavily in the air.
I sat with Aisling on the edge of our bed, the fire in the hearth throwing long shadows across the walls, just staring at Aisling and knowing she was alive and safe made my chest ache.
She was whole. Healed.Mine.
I felt relief, but there was also a hollow place inside me where gratitude and grief were tangled up so tightly I couldn’t separate them.
Aisling’s hand was warm and soft in mine, and she smoothed her thumb along the ridge of my knuckles. “Are ye okay?” she murmured, her voice timid with worry.
“I’m okay, lass,” I said, but my mate knew me well enough to sense my lie.
“She sacrificed herself to save ye, and I’ll forever be grateful.” I brought my mate’s hand to my mouth and kissed her softly. “I canna stop thinking about what she gave. About how I’ll never be able tae repay it.” I placed her hand over my heart. “It beats for ye, lass. And Magdalena is the reason my wolf came back. And now she’s the reason ye’re still here.” My jaw clenched.
Her fingers tightened around mine. “Maybe she didn’t see them as acts that needed tae be repaid. Maybe they were gifts.”
I looked at her then, and the truth of it settled in my bones. The witch had known—she’d said it herself. This was always meant to happen. Me. Her. Aisling.This moment. But there was still something out there that neither of us could see or fight yet.
I brushed my thumb over her cheekbone. “Ye scared the hell out of me tonight, sweetheart.”
“I was terrified but, strangely, no’ for myself. I was afraid for everyone else,” she admitted. “I knew I’d die, but I dinna care as long as I protected everyone.” She gave a small, almost sad, smile. “But when ye came through that door, Lennox... I knew.”
“Knew what, baby?”
“That I was safe. That ye’d burn the world down before ye let anything take me.”
My chest and heart seized. “And that’ll always be the truth.” I bent my head until my forehead rested against hers. “I love ye, Aisling.”
I felt her smile. “And I love ye, Lennox.”
We stayed like that for a long moment, just breathing the same air, my mate letting me hold her, not because only I needed it but because we both did.
When I finally pulled back, it was to lay her down against the pillows, moving slowly, careful not to jostle her even though I knew she was healed and finally safe. I traced my hand down her arm, across her ribs, and settled where her wounds had been. She wore one of my shirts, the length swallowing her whole. And she looked damn good in it.
Her gaze stayed on mine, watching every movement, letting me touch her because she knew this was what my wolf and I needed.
“Ye’re looking at me like I might vanish, Lennox.” She cupped my cheek, her palm moving over my scruff.
“I’m looking at ye,” I said softly, “like I’ve been given the greatest gift in this fooking world because ye’re the only thing that matters, lass.”
Her lips parted just slightly. She sighed, and despite myself, I felt my blood boil and my cock thicken in response.
“I donna want tae think about how I almost lost ye,” I murmured. “I only want tae feel that this isn’t a dream and ye are truly here with me now.”
I dipped my head, kissing her slowly, deeply, and letting it build until I scented her desire move through every inch of her body. Aisling’s fingers slid up into my hair, pulling me closer as she opened her mouth and let me in.
I stroked her with my tongue, tasted every inch of her, and when I broke the kiss, it was so I could press my mouth to her jaw and along her throat, savoring the feel of her frantic pulse under my lips and tongue.
