Page 20 of Wounded Mate
Mine, mine, mine.
Mate, mate, mate.
I couldn’t agree more. He kisses like he was born to kiss. Tender and demanding at once. Soft lips, curious, talented tongue, sweet whimpers of enjoyment.
I could get lost in just this.
But he’s pulling away, a smile lighting his face. “So, you’re not bothered by the blue?”
“Blue is my favorite color.” And will be forever after the vision I’ve seen today.
“I’m glad to hear that.” He buries his fingers in my mane of fur and massages my neck.
If I was in wolf form, my tongue would loll from my mouth. I lean into his hands and sigh.
He’s smiling. “Let’s wash up. I want you naked as I am.”
Yes. And also no. He’s so beautiful, and I’m such a freak. I’ll never be worthy of him, but what I lack in looks, I’ll do my best to make up for with my heart.
He releases me, grabs an emerald-green robe from a hook on the back of his door, and gestures to the others. “Can I offer you one?”
I shrug my blanket up a little higher. “This will do for now. I’d hate to get something else dirty.”
“It’s no trouble. We can throw it in the wash with everything else.”
“This is fine.”
“The brothel isn’t open yet anyway. Come on.” Valius leads the way from his room, down the hall, and stops at an arched passageway. “Privy’s on the right. I’ll meet you back in our room.”
Our room.My heart flutters. “Do you want help carrying the water?”
“From my injured roommate? No, thank you. I’ll return shortly.”
Roommate.That one’s not bad, but it does little to encapsulate what we are. We’re mates. But I won’t rush him. Valius was probably expecting this even less than I. It’s all right if he isn’t sure yet.
I make use of the privy and return to his room without seeing anyone else. Which is probably for the best. Valius and his friends maybe have taken a mongrel wolf in stride, but will the others in residence here be as kind and accepting? Better not to be seen, just in case.
Since there’s plenty of food left, I continue to eat. Regaining my strength will take a lot of fuel. My side is tender. I feel myself protecting it in the way I move, curled in more than usual, taking things slow.
It’s tempting to snuggle back into his bed and inhale the scent of him until I’m asleep again, but he’s right. We should wash first. Especially me. Dirt smudges my skin, and there’s grit in my fur. To be useful, I fold up the blankets I slept on earlier to be sent for a wash. Valius has plenty more. I’ve never seen so many in one bedroom.
Is this where he works? Does he feed from others in this room? If so, I can’t smell it, but the idea of him in here bedding someone else bristles the fur on my nape.
The thought of sharing him with another repulses me, but I’ll learn to accept it. I’ll grow. If Valius can accept me the way I am, the least I can do is return that favor. But the wolf inside balks.
Mine.
Calm down, buddy. We don’t want to scare off the best thing that ever happened to us.
Chapter Eleven
Bela
By the time Valius returns,I’ve calmed the beast, eaten my fill, and resisted the urge to sniff all his possessions one by one.
He carries two buckets hung from a pole balanced over his shoulders, a large tin bathing tray in one hand, and a stack of clothes and rags under his arm.
Following him in is the welcome scent of roses. He must have added rose oil to the water. Its sweet fragrance is quickly becoming associated with my stunning mate.
