Page 68 of Shifters' Fated Summer
“Just a sprained wrist,” Cade growled.
“Oh, Archer, can you go get some ice for him?” Elowen paused, and Archer leaned down and whispered in her ear. She paused, thinking, and then nodded. “Agreed.”
I watched, useless, as Elowen retrieved a bandage from the bathroom and tightly wrapped Cade’s wrist. He rested his head against the headboard with his eyes closed and let her work.
Archer returned with a bag of ice.
Elowen propped her hands on her hips, thinning her mouth like she was ready for a fight. “Summer, you’re going to hold the ice in place. So go get in the bed with him.”
“What?” I asked, the word a bit strangled.
“I can hold ice. She should leave,” Cade huffed.
“You know just as well as I do that her presence will help you heal. And it’ll help undo this weakness you’re experiencing.”
Cade’s lips drew back to flash white teeth.
Archer sighed, stepping closer and dropping his voice. “Alpha, I know you wouldn’t lead us on a mission when you were not at full strength.”
Cade’s jaw ticked. “Fine.”
“Don’t sound like it’s such a sacrifice,” I muttered, surprising myself with my boldness.
“Get in there,” Elowen said, shooing me forward.
Tentatively, I climbed onto the bed beside him. Archer held out the ice pack and I accepted it, placing it gently over Cade’s wrapped wrist. He hissed through his teeth and I stiffened.
“It’s fine,” he growled.
“You need to be touching,” Elowen said, frowning.
Cade rolled his eyes, but wrapped his free arm around my waist and dragged me against him. I pressed into his side, my heart racing. Every inch of skin touching sizzled, all of my nerves exploding at once.
“Good, now don’t move. You need her. I expect you tostill be here snuggling when I come back later to check on you.” Elowen tutted, leading Archer out of the room and shutting the door behind them.
The silence was thick and heavy, my body aching. I could feel each beat of my heart in my ears, my throat, and between my legs. Cade wasn’t immune either. He propped up his knee but it didn’t exactly hide his hard on.
My ridiculous brain kept suggesting dumb ideas, like reach into his shorts, climb on top of him, get naked. I stayed glued where I was, unwilling to humiliate myself further.
Cade exhaled, long and rough, and released me. I started to protest, but he scooted down the bed until he was lying flat, and then patted the blanket beside him.
Quickly, I stretched out, one hand on the ice pack, one tucked against my chest. My head rested on his shoulder, where it softened and transitioned to his pec muscle. One knee rested atop his thigh, and my toes tucked against his bare feet.
He was probably miserable, but I couldn’t help the pure bliss radiating throughout my body. That fated mate bond still hummed for more, but it was surprisingly eased by this amount of contact.
Cade let out a low groan. “They were right. I’m feeling better already. Dammit.”
“Sorry,” I squeaked.
A moment of silence passed. He turned to glare down his nose at me. “This doesn’t mean anything. But I think I’llneed you near me, at least until the mission is complete.”
“Okay,” I said.
Mentally, I kicked myself for rolling over like a submissive puppy, but the impulse to please him was so strong. And if it eased the painful ache that tortured me every minute we were apart, I was all for it. It was the least he could do.
Slowly, the tension eased, leaving a warm, gooey feeling in my muscles. Cade shifted his weight, turning his head so his lips and chin brushed my hair.
His chest rose as he breathed me in. He let out a low hum. Heat sparked in my belly. This was it. He was giving in. Any second he would kiss me, touch me, accept the bond.
