Page 92 of Shifters' Fated Summer
Straightening, he rose, reaching out to support me.
“I can manage,” I said, stepping back.
Nodding, Cade sat back, dragging a hand through his hair. That was it, no arguing, no bossing around. Not even a scowl.
Frowning, I padded across the rug and into the bathroom. I could have cried from the feeling of finally emptying my bladder.
Pausing, I studied myself in the mirror. Dark shadows smudged under my eyes and bruises lined my neck and wrists, but otherwise I was unharmed.
They had found me in time. I hadn’t turned into a vampire, and I was alive. I quickly washed my hands, and brushed my hair and teeth. A shower would have been nice, but I was desperate to get back to Cade and Luca. Maybe we could have a group shower later. The idea was delicious and sounded wildly impossible.
Cade watched me from his position stretched out on the bed. Beside him, Luca rolled onto his back and folded his hands behind his head like the cocky hedonist he was. I loved that man.
My stomach clenched as I looked back at Cade. His expression tightened and his mouth curved into a frown. Heart racing, I walked to the foot of the bed and sat, bracing myself for the rejection.
“Summer, I don’t know how I can make this up to you,” he said, and my jaw dropped. “I thought you were a traitor, and that you were the leak. Obviously, I was wrong. I thought you wanted to go back to the vampires, especially when you suggested giving yourself up. But you were sacrificing yourself. You were willing to die to protect Elowen and Lana. Everything I believed was backwards and twisted, and I…” He swallowed. “I can’t forgive myself for everything I said and did.”
I was definitely dead. No way my Cade, the real Cade, just apologized for literally everything he’d done since we met.
My lungs burned and I sucked in a breath. Apparently I had forgotten to breathe in my shock. Heart pounding, I counted my breaths until my body calmed down. My mind, however, still reeled.
“You broke her brain,” Luca interjected with a dry laugh. We both ignored him.
“I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you,” Cade said. “Anything you want. Even if you want me gone, you and Luca can be the Alphas. I just want you safe and happy.”
“Are you kidding me?” I snapped, cutting him off. “Don’t talk about leaving me. All I’ve wanted is the real you, the one Luca told me about. Just be with me like normal mates.”
“For the rest of our lives,” Cade answered, crawling towards me until he could seize my arms and pull me downbetween them.
Luca slid his hands under my loose t-shirt. It was something I didn’t remember putting on.
“I think I need some time to process. How long was I out?” I asked, frowning at my mates.
“Three days, baby. You already cleared the venom out of your system.”
Relief rushed through me.
Luca kissed the exposed skin on my side. “You’re perfectly healthy, except for these awful bruises. But they’ll fade eventually.”
“I think I need a shower.”
“You smell perfect to me,” Luca muttered, his lips trailing over my waist before he bit down lightly on the sensitive skin below my ribs.
“Seriously,” I said with a giggle. “But you could join me.”
Both men perked up at the suggestion. “It’ll be a tight fit,” Cade said.
“You’re always a tight fit,” I muttered.
The tension between us eased, even if I wasn’t quite ready to trust him yet. Pressing my lips together, I turned away.
Cade caught me before I could slide off the bed. His hand collared my neck as he dragged me back. My eyes closed on instinct. My mind might not be ready for him, but my body absolutely was. His lips met mine and I melted into him. His tongue thrust into my mouth,and desire roared to life in my core. I wanted more of him, all of him.
He released me and smiled as our noses rubbed together. “Let’s go shower. I want you to feel good.” A blush colored his cheeks. “In more ways than just sex.”
Oh fuck. He wasn’t just kind, he was cute. I wasn’t going to last long if this was how he would be treating me.
“I know what you meant,” I whispered back, unable to help the small curve to my lips.
