Page 97 of Ren: Warlord Brides
With one last thrust, he came deep inside her. Warmth spread and she tightened around him.
Her breathing slowed. Her pulse relaxed. Every part of her felt loose and comfortable. As quickly as it came, the venom was gone.
“Oh wow. No doubts about the feel-good venom,” she said, awash in a sea of bliss.
“Did I hurt you?” He lowered her to her feet but did not step away.
“No. Never.”
The future was unknown, but they were together, so they’d be all right.
Epilogue
Gemma
“Hold up.” Gemma hobbled after Zalis, struggling to match his pace. “This boot isn’t helping.”
He paused and stretched his neck from side to side. “Your foot pains you.”
“It’s fine.”
“It is not.”
Without warning, Zalis scooped her up. He held her like she was a live bomb, stiff and awkward.
He does know how to make a girl feel special.
Truthfully, the pain meds were starting to wear off. She declined another dose from the medic and now regretted that decision. Her fractured ankle throbbed.
When they arrived at his quarters, he awkwardly juggled her to press his arm against the security pad. She didn’t mind being held against his chest. It was nice. Well, it would have been nice if it wasn’t so stinkingly obvious how uncomfortable he felt holding her.
Right. This wasn’t his choice. Not that she had much of a choice, either, but the warlord did technically let her choose her mate. Honestly, what did the warlord expect her to do? It was either let some genetic test match her with a rando or pick the shy guy who rescued her.
Shy guy for the win. Obviously.
Zalis carefully set her down near a chair. She scanned the room. It was fine. Bland. As impersonal as a hotel room.
“You live here?” Somehow, she pictured his space as a crowded, dark room, lit only by the light of computer monitors. Full tech nerd. She liked the idea of Zalis hunched over a desk, sitting in the dark except for the green glow from an old-time screen illuminating him.
“No.”
He did not elaborate.
“So, um, we should talk.”
“Tomorrow. You are tired and in pain.”
“It’s not bad,” she said, totally lying.
He rolled his shoulders and stretched his neck, like her terrible lies exhausted him. “The cleansing room is through there.”
“A water shower or another sonic mist shower? Not that I’m picky.” The cleaning solution the medics used left a sticky film on her skin. Gemma had gone from filthy in a cage to filthy in a hospital bed. No amount of chemical disinfectants could make her clean. She needed soap and water.
“Water.”
“Perfect.” She limped her way across the room.
Zalis shadowed her like he expected her to collapse or break another bone. “Do you require assistance?”
