Page 35 of Bonded By Christmas
I’m still not sure how I feel about finding her snuggled up with Wilder. Logically, my brain understands the goal has always been to warm her to the idea of being shared between the three of us. But my instincts are on edge, and even someone I consider a friend feels like a threat with our bonding so fresh.
Back when I met Wilder, I wasn’t expecting much. I knew he was looking for someone to run his personal security team and that he was taking over for his fathers in the family business.
Three years later, I think of him more like the little brother I never had.
I close the door behind me and flip the dickhead off when he opens his eyes, stretching an arm to pat around the nightstand for his gun. This isn’t even his room, but with how comfortable he looks, it’s probably muscle reflex. I doubt he would have dropped a Glock on the nightstand if he knew Lacey might spot it.
I’m not tired, though my adrenaline crashed long ago. Every cell in my body needs to climb into bed behind Lacey, cuddle up to her backside, and simply breathe her in.
I circle to the far side of the bed. If nothing else, I like that Wilder put himself between her and the breach point to enter the room. That’s probably the only thing that saved him from waking up to my fist in his face. He might have heard me come in, but I’m fast when I need to be.
I’m quiet and as gentle as possible as I climb into bed. I’m still a big bastard, so the mattress bounces as I get situated, scooting closer to the middle. Everything in me aches to be as close to Lacey as possible.
She’s curled up facing Wilder with her head on his shoulder.
I wrap myself around her back, but I’m so tall, and she’s so scrunched up that my knees fit perfectly under her feet. They’re bare, and it’s a struggle to hold back a growl.
Wilder should have put her in socks to avoid her toes getting cold.
Whatever.
I’m here now, and I’m like a portable heater.
I pull her hair away from her neck, and my nostrils flare as I breathe in heavily. Her hair is still slightly damp, which is another thing Wilder should have focused more on.
I swear.
It’s like he wants her to die of pneumonia or something. Okay, I’m not technically sure that’s how germs work, but this is Lacey. I’m not willing to find out.
I’m so fucking lucky that she didn’t deny the bond. I was rabid—fully lost to the fog—at least during the fight. By the time I started to come back to myself, my instincts were convinced I had to bite her right then and there. Some deep part of me was sure it would give her an added layer of protection, since a bond changes the omega’s scent. She’ll forever carry hints of my smell, and it should help deter any alphas who are only after an unbonded omega.
I nose around the side of her head, breathing her in even more fully. Her smell is still familiar, but my instincts were right. It’s easy to tell that she’s now claimed.
My chest puffs with pride, and I take in my canine marks just below her ear.
That reminds me.
I need to nurse the bite to clean it. It’s also supposed to speed up her healing time.
No matter how I bend, I’m too tall to reach her throat, so I scoot down until my face is in front of her neck and swipe my tongue over my bondmark.
There’s no way to describe how satisfying it feels when a hit of euphoria radiates through the bond. It’s impressive, considering she’s asleep. Making sure my bite is freshly cleaned, I stretch over her back to check if I can clean her other scratches. They’re inaccessible from this position, so they’ll have to wait until tomorrow.
Huh.
I wonder if it really does help heal other minor wounds. My instincts were in charge in the alley, and my system was sure it would help. I’m going to chalk that up to Mother Nature knowing what’s best, or maybe I’m still addled from the decay.
“You’re real fucking lucky she accepted your bite,” Wilder says softly. “Callum is usually the one I have to worry about going off the rails.”
“I know,” I admit, trying to keep my voice low. “I lost time again.”
I was hazy once I slit the first guy’s throat, but I kept telling myself not to give in to the fog. It didn’t work, and I blacked out completely during the fight.
The one thing I know I would never do was hurt Lacey, but it’s scary shit to lose chunks of time.
“All of that should be coming to an end soon.” He stretches over, patting my shoulder. “I want to hear all about how the cleanup went, but that’ll keep until tomorrow. Get some rest.”
“Was she okay? Did she break down once you made it home?” I can’t keep my face buried in Lacey’s throat forever. I’d love to do exactly that, but my feet hang off the end of the mattress in this position.
