No Quarter (6 page)

Nala opened her eyes and realized her cheek rested on a bare chest. Sitting up, she saw Colin’s face ease into a smile.

“Feeling better?”

After a quick assessment, she nodded. “Other than feeling like I could eat an entire steer by myself, I’m fine.”

Colin pressed the call button on the bed. He stood and pulled his shirt on.

Doctor MaryAnn came in and began to pull the IV out. “How’s our Alpha?”

The fussing over her made her uncomfortable. “If you’ll get this stuff off of me, I just want to go grab some breakfast.”

Once free from the IV and heart monitor, she stood from the bed.

“You’ll be happy to know that this morning while you slept I took another sample of blood and compared it to the initial sample I took, as well as the sample from last night. I’d say within a week, the foreign substance should be completely out of your system.” She wound the wires and hung them around the monitor.

“That’s good news.” Nala looked at her feet. No shoes.
Damn! I liked those flats.

The doctor tucked her hands in her pocks. “As long as you’re not in any pain, I have no restrictions. You seem to have healed completely.”

Colin put his arm around Nala and gave a gentle squeeze. “That’s fantastic. Now let’s get up to the house and get you fed.”

Once outside, she ignored her stomach. With a gentle tug on her mate’s arm, she pulled him to a halt. “Thank you for taking care of me.”

Wrapping his arms around her, he pressed his lips to the top of her head. “Thank you for protecting my sister.”

His warmth enveloped her. Unwilling to let him release her just yet, she pulled her arms tighter around his waist. “She’s my sister now too.”

When he pulled back, the void of his warmth tugged at her insides. “I learned something very important last night and you need to know.” He looked up to the sky and blinked before looking her in the eye again. When he did, moisture glistened, tears he tried not to let fall. “Bonded or not, I would be devastated if anything happened to you. Seeing you injured like that—I couldn’t stand it. So it doesn’t matter if you bond with me or not, I will suffer if I lose you.”

Sucking her bottom lip in, she fought the stinging of tears in her eyes. “Breakfast,” she croaked. She cleared her throat. “Let’s get some breakfast and some clean clothes.” After a deep, cleansing breath, she turned toward the house.

They continued to hold hands until they reached the house. Wide eyes greeted them, as the pack members saw their Alpha, covered in dried blood.

“What the hell?” Tracy ran toward her, looking her over. “Since when does dinner with the in-laws have this kind of outcome?” Glaring at Colin, she clenched her jaw.

Placing her hand on Tracy’s shoulder, she drew her attention away from him. “There was an attack on the school. Most of the blood isn’t mine.” She turned to Colin. “Maybe we should take breakfast in our room.”

He nodded. “I’ll get it together and meet you up there so you can get cleaned up.”

She turned to Tracy. “Have Jake call a pack meeting for five this afternoon.” After a deep breath, she continued. “I will be fine. I am fine. Don’t worry.” She left the kitchen and trudged up the stairs to her room. After peeling her shirt off, she tossed it in the trash and grabbed a T-shirt. As gross as she felt, hunger overcame her desire to bathe.

Colin appeared with a tray of food and put it on the small table in the room.

They both ate quietly. Events from the night before flashed in her mind. The three wolves had been determined to get to Wendy. Now that she had offered sanctuary to the Gnomes, the Separatists might consider attacking them as well. It added an additional layer of concern for her. She now had to consider the safety of her extended pack, the Gnomes, and her position as Alpha. It wasn’t a question of
if
she’d be challenged, it was only
when
and
by whom
.

When she was finished, she stood from the table. “Thank you for bringing all of this up here.”

Her mind still wrought with concern, she turned and headed into the bathroom. She hadn’t noticed Colin on her heel. She gave a jump when she saw him standing behind her.

“Intimacy before sex.” His voice was low, considerate. Slowly, he reached toward the hem of her shirt and pulled it up over her head.

She looked up at him, his eyes focused on hers. Her hands shook as she lifted them, unbuttoning the first button on his shirt.
Intimacy before sex. What does that mean, exactly?
When she reached the last button, she pulled his shirt open. His form was something to be admired, toned and tanned, his chest strong; his stomach, hard and defined.

He helped her step out of her dress slacks and then tossed the ruined pants into the trash before turning back toward her. “You are a fierce warrior, able to handle yourself. But you are safe with me—always safe…with…me.”

A dull ache started in her chest and radiated through her body. Suddenly her weight was too much to bear. She leaned in to him, her forearms on his chest, and her forehead at his collarbone. Thick armor shredded as relief washed over her in the form of large sobs. Safe. She hadn’t felt entirely safe for years.

His arms wrapped around her, holding her tight. He never interrupted, never wavered—only stood firm and let her experience the relief she needed.

When she finished, he gently turned her back to him and unclasped her bra, then slid her panties to the floor. She heard his buckle hit the floor, and assumed they were now both completely naked. She stepped into the shower and closed her eyes as warm water poured over her head, rinsing the blood and dirt away. When she leaned out of the water, strong hands began massaging shampoo on her head. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to enjoy the moment.

Intimacy before sex.

A gentle push placed her head back under the water, rinsing away the suds. When she opened her eyes and turned to her mate, he had a gentle smile on his face as he filled his palm with conditioner. With his other hand, he twirled his finger, directing her to turn back around.

Their first time naked together and there were no nerves. She didn’t feel bashful, not this way. He combed his fingers through her wet locks, ensuring the conditioner made it to the ends before rinsing off his hands.

He wasn’t pawing at her or showing any sign of being disrespectful and it had set her at ease. Reaching up, she grabbed his loofa off the hook and squirted a little body wash on it. Keeping her gaze on his chest, she began spreading the suds over it, up his shoulders and down his torso, spotting his erection when she finally allowed herself to look. Though his body was aroused, he took his time, he was showing her intimacy. His words were making sense.

She walked around him, continuing to soap him up, using the loofa in one hand and spreading the suds around with her free hand. Admiring his strong backside, she continued to explore him, kneeling to soap his strong, lean legs.

When she stood again, he turned to face her. His thumb and index finger eased around her chin, he brushed his lips against hers with a light kiss. With soapy hands, he massaged her neck and shoulders, gliding his hands down her arms. She closed her eyes, reveling in the attention. When he pulled her against him, her heart gave a start. Their naked bodies were now pressed against one another, wet, naked…completely vulnerable.

He gave her that. He’d allowed her to sob into his chest, to show vulnerability without fear of losing her place…her respect.

Returning his embrace, she kissed his shoulder and rested her head on his chest as the hot water poured against her back. The squeak of the faucet echoed in the shower stall as he turned the water off. Releasing her, he stepped out of the shower and held his hand out for her. As if she needed steadying. She accepted his hand anyway. A chivalrous gesture shouldn’t go ignored. Once they were both out of the shower, he slid the towel off the rack and began squeezing the water from her hair before toweling her off.

The odd feeling of someone else towel drying her made her feel awkward for the first time. She went to pull the towel up herself.

“Uh-uh. I’m taking care of you and you’re going to let me.” When he looked at her, she saw his golden eyes illuminate. He was emotional. When she was dry, he wrapped the towel around her before drying himself. With a quick movement, he grabbed her brush from the counter and led her to the bedroom.

Her heart rate increased and her legs began to feel shaky. When she sat on the bed, he claimed the area behind her and began brushing through her hair. She closed her eyes. Each gentle stroke with the brush lulled her, like the sway of a crib to a baby. He took his time, gliding the brush through her dark hair. Then she felt him braiding it.
He’s braiding my hair?

“You know how to braid?” She snickered as she spoke.

He chuckled. “My mother had the most beautiful hair. I used to watch Wendy practice on her. I sort of picked it up. It’s not really all that difficult.”

She could hear the snap of the rubber band as he secured it to the end. He finished by kissing the top of her shoulder. Her stomach clenched.

He pulled her back against his chest and whispered in her ear. “If you want to stop, you must tell me.”

She turned her head to the side and craned her neck so she could look at him. She bit her lip and shook her head. “No, I don’t want to stop.”

Leaning forward, he planted his sweet lips on hers. Her heart began beating so loud and so hard she heard it in her ears. She was ready. She wanted him…to be with him…to give herself to her husband. Their breaths increased as the kiss grew in passion.

A foreign sensation, something she hadn’t felt in years exploded low in her belly. She was aroused. It had been so long, she barely recognized her very real need. Reaching her hand up, she wound her fingers into the back of his hair, pulling his kiss inward toward her. Her chest heaved as her heart raced.

His hands ran down her thighs and back up again then he slowed when he reached her stomach, taking his time, slowly making his way to her breasts, which felt full…heavy.

She gasped when he tweaked her nipple. Every cell, every nerve ending was on edge. She turned her body to face him and when she did so, he eased back on the bed. She climbed up until their lips met once more. She could feel his need hardening between them and for once she felt anticipation to have it inside her. She wanted him…needed to be with him.

Fear took a back seat as pure desire took hold. Easing herself on him, her eyes instantly closed as she felt every inch of him slowly gliding in, her body stretching to accommodate him. She paused as her entrance met the base of his cock.

His warm hands caressed her arms, lazily rolled up her shoulders then tickled as his fingertips ran down her spine. With a shiver, she began to move easing up and down on him, relishing every exquisite inch of her mate. Control was hers until she was ready to relinquish it. He kept her pace, with gentle thrusts from below, continually massaging her from back to thigh as they made love.

Legs and arms quivered as a maelstrom overwhelmed her. Feelings for him ran deeper than she realized. She’d longed for this connection to him. Foolish was her desire to remain unbonded. It was his choice and not hers to take away. For far too long, her choices had been stolen and that wasn’t something she wanted to do to her mate. A mate that was letting her take this giant leap at her own pace, showing nothing but tenderness and respect.

It was time to let go. She rolled off of him, pulling him with her. With Colin hovering over her, he showered her with kisses along her neck, nuzzling in before he resumed their lover’s dance. She gasped with each thrust as he filled her to her core. Her breasts perked up to a point she felt they would burst as she met his thrusts, bucking her hips.

She licked his neck, tracing his throat with her tongue. A loan groan rumbled in his chest. A faint glow illuminated his neck above her. Her eyes were glowing, her wolf wanted out. Running her tongue along her teeth, she discovered her canines had elongated. This was it. It was time…time to let go and make the connection she so desperately wanted. He looked into her eyes, his glowing back at her.

Tears stung as her heart fluttered in her chest.

“Bond. Please, allow the bond!”
her wolf pleaded.
“Our mate loves us.”

He brushed his lips against hers and licked her lower lip. “Only if you’re ready,” he whispered.

Words evaded. She’d never be absolutely ready, but sometimes…sometimes you just have to take control. It was time to let go of her fear. She answered him by piercing his neck with her canines and felt the tiny pinch of his return bite.

In that moment, time came to a halt as a barrage of emotions overwhelmed her once more. Heartache, despair, loathing all crept in.
No! No, he hates me!
She began to push him off, but he held firm. Warmth, unlike any she’d yet to experience flooded her heart, then adoration, love, commitment, respect all flooded in like steel cables, holding her in place.

“I hated myself, but only for a brief second, my love.”
Colin’s voice, his emotions poured out of him and consumed her.
“I am yours forever more. I am in love, truly, deeply, and completely. It was me, finally letting go that came in first. Please forgive my last stage of mourning.”