“Without her permission,” Costingrowled.
Sally put a hand on his arm, hoping to calm her wolf down. She wasn’t happy about Rachel getting in her head, but she didn’t want her mate doing something he’d regreteither.
“Sally, you know why we did it,” Jen spoke up. “The things you were saying, sweetie. We couldn’t just pass them off as you beingsad.”
Costin’s head whipped around to look at her. “What things were yousaying?”
Sally knew exactly what they were talking about. She’d basically told them that taking her last breath was looking better and better as each day grew worse and the darkness inside of her continued to eat away at her soul. The healer closed her eyes. She didn’t want to look at him when she answered, but Sally should have known better than to think he’d let her get away withit.
“Sally, mine, open your eyes and look atme.”
Shedid.
“What did you say that had them scared enough to let a healer in your head without yourconsent?”
She opened her mouth, and then closed it, opened it again, and closed it. She knew she looked like a gasping fish out of water. Her eyes darted to the others, and Lilly gave her an encouragingnod.
She finally breathed out. “It would be easier for me to show you. I can’t say it, not to you, Costin.” She reached for his mind through their bond and, with much sorrow in her heart, showed her mate just how far she’d fallen into the dark depths of her own mind. She let him see the dreams, the times she cried in the shower, unable to catch her breath. She showed him the anguish she felt just before Jen and Jacque broke into the bathroom. She confessed she’d entertained thoughts of leaving this world. It broke her heart to let him see those things, and she felt shame choking herairways.
“Shhh, Sally.”She heard his soothing voice in her mind.“There’s no shame here, beloved mate. You never have to hide from me,never.”
Sally felt his arms come around her, and she opened her eyes. They were alone. Everyone had left and she found herself grateful for their consideration. Falling apart with Costin was hard enough, she didn’t need more of an audience. She looked up at Costin and stifled a sob as she saw a tear roll down his chiseled cheek. She had caused that. She just kept hurtinghim.
“Hey,” he said gently. “My tears areforyou, Sally, not because of you. Your pain is my pain. Your sorrow is my sorrow. Every smile that you give me is mine. Every tear you shed is also mine. I don’t know what it will take to prove to you that nothing has changed between us. We’ve been through hell, but we can either let it make us stronger or we can let it destroy us. I personally would prefer theformer.”
Costin stood and knelt in front of her. It was then that she saw the basin of water, a washcloth, and atowel.
“Thank you, Alina,” he said as the Alpha female, which Sally hadn’t even noticed, leftthem.
He smiled up at her, and those amazing dimples appeared. They still made her heart speedup.
“I feel it is necessary to remind you of my place in your life. When we started this journey, I knelt before you and professed my desire to be a servant leader in our family. That means I am willing to do any task that will better us as a pair, any task that will serve you and show you my love.” He slipped the shoes from her feet and then took off her socks. His hands were firm and steady as he rolled up her jeans. Her skin warmed under his touch, and she saw his smile as he noticed her reaction tohim.
His fingertips ran down her calves, causing her to shiver. Costin picked up her right foot and propped it on his thigh. Then he took the washcloth and dipped it into the water. Sally didn’t think she could love him more than she already did. She waswrong.
“Do you remember me whispering in your ear the night we were bonded and married? The things I said to you when we joined as one for the firsttime?”
She nodded her head slowly, trying to figure out where he was going withthis.
“You are the air I breathe, the food I eat, the water that quenches my thirst, Sallymine.”
Sally swallowed hard as she realized he was repeating the words he’d said in their bedroom after their bonding ceremony and wedding. His hands were moving up her calf, just as he had done the first time he washed her feet, always pushing thelimits.
“You are what I have waited for, what I have so desperately needed, and what I could never deserve. Every whispered promise, every confession, every longing, hope, and dream I have shared with you from that night until this morning. Those are my vows to you, my love. All you need to know is that I am yours, unequivocally, and you aremine.”
He set her right foot down and picked up the left one, again resting it on his thigh, and began the process all overagain.
“What I would add to those words that I shared with you the night I made you mine in every way is this.” He looked her straight in the eyes, practically daring her to look away. “Every trial we have faced since that night has only made me more determined to make sure you remain with me always. I want you with me, Sally, because I know I will choose to love you even when you think I shouldn’t. I want you as my mate—my wife—because I know when I screw up and get it wrong, you will choose to love me. You are my true mate, my best friend, my beloved. Bond or not, I would choose you even if true mates did notexist.”
Pausing, he dried off each leg and foot, then rolled her jeans back into place. He tenderly put her socks and shoes back on her feet. But instead of standing, he pushed her legs apart and walked on his knees until he was in between them with his hands firmly gripping herhips.
“I’m going to ask you to do something for me, and I am going to do the same thing foryou.”
“Okay,” she saidhesitantly.
“I want you to write down the things that you need from me. How can I serve you? How can I meet your needs? What are the things I can do to help you get past the thoughts that are telling you that you don’t deserve me? I, in turn, am going to write down the things I need from you. The actions that will meet my needs, make me feel loved and respected. Are you willing to dothat?”
“Is it fair of me to ask for thosethings?”
