“I’m not your partner, remember?” she said breathlessly, a wry smile turning the corner of her lips. “But I’d like to be your girlfriend.”
He smiled down at her. “Done. What a beautiful way to start a relationship.”
Chapter Thirteen
She’s awake.The text from Jason had come in the middle of the night, but Silas had not read it until now. Not that he’d been asleep. He’d turned off his phone to focus on making his little fox whimper with pleasure. She had the sexiest bark, a deep throaty noise she made at the brink of ecstasy that drove Silas crazy. And as strong as she was and as sure of herself, he reveled in his ability to reduce her to a puddle of need between the sheets.
It had been a long time since he’d been with a woman, and it was never like this. Soleil was too hard to read, and her level of experience always intimidated him, as if he was competing with hundreds of unknown suitors. For a while, it was a thrill, an accomplishment to conquer the unconquerable. But then he’d learned that she’d never truly been his, and the act lost all meaning for him.
Meredith was a different story. In many ways, she was his equal, a shifter and a detective, and she was open to a real relationship. He only hoped that from where they began, they had somewhere to go.
“You look serious,” she said, running her nails along his stomach.
“My sister woke up last night. I need to go to the hospital. She might be ready to talk.”
“Laina’s awake? I’ll get dressed and come with you.”
“You should go into the office. With the shift coming, I’ll need you to be there in case the city needs a supernatural detective in my absence.”
She propped herself on one elbow. “We have this thing called cell phones, Silas. Captain Manahan can call me if he needs me.”
“This is family stuff. No need to involve yourself.”
She sat up, the blanket pooling around her waist. “You’re going to talk to your siblings about the dragon heart, and I’m going to be standing right next to you when you do. As I recall, I was okay helping with family stuff when Grateful extracted the sulfralite from your sister. I think I can handle visiting her.”
“Meredith…”
“You want to raise a dragon from her magically induced sleep. I know you, Silas. You’re already making up your mind not to include me in this quest. You think you need to keep me safe. One night in bed with you and you’ve moved me from the category of coworker to someone you need to protect. But I’m not made of glass.”
“Why shouldn’t I protect you? You’re pack, and I thought we established you were my girlfriend?”
“I’ll be your girlfriend, but I won’t be your damsel in distress. I’m not helpless, and you need me.”
He needed her, but not for this. This was too dangerous. But he knew the look. The hard, cool look that said he was flirting with disaster if he pushed the issue. He didn’t want to start his new relationship in the doghouse. It wouldn’t hurt for her to accompany him to the hospital, although there was no way in hell he’d allow her anywhere near Nickelova.
“Okay. Get ready. We’ll go together.”
She stood up, allowing the covers to fall from her body and giving him an unobstructed view of her lithe figure. Although his body was sore from last night’s activities, he hardened again at the sight of her, the round curve of her ass and sway of her hips. His wolf growled, and his skin rippled with a desire to own her, to mark her with his scent.
When she saw the look in his eyes, she squealed and ran for the shower. He caught up to her in three long strides, snagging her around the waist. His hands explored her body as he pressed his lips to the soft skin behind her ear. “Mine.” He squeezed her to him.
“Yours,” she murmured through a smile, meeting his gaze in the bathroom mirror.
Without a word, he started the shower. He wrapped his hand in her hair and tugged gently, watching her reflection in the mirror over the sink. She was ready for him, the scent of her arousal a sharp tang in his nose. He entered her from behind.
A fast inhale parted her lips, but almost as quickly she relaxed, her body going limp in his arms aside from her grip on the sink. He moved inside her as the steam from the shower built in the air around them.
She shattered in his arms, her body convulsing to the point he had to hold her up. Breathlessly he gave into his orgasm. Goddess, she was a drug, pure ambrosia. Precious.
“I’ll protect you if I want to, Meredith,” he whispered in her ear when he could form words again. “It’s my prerogative. A man takes care of the woman he’s falling in love with.”
If she had anything to say about that, she didn’t. Instead, she simply turned in his arms and kissed him like there was no tomorrow.
When Silas reachedLaina’s room, Meredith at his side, he was relieved to find his sister sitting up and eating lunch. The color was back in her cheeks. If he hadn’t known better, he wouldn’t have guessed she’d been in a coma less than twenty-four hours ago.
“It’s about time.” Jason waited near the window, his dark suit standing out against the afternoon light.
Silas ignored him. “Welcome back, sister.” He took Laina’s hand and planted a kiss on her cheek.
