With Connor? Yes.
But married to him? It was too much to consider right now.
Mated? She wasn’t even sure it was possible. Could she ever have the same connection with Connor that she had with Lloyd?
It was probably bad that she’d allowed Connor to take such a place of importance in their lives so prematurely. The kids had to be confused.
She just couldn’t bear to let him go. Besides, circumstances had thrown them together.
Maybe, when this business with Hill was over, Elaine needed to talk to Connor and ask him to take a step back. He wouldn’t like it. Neither would she. Every day, their bond was strengthening. Every time they made love, her memories became less painful.
It didn’t mean she’d sorted through the mess in her head. Something told her that would take a while longer. Would he be willing to give her that time? She wasn’t even sure she had it in her heart to ask him.
“How about I tuck you back into bed?” said Connor.
“What if I have another bad dream?”
“Layla, let me tell you something. Did you know you’re a superhero?”
“Me?”
“Do you remember how you turned into a bear?”
“Yeah.”
“Not too many kids can do that. Only special ones, like you and your brother.”
“My bear talks to me sometimes.”
“Really? What does it say?”
“It says I shouldn’t be scared of it, that it’s my friend.”
“It’s right,” said Connor. “You have a very smart bear, and it’s going to be your best friend your whole life. Your bear will protect you. When you feel scared, just close your eyes and talk to it. Your bear will always tell you what’s right and what’s wrong, and it can save you from the nightmares.”
“But my bear is only little. It’s not big and scary like your mountain lion.”
“Big and scary?” He smiled. “Guess what? Around you, my mountain lion purrs like a kitten. It really loves you, kiddo, and so do I.”
“I love you, too, Uncle Connor. Can you give me a piggyback to my room?”
“Sure thing. Climb on.”
As Connor picked up Layla, Elaine crept back to her room, slipped out of her housecoat and into bed. The light went off down the hall and his footsteps sounded in the hall. Her door creaked open, and he entered the room. She heard the swish of fabric as he shucked his PJ pants, and then the bed dipped as he got in next to her.
Elaine lay still, not wanting him to know she’d overheard the conversation.
Connor’s arm curled around her waist. He brushed the hair away from her face and kissed her temple. After a couple of minutes, he asked, “Did I do okay?”
He knew she’d been in the hallway, listening to everything, even the part about wanting to be in their family for good. Of course, he did. She was fooling herself if she thought anything she did would escape Connor’s notice. They were already attuned to one another. The thought brought comfort as well as bewilderment.
She relaxed into his embrace. “You were amazing.”
“Thanks. I’m glad. I don’t want her to be scared.” He nuzzled her neck. “Did I ever tell you about my Aunt Lilian?”
“No.”
“She was my dad’s older sister, quite a bit older. Of course, being a shifter, she looked about twenty-five, but she always seemed mature to me. I used to go over to her house after school when I was fourteen, to help her out with odd jobs. The first time I shifted was at her place. I freaked out, but she calmed me down. She handed me some old clothes that belonged to my uncle and told me to meet her outside in her rose garden. When I got out there, she had the patio table set up with tea and cookies. We talked. I told her I felt like a monster. She told me I was a superhero. I’d never really looked at it that way before.”
