“It’s not right.” Ryland shook his head.
“Why the hell not?” Elaine demanded.
“Because you’re…you’re…” Ryland fumbled for the right word.
“What exactly am I?” Elaine asked, her eyes widening.
“You’re…fragile,” said Ryland, his voice trailing off.
“Fragile? Look, I know I’ve had some bad moments lately, but I think I’ve been entitled to them, and I’m getting stronger every day. I can fight.”
Connor swallowed his fury and found his voice. “No. We are not having this discussion, not here, not ever.”
Someone pounded his fist on a table. When the faces turned toward him, he realized it was him.
The room went silent.
Elaine glared at him. “I’m sorry. Are you telling me I don’t have a right to contribute to this conversation?”
“Not in this case.”
“Connor, even you said you think I’m in danger.Me, not you. Not any of you.”
Connor walked over to confront her, stopping mere inches away from her. “We will handle this, Elaine.” He lowered his voice. “You need to think of your heart.”
“My heart is fine. Josh said I was getting better. Or have you forgotten how he said your kisses seem to behealingme? Because we’ve had a few now.”
Every jaw in the room dropped.
“Those moments,” he ground out, “were private.”
“Oh, give me a break. Nothing on this island is private.” She turned to the others and threw up her hands. “Connor and I slept together, okay? Is everyone up to speed now?”
Gioia glanced at Marci and Nina and whispered, “Yes!”
Connor had to shut his gob. Just what had she been telling their friends? “Seeing as you’re being crystal clear, Elaine, I’ll be clear too. There is absolutely no way in hell you are offering yourself up as some sort of sacrificial lamb to try and nab this guy. Do you hear me?”
Her lips thinned. “You don’t get to tell me what to do.”
He loomed over her. “Wanna bet, sweetheart?”
Connor’s pulse beat so hard he was sure his veins must be popping out of his skin. This woman infuriated him like no other. First she talked to wild bears and now this. What on earth was she thinking? Did she honestly believe he’d allow her to take part in any sort of confrontation with a possible enemy?
He’d die first.
Nina was the first to break the silence. “Um, just for the record, I think Elaine has a point.”
Killian took one look at Connor and spoke to his wife in lowered tones. “Connor and Elaine need to sort this out.”
Nina was insistent. “Killian, come on. We’ve discussed this before. Every woman here understands shifter men want to be in charge when it comes to fighting the bad guys. But don’t you remember how I helped you, how we’ve helped each other?”
“I remember.” Killian dug his nails into his thighs. “Every day, I remember. I know you’re a good fighter. I’m sure Elaine is, too, but Connor needs to be comfortable with the idea.”
Connor knew all the women at the Ursa had pulled their weight during the battle at the Brethren compound, to say nothing of some of their own personal battles. He wouldn’t doubt everyone woman on this island had saved lives at one time or another.
But this time they were talking abouthiswoman.
He knew they’d slept together only once, aside from a few frantic kisses. That didn’t stop him from believing Elaine was his. He wanted her, he would fight for her, and he didn’t want her dealing with any sort of danger. “Elaine,” he said, taking her hand. “You’ve been through so much. I can’t knowingly expose you to more pain. I can’t.”
