In reality, Cameron was sure they all started to move quickly toward the door at that point.But, somehow, it still seemed like hours before he was able to finally be alone with his new mate.Closing the door between them and the outside world, Cameron leaned against it for a moment, his forehead resting against the coolness of the woodwork as he relished the term—his mate.
Franklin had turned his head and was already watching him carefully when Cameron turned back to him.Their eyes locked.
Hours might truly have passed then, without either of them being aware of it.Neither of them moved until a knock sounded on the door.Spinning around, Cameron tore it open, more than ready to be furious with anything that interrupted their time alone together.
Ryland stood on the other side of the threshold, a set of blankets in his arms.“We stripped the bed before we put the dustsheets over it.You’ll need to remake it.”
He held out the sheets, and Cameron automatically reached out and took them from him.
“Do you need help with that?”Ryland asked, with careful politeness.
Cameron shook his head.“I can do it.”He could look after his mate.He didn’t need anyone’s help.Franklin was his, not Ryland’s.
Ryland stared up at him in silence for several long seconds.
“Thank you,” Cameron said, more politely.“But I can handle it on my own.”
Ryland nodded his understanding as he turned away and retraced his steps to the master bedroom and his mate.Closing the door firmly between them and the outside world once more, Cameron made his way back to his mate, too.
“Can you stand?”he asked, setting the bedding to one side.
Franklin nodded.He shuffled to the edge of the bed, but his legs seemed to disagree with his assessment of his capabilities.His knees buckled as soon as he tried to put even a little of his weight on them.
Cameron sprung forward.Remembering not to catch hold of his pet’s back, he wrapped his hands tightly around Franklin’s arms instead.A lion’s strength still made it easy for him to guide Franklin to a chair, so he could rest there while his master remade the bed.
Franklin allowed him to help him to and from the bathroom and tend to his wounds with well-practiced skill.He didn’t mutter one word of protest or make any attempt to take control of anything between them.
Franklin didn’t seem to mind the silence that stretched out at all, but Cameron’s inability to find the right words tore at his own soul a little more with every second that passed.The marks that crossed his back were barely an annoying irritation in comparison.
The same couldn’t be said for Franklin.No matter how hard he seemed to be trying to hide it, it was impossible for him to conceal the way every movement sent a fresh wave of agony through him.
Nothing could have shocked Cameron more than when Franklin reached out to him as when he tried to settle them between the sheets as painlessly as possible.
“You need to rest,” Cameron reminded him.
“I need my master,” Franklin said.“I need mymate.”
When their eyes met, it was obvious just how much it had cost him to say that.
Dipping his head, Cameron brushed their lips together very gently.“I’m not going anywhere.”As he broke the kiss, Cameron moved lower and nuzzled Franklin’s shoulder, rubbing his forehead against Franklin’s skin and simply relishing his presence.
“I love you.You know that, don’t you?”Cameron said, although he couldn’t bring himself to lift his head and look Franklin in the eye as he said it.
“I love you, too,” Franklin whispered back.
There was no doubting his sincerity.Cameron closed his eyes as he wrapped those words carefully around him before he finally he had to force himself to pull away.“You should rest, now.”
Franklin caught hold of Cameron’s wrist and tugged him back close.
Every muscle in Cameron’s body tensed as he felt Franklin try to take control, but, unwilling to tussle with his pet when he was already in such a fragile state, Cameron forced himself to allow Franklin to do as he pleased, despite the memories it stirred up.
Cameron’s fingertips brushed against Franklin’s cock as Franklin guided his hand there.Franklin let go of his wrist then, but it didn’t need to keep holding it in place anyway.Cameron’s fingers wrapped around Franklin’s dick all on their own.His mate was already half-hard.
Without even thinking about it, Cameron stroked Franklin’s rapidly stiffening dick with a slow, gentle rhythm.Within seconds, Franklin’s hips rocked forward, trying to push his cock harder against Cameron’s palm.He winced as his back protested against that sort of movement.
“No.”Cameron reached out and settled his free hand on Franklin’s hip, stilling him.
Franklin glanced up and met Cameron’s eyes, but he quickly dropped his gaze.He seemed about to pull back, but Cameron halted that movement, too.
