His Lion had retreated too, leaving the man behind, and the pair of them were like the walking wounded—well, save for the fact they’d collapsed on the ground—as they curled up against one another on the floor.
“What happened?”she asked hoarsely, and he realized her throat was sore from the noises she’d been making.
He had to hide a smile at the realization—she wasn’t used to growling so much.Or snarling or even purring.Hell, no Lion he knew had the vocal range his mate could enjoy.
The innocence of that had his arms tightening around her back but she winced.“Ouch.”
“What is it?”he asked, instantly alert.
“Nothing.I think my skin’s abraded from being dragged across the wall.”She snorted, slapped a hand over her face.“Oh my God, did we really just do all that?”
He couldn’t stop himself from chuckling at her own bewilderment.It was how he felt too.
“Yeah.We did all that.”And more.
“Jesus, what happened?I swear,” she murmured, shaking her head a little.“I don’t remember much after Shawn told me the healer had arrived.”
He stared down at her small head which she nestled into his chest—in fact, her nose was near as dammit burrowed in his armpit.The move was a gross one considering how sweaty he was, but he understood—the need to scent him would be a subconscious need she didn’t realize she was fulfilling.
“That,” he told her wryly, “was the heat.”
“It was?”She froze.“I don’t really feel any different though.”
“And you don’t have to.Therein lies the danger.”He ran a hand over his sweaty face.“Of course, there are other dangers, too.”
“What like?”
“Pregnancy for one,” he said dryly, but he could already sense her scent was changing, and knew that the danger had passed.
She wasn’t pregnant.
Yet.
But she would be if they carried on fucking.
She froze at his side, then, in a whir of activity that concluded with him wheezing when she accidentally sank her elbow into his belly, whispered, “Am I pregnant now?”
“No.”
The relief on her face surprised him.Well, not that she was surprised, but that her response hurt him.
“I’m so not ready to be a mom, yet,” she told him, closing her eyes with more relief.“I can barely control myself and my…” Her tongue peeped out and she licked her lips.“Cats.Never mind deal with a baby, too.”
He reached up to cup her chin.“You’re not alone, sweetheart.You’ll never be alone.”
A sigh escaped her.“I know I won’t, but there are some things…” She bit the inside of her cheek—he saw the skin sink inward and knew she was biting back her words physically and mentally.
“You can say whatever you want to me, El.You know that.”Even if it hurt him to hear it—but he didn’t tell her that though.
How could he?
Ryan never wanted her to guard her words.She had to remain her steadfast self otherwise they’d never make it.
Even the strongest of mate bonds floundered and sank when all the partners weren’t fully engaged in making it work.
A mate bond was a miracle but it wasn’t a miracle-worker.There was a difference.
His parents were such an example.
