Henry scanned her pale face and the freckles dotted across the bridge of her nose.Without her beautiful blue eyes to distract him, he noted other details.Her skin bore a tan from spending time outdoors, while her lips were pink and plump.He ached…
No!No, he couldn’t do this.It was wrong.There were too many years between them.His life experience compared to hers.Yet he didn’t rise or attempt to leave the bedroom.He stayed and quietly watched the woman who’d wormed into his heart.
A mate.
He sighed loudly, but she didn’t wake.A tiny frown etched into her smooth forehead before it evened out.Yeah, he could run, but since she seemed determined to stay, he couldn’t keep avoiding her.It wouldn’t work, not when London had taken a liking to her.His stepfather and Megan would like her, too, and his dad was cannier than most.He’d see through Henry’s denials.
He scowled because there was no decision.Someone wanted to hurt his mate, and he couldn’t let that happen.Not again.
His thoughts stuttered, and his frown grew fiercer.He hadn’t saved Jenny.What if he couldn’t protect Maia?What if she died?
The low rumble jerked him back, and this time, he rose abruptly and left the room before he woke Maia.He found himself in the kitchen and poured a glass of water while he tried to think.
He’d have to catch and stop this person before they harmed Maia.They’d be back.He sensed it in his gut.They’d planned how to get her outside, even though she’d already called the cops.Yes, they’d gone to a lot of trouble.He needed a list of Maia’s friends and acquaintances, but right now, he could start filling the gaps in his knowledge by researching Maia.It was no longer time for avoidance.
Maia was his mate, and while they mightn’t have made promises, she understood this too on a subconscious level.
Henry found a seat in the sparsely furnished room.Maia had a laptop open but powered down.Henry hesitated for a moment and fought against prying into her privacy.He glanced over his shoulder, but the house remained silent.His gaze shifted back to the laptop, and he sighed, knowing only one course of action existed.Time to snoop and learn more about this mate of his.
A soft chuff echoed through his head, his wolf in total agreement.
Henry switched on the laptop, and it opened to a password screen.He swore softly, irritated on one hand yet pleased on the other.Security was necessary, and it was surprising the number of people who didn’t bother to protect their information.
He didn’t enter a password but pulled out his phone and started a basic internet search for Maia Jacobs.His brows rose when he encountered several stories about her rugby successes in Auckland and a recent newspaper article about her signing with the Dunedin club.Apart from this, Henry found little else on her.Her social media presence was basic, and what she had was out of date.
So he’d use the old-fashioned method.He’d ask Maia herself and get to know her.From there, he could extend his searches.There was also the possibility that whoever had attacked her was staying locally.That was another avenue to check.Henry noticed an hour had passed.It was time to check on Maia.Gavin had told him to wake her every three hours and make sure she made sense when he spoke with her.
Henry padded down the passage and stopped in the bedroom doorway.He’d left a light on in the bathroom, which spilled into the room, allowing him to see Maia.At some point, she’d kicked off the covers, and her nightgown hid little from his gaze.She was solid but still shapely and feminine, and she’d fit in his arms perfectly.
A rugby player.He shook his head, marveling at the thought.Someone to run and train with.Henry forced himself to stop thinking about the future, but his gaze strayed to her again, and his muscles tensed because he wanted to touch her.
No!That wouldn’t happen.
It was bad enough that there were so many years between them, but no way would he act like a creeper.She’d had enough bad luck tonight.He swallowed hard and sternly informed his wolf they would cover her and wake her.Nothing else was going to happen because of her injuries.If they took the next step, there would be plenty of communication, and they’d get to know each other better.
His relationship with Jenny had moved at warp speed, and maybe if he’d gone slowly, he might’ve noticed not all was well in her life.
Swallowing, he reached for Maia’s shoulder.Her skin was warm beneath his fingers, but he shoved away that thought.Impersonal.Slowly, remember?
“Maia.Wake up, Maia.”When she didn’t respond, he shook her.“Maia, it’s time to wake up.”
Henry frowned when she didn’t stir.
“Maia.”
She jolted awake, her blue eyes flying wide.Fear slid across her face, and she opened her mouth.
“Maia, it’s Henry.We’re in your bedroom, and I’m waking you as per Gavin’s instructions.”He spoke soothingly, his heart jolting rapidly because he hated to scare her.She’d been through enough tonight.
“Henry?”
To his relief, the tenseness seeped from her body, and she fell into his arms.Henry hesitated before he gathered her closer and held her.He didn’t dwell on his wolf’s soft sigh, how she felt pressed against him, or how being in the same room was like coming home.Instead, he let her take her time.He inhaled the fruity scent of her hair and the floral scent radiating from her skin.It was subtle and perfect.
Maia stirred, and he made himself pull away.
A shudder ran through her, and she swallowed audibly.“Every time I shut my eyes, I see that poor puppy.”
“Gavin will look after her, and once she’s better, I’ll give her a safe home.”
