A Time for Healing
TEDDY
Monday, July 16
I open my eyes to find feathers in variegated shades of copper and verdigris draped across my torso, partially obscuring my already impaired vision. Feathers? I come fully awake, forcing down a startled cry when I realize where I am… and who is sheltering me under her wings.
Sophie is pressed against my back, her breath coming in soft, low puffs, her luscious scent a precious balm enveloping me. Then everything comes flooding back: my nightmare, Sophie clutching my shirt and then soothing me with a kiss, her lips drawing me in like a shipwrecked sailor to the promised land. I drowned in the feel of her mouth on mine, in the strength of her embrace, in the twin beating of our hearts; if I didn’t need air to breathe, I never would’ve stopped kissing Sophie.
She wasn’t granting me little pecks for comfort’ssake; oh no, her kisses sizzled with heat, sending shivers from the top of my spine all the way down to my toes. Despite all my insecurities when it comes to Sophie, I can’t deny this revelation: she obviously feels the pull of our mate-bond too.
But does that mean she really, truly likes me… or is she attracted to me because of a connection we share that we have no control over?
I huff out a sigh, realizing I’m on my own here; I don’t know of any other mate-bond between a werewolf and a faerie… it’s uncharted territory. I need to tell Sophie and give her the opportunity to withdraw if she feels it’s all too much. That last thought sends a spike of pain through my core, and I shudder, which disturbs the slumbering faerie next to me.
“Oh, I didn’t realize I extended my wing feathers last night; it’s not something I do often, only when I’m feeling…” Sophie hesitates before adding, “… entirely at peace.”
Okay, I really need to have that chat with Sophie; I can only hope her sense of peace doesn’t flee immediately afterward. I run a hand through her feathers, and she laughs.
“That tickles!” Her wing brushes against my side and disappears as she retracts it, and then Sophie is up and moving toward the door. “I’m getting dressed and will be back shortly to change your bandages so you can get dressed. Sound good?”
“Sophie,” I call after her. “We need to talk.”
Sophie’s entire posture droops, like a flower wilting for lack of rain. She pivots aroundand raises her hand in traffic-cop fashion. “Please don’t say kissing me was a mistake, or it never would have happened if you hadn’t been on painkillers, or I’m a terrible boss for falling in love with you.” She suddenly stops speaking when she realizes what she just admitted.
“You… love me?” My voice cracks as I shakily push myself into a seated position. I try not to cry out in pain, but every muscle screams as I lean forward too quickly, and I yelp.
“Oh, Teddy, what are you doing? Are you trying to torment yourself? Or me?” Sophie scrambles over to the bed, helps me to sit up, and piles an extra pillow behind my back.
I grasp her hands and draw her down until she’s sitting on the bed facing me, but she tries to pull away, clearly embarrassed by her admission. “Please don’t leave,” I urge her.
“When will I learn to keep my big mouth shut?” she whines, trying to twist out of my grip, but I tug her close, so close our faces are inches apart.
“I love you Sophie—I’ve loved you since the moment we met.”
“That’s impossible!” she sputters. “I was covered in specks of old wallpaper, dried glue, and construction dust, and I distinctly remember you wrinkling your nose at me.”
“I was in love but didn’t realize it right away,” I explain, holding onto her wrists because she’s still attempting to wriggle free.
“That makes no sense,” she pouts.
“It does if you’re a werewolf.”
“Brr!” she mutters. “Always the same excuse. If you liked me so much from the beginning, then why did you move out so abruptly? I know I’m a terrible housekeeper… and that eel in the tub was kind of off-putting… but I must have done something to really offend you.”
Hmm… I can see now that I hurt Sophie more than I realized by not disclosing the real reason. “It happened right after your grandmother clipped your wings, and you were sobbing so hard I took you in my arms. Do you remember?”
Sophie finally stops trying to twist out of my grip. “Yes… I felt safe and warm, and then…”
“And then you shoved me away and told me not to touch you again. Remember?”
Sophie says quietly, “I remember.”
“Well, that’s when I realized… when Iknewbeyond any doubt exactly what you meant to me.” I pause and peer into her large gray eyes.
She catches her bottom lip between her teeth and asks in a small voice, “What do I mean to you?”
“Absolutely everything.”
