“Well, I'm using this as my card to never have to play sports here again.”
She laughs. “Got it. I’m pretty sure you have the sympathetic vote right now, so you’d be fine.”
“Is it safe to come in?” I hear Quint ask.
“Of course it’s safe to come in. Everybody knows you didn’t do it on purpose.” My voice still sounds weird.
“Oh, Tessa, you sound awful. What’s the damage?” Quint says. For once, he doesn’t have a smile on his face.
“It’s fine, Quint. I know you didn’t do it on purpose.”
“If he did, he wouldn’t be walking,” a voice behind me says. The room goes quiet, and I turn to see Slater standing against the wall, right over my shoulder.
“Would you knock it off? Stop making him feel bad. It was an accident.”
Those gray eyes flash to mine and then drop to my nose. His jaw tightens before he looks away. “Slate, find a shirt,” Zane says.
“Yeah, where is your shirt?” I didn’t get an answer when I asked earlier, other than that it was being used.
“Look down,” Evie says. I look down at my lap and see his balled-up shirt covered in my blood.
“Oh, Slater. I’m sorry. I totally ruined your shirt.”
“It’s fine.” His words are gruff and I feel terrible. But he doesn’t move.
“Go. She’ll be fine,” Zane says, and I wonder why they’re making such a big deal of this. “Put a shirt on.”
I kind of wonder why he’s making such a big deal about Slater not wearing a shirt. I’m pretty sure they all take them off for practices all the time, but it’s probably best for my mental clarity that he puts on a shirt anyway. That much bronzed skin and perfection should really be covered up. I feel my face flush.“Tessa, are you feeling okay?” Evie asks in concern. “Your cheeks are flushed.” I feel my face heat even more.
“I’m fine.” I feel the eyes of everyone on me, and I don’t really want to be the center of attention anymore. I pull the ice from my nose and decide it’s time to check my face in the bathroom. I start to stand up, and Slater’s there immediately. He pulls me gently to my feet, hovering over me. I look up at him, unsure what to do with him. His face is so intense; well, more intense than usual. “I need to go to the bathroom,” I blurt out. He nods and moves a step away. I make my way to the bathroom and shut the door behind me. I take one look in the mirror and stare at myself. I look like a victim straight out of a horror movie. There’s blood caked all over my face. I must have smeared it around with the shirt when I was trying to staunch the flow of blood. First, I deal with my most pressing need of going to the bathroom. “Hey, Evie,” I call out as I open the door. Slater stands right outside the bathroom, surprising me. “Oh, do you have paper towels or something I can use to—”
He hands me a towel before I finish my tirade. But when I reach for it, he pulls it back. “Let me help you.”
“I’m fine,” I start, and he makes a low sound in his chest that makes my eyes fly to his. I take in the dark look in his eyes, and give in. “Okay. Sure.” He steps into the bathroom with me. The bathroom didn’t really feel small until Slater stands in it with me. Now, there’s not really enough room for both of us. He stands right next to me and turns on the hot water. Once he gets it to where he wants, he nods at the counter. I eye it and then him. “You want me to sit on the counter? I think you seriously overestimate my ability to get up there.”
He moves right into my personal space. “Put your hands on my shoulders.”
I stare up at him and take in the set of his jaw and notice it does absolutely nothing to detract from the sexy athlete vibe hehas going that works so well for him. The shaved head, bronzed skin from the sun, the dark tattoos that creep down his arm under his sleeves. I suddenly wish I’d gotten a better look at those tats when his shirt was off. I suddenly remember his words and throw my hands up to his shoulders, mortified at myself. I know I look a mess, and here I am ogling him just because he’s being nice. As soon as my hands are on his shoulders—which requires me to stand on my tiptoes—he drops his hands to my waist. I freeze at the contact and lift my eyes to his. His dark eyes meet mine, and I shiver at the intensity there. I remind myself that I look like a horror victim and glance down. He lifts me like I weigh nothing at all and sets me on the sink. I grab the sink and feel my face begin to heat. But he doesn’t give me a moment to recover. He steps close and uses a finger to lift my chin towards him. Unable to look him in the eye, I close my eyes. I feel the dab of the warm water on my cheek.
“Does that hurt?” His voice is low and gravelly.
“No.” I wince at the breathlessness of my voice. I don’t say a word, nor do I open my eyes while he continues to wash the blood from my cheeks and chin. But when he moves to my nose, I make a sound and he stops. “Sorry,” I apologize and steel myself. “Okay. I’m ready.” When I don’t feel anything, I crack my eyes open and see his own directly in front of me. “It’s okay; you can do it. I’m ready.” His eyes look so pained. I would laugh if I weren’t in pain myself. “It’s fine, Slater.”
His eyes slam into mine, and I shiver at the darkness there. “It’s not fine,” he all but growls at me. And I’d be lying if I didn’t say a shiver of deliciousness rolls down my spine.
Chapter 16
Slater
I stare down at my mate, trying to be so careful as I clean the blood off her now visibly swollen nose. It’s taking everything in me not to go find Quint and tear him apart. It doesn’t matter that he’s my packmate and friend. Right now, he’s my enemy. He hurt my mate. She's in pain. I can still smell the strong scent of her blood, and it’s making my wolf just as crazy as it’s making me. I brush the towel down her nose again, and she winces in pain. A growl reverberates through my chest, and I grab the counter with my other hand. Her soft, beautiful face should never ever be covered in blood. I’m pretty sure Tessa being hurt is my undoing. I feel myself spiraling out of control.
You good, Man? I can hear you growling from out here?Zane sends mentally to me.
I don’t bother answering the stupid question. My mate is covered in blood and in pain; of course I’m not okay. Another growl rumbles through my chest. Suddenly, a soft hand touches my chest. My eyes shoot open, and I glance down at the hand on my chest. It makes my breathing stall out. I’ve wanted her hands on me so many times. Now, to have her hand on my chest makes me shudder. “Slater, are you okay?” Her worry snaps me out of it.
“I’m not the one in pain and covered in blood.” My words are mostly a growl as my wolf is very near the surface right now. I can’t even push him down, because I’m ready to shift and tear into something. I feel a presence at the door and know Zane is there. I don’t bother to look at him.
“Slate, why don’t you let Evie help Tessa finish up.”
