“Some things are better to do yourself.”
I believe that, and my time on the trauma ward has only confirmed it. I might not have slayed all of my demons, but I watched the worst of them die by my own hand.
“So, if it’s not that, what’s going on?”
I take a shaky breath, the panic coiling in my stomach again. Having Bluff walk away from me a second time hurt like hell, but losing Wings would completely destroy me. “I saw Bluff, your mystery VP.”
Wings frowns, clearly expecting something else. “Where?”
“The greenhouse. I don’t know how he found me, but he just appeared. We talked for a bit, but he didn’t stay long.”
Wings scowls, his hackles up. “Long enough to upset you…”
“No, it was the fact heleftthat upset me.” I cup his cheek, wondering if he can feel the tremble in my fingers. “He’s my scent match. I had a reaction the first time we met, but he didn’t act the same way.”
“Which is why you came home and locked yourself in your room…” His eyes widen as they slide to my scent gland. “Herejectedyou?”
I nod, miserable. “You know I don’t care about bites and bonds, but I didn’t think it would feel likethis.” I press a hand to my chest, over the cold ache in my heart. “I don’t even know him, but on another level, I feel like I’ll fall apart without him.” Wings’ gaze drops, and for a moment I think I’ve brokenus. The tears that have been building behind my eyes suddenly spill over, and I wrap my arm around him, groaning into his neck. “Please don’t be mad at me, Wings! I know I should’ve told you sooner, but when he walked away, I thought that was it. Maybe I made up the connection between us, or maybe he just didn’t care. Either way, it didn’t need to mean anything to us!”
“But you came back.Hecame back.”
I can feel his throat bob against my cheek and I groan again. “I came back foryou. I wanted you to be safe.”
“I know, but you also came back for him. And that’s exactly what you should have done.”
I pull back, sniffing through another wave of tears. I’m so confused, but the last thing I expect to see is hissmile. “I don’t get it. You’re not angry?”
“Because you found your scent match?” He shakes his head, but when I grab his chin, he clicks his tongue at me. “You said it yourself, Abbie, when I came to your clinic in the middle of afever. You have absolutely nothing to apologize for because this is just nature taking its course.”
I press my fingers to his lips, not believing the shapes they’re making. “Did I say that?”
“You did. And you know what else you said? You're perfect, and you're mine.” He kisses my fingertips. “I’m claiming that, too.”
My heart crumbles. Bluff might have a hold over me on a biological level, but this man owns my whole soul. “Wings…”
“It’s true. But now let’s focus on the other stuff.” His eyes narrow, his lips pulling into a thin, disapproving line. “How exactly did your asshole scent match reject you?”
We wriggle close enough to share a single pillow, Wings' pale gold hair fanning across it in a damp crown. I run my fingers through the silky strands, eliciting a happy shiver as my nails scratch gentle grooves onto his scalp.
“You okay with what I did? Touching you that way?”
I watch his pupils dilate, the black swallowing the gray. “You can touch me anywhere, anyhow.” He pauses, then licks his lips, a hint of pink climbing his neck. “It’s different, but in a good way. You’re always under my skin, but this time I could feel you deeper.”
I smile, my head spinning with erotic images. “I’ve seen an orgasm from slick gland stimulation. Let’s just say, I think you’re in for a treat.”
He hooks his leg over mine, a silky brow arched in question. “You’veseenit?”
“For educational purposes only.”
“Hmm.” He gives a throaty growl. “Then I’m in expert hands?”
“A very eager student, at least.” I smirk, then run my finger down his cheek, circling the dimple. “I want you to embrace every part of yourself, Wings. You already make my knees weak, but watching you shake against that wall was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.”
He growls again and licks his way into my mouth, kissing me until I’m a gasping mess on the pillow. I widen my legs, ready for his next onslaught, but he clicks his tongue. “Your turn to spill, butterfly. I want to hear your plan for dealing with your stupid scent match.”
Reality washes over me, instantly cooling my blood. “My plan?”
“Well, if you tell Pitt, he’ll drag Bluff back by the scruff of his neck.”
