Page 52 of Chased

She went totally still for a minute, and then he felt her exhale, her muscles relaxing. She snuggled against his chest, her freakin’ bunny face burrowing into the crook of his neck.

This was crazy. The hottest girl he’d met in forever, and here he was with her whiskers under his chin. He felt like a total idiot.

Only, petting the bunny was kind of soothing. He felt his own muscles relax, his breathing slowing down.

There was a movement at the window, and then he saw Cisco’s face peering in, eyes wide. Matéo’s face appeared over his shoulder. What the fuck are you doing? Cisco mouthed.

Very slowly, so he wouldn’t disturb the bunny, Sanchez pulled his combat knife from its belt sheath. Then he flung it at the window. It buried itself point-first in the window frame, inches from Cisco’s face.

They took the hint and went away.

A minute later, Sanchez’s phone vibrated.

Muttering under his breath, he carefully wrestled it out of his pocket.

Cisco: Is she okay?

Sanchez had to type with only one thumb, because he was holding Madison with the other hand. Howl the hell shuld I know? Shes still a fuckin rabit

Cisco: We’re sorry. We didn’t know

Sanchez: Tll that to her. If she cn manage to chang bck

Cisco: How long are you going to stay with her?

Sanchez: as long as it fuckin takes. Go away

He started to put the phone away, then looked at what he’d written. As long as it takes.

Yeah.

He put the phone down on the table, and shifted the bunny to a more comfortable position. She moved sleepily in his arms, and then snuggled down again.

He took another mouthful of whiskey from the bottle, and stroked her ears some more. A strange feeling of peace stole over him.

He closed his eyes, his hand still moving over her fur. “You’re okay,” he murmured. “Everything’s okay. I’ll protect you.”

Chapter 21

Madison was half-asleep, lying on the couch under a cozy blanket, feeling warm and safe and protected.

For a few minutes she lay drowsing, wondering vaguely why she wasn’t in bed. Then she felt movement behind her, and a sigh of warm breath passed her ear.

And she woke up.

She was naked, her back pressed up against a hard muscled chest. A strong arm encircled her, hand cupped around one of her breasts.

Sanchez.

It all came flooding back, a series of memories seen through the eyes and feelings of her lapin.

The wolves chasing her, her heart-pumping dash up the mountainside, their jaws snapping at her, the terror of her Hunt nightmares coming true. Fighting for her life, seeing another wolf jump out of the darkness, burrowing into the safety of the underbrush with thorns digging into her flesh.

And then warm hands, and Sanchez swearing profusely in a soft, comforting voice, holding her and stroking her and not being angry that she was too scared to Change back.

He’d saved her. He’d called his cousins off, and he’d tended her wounds and bathed her fur and he hadn’t left her alone for one minute. He’d held her silly scared furry bunny and stroked her until she was calm.

He’d come when he said, and he’d done what he promised. He’d protected her. Tears filled her eyes, and she blinked them away.