He’d risked his life for her. He’d wanted to remove the threats of the wolves from her. And, when she’d seen him lying on the floor at the cabin door motionless, a strange ache had started in her chest, was still there now.
How had she gotten so attached to him in such a short time? Yet it had happened. He had become important to her. And that revelation opened her eyes like nothing else could have. She knew what she had to do, however frightening it may be to her. She’d only gotten a small taste of the fear of losing him, and it had been near to knee-buckling. The thought of the pain she’d have to endure had he actually died was too intense to allow her mind to linger on.
“It’s not your fault, love,” Brent whispered.
“Brent!” Rindy scooted closer to him, and he wrapped his arm around her, hugging her to his chest.
“I’m okay. Just got knocked a little cuckoo.” He eased up into a sitting position with her still clutched to his chest. “Does this mean you really do care for me?”
She sat back and smiled. “Don’t get cocky, mister.” She sniffed.
He grinned and then winced. “Son of a bitch, but that bastard clocked me a good one.”
“Yeah, he did.” She reached for his face, wanting to smooth away the pain, but pulled her hand back before it made contact, worried she’d hurt him more.
Brent eased off the couch, just as Karen walked in. “See, Rindy, nothing to worry about. He’ll be good as new in no time.”
“Is Anthony still here?” Brent asked Karen.
“He flew the coop, but he’s close. He never lets me get too far away.”
She wiggled her eyebrows.
“Tell him thank you for me.” Brent hugged Rindy again.
“Sure will. And now that it appears you are going to recover, I’m going to get out of here.” Karen walked to the glass door and slid it open.
“Thanks, Karen. For . . . everything.” Rindy called.
“No problem. Anytime you want to talk, let me know.” Karen stepped out the door and closed it behind her.
Brent stared at Rindy, and her heart thumped hard at the way his chocolate eyes nearly burned a hole through her, turning her insides to jelly.
“What is everything?” Brent asked.
“Oh, um, just girl talk.”
“Not girl talk.” He laughed, or at least attempted to do so, but didn’t quite manage through the claw marks. “I’ll be right back.”
Brent walked to the front door. His back was wide, and his shoulder muscles rippled with his movement. He had the most perfect, to-die-for butt she’d ever seen. He disappeared, and five minutes later, he was back, with the black eye and gashes to his cheek and neck completely healed. That was one incredible trick. She could only imagine how convenient such a feat would be, especially with the way her knee was throbbing at the moment. Other parts of her were beginning to throb as well, with his glorious body on full display to her.
Brent kneeled in front of her. He gently stretched her calf across his thigh, and inspected her knee. “How’s this feeling?”
She shrugged. “It’s been better, but I’m okay.”
“I’m sorry you got hurt. I should have protected you better.” He massaged her calf, and she nearly forgot she even had a knee when his warm fingers worked their magic on her skin.
“It wasn’t your fault. I ran away. But it was my fault that you got hurt.
I’m so sorry.” She looked down.
He pushed her chin up so he could look her in the face. “It was not your fault. I’m supposed to protect you, and I didn’t do a very good job of it.”
“The ones that killed my family are now dead because of you. I think you did a very good job of it,” Rindy whispered.
“Yes. I knew Anthony would not let them get away. They didn’t stand a chance. If that bastard hadn’t gotten that one lucky tag on me, I’d have killed them myself.” He clenched his jaw, and the muscle there ticked.
“I’m glad you didn’t have to do it. But, nonetheless, I’m sorry you got hurt because of me.”
“Stop it. I do not want you to feel guilty. I chose to go after them, and I take full responsibility.” He kissed her on the lips.
She wrapped her arms around him and pressed herself against his chest.
He was warm, and she never wanted him to stop kissing her. His mouth did wicked things to her, made her feel naughty and wanton. And, at this moment, she wanted him to make love to her again.
“Brent,” she whispered into his mouth.
He pulled away from her just far enough to break the kiss. His breathing was as ragged as her own, and he held her close and pressed his cheek to hers.
“Will you be okay here by yourself for a few hours?” His voice was quiet and laced with unspoken promises of pleasure.
“Why?”
“There’s something I need to do.” He gave her a little squeeze. “You’ll be safe here. I promise.”
“Okay.” Had she said or done something wrong? Where was he going?
Had he changed his mind about her?
“I’ll be back before you know it.” He kissed her, and as he did it, his tongue tangled with hers in a sweet but scorching kiss. “Dream of me again while I’m gone, huh?”
“Wh-How did you know?” She gaped at him.
“That’s another thing lycans can do with their mates. Share their dreams.” He kissed her forehead and trailed his lips down her cheek to her neck, where he nibbled for a few moments. “I was very disappointed when you woke up. Until, that is, the hot tub.” He nipped her earlobe, and heat spread throughout her whole body.
“I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t dream much before,” she said.
“Yeah, I noticed that.” He scowled. “I didn’t like it.”
“It’s hard to dream when you only nap for an hour or two at a time. I was too anxious most of the time to sleep for more than that. I guess now I’ll have to be careful about what I dream of in the future.” She grinned.
“Please, don’t.” He gave her one last lingering kiss on the lips and stood.
“I’ll be back.”
She watched him walk down the hall, and when he returned, he was dressed. He kissed her once again, and she watched him leave. She looked down at her knee and snorted. Apparently, he wasn’t too worried about her running while he was gone. She wouldn’t have anyway, but her injury made it impossible.
“Please come back to me,” she whispered. “I love you.”
Chapter Ten
Brent drove for two hours before he made it to his destination. There were two things he had to do. He understood the pain and loneliness Rindy had carried with her for so long. He had to find a way to heal her so she could move on or she’d never be able to be with him one hundred percent.
The deaths of the three lycans that had killed her mother and sister would go a long way in healing her, but he wanted to go a step further.
He’d called his lawyer on the way to tell him what he wanted done, and since he paid the man enough to keep his gold-digging wife in furs and jewelry for the next twenty years, the matter was expedited. After he’d signed the papers, he had two more stops—the bank and the jewelry store.
When he’d awoken to Rindy’s beautiful face earlier after he’d been knocked unconscious, he knew he had to have her in his bed from then on.
He had hardly been able to stand sleeping in his room knowing she was only down the hall. And when they’d made love in the hot tub and he realized she’d been a virgin . . . He closed his eyes for a moment while the fierce emotions of love and protectiveness washed through him like tidal waves.