Huffing, I sit in the chair, and he appraises me for a moment before giving an approving nod and grabbing the first aid kit. He opens it, sorting through it until he finds some alcohol wipes, antibiotic ointment, gauze, and medical tape. “You don’t think that’s a little much for some scraped knuckles?” I arch a brow.
“I do my best to not let my instincts get in the way of who you are,lyubov' moya.” Kole doesn’t look at me as he rips open a wipe and starts dabbing at my knuckles. “You would not be who I fell in love with if I asked you to change. However, I must ask…is it a core part of your personality to needlessly injure yourself while training?” He meets my eyes, a wry smile on his face. “For if it is, we may need to revisit that aspect of your behavior.”
“I wasn’t tryin’ to, honest.” Guilt churns in my gut at the sight of my alpha on his knees, gently caring for injuries I caused myself. “I just…get lost in my mind sometimes.”
“You are not the only one here who can care for you now.” Kole dabs some antibiotic ointment on my knuckles before placing some gauze on top. “If you hurt yourself, you are also hurting me.Us. You…you are my heart,lyubov' moya.” His voice strains with more emotion than I’ve ever heard from him. “My omega. You do not need me to protect you from the vast majority of the threats in the world, but it seems that youdoneed me to help protect you from yourself.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “How…how do you s’pose you’d do that?”
“Well,” he wraps the tape around my hand, securing the gauze before picking up my other hand and starting with the alcohol wipe, “it seems that we are going to be entering into many dangerous situations in the days to come. Between killing my father, dealing with Xavier, and trying to find Whitmore, you are going to be in imminent danger more often than not. I just…” He sighs, wrapping my hand with the ointment and gauze. “I will never ask you to not do what needs to be done. I only ask that you do it…onlyif it needs to be done. You have four hearts attached to yours now, you know.” He finishes taping my hand and places it over his heart. “We will lighten the burden for you, if you will let us.”
“I want to let you,” I tell him truthfully, putting my free hand against his cheek. “I really do. I just…might need some reminders now and again.”
“That,” he gives a feral grin as he moves his free hand around my waist and pulls me flush against his chest, “I can do.”
nine
Jo
Lacing up my black combat boots, I stand from the bed and check out my reflection. Dark jeans, a black tank top, and a leather jacket complete the look, while my high ponytail really reinforces the whole badass vibe I’m going for. My winged eyeliner is sharper than the knives strapped to my thigh, and I look like I’m ready to slit some throats.
It’s the perfect combination for meeting some more of my in-laws.
“You know, I had a dream that you seduced me wearing an outfit like that once,” Hayden pipes up behind me, and I shift my gaze to him in the mirror.
He’s leaning in the doorway of the bedroom, looking fine as hell in a T-shirt and unbuttoned green flannel that brings out his eyes.
“Oh yeah? And how did that dream end?” I flutter my lashes as he walks towards me, placing reverent hands on my waist.
“Well, it started with your boot on my chest and ended with me jizzing in my boxers like a damn teenager.” He leans down, running his nose up my neck. “Fuck, you smell good, Fireball. More…potent than normal. Maybe we have time to—”
“Spray her with a scent neutralizer?” Kole offers, prowling into the room, spray bottle in hand. His plain black T-shirt stretches tight over his muscles, immediately drawing my eyes to his biceps. Hm. Maybe that’s where I should bite him when we bond. “I do not need my brothers getting a whiff of you and trying to keep you for themselves.”
My brows shoot up. “Oh? And I’m just some possession they can steal from their baby brother?”
“Not at all,” he bares his teeth in a feral grin, “they are just the only family I am on good terms with, and I would hate to lose that after I help you murder them.”
“Oh, Sugar Bear,” I purr, taking a step forward, “you are doin’ theoppositeof gettin’ my scent to go down—ack!” I sputter and cough as a cloud of mist hits me in the face.
“Sorry,Lisichka,” Kole winces as he keeps spraying my body. “My brothers have just pulled into the compound. I panicked.”
“You better not have messed up my makeup,” I grumble, spinning when he twirls his finger in the air so he can spray my back, “that took me forever to get right.” Since I’m facing the mirror again, I’m able to double-check and make sure my eyeliner hasn’t smudged.
“Don’t worry, Siren. You look as gorgeous as ever.” West walks into the room, his light-blue button-up shirt a stunning contrast against his mahogany skin.
Sam follows close behind him, his black leather jacket adding to his gruff energy. “Though you may not want to trust our judgment, considering we’d all genuinely think the same thing even if you were painted in clown makeup.”
I frown, tilting my head. “I’m not sure if I should take that as a compliment or not.”
Hayden shivers. “Nope. No clown makeup. Ihateclowns.”
“I also despise them.” Kole nods seriously. “I will still love you, but will not touch you should you decide to dress in clown attire.”
A smirk tilts at my lips. “Well, damn. There goes my outfit plan for tomorrow.”
Sam rolls his eyes. “If everyone is done fucking around, we have a meeting to attend. Illya and Luka Vasiliev are waiting for us in Declan’s office.”
***
