“I don’t think we qualify, though. We’re not mated.”
“Mates. Soulmates. Same difference.”
“It’s really not, Maverick.”
I kissed her throat, dragging my tongue over her pulse and waiting to feel the steady beat of her heart. The soft thud eased my tension, slightly. “Agree to disagree.”
“I’m right, so let’s not.”
I sucked on her throat lightly, and she let out a soft breath. “I really was going to shower. There’s blood under my nails.”
There were patches of dried blood all over her body. I’d tried to clean her off before I put her in my shirt, but when I nearly passed out, I was forced to give up.
“I’ll let you go on one condition.”
“You and your conditions,” she grumbled.
“Let me shower with you.”
“Rhone said you were in bad shape.”
“Rhone exaggerates.”
“I don’t think he does.”
“Alright, he doesn’t. But that was what, one or two hours ago?” I glanced at the clock. It had been around six when I fell asleep, and it was now... ten thirty.
Shit.
That would be why I felt so much better.
“I didn’t feed you dinner,” I said.
“Your Beta fed me.”
A mental image of him feeding her by hand flashed through my mind, and I had to force my breathing to stay even because I saw fucking red.
“Why is your face turning red?” Bloom checked.
“No reason,” I lied.
She elbowed me in the gut.
I grunted. “I’m on edge after nearly losing you, but I’m dealing with it. The possessiveness gets intense. Go easy on me for five minutes, woman.”
She patted my abdomen, where she’d elbowed me. “I should’ve considered that. Sorry. He brought plates of food for both me and Harper, and he told me mine was from you.”
“That should make me feel better.”
“But doesn’t?”
“Not really.” I inhaled deeply over her throat again. “This does, though.”
“Would showering together help?”
“Depends what happens in the shower.”
“Are you looking for me to shave your legs, or perform a dance or something? Be specific, Mav.” She was too playful for someone who had been on death’s door two days earlier. It was exactly what I needed.
