I jerk my gaze back up to his. I’m trembling, and my leg is throbbing. It ought to be. I’m surprised it’s still attached to me. It felt like Mitchel cut my leg off when he sliced me. I fainted.
The man releases my neck, sits more upright, and reaches for me. “Come, Little love. You’re trembling. Let me hold you. I’ll explain.”
I find myself oddly drawn to him. I don’t know a thing about him. I should scramble off this giant bed and run from the room. But I don’t seem to have the energy to do any such thing, and I doubt I could stand on my leg if I tried.
The man tucks his hands under my arms and gently lifts me, pulling me up and turning me so that I sit sideways on his lap.
I keep a firm grip on the blanket, but I’m not sure why. He’s obviously seen me naked already. Now that I’m sitting, my legs outstretched, I look closer at the white gauze wrapped around my thigh.
The man sets one of his enormous hands on my opposite thigh. He’s so large that his fingers nearly encompass my thigh entirely.
Suddenly, it dawns on me, and I jerk my gaze up to his. “Are you a shifter?”
“Yes, Little love. A lion.”
“I heard there was a pride of lion shifters living in the mountains.” I’m making small talk with a lion shifter. This is madness. He could eat me for breakfast. Then again, whatever he intends to do to me can’t be worse than what Mitchel did.
His smile pulls me into him as if it has magnetic properties. “There are twelve of us. We run a logging company. I’m the designated leader of our pride. My name is Navin.”
“Navin…” I try it out.
“What is your name, Little love?”
“Brea.”
“Brea. That’s so pretty.”
“Are you going to eat me?” I blurt out without filtering my thoughts.
His brow furrows, and then he chuckles. “Eat you? Little love, I’m definitely going to eat your sweet pussy millions of times, if that’s what you’re asking. But I suspect that isn’t what you meant. I’m certainly not going to actually consume your flesh. No. You’re my mate. I’ll never harm a hair on your body.”
My eyes widen. I can’t breathe. Did he say he was going to eat my pussy? I can’t move. I’m so shocked that my head might explode.
He laughs again. “Breathe, Little love.” He rubs my back with one of his giant palms.
“Wait. Did you say I’m your mate?”
“Yes, Brea. The only way to save your life was to claim you. I don’t say that as if you’re some sort of obligation or a charity case. The moment I saw you, I knew I wanted to make you mine. I’m sorry that you weren’t conscious and able to consent to my decision, but it’s done now. You’re mine.”
I stare at him. He’s making no sense.
He smooths his hand up and down my bare back, his touch calming me. “You were so close to death it was the only way, Little love,” he says gently. “The only hope for your survival was for me to bite you, so I did. My essence runs through your veins now. It’s helping your leg heal quickly. In a few days, all that will be left is the scar. My essence is also causing you to feel drawn to me. I’m sure that’s confusing, but I assure you it’s normal.”
Normal? Nothing about this situation is normal. It’s the opposite of normal. It’s insanity.
A sudden thought scares the fuck out of me. “Did you turn me into a lion shifter? I’m I going to become an animal now?” My voice is shrill. I can’t help it.
He shakes his head. “No, Little love. My bite only binds you to me as my mate. You will not shift.”
Navin pulls me closer to him, his arms holding me so that I’m pressed against his chest. I can feel his heart beating,and it seems like mine syncs with his. Is that a thing? He’s manipulating my emotions, forcing me to calm.
“Why am I naked? Why am I wearing a diaper?”
“I washed your body, Little love. You were covered with blood and dirt. I wanted to make sure you didn’t have any other injuries. And you were totally unconscious. There was no way for you to use the bathroom.”
I don’t think I’ve blinked for a while. I’m trying to wrap my head around the fact that this stranger washed my naked body. “Can I get dressed now?” I ask softly, half afraid he might tell me no.
“Of course, Little love. Whenever you’re ready. I have a few things you can wear.” He leans me back a few inches and looks me in the eyes. “Can you tell me what happened yesterday? Someone obviously tried to kill you. That much is clear. I need to know the details so I can protect you.”
