Page 53 of Remington’s Mate

After a minute Colt said, “You know what it means, that she heals when you’re touching her.”

Remy gave a half-smile. “Yeah.” She probably really was his mate.

Colt shook his head. “I would not have seen this coming. Prissy-ass Jaeda, with her color-coded closet and alphabetized bookshelf. You are so fucking doomed.”

“Screw you,” Remy said, resting his head back against the headboard. “Damn, I needed this sandwich.”

“Big brother knows all. You should listen to me more.”

“Screw that, too.”

Colt nodded. Then he went into the other room, and returned pulling an easy chair behind him. He sat down, pulled out his phone, and started playing a videogame.

Without looking up, he said, “Don’t let go of her.”

Remy smiled and closed his eyes. “I’m not.”

Chapter 21

For the second time in two weeks, Jaeda woke up snuggled tight against someone warm and muscly who smelled like heaven, without knowing how she got there.

Actually, the same someone, she realized. Remy was in bed with her. Again.

This time he was holding her wrapped in his arms, her head pillowed on his chest, her leg tangled with his.

She felt safe and cared for and protected.

And also, she hurt all over. She shifted her weight gingerly, stifling a moan.

“Hey,” Remy said softly. “You’re awake. How are you feeling?”

Um. She tried to think back to what had happened and why she was here. “I feel like I fell off the top of a building. Did I get shot?”

No, that must have been a dream. If she’d been shot the way she thought she remembered, she’d be in way worse shape than this.

But it sure felt like someone had punched a hole in her chest at some point.

Remy stirred uncomfortably. “I’m so sorry,” he said, sounding miserable. “I tried to get to you in time.”

Jaeda started to lift her head and prop herself up on her elbow, and decided against it. Ouch. “What are you talking about?” She snuggled down again. “You did get to me in time.” This part she knew she remembered right. “You pulled me off the roof and flew me away. I’m alive because of you.”

“Yeah, well, kind of,” he said. “You actually did get shot. If I’d been even a few seconds sooner…”

“It wouldn’t have made any difference,” she said. “The vulnerable point of that extraction was always going to be the moment you grabbed me and lifted me in the air. There was no way to limit the exposure.” She’d learned enough battle tactics and heard enough Enforcer stories to know that.

Then the rest of what he’d said hit her. “Wait, I did get shot?”

She sat up in surprise, and immediately wished she hadn’t. A wave of dizziness came over her.

Remy steadied her. “Yeah. And you still haven’t healed from the blood loss, so take it easy on the sudden movements, okay?”

As the dizziness began to fade, Jaeda realized she had a bandage around her chest and across her left shoulder. She felt it gingerly, and then went cold all over.

From the location of the bullet wound, she should probably be dead.

“Remy?” she said slowly. “Who healed me? And how?”

He sat up cross-legged next to her, not looking at her. “1) I think I did it. And B), no fucking clue.”