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“Makenna hurt,” she affirmed. “But Makenna cannot…cannot…” She made a frustrated gesture with both hands, as though she couldn’t find the right words.
“Makenna can’t get it out?” Bard suggested gently.
She nodded eagerly.
“Not…get out,” she said and then swiped at her eyes. “Bard…angry?”
“Angry? Why would I be angry?” he asked, mystified.
She seemed to understand this question for she pointed between her own legs and said,
“Makenna not get out…”
Then she pointed between Bard’s legs.
“Bard cannot…put in.”
Bard widened his eyes at her.
“You think I’m angry at you because I can’t fuck you, baby girl? Because some bastard put something in you that won’t come out so there’s no room for my cock?”
The very idea that he would be angry with her for the awful thing that had been done to her because it might impede his own pleasure, told Bard all he needed to know about the things that must have happened to her at that damn Pleasure House.
“Bard…angry?” she asked again in a small voice and he saw the fear and anxiety in her dark eyes.
“No, baby girl—of course not. Come here.” He pulled her down beside him and tucked her against his side again. “Look, tomorrow we’re gonna take you back to the Med Center and see if we can’t get that damn thing out of you. But no—Bard not angry,” he emphasized, stroking her cheek as she looked up at him.
“Bard not angry,” she repeated and he saw her eyes filling with relief. His heart squeezed in his chest. Gods, the poor little female! For her to think he’d be angry with her for something that wasn’t even her fault! Something that had been done to her against her will!
Once more that strong feeling of protectiveness swept over him and this time it was followed by a sense of possessiveness—as though she was his female—his mate, instead of just a temporary guest in his home.
Which was ridiculous of course. He was way too old for her. It wouldn’t be fair to tie such a young, vibrant life to his own. She ought to be with a young male—someone her own age. But at the same time, he couldn’t shake the feeling that she was his responsibility and he needed to take care of her.
“Gonna take care of you, baby girl,” he promised both her and himself as she cuddled against him, her bare body pressed to his. “Gonna make everything all right, I promise.”
She ran her soft little fingers through his chest hair, sending shivers down to his still-hard cock.
“Bard takes care of Makenna,” she whispered. “Bard helps.”
“I probably shouldn’t have.” Bard sighed deeply. “We don’t even know each other and the Goddess knows I’m too old for you, baby girl. Way too old. But I guess for tonight, anyway, what’s done is done. C’mon—let’s get some sleep.”
He was uncomfortably aware that his cock was still hard, but that was too damn bad. He wasn’t going to lie here beside her and jerk off and he wasn’t going to leave her either. She was snuggled against his side like a sleepy kitten and he didn’t have the heart to dislodge her.
Just have to wait until tomorrow morning and I can jerk off in the shower. Won’t kill me to wait a few hours.
And so thinking, he finally drifted off to sleep.
15
Makenna cuddled against his big, warm body, the needs of her ripening satisfied, at least partially—for now. Goddess, she’d been so frightened when he discovered the spreader inside her! But her prayers had been answered and Bard wasn’t angry with her at all. He hadn’t hit her or shouted at her a bit. Instead, he had spoken soothingly and tucked her against his side as though she was precious to him.
And when he had sucked her nipples and stroked her pussy earlier…Makenna had never had any man touch her with tenderness before. The owner of the Pleasure House had always been rough and abrupt—quick to backhand her if she fought him and deaf to her tears and pleas to stop.
Bard was completely different, she thought happily as she snuggled at his side. He was a good man—the kind of man her mother had told her to find and marry. And that was exactly what she hoped would happen, once he helped her through her first ripening.
Because she already knew that Bard was the one she wanted to stay with forever.
16
Dr. Olivia gave Bard an arch look.
“Should I ask how you know she’s got something stuck inside her?”
Bard could feel a hot blush of shame creeping over his face.
“It’s…complicated,” he muttered gruffly. “But I promise you it was consensual.”
She nodded shortly.
“All right, I’ve lived with the Kindred long enough to know that no Kindred warrior would do anything to hurt a female. But considering that you still can’t talk to each other, it’s hard to see how she asked for whatever it was the two of you did together.”
