AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We can’t do that, Amelia.” I stroked her upper arm gently. “Right now, our animals won’t let us.”
“The most I can do is turn around.” Niko pivoted, so his back was facing us.
“Why won’t they let you?” She looked at me over her shoulder.
“It’s the protective nature we have,” I lied, unable to tell her the truth, that our animals had decided we alone were to protect her no matter what. A mate’s job, their desire was to protect and keep their mate happy at all times.
“Fine, close your eyes then.” I did as she asked and felt the moment she let the towel drop.
“Okay, I’m done.” She pushed at me as she tried to scoot back up on the bed. Niko rushed to her side to help raise her leg so she wouldn’t have to strain. She stopped and glared at him. “I don’t need your help.”
“Keep saying that, sweet cheeks, but as long as you continue to heal in your human form, we will be here to help you every minute of the day.”
Amelia brought the fabric of the shirt and sweatshirt to her nose. “Why do these smell like both of you?”
“It will make it easier for Niko to come and go as his job needs knowing that his scent is on you. No one will bother you if you smell like him. As for me, it was pure selfishness. If you were going to have Niko’s scent, you had to have mine as well.”
She rolled her eyes and huffed in reply.
Niko's radio crackled at that moment. “Niko, we have a situation at the gate.”
“Go ahead,” Niko replied, his no-nonsense tone as much of a turn-on as his naked chest earlier. He mouthed thank you to me as he stripped from his scrubs and began dressing in the black security uniform I had grabbed from his office on my way back from Amelia’s. I enjoyed the view immensely, and by Amelia’s sharp intake of breath, she did, too.
“A Mr. Vador says he has an appointment with Mr. Lancaster, but he’s not on the approved list, and there is no record of the meeting in the calendar.”
“10-4. I’m on my way. Can you verify?”
“Still running checks, sir.”
“On my way.”
Niko clipped the radio onto his belt, slipping his favorite knife into his boot and securing his nine-millimeter into the holster on his hip. “Stay with her. Keep the clinic radio close.” He walked out the door, purpose in his step.
“Should we do something?” Amelia asked.
“You just focus on getting better. Any luck convincing your tiger to come forward?” I wanted to keep her mind occupied and not worried about anything outside this room.
“No,” she huffed.
“Would it help if my panther tries?”
She tilted her head in question. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to try. This isn’t the nudge Niko talked about, is it?”
“No.” I shook my head as I stood up. “Just another animal in the room to help relax and comfort.” I stripped and shifted in moments, lifting my head to rest on the bed next to her hand.
“Hey there, big guy.” Amelia rubbed my head and scooted over. “Come on up.” She patted the space next to her.
Ever so gently, I climbed up next to her, pressing as close as possible, and purred. My panther was in complete bliss, knowing our mate smelled like us. It was not the mate mark he wanted to give her, but it was enough for now. She pulled the blanket up and snuggled into my fur. Within moments she was asleep. I laid my head on my paws and watched over her as she fell asleep. When her breathing evened out, I tried to find her tigress within the pride bonds. Her response was weak, but I felt a feather of response tug at me. We, my panther and I, purred in happiness. She wasn’t lost, just extremely reluctant to emerge.
Niko and I could work with that.
“Has she shifted yet?” Niko stomped into the room in a sour mood, waking both of us from our nap. I chuffed at him, showing our displeasure at his tone and being woken up.
“Well, have you?” In typical asshole Nik fashion, with three words, he destroyed any headway he had made with Amelia. “No? Fine, I’m tired of waiting. We don’t have three weeks to wait for you to heal.” He tore the clothes away from his body. “If she doesn’t want to come out on her own, then it’s time to help coax her along.”
“Just wait one minute there, mister.” Amelia raised her hand. I was surprised to see that Niko paused. “You are not going to make me do anything, and I promise if you attempt to crawl into my mind with her, she’s going to rip you a new asshole and dig in deeper.”
“I’m not going to force her, my tiger doesn’t want to, but our need to protect you, to help you heal, is pushing hard. If the only way we can ensure that is to help with a bit of a nudge, then that’s what my tiger and I will do.” Niko watched her. “I promise I won’t hurt you or her, but I think my tiger can bring her out.”
