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Chapter Ten
Leisurely walking back to the resort, hand in hand with Ellie, Ranger thought of a million things he should say, how much he wanted her to come to his room… Hell to move into his room with him for the duration of their stay. To live with him for the rest of their lives. He was already dreading being without her for the hour or so it would take her to shower and get ready for their romantic dinner. What the hell was he going to do if she didn't spend the night with him?
“Pace the floor and keep me awake,”Carradoc grumbled, and Ranger pointedly ignored.
Opening his mouth and closing it again and again, sure she was hearing everything racing around his mind, Ranger finally sighed, "Oh, dammit, Ellie, just come to my room and shower and get ready. While you're in there, I'll move all your stuff across the hall. I just…"
"No." Giving him a knowing smile, she slowly shook her head then started to explain, her hands motioning one way and the other in the most adorable fashion. "I need to do all kinds of girlie things, and I also need just a few minutes alone to wrap my head around everything that's happened."
Stopping as she was still speaking, digging the toes of his boots into the mossy ground, Ranger spun towards his Mate and tugged on her hand for her to follow suit. The second they were face to face, he sputtered, "Wh-Wh-What do you mean? Are you...? Are you regretting what happened? Did I... Please tell me that I didn't push you into something you didn't want. Did you feel pressured? Have I…"
Still stammering and stuttering, words flying out of his mouth so quickly not even he was sure what he was saying, Ranger stopped midsentence and stared. There she was, the most beautiful woman in the world, the one person ever to be created who completed him in every way possible, and what was she doing? Standing perfectly still, her hand over her mouth, her eyes shining with pure happiness and an abundance of love, and her shoulders bouncing with laughter.
"What?!" He ground out through gritted teeth. Sure, he was overreacting. He was contemplating falling on his knees and begging her to forgive before he even knew his offense. Never imagining how much finding his Mate would screw with his control, his hard-fought focus, and everything else he'd always taken for granted as one of the Universe's Winged Warriors, he growled, "What is so funny? What did I do now? What…"
Dropping her hand and slowly shaking her head, Ellie shushed, "Hush, my love." Pushing up on her toes, she wrapped her free hand around his neck and pulled him to her. "You did nothing wrong, silly man. It's just funny to me that you can stare down the worst and most dangerous criminals this world has ever known. But, when I want to go take a shower and bask in the glow of being with my Mate for the first timeby myself, you freak out like I just told you I’m headin’ off to parts unknown for forever and three days.”
“But, I…” Huffing out a breath with such force that his lips made an unintentional raspberry, Ranger shoved his hand through his hair and grumbled, “It’s just that… I mean, I… I can’t… I don’t…”
"You are just as crazy in love as I am?" She asked, her eyes big and her oh-so kissable lips curved in the best smile he'd ever seen. "You're afraid it might have all been a dream? That somehow, if we're not right by each other's side, the magic will wear off?"
Yeah," he nodded frantically. "How did you know? I feel like a teenager who just got to go to the prom with his first crush, and the evening's coming to an end, and I'll never see you again."
Laughing out loud, the sound reminiscent of the tiny silver bells Momma Barbara hung on the Christmas Tree every year, Ellie nodded. "Me, too. I promiseme too. But this is all new to both of us. And, to be honest, I've never showered with anyone but Celia or another girl in the room. I mean, sure, there was gym class in high school and the dorm in college, but I still took the single stall and made sure the locker room was practically empty. I know that makes me…"
"Perfect," He breathed. "Absolutely perfect." Kissing her quickly, Ranger stretched back up to his full height, winked, and added, "But this is the last time I let you outta my sight. Deal?"
"Deal," she quickly agreed, complete with a single, sharp nod and a wink assuring him they were in it together.
Turning back towards the resort, Ranger picked up speed just a little, but only because he knew the quicker he got Ellie upstairs, the faster she would shower, and the sooner he would have her back with him. Opening the huge door, the glass etched with a gorgeous picture of the mountains just behind the resort, a Wolf standing on the very peak, howling at the full moon, he held it for Ellie, only letting go of her hand to make the door close all the way behind them.
Following the shining tile of the corridor around the backside of the Cave Bar, the Guardsman attempted to avoid any and all people. Making a beeline for the elevators. Ranger was so caught up in the feeling of Ellie's excitement and joy adding to his own, he almost missed the tall, thin man with slicked-back black hair and mirrored sunglasses whipping around the opposite corner like he owned the joint. Heading right towards them, an air of rage and malevolence all around him, the man didn't slow in the least or waver in his course, instead sped up and zeroed in on Ellie.
Picking his Mate up and swinging her to his other side, Ranger ended up with the stranger’s elbow in his ribs right on top of the scar left by the Chimera’s blade. Unconcerned about his own wellbeing, the Guardsman immediately turned to his Mate. Running his hands up and down Ellie’s arms, he couldn’t stop asking, “Are you alright? Did he hit you? Are you hurt? Are you okay? Are you sure he didn’t…”?
"Yes, I'm fine," she chuckled, the sound more forced than he liked, but still with a smile nonetheless.
"Are you sure?" Looking over his shoulder, trying to see where the rude stranger had gotten to, thinking about chasing him down, Ranger snapped his eyes back to Ellie and asked again, "Are you sure he didn't hit you? And that I wasn't too rough with you? I just had to get you out of the way of that asshole. I mean, he wasn't stopping, and who the hell wears sunglasses inside, not to mention, the sun's going down?"
Cocking a single eyebrow, Ellie tilted her head to the side and sassed, "You were a helluva lot rougher with me just a little while ago, and I quite liked it."
Laughing despite the situation and because once again his Mate had proven to be absolutely remarkable, Ranger opened his mouth to tease Ellie as Jianna appeared at his side.
“Did you just see a Hell’s Angels wannabe with a seriously dark aura storm through here?” The Valkyrie snarled, her dark eyes swirling counterclockwise and her magic nearly setting the air around them ablaze.
“Yeah, he damned near ran over Ellie,” Ranger growled. “Who the fuck is he? And what’s with the James Dean getup?”
"That's what I'd like to know on all accounts."
“How did anybodyyoudon't know get into the resort? You've got Rasha running Security, don't you?"
"You know, I do. I asked you about her before I even scheduled the interview."
“Well, then that guy’s goodandseriously bad news, 'cause that's one Lady Troll who doesn't miss a thing."
“Yeah, I…”
Interrupted by the squelch and static of a radio, Jianna changed course, not taking the time finishing her sentence before hurrying to say, "I've gotta go." Looking to Ellie, she smiled, "I'm so sorry that bastard hurt you. I promise I'll kick his ass extra hard just for you."
