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The last of her words trailed off as sleep began to overtake her.
“Dream of me, my mate,” he whispered.
“I will,” she responded as her breath deepened and slowed, and she lost herself to the land of dreams.
Bodie eased himself from her embrace after indulging his desire to rest in her arms and falling asleep. When he woke, he checked the balcony for food. There was none and it was probably best if she had something fresh when she awoke. He called down to the kitchen. He knew her nap wouldn’t last more than another hour or so.
“Maurice, how about some of that pasta dish you make with andouille sausage and pepperjack cheese. And thank you for ensuring the food on the balcony didn’t go to waste.”
“It was my pleasure and I think the pasta is a good choice for when she wakes. How about I dish up some bourbon bread pudding as well?”
“Excellent. I’m not sure if we will be down for dinner, or not. It will depend on how Quinn is feeling.”
“May I share with the rest of the clan that she seems to be accepting of her new role?”
Bodie chuckled. “I don’t know that I’d go that far, but I don’t think she’s likely to bolt again, and even if she did, I do not believe she would do or say anything that would endanger our kind.”
He returned to their bed and spooned his front to her back, smiling as she laid her hand over his, seeming to accept his presence even in her sleep. Quinn was just beginning to stir when there was the lightest tap on the door.
“Please tell me that’s Maurice, and he’s brought food. I’m famished.”
“Then you should have eaten your lunch,” he said, kissing her gently.
Making sure she was covered up enough to be decent, he called to Maurice to enter.
“Yeah, well the whole tiger thing, you know. By the way? Threatening to fuck me in front of people from afar or carrying me somewhere naked—not as big a threat as you might think.”
He laughed, and Maurice grinned. “Good to know.”
Quinn sat up, letting the sheet puddle in her lap before Bodie pulled it up to cover her.
Quinn laughed and looked to Maurice. “I fear your alpha is a bit of a prude.”
“No, his alpha doesn’t share well with others, especially the thing he holds most dear.”
She grabbed his face with her hands and kissed him deeply. “You really do say the sweetest things. Has he always been this romantic, Maurice?”
“No, Milady. It seems he reserved all of that for you.”
“Whatever that is, it smells delicious. Can I ask you to bring me some? I’d come get it, butEl Tigrehere is kind of a possessive sonofabitch.”
“But of course, Milady. The alpha requested this just for you. It is one of his favorites. It is pasta in a mild pepper jack cheese sauce then mixed with andouille sausage. I also brought you some more tea sweetened with lemonade and for dessert a bourbon bread pudding I think you will like.”
“Well, it all smells divine, and I’m starving.” Maurice approached her cautiously, keeping his eye on Bodie who was having a hard time not growling at him. “Oh, stop. He adores you and would never make a play for me or do anything that might hurt you.”
“You don’t know that,” Bodie grumbled in a belligerent tone.
“Of course, I do. Anyone can tell that, and I’m a journalist, I have great instincts about people.”
He started to protest, pointing out that she’d had no idea of who or what he really was, and Quinn silenced him by stuffing a forkful of pasta in his mouth. She was really quite impossible, and he knew he was falling madly in love with her.
After Maurice left, he sat down on the bed with his back against the ornate iron headboard and his legs stretched out. Quinn climbed into his lap and began to share her pasta with him.
“Will I always be that exhausted after I shift?”
“No. In time it will be as natural as breathing and won’t cause you any undue stress. For now, though, take it easy. You surprised me with how quickly you transitioned and how quickly your tigress came forward to protect you.”
Quinn laughed. “Yeah, about that. I don’t think she likes you too much. She was pretty pissed about the whole turning me without talking to me first.”
