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After an inappropriately long kiss in front of Audrey, Ridge lifted his head, gazed into my eyes, and framed my face with his hands. “You had me worried sick. You can’t ever leave me again. Not in any way, because I’ll lose my mind, you understand? I need you.” Desperately, he repeated himself. “I need you, Tori.”
His lips descended again and kissed me with every piece of him, and I couldn’t help but crave more. I couldn’t get enough of his kisses. I wanted more from him. He made me believe I was cherished and wanted, that he was lost without me. I could die in the heady intensity.
A feminine groan interrupted us, forcing us to stop when we both remembered there was someone else in the room.
“I’m going to give you two lovebirds some space,” Audrey said. “I’m glad you didn’t die.”
Burying my head into Ridge’s neck so she didn’t catch me blushing, I chuckled at the blatant statement. With my nose so close to his pulse, I inhaled his heady scent.
“I’ll guard the door so you guys can have some alone time. It’s an act of goodwill for starting this unlikely friendship.” Audrey winked at me and left the room, shutting the door.
I chuckled, coughing at the pain in my chest, and then Ridge was holding me. His lips stole my breath while his hands roamed over my body, cautious of my wounds. His tongue sought mine, and we ravished each other’s mouths as a reminder that I was alive.
My stab wound ached, but the burns from the wolfsbane were almost completely gone. My skin was itchy, which only proved that it was healing.
“You scared me.”
Kiss.
“Don’t do that to me again.”
Kiss.
“I can’t lose you.”
Kiss.
His worried whispers and heated caresses made me ache for him, and the taste of his kisses made me so glad to have him in my arms. I could smell him and touch him when I wanted. My hands stroked down his shoulders, and I grasped onto his biceps. My body was weak, and I was exhausted, but my pussy came alive for him as I began to overheat.
The lust and attraction shared between us lit up and ignited so quickly that nothing would keep it at bay. The frightening ordeal only strengthened that need between us.
His scent got muskier, and my wolf whimpered for more. Regardless of how much I caressed and moaned, Ridge’s hands never strayed where I wanted them, needed them. They stayed on my face and wrapped around my neck. Only his mouth plundered me, the way my body burned for him to do.
It didn’t help that his emotional confessions made me crave more from him, but as my mind worked out what had happened, fear made my happy moment disintegrate instantly.
My wolf hissed at the fire dampening within us. She needed Ridge as acutely as I did, but his safety was more important to me.
Ridge slowly lifted his head, nuzzling his nose against mine. “What is it? Are you hurting? Do you need some painkillers?”
His sensitivity to my physical and emotional cues was overwhelming and hard to ignore. I had to warn him about the hunters and what was coming. It pained me that we couldn’t enjoy this moment for what it was, a reconnection after such an ordeal.
We worked to catch our breaths, and I lifted my hand and brushed my fingers through his hair. His long lashes fluttered closed as he took in my caress. He slowly opened them to look at me, and I gasped at what looked back at me—devotion as I’d never seen before. His need for me was written all over his face, weakening me. My barriers were crumbling within his gaze. If I wasn’t careful, it wouldn’t be long before there wouldn’t be anything I wouldn’t do for him. That included leaving. No matter how much risk it’d put us in, I was close to the breaking point of no return. I’d never be able to run from him. The realization was daunting.
Clearing my throat, I moved to get more comfortable and winced at the pain in my stomach.
“What do you need?” Ridge was seconds away from reaching for the call button.
I waved off his concern, grabbed hold of his hand, and watched him as he sat on the side of the bed, touching me wherever he could. Settling in, I kept my gaze on him and calmed my heart because the beeping from the machine was a little embarrassing, though Ridge didn’t seem to notice it. His attention was focused on me and only me. That was quite the power to hold.
“What happened?” I asked.
“I went looking for you after our argument.” His face twisted at the mention of our fight, which I figured we had to discuss at some point, but now wasn’t the time. “When I heard your wolf howl, I ran into the library and subdued Mrs. Marrow until Clawson showed up, then I went looking for you. You were…” He got choked up and coughed. “You were on the floor, a silver knife sticking out of your stomach. We were able to get you here in time. Thank the moon for that, but you’d lost a lot of blood, and we struggled to get your wolf to turn back so we could treat you.”
Leaning down, he kissed the top of my head, the side of it, then my cheeks. He kissed me several times wherever his lips could reach while playing with my fingers. I was getting spoiled by his affections, and I didn’t want them to stop.
Satisfied he got enough touches and kisses in that time, he continued. “Clawson found out that Mrs. Marrow killed Deputy Hill, but we still don’t know why. She’s lived here for so long, been such a big part of the community, that she was innocent in our eyes. Honestly, though, I haven’t given it much thought because you’ve been the only thing I’ve been able to think about since I found you. Everything else is a blur, but we have time to work it out. You just need to rest, and we’ll get you home as soon as the doctors release you. Then we can figure out the whys of it all. I’m relieved she can’t get to you now.”
I nuzzled into Ridge’s side. I was in a lot of pain, and I wanted to hold onto this comfort as long as possible.
