Chapter 47

 

When he released my face and strode to the bathroom, I laid there in the silence trying to figure out what he meant. He could feel what I was feeling? How did that work?

I could hear the running water and the light from the bathroom was bright enough that I could see things clearly. He stood in the doorway looking at me. “I’ll do my best to shield you from my emotions, but I may not be able to block out everything.”

Studying his large form shadowed with the light behind him, I nodded. “When my mind is functioning again, you can explain all of this to me.”

“I will.” He moved back to the bed and leaned down and scooped me up like I was a small child. “First, we’ll get you back to your full strength and then we’ll sort out the rest.”

I squinted against the light as he stepped into the bathroom. Turning, he reached behind me and dimmed the lights until it was just a soft glow in the room. He set me on the counter across from the tub. My head was spinning and even though I didn’t like feeling weak, I still clung to his arm to keep from sliding to the floor.

“I’ve got you.” He straightened and took a hold of the hem of the shirt I was wearing.

Panic hit me and I moved to stop his hands.

With a glint in his eyes, he smirked. “Relax. Mitz made sure you were decent under here.”

I released his hands and let him lift the shirt over my head. When he tossed it to the side I looked down to see Mitz had put me in a bra and underwear and was thankful they were plain white and nothing frilly or see through. I was shocked when I saw the red scar on that ran from my hip, across my waist and stopped just under my ribs. Reaching down, I touched it carefully and felt the raised ridge. I looked up at Chase to see he was looking at it as well.

Dropping down on his knees, he leaned forward and ran his finger along the edge of it before he looked into my eyes. I could see the pain in his. “With more blood, it will heal further.”

I had almost died, for real. I could only nod, still trying to process that I’d almost been sliced in half by a sword. Not shanked by a pawn shop blade or beaten with a bat, which is how I always figured I go out, but cut down by a blade wielded by a being from another realm. My mind returned from its little side trip when I realized Chase was taking off his jeans.

He chuckled. “I’m decent too, kitten.” I watched the jeans slide down his long legs and was almost relieved to see he had underwear on as well.

I wanted to commit this moment to my memory, so later on when I was feeling more alive I could ogle him in my mind standing before me in nothing but some form fitting black underwear. It was sad on my part to not even have the energy to stir up some appreciative emotion.

“Next time, kitten.”

I didn’t ask what he meant; I could actually feel his disappointment. We were both next to naked and the only thing we were going to do was sit in warm water together. My cheeks flushed.

He lowered us both into the large tub, and I knew it was much bigger than average when he fit completely with me resting in front of him, and there was still enough room to move around. The water felt like heaven. As my muscles relaxed I leaned back against his chest.

I felt myself nodding off and jolted, only to have pain streak through my side up into my chest.

“Relax, I won’t let you drown.” His breath brushed up against my cheek as he spoke softly to me.

Letting out a deep breath I leaned back against him again, resting my hand on his arm that was wrapped around my uninjured side. Everything faded into a warm comfortable place and I just went along with it.

****

“Daxx, I need you to take a bit more before you pass out completely.”

Chases voice stirred me from a peaceful place. I was dry, so I knew we weren’t in the water anymore. Soft material covered me and my head was rested on a plush surface. Somehow, I’d managed to doze through the bath and the return trip to bed.

My eye lids were heavy, but I was still able to turn my head toward his voice. With a gentle touch, he moved me so I was on my side lying against him. Reaching up, I touched his mouth with a weak hand and was rewarded with a kiss placed over my palm before he moved my hand to rest on his chest.

“Stay with me for a few more minutes.”

I looked up at him and through tired eyes saw his were yellow. I didn’t know why they were at this moment; surely it couldn’t be my fault when I was this out of it.

“The cause is my own doing.” He answered as if I’d said it out loud. With a gentle touch, he lifted my head toward his chest. “Drink,” he coaxed in a rough voice.

I could feel his heart beat under my hand as my mouth touched the small wound on his chest and did the best I could to draw his blood into my mouth. He cuddled me closer to his body and through the heavy fog in my mind I could feel only one thing. Desire. It felt like my own, but not.

Warm lips brushed against my temple as I swallowed the warm liquid. “I can’t shield when you’re touching me,” he whispered in a rough voice.

Licking slowly over the wound on his skin, I felt the incision sealing under my tongue. Leaning back into his hand, I looked up at the heavy yellow eyes watching me. I had no strength to move but at the same time I wanted to rub my body into his and had no idea how I could feel this when I was barely able to stay awake.

“These thoughts are not your own, kitten. Just ignore my weakness and get some rest.”

It took a lot of concentration to reach up and grasp his goatee but after what felt like too long I had it and tugged his head down to mine. With a frustrated growl, his mouth touched mine in a gentle kiss and then he pulled his head away and moved his body back from mine.

“Sleep,” he commanded in hoarse tone.

I felt the bed move and covers being lifted up over me and then darkness enveloped me.