Lycan Redemption (7 page)

“Hey,” he said softly.

She looked up at him, and his chest hurt when her pain-filled eyes centered on him. She was pale, and most likely scared out of her mind.

“It’ll be all right. We’ll get Patrick’s fever down. Get him undressed. I’ll be back in a minute.”

He made sure she was following his instructions before making his way back to the kitchen, where he started searching through the cabinets. After being connected with nature for most of his life, he’d picked up a few tricks. But when he’d gotten to the last cabinet without finding anything useful, his hope began to die. Finally, on the back of the last shelf, he found a bottle of peppermint oil.

He grabbed the bottle and started back down the hall. Myka had finished undressing Patrick, but the boy still seemed out of it. Myka picked him up, and Galen followed her to the bathroom, where he filled the bath and helped her set him inside. Patrick protested the cool water, but they managed to get him immersed up to his neck.

“Let him soak in it for five minutes. Then we’ll get him back to bed.”

“He has to be okay,” she whispered.

“It’s a fever. He’s a healthy kid. He’ll be all right. We’ll get through this, okay?”

She nodded, but her worried expression told him she didn’t really believe him.

Five minutes later, they had Patrick out of the tub and wrapped in a towel. Galen offered to carry him back to his room, but Myka refused. He wasn’t surprised. She’d expressed doubts about her mothering abilities, but she was a wonderful mother as far as he was concerned.

“Leave him nude, and pull the covers up to his waist.”

After she did as he’d instructed, he knelt beside the bed and pulled the bottle of peppermint oil from his jeans pocket.

“Is he due for another dose of acetaminophen yet?”

“Close.”

Galen nodded. He held up the bottle so she could see.

“This is peppermint oil. I found it in your cabinet. It helps to reduce fevers. I’m going to rub some on his chest.”

By the time he finished, Patrick had stirred. He felt a bit cooler—probably from the bath—but Galen knew it wouldn’t last long without help from the peppermint.

“Can you go make him a strong cup of tea while I sit with him?” Galen asked.

She nodded and left. Within a couple minutes, she was back with the tea and another dose of medicine.

Galen was sitting on the bed beside Patrick and took the cup from Myka. He put a few drops of the peppermint in the tea, then leaned toward Patrick.

“Patrick.”

Galen waited until he stared up at him through fever-glazed eyes.

“You need to chew these pills and drink as much of this tea as you can. It will make you feel better. Do you think you can do that for me?”

Patrick nodded weakly, and Myka helped him sit up by propping some pillows behind him. Galen felt much better ten minutes later, when Patrick had drunk three-quarters of the tea and taken the pills. He helped him get comfortable, then pulled the covers up to his chin before taking the near-empty cup to the kitchen. Afterward, he stopped by the bathroom to get a cold rag and returned to Patrick’s room, where he placed the rag across his forehead.

“Thank you,” Myka said. She was still sitting beside Patrick, his head now resting on her shoulder.

“Don’t thank me yet. It’ll be a couple hours before we know for sure if his fever is going to stay down.”

“How did you know about the peppermint?”

“I’ve always liked and spent a lot of time in nature. You pick up things.”

“Oh. Well, I’m glad I had some.”

“Me too. I had nearly run out of hope of finding anything when I came across it.”

Patrick’s skin didn’t appear quite as pale, and his cheeks weren’t as red as they had been earlier. He slept without much fussing, which was a good sign to Galen. Myka shifted and let Patrick rest against the pillows before tucking the covers loosely around him. Just as she got off the bed, the phone began to ring in the other room.

“I’ll stay with him,” Galen said when she looked at Patrick worriedly.

She nodded and left the room.

Galen reached out and touched Patrick. He was even cooler now than when he’d applied the peppermint to his chest. They weren’t out of the woods quite yet, but he was confident that the fever would stay down.

“Yes. We already did that, Doc.” Myka spoke into the phone as she came back into Patrick’s room.

She had a thermometer in the other hand, pressed a button on it, and stuck it into Patrick’s ear. A few seconds later, it beeped.

“It’s down to one hundred point four. Yes. Yes. Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.” She hung up the phone.

“Good news?” Galen asked.

“Doc says as long as his fever doesn’t go back up to bring him in tomorrow. He said to continue with the acetaminophen and peppermint. He was impressed with the peppermint, by the way. He was sure that it was what finally brought down the fever. When I took it earlier, it was almost one hundred and four.”

“I’m glad I could help.”

She swayed before she sat down on the edge of the bed.

“Hey. You are exhausted. You should get some sleep.”

“I can’t. I have to watch him.”

“I’ll watch him.”

“I can’t ask you to do that,” she protested.

“You aren’t asking. I’m offering. Besides, he’s doing better, and unless his fever goes back up—which I don’t believe it will—he’ll probably sleep for a few hours.”

“I could use a nice hot bath and a couple hours of sleep.” She yawned.

“You sit here, and I’ll run you a bath.”

She had to be extremely exhausted to so readily accept his help. It wasn’t that he didn’t think she trusted him, but the motherly instincts in her demanded that she tend to Patrick personally. He was honored that she was comfortable enough with him to let him stay with Patrick while she slept. He went to the bathroom and ran a steamy bath for her to soak in, then went back to Patrick’s room.

“The bath is ready for you.”

She looked up at him. The relief in her eyes washed through him like gentle waves. When she burrowed tightly against him, then rested her head against his chest, he wrapped his arms around her and held her.

“He’s even cooler now. I can never thank you enough for your help, Galen. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

He reached down and tipped her chin up with one finger. “You would have been fine. You would have gotten Patrick’s fever down with the medicine. It might have taken a bit longer, but your determination would have prevailed. I have no doubt. You are a great mother, Myka.”

“Aunt, really.”

“No.” Galen shook his head. “That boy needs a mother, and you are it.”

“Yeah. I know. Each passing day I see him more as my son than my nephew, but I don’t want to push him. He’s had it hard.”

“He loves you, Myka. There is no doubt about that. He trusts you.”

“I love him too.”

“It’s obvious.” He bent and scooped her up into his arms.

The fact that she didn’t protest proved how tired she was. After he carried her to the bathroom, he set her by the tub.

“Be quick, or you’ll fall asleep in there.”

“Okay.”

When he turned to leave, she reached for his arm and tugged him back to her. She stood on tiptoe and pulled at his shoulders until he bent down far enough for her to kiss him softly on the lips. Her touch turned his blood into a boiling inferno of need.

“Thank you. Thank you so much,” she whispered. “I’m so happy you are here.”

He nodded, then backed out of the bathroom and shut the door before he became a complete asshole and took advantage of her in her vulnerable and exhausted state.

He returned to Patrick’s room and lightly laid his palm across his forehead. The fever was nearly gone now. He smiled and went to the window on the far side of the room. Dawn would break soon.

“Looks like I’m not leaving so soon after all,” he muttered to himself. There was no way he could leave Myka until he was sure everything was okay. After that, he must be on his merry way.

He snorted. He’d be on his way, but there wouldn’t be anything merry about it. He went back to the chair beside the bed and sat down, getting as comfortable as possible. He let his head rest on the back of the chair and closed his eyes.

Chapter Six

“Galen? Is that you?”

Myka stood at the barn door in a sheer black nightie that highlighted the flawlessness of her golden skin and shiny hair. His body ached to possess hers. He ached to possess her. But it wouldn’t be fair. He was aware that this particular dream—one shared between fated mates—was more than just a dream. But she wasn’t. He couldn’t take advantage of her even if he wanted to. Badly.

“Yes.” He stepped from the shadows.

She frowned, which made the skin above her nose crinkle. He found it adorable and sexy.

“How did I get here?” She looked down at herself. “And what am I wearing?”

“It’s a dream.” He took two steps closer. “You’re projecting things from your subconscious. I guess that means you have a secret thing for black lingerie.” He smiled. “Which is good because you look beautiful.”

“This is a dream? But it seems so real.”

He stepped closer and held his hand out to her. She only hesitated for a moment before taking it, and he led her to the loft. After helping her up the ladder, he pointed to a place where he’d arranged soft hay in front of the double wooden door that stood open to the night sky. The moon was full and casting a soft glow over the darkness.

“Would you like to sit with me for a while?” he asked.

“That would be nice.” She followed him.

After sitting down and leaning back against a stack of bales, he patted the spot between his jean-clad legs. She hesitated again and blushed.

“I won’t bite,” he said.

She sat down and rested her back against his chest. He put his arms around her and placed his lips close to the soft skin by her ear.

“Unless you want me to,” he whispered.

She placed a tiny hand on his thigh and squeezed. “Galen, you do things to me, make me feel things that I don’t quite understand.”

“I think you understand them perfectly,” he breathed against her lobe.

“It’s too fast. How can I want you this much simply because of the way you look at me?”

“Because it was meant to be. You do the same to me.”

“But you are going to leave me.”

“I don’t want to. I will do my best to come back to you. To Patrick.”

She half turned so she could look up at him. “You are telling the truth, aren’t you?”

“I would never lie to you.”

“Then I want to enjoy the time we have together.”

“I want that more than anything, angel.”

“Will you kiss me again?”

“You never have to ask. I’m always here for anything you want. Talking. Kissing.” He nipped her ear gently. “Making love.”

He cupped her nape and pulled her to his mouth, where he captured her lips in a possessive but gentle kiss. When she sighed, he slipped his tongue between her lips, and she opened for him immediately. He groaned when her sweet taste hit him. She was everything he’d never thought to have. Genuine, loving, beautiful, fierce, determined, loyal and . . . his.

The thought of leaving her sent pain ripping through his chest like stray shrapnel from a bomb. Every second he was away from her he would be reminded of her scent, of what he was missing, of the mate he could not claim because of some idiot rogue who’d told lies about him.

Without breaking the kiss, she turned to face him and sat on her knees between his thighs. She looped her arms around his neck and linked her fingers together, holding him tight as he unashamedly assaulted her with his kiss. The way she arched into him told him she was enjoying it as much as he was. He ran his palms down her sides, over the flare of her hips, and around to cup one cheek of her firm ass in each hand.

She cried out, and he dipped his head to her throat. He kissed, licked, and nipped at the tender column of her neck while kneading the soft yet firm globes of her ass. Her throaty growls of pleasure made him so hot, so hard, his balls tightened with need. She wanted him, and there was no doubt that he wanted her, but he couldn’t take advantage of her. Even with every cell in his body screaming at him to claim what was rightfully his, he couldn’t do it not knowing the outcome of the current mess he was in.

If he was free to stay with her without the possibility of putting her in danger, he’d claim her without delay. But he was not. He would not claim her—mark her as his forever—without being able to freely promise her forever in return.

“You are so fucking tempting, angel,” he whispered against the soft skin above the neck of the gown.

The creamy swell of the tops of her breasts peeked from the fabric, and he longed to bare her fully to his eyes. He wanted to see the pink nipples tighten under his touch, wanted to witness the pleasure he bestowed upon her. Instead, he reluctantly pulled back and placed his forehead against hers.

They were both breathing heavily, and she clutched at his neck as if frantic for him to continue touching her. He knew exactly how she felt. The need to continue stroking her, to take them both to the pinnacle of their desire consumed him until it threatened his sanity.

“Don’t stop, Galen,” she pleaded.

“I have to, angel. You deserve so much more than I can give you right now.”

“I don’t care. I want you. Here. Now.”

“As I do you, but you will regret it later.”

She looked up at him and cupped his face in her hands. “I would never regret being with you.”

He leaned down and kissed her before staring into her beautiful eyes. “If I had to leave tomorrow, you would regret being with me tonight. Hell, Myka, if we made love and I had to leave at all, you’d regret it.”