Unforgettable (10 page)

She could see the refusal on his face before he relaxed and nodded. “All right, a bath it is.”

That was too easy. “Really?”

A slight chuckle surprised them both. “So suspicious, kitten.” He scooped her up, holding her tight against that impossibly wide chest. She was as secure as a new born babe, and almost as safe.

*****

Galen sat his mate on the closed toilet seat before running the bath water. Turning toward her, he bit back the urge to scold her for being foolish. She looked as though she should be lying down. Her bruises were a stark contrast to her grey skin. But although he longed to cart her back to bed, he figured a bath would help relax her and soothe her sore muscles.

He reached for the bottom of her sweater, ignoring her startled gasp.

“What are you doing?” she screeched, slapping at his hands. Galen pulled back, not out of concern for himself, those slapping hands were about as intimidating as kitten’s whiskers, but because he was afraid she might injure herself further.

“You want to bathe in your clothes?” he asked, his voice bland as he turned off the flowing water.

“No. I want you to leave so I can bathe in privacy.”

The dark blush across her face was truly adorable.

“You’re weaker than a new born, kitten. I’m not leaving you to get in and out of the tub by yourself.”

“And I’m not bathing naked in front of you,” she said stubbornly

His lips curled up at the ends, an amused little grin that widened as he heard her catch her breath. He watched as her pupils expanded; the pulse in her neck racing. He could smell her arousal, knew that her body was preparing the way for his entrance. But now was not the time for loving. She needed soothing, not sex. No matter how uncomfortable it was for him to have her naked and not touch her.

“It's not the first time I’ve seen you naked, kitten. And it won’t be the last.”

“I’m not sleeping with you!” The affront in her voice had him chuckling again. Before Eden had come into his life he hadn’t laughed, hadn’t lived. He needed her, even more than she needed him. He might be stronger in body and power, but she was his true strength.

“I’m not sleeping with you either, kitten. I’m merely going to help you bathe.” She swayed slightly, her face growing whiter.

“Right.Back to bed with you.” He reached for her, determined to see to her health.

“No, please,” she begged tearfully. “I just want a bath.”

Galen was generally a decisive man, but he found himself torn between what he thought was best and what his mate clearly wanted. Only Eden could do this to him, and right at this moment, though he hoped she didn’t know, there wasn’t much he could refuse her.

“You’ll let me help you without argument,” he said firmly.

She nodded slowly, even that small movement seeming to tire her. “Leave my underwear on,” she said tiredly.

He sighed, but didn’t argue. Moving quickly, he stripped her down to just her bra and panties before placing her in the warm water, wanting her back in bed as soon as possible. He made certain to keep his touch clinical, aloof. It was the only way he could control himself, stop himself from caressing her silky skin, brushed with cinnamon and spice, from brushing his hand over her small curves, the brush of ribs, the hint of a waist, short limbs perfectly formed.

“Call out to me when you’re finished,” he said gruffly, turning abruptly before she could answer. Walking into the passage, he left the door open so he could hear her if she was in trouble. Leaning against the wall, he took in a deep gasp of air, grasping for control. The fact that she didn’t have any memory of him didn’t help cool his raging need to touch her, to love her. He had to remind himself to be patient, to go slow, to take care.

But it was one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do. All he wanted was to make love to her all night then carry her home with him, back to his pack and keep her under close watch so she would never disappear on him again. He gulped, shuddering. Never again. He could never go through this again.

“Ow,” she moaned softly in pain and he heard the quiet splash of water. Swiftly, he moved back into the bathroom to find her grasping the edges of the bath, trying to climb out by herself.

“I told you to call for me,” he scolded, folding his arms over his chest as he scowled down at her.

She sighed with frustration. “Please will you help me,” she said grudgingly.

He smiled. “Why, darling, I thought you’d never ask.”

She snorted as he picked her up, he wrapping her up tightly in a towel, drying her quickly before carrying her back to her bedroom. He knew she was exhausted when she didn’t put up a fuss as he dressed her in one of his t-shirts before tucking her in. He couldn’t stop himself from laying a soft kiss on her forehead, barely resisting the urge to climb into the bed beside her and enfold her in his embrace.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “For taking care of me.”

Running his hand over her hair, he frowned at the bruises on her face. “I’m only sorry I didn’t protect you better.”

Eden stared at him sleepily. “Not your fault. I should have waited for you to come and pick me up from the diner, but I was impatient. I wanted to get home and I thought you were fussing unnecessarily. Can’t understand why my brakes were playing up like that. Suppose that’s what I get for such a cheap car. Still, I’m going to give that mechanic a piece of my mind.” She sighed. “Guess I’m in for it, aren’t I?”

Galen shuddered at the thought of everything that could have happened to her, of how close he’d come to losing her. “Don’t worry about that now, baby. Just concentrate on getting better.”

She snorted as her eyes drifted shut. “You want me to heal so you can wallop on my butt,” she muttered.

His lips twitched. “That’s about the size of it, kitten.”

Galen watched as she finally succumbed to exhaustion, her eyelashes brushing against cheeks that were far too pale and gaunt. She’d lost a fair amount of weight since her disappearance.

Hints of her oriental background lay in her cinnamon-kissed skin and black hair. A slight scar was visible on her temple, starting at her hairline it cut through her eyebrow and ended to the right of her eye. Faint, and almost smooth with age, he knew she was self-conscious of the scar. What she didn’t realize was that it was a reflection of her fighting spirit, just a hint of her inner core of strength.

At a young age she’d had to fight for her life when her father had attacked her and her mother. He’d killed her mother and had left Eden to die. But his little mate was a survivor. Her delicate shell hid a strong will to live, to survive.

Possessive pride filled him. She was a worthy mate. Nothing and no one would hurt her again. She has his. He would kill for her, savage for her, turn on anyone who dared to hurt her. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for her. Except allow her to leave him.

“Mine,” he whispered with intense resolve.

“Mine,” he whispered with possessive fury.

“Mine forever.”

Chapter Seven:

Fear.

Darkness.

Suffocating….

“Eden. Eden, wake up. Wake up now.” Harsh, inflexible command sliced through her nightmare, forcing her obedience, allowing her no other choice but to awaken immediately.

Eyes opening, she gasped desperately for air, each wheezing breath made more painful by her sore ribs. The bedside light put up a pitiful fight against the deep, thundering dark. Galen stared down at her, his face a mask of light and dark.

“Breathe.”

Eden sobbed aloud. “L-l-light, p-please.” Bright light flooded the room.

“Breathe, baby. Breathe in and out. Slow and steady.” Galen drew her onto her lap, rocking her, holding her close to his heart. “Breathe for me, kitten. That’s all you have to do, nothing else but breathe. Listen to me breathe, listen to my heartbeat. Now mimic me, breathe with me. Follow my heart beat. Good girl.”

Her eyes closed, she simply listened to his voice, drawing from his confidence, his strength. Gradually the panic eased. Her heartbeat slowed as air filled her starving lungs. Laying her head in the crook of his neck she clung to his wide shoulders.

“I’m here, you’re not alone. I’m here, kitten. I’m here.” He ran his hand over her hair. “I’m here if you want to talk to me.”

The cocoon of safety he’d erected lent her the strength to open up. “I don’t like the dark,” she said quietly. “Or small spaces.” She looked up at him. “Was I afraid of the dark before?”

He looked indecisive for a moment. Then he nodded. “You’ve been afraid of the dark for a long time, kitten. You sleep with a lamp on normally. But small spaces, no. You weren’t scared of them before.”

“So that’s new,” she said, feeling overwhelmed and overly sensitive, like her insides were on display. She hated being weak, vulnerable. She was not prey, yet she knew that someone had tried to hunt her, and they had yet to finish the job.

“I need a shower,” she said huskily, not meeting his eyes as she attempted to climb off his lap. She should have known it wasn’t going to be that easy.

“Look at me, kitten.”

Eden drew a deep breath in, ignoring the pain in her ribs.

“Look at me.” His voice held no impatience, and she knew he would wait all night if he had to. Damn stubborn male.

“I can’t.” A trembling confession of shame.

“Why not?”

“I’m such a coward, so weak. Each night I dream someone is after me, and each night I awaken like this. Why can’t I get past it?” A broken plea that hurt even her ears.

His hand gently pushed her face up, forcing her to look into his whiskey gaze. “You listen to me well, Eden. You are not a coward, you are not weak. Even though you can’t remember what happened to you, you were obviously traumatized. The fact that you can live here on your own speaks of your bravery, your resilience, and if I ever hear you speak about yourself in this way again then I’ll have to do something drastic.”

Amazingly, she felt herself smile, her heart lightening.

“Drastic, huh? Like what?”

He growled, but it was a teasing sound. “I don’t know yet, wench. But I guarantee you won’t like it.”

“Oohh, I’m so scared. Why I might just have to swoon,” she teased him, delighting in the softening of his harsh face.

Before she realized his intent, his lips had captured hers, sweeping them into a dance that was sharp, sexy, and smooth. His tongue swept into her mouth, tasting her, drinking from her, stealing her very essence.

One hand boldly clasped a small breast, fingers pinching softly at her nipple, sending sharp beats of pleasure through her veins to dance a jig in the needy well between her legs. Thighs moving restlessly, nipples tightening and thrusting against her damp t-shirt, she felt breathless, overwhelmed, under siege.

Ignoring the protesting of her body, she pulled back from his hold to catch her breath. It was both a relief and a disappointment when he didn’t try to press her back into his hold; however, she knew it wasn’t because he was disinterested. It was abundantly clear to her that he was.

“I’m all sticky and gross. I need a shower.”

He gave an exaggerated sniff. “You still smell delicious to me.”

She gave out a snort of laughter. “You obviously have no sense of smell because I stink!”

He watched her hungrily as she turned away. The urge to reclaim her, love her soft and slow, then hard and fast was so strong it was painful.

 He didn’t just love her. That didn’t even come close to describing his feelings. He simply could not live without her. She was part of him, part of his soul. He knew that his obsessive need to keep her safe sometimes smothered her, chafed at her independence. And yet as protective as he’d been of her, he’d still failed to keep her safe. He’d let someone hurt her, and he would never forgive himself for that.

Galen was drawn back from his thoughts as he watched Eden painfully attempt to rise.

“Wait there. Right there. I’ll be back.” He moved into the kitchen and found a large mixing bowl. Filling it with hot water and soap, he got a washcloth and towel and returned to her.

Surprisingly, she still lay where he’d told her to.

“What are you doing?” she asked suspiciously as he grabbed the bottom of her t-shirt. She grabbed his hands.

“I’m bathing you.”

“I’ll have a shower.”

“Honey, you’re exhausted,” he told her patiently. “You’ll collapse in a shower. Just let me take care of you.”

She blushed. “I can do it.”

“Eden,” he said sternly. “You will let me do this. It is my right to take care of you. This is who I am. I will always put you first. I will always stand between you and danger, and I will always put your safety ahead of everything else. Now mind me.”

“Or what?” she said sassily. “You’ll spank me?”

The look she sent him said that she clearly didn’t believe he’d spank her while she was injured.

She was right.

“I have a very good memory, kitten. I already owe you a punishment for not waiting for me to collect you. I wouldn’t want to add any extras if I was you.”

She swallowed heavily. Galen raised her t-shirt. He growled at the sight of her bruises.

Her hand rose up to pet him softly, soothing him. “I’m fine, Galen. I’m not made of glass and I won’t break.”

Pulling her t-shirt off fully, he tried not to stare at her breasts, but they were tempting. He longed to lean down and suck on her nipples, to touch and caress her. But that wasn’t what she needed right now.

She needed tenderness. Care.

As Galen turned away to dip the washcloth in water, Eden felt a stab of disappointment. She wished he’d touch her. He thought her fragile, but she wasn’t. She was strong. And she knew what she wanted. Him.

Close to begging him, she clenched her hands into fists to stop herself from touching him.

“Take your t-shirt off,” she demanded as he ran the washcloth over one arm.

“What?” he asked, startled.

“It’s only fair. If I’m going to lie here with no top on you should have to go topless too.”

He stared down at her for a long moment and she figured he would refuse, but then he suddenly stripped off his t-shirt, leaving him in form-fitting boxer shorts. Her breath caught at the sight of his firm chest, thick with muscle, tanned with just a light sprinkling of chest hair.