Page 35 of His UnBearable Touch

A moment later, he felt a hand on his back, fingers combing through his thick fur.

Allegra.

She moved higher up along his body, her hand repeating the gentle petting gesture again and again as she did. When she reached his head, he held still and let her touch him. She gently ran her palms over his broad forehead and traced her fingertips along the edges of his ears before smoothing a touch down both cheeks. “That’s really you in there, isn’t it?”

He leaned into her hands and after the initial shock of it, she leaned in to him too, until her cheek pressed against his.

“I’m so glad you’re okay. I don’t know what I would have done if something had happened to you.”

Valerio opened his mouth to speak before he realized that he couldn’t sound out the words.

She turned and wrapped her arms around his massive neck. “I know,” she sighed, “you don’t have to say it. All that matters is that we’re walking out of this alive.”

The heavy side door of the enclosure swung open. Valerio could see the cage on the other side of the door standing open as well. Salvatore and then Uberto walked in, their eyes looking into the darkness for danger. Uberto remained in the opening to watch as Salvatore made his way over to them. “Let’s get you two home.”

Allegra felt someone take her arm and she leaned toward the touch. “It’s Salvatore. I’m going to get you to the car, Uberto will take care of Valerio.”

She smiled at him, relief flooding through her at the feel of cool night air that reached her face. “Thanks for coming to get us.”

Salvatore guided her toward the exit. “Looks like you two handled it on your own.” There was a pause and then a warning. “Careful, we’re going through the doorway, watch yourself.”

“Thanks for watching out for me,” she lifted her hand to pull it in closer to her body and ended up hitting it on the edge of the door.

She didn’t make a sound, after years of walking into things, she was used to the sudden jarring pain of impact.

It was Valerio who made a comment with a loud rolling growl in his throat.

“What happened?” The question was from Uberto, who felt his brother’s unease.

Allegra decided not to try and hide it from them. It was better just to get it over with. “I landed on my arm and might have hurt my wrist, but I’m sure it’s fine. Really.”

There was a moment of silence and she knew the brothers were communicating with each other. And this time she knew exactly what they were going to say. Letting out her pent-up sigh, she asked her question to the entire Orsino brotherhood. “Which hospital are we going to?”

* * *

Tucked away in bed, Allegra couldn’t quite go to sleep. Every so often she’d feel Valerio shift against her side and his fingers would sweep through her hair before he’d press a kiss somewhere on her face. “Go to sleep,” he grumbled after a bit, “I’ll watch over you.”

“I know you will,” she sighed into his shoulder, “but I can’t quite get to sleep just yet.”

They lapsed into silence until she traced her fingers over his bare chest, humming to herself.

Valerio gently set his hand over hers to hold it still. “The doctor said to rest your wrist until we see him tomorrow for another check.”

He fell silent again, smoothing his hand down her side from her shoulder to her elbow and then dropping to the hip and over the rise to her thigh before he’d start again.

Instead of soothing her, it only managed to make her warm, tingly.

“Why-” she stopped, struggling to find the right words, “why are we waiting?” She let out a frustrated sigh, she had wanted to broach the subject in a more roundabout way and only ended up blurting out the words. “I heard what Salvatore said to you before he went to check on Natale.”

She felt Valerio’s fingers dig lightly into her hip and heat pooled between her thighs as she imagined his touch against her bare skin.

“I didn’t want to disrupt your life.”

“Disrupt my life?” She couldn’t help the laugh that burst from her lips. “I could use a little good disruption in my life.”

“Things might change after I mark you.”

“Change can be good. What are you worried about?”

---