Page 69 of Wolf's Claimed Mate
“Don’t tell me you’ll enjoy that thoroughly and then later tell me how you need to work it off,” Conall said, grinning, leaning against the bathroom doorway, still naked. I couldn’t take my eyes off his expanse of muscles.
“Absolutely not,” I said. “This is my guilt-free cake. Besides, shifting sort of keeps me active with all the running. It works everything off my human body anyway.”
After we bathed, Conall changed the sheets, and I wrapped myself in fuzzy pajamas that I found in the drawer. I was wrapped up in my wolf, burying my head in his neck, and it clicked.
“Ever since Jackson left, my defenses have been up,” I told him softly. “I know you know that, but… Just let me talk.”
Conall nodded.
“You’ve protected me, Conall,” I said. “And—well, at first I couldn’t accept that. I still
can’t fully. But today, I saw how you stepped back and let me have my pride. My space to fight my own battles as well as ones with you.”
I leaned in, nuzzling into him. “I didn’t think I could trust another man. I didn’t ever think I couldloveanother man again.” Hesitantly, I met his eyes. “Until you. It’s not just sex, Conall, and I think we both know it. I’m sorry I said because I shouldn’t have. When I’m threatened, I pretend. I pretend like nothing matters to me; it's my defense. But I want to learn how to lower them with you.”
Conall was quiet for a long, long time.
Then his arms were around me, his fingers slipping through mine as he turned me on my back, leaning over me.
“I’m not good with just standing back and letting things happen,” he said, and my stomach fluttered with nerves. “I never really know when to draw the line and let other people do what they need to do for themselves. I always want to step in; it’s like a need to protect. You spark that in me—this need to keep you safe. I know I struggle with that, but if you can be patient with me, Sasha, I swear I won’t let harm come to you, but I’ll stand beside you and watch you not let harm come toyourself.”
I couldn’t help my breathy laughter at that.
“It’s never just been sex,” he told me. “You were silly for saying that.”
“I know,” I mumbled.
“But I need to know when you want to take the lead, especially in your own dealings and fights.ButI want you to know that it’s not weak to have someone fighting with you. For as long as you’ll have me, I want to be here fightingwithyou. Let me do my part to keep you safe.”
“Yes, but—”
“No buts,” he said. “If I have to learn things, then so do you, so we don’t clash.”
“Right,” I muttered.
He laughed and kissed me. “I love you, Sasha.”
I always thought I’d fear those words but when he said them they sank into me calmly, peacefully, and I felt like something that had been wound tightly in me, throwing up every defense, suddenly relaxed. It let go. I sighed as I wrapped my arms around his shoulders.
“I love you, Conall.”
Chapter 30 - Conall
A week later, I sat down in a hospital chair at the side of my brother’s bed.
His heart monitor beeped, showing a steady heartbeat. It was a noise that both set me on edge and comforted me.
His eyes cracked open at the sound of my arrival.
“Oh,” he said. “It’s you.”
“Sorry,” I said, grinning. “They told me you had me on a list to not be allowed in, but here I am anyway, sucks for you.”
Declan rolled his eyes.
“How are you?” I asked seriously.
“Not good,” he said. “I feel like I got mauled by a wolf because my brother got involved with a girl who needed saving a little earlier than we planned. Oh, wait, that’s exactly what happened.”
