Page 88 of Mated to the Enemy
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“There, now isn’t that better?” she asked as he pulled on sweatpants, still wet with water from the shower.
After getting a better glimpse at him and the number of injuries he’d suffered, she’d made him wash. In turn, Klaue had made her join him in the shower. It wasn’t very flirtatious, but more officious. She’d helped him clean up, attending to the places he couldn’t reach. Gently rubbing him down, she cleansed him of the blood and dirt that had become stuck to his body.
“Of course,” he agreed. “Anything is better with you involved.” He reached out and pulled her tight. She clung to his body, but carefully. Most of his wounds were healed over or almost healed, but she was still ginger with him.
“Klaue…”
“I need to tell you something,” he interrupted.
Jessica lifted her eyebrows, moving her mouth from side. “I’m pretty sure I get to go first on this one. After all, I’m still trying to finish what I said before I was interrupted back at the cemetery.” She paused, suddenly remembering he’d been in a fight. “How is everyone by the way?” she asked, speaking in hushed tones.
“We lost some men,” he replied, and she could see the casualties weighing heavily on him. They’d known going in that it wasn’t going to be won cleanly, but he still mourned the loss of every shifter that had laid down their life for him.For me.That was just the way Klaue was.
“I’m so sorry,” she said, squeezing tighter into him, wishing she could hug him harder.
“We knew there would be a cost. What’s important is that we won. Thoroughly. None of their lives was wasted in vain.” He growled, the sound causing her body to vibrate where she touched him. “I can’t say the same about the wolves that died.”
She could sense the disgust in him, feel his anger at the entire situation. Jessica agreed. A few men at the top manipulated those who followed into doing their bidding. It was rare that the ones in power ever suffered the consequences for their actions—although she was learning that perhaps it was a bit more common in the shifter world.
“Lorran?” she asked cautiously, not because she cared, but because she knew how it would affect her sister.
“Dead,” Klaue said, not an ounce of regret in his voice. “But I don’t think it’s over. Not for Canis at least. Whoever that third person is, I think they’re going to go ahead with it. The bastard.”
“Maybe. But what can we do? We don’t even know who to warn. If we broadcast it to all, it could be disastrous, even worse. Many who aren’t involved on either side would get swept up.”
“I know. We’re going to sit on it, I think.” Klaue scratched his head, sighing. “Anyway, enough talk about all that. You said you wanted to tell me something? Please say you’re not leaving.”
Jessica’s mouth dropped open. “Leaving? Why would I be leaving?”
“I don’t know. It’s over now. Your sister is free. You two will want to go live your lives and stuff, right?”
She both wanted to laugh, and also to punch Klaue for being so thick-headed. And yet, she realized that perhaps there was more to it. Jessica had always assumed that because of their good looks, strength, and excess money, shifters were immune to things that plagued most human men.
“You don’t think I could actually care for you?” she gasped.
Klaue looked away. “I killed your sister’s mate,” he said. “I killed others today. I’m not an angel, Jess. I’ve done bad things. I will end up doing more bad things. It’s the way of life among us. Why would you want to stay with me, when you could go be with someone who isn’t?”
“Because, you numb-skulled moron, I don’t love them. I love you!” she practically shouted, jabbing a finger into his sternum so hard she hurt herself.
“What?” Klaue was staring at her, wide eyed, slack-jawed. “What did you say?”
“I said,I love you,” she growled, doing her best to imitate him when he was frustrated. “Have you not picked up on that at all?”
“Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.” Klaue licked his lips.
Jessica hung her head, smiling despite it all as she finally confessed the feelings that had been building in her for the past few days.
“Well now it just sounds like I’m copying you,” he said.
Looking up, she saw a mischievous twinkle in his eye, like the sun sparkling on a placid lake early in the morning. “What are you talking about?”
“BecauseIwas going to tellyouthat I love you. Except you went and stole my thunder.”
“What?” She raised a hand to cover her mouth. “Klaue, are you serious?”
“Of course, I’m serious,” he said forcefully, not giving her the slightest bit of room to doubt him. “Only an idiot wouldn’t recognize that you’re the single best thing to happen to me. I may have my shortcomings, but I’m notthatoblivious!”
