Page 24 of Frenzy
I was an episode in, and it was kinda funny, when I felt eyes on me again. I looked over my shoulder to see Bonnie standing in the doorway once more.
“Pryce? You still awake?”
I paused the show. “Yep.” Sleep didn’t come easily to me, never had. Sleep made you vulnerable.
I felt her hesitance, heard the slight increase of her heart rate, before she sucked in a deep breath and walked into the room. “I know Courtland said you’d been through some… stuff.” I stiffened, but she put a hand up. “I don’t want to know anything you don’t want to talk about. But, uh, Manix? We are Pack animals, traditionally. Touch with fellow Manix is as important for you and your healing as it is for the babies.”
I tilted my head at her, still reading her body language with my senses. Her heart rate was raised, and she smelled a little worried. About me? Under the worry though, was the scent of Radic and Dominic. Memories of the noises they’d been making, the scent of sex that had slid beneath the closed office door hit me again. I bit my tongue to stop myself getting hard, because that would be even more embarrassing than Courtland busting me with my hand on my dick and then telling everyone about it.
So I shook my head at her. “I don’t like to be touched.”
Bonnie nodded understandingly. “That’s okay too. Maybe I’ll sit and keep you company?”
I paused, looking around the darkened room lit only by the glow of the television. It was kind of depressing to sit in the dark by yourself. “If you don’t want to go back to bed, you’re welcome to sit.”
She gave me a smile so radiant it was like she’d reached into my chest and squeezed. She grabbed a throw blanket off an armchair and slid onto the couch beside me, careful not to touch me.
I turned the show back on, and we both watched it in silence. Well, she watched the show and I watched her. Her throaty laughs made my lips curl of their own accord, and watching her snuggle down into the soft blanket made me want to drag her into my arms, despite my previous declaration.
Was she right? Was this empty void in my chest meant to be filled with a Pack? I’d felt better in the last week, with Courtland and Dominic, and all the teens. Though it could be just like, I don’t know... What was the obsession you got with the person who saved you? Hero worship?
I moved my hand toward the fingers I could see just poking out of the blanket. I slid my fingertips over her knuckles, and her body tensed, but she didn’t turn to look at me. So I laid my hand on top, and felt the warmth of her skin seep into mine. She felt warmer than normal, or was that just the connection she was talking about?
We sat like that, connected by the slightest of touches, no more personal than a handshake, but she was right. I did kind of feel better. Less alone.
Eventually, Bonnie’s breathing evened out and she began to slump to the side. When I looked over, I realized she was asleep. She looked so young when she was asleep, her lips slightly parted and her face free from lines. She kept sliding further and further to the side, so I scooted closer to prop her up. Although maybe I should have let her fall to the side; lying down had to be more comfortable than sleeping upright, right?
Ugh, I was so tired of not knowing any of the answers to anything. Her head fell against my shoulder, and I tucked the blanket back around her tightly. I sat as still as possible, but lying against the curve of my shoulder couldn’t be comfortable. I should probably wake her and send her off to bed.
But instead of following my own sound advice, I lifted my arm and wrapped it around her shoulders, so her head fell to my chest. Her body slumped against mine, the hot puff of her sleeping breaths flowing across my shirt.
I squeezed her gently closer, and breathed. Like an actual, fully relaxed breath. Holy shit. She’d been right. My Beast reached out and wrapped around hers, like it was seeking comfort from her, and providing her comfort in return.
Lightness trickled into the dark abyss in my chest, and I let myself ease into her hold too. I could get used to this. The feel of a soft body pressed along mine.
Ah shit, no. No thoughts of how soft she felt. Or how good she smelled. Just platonic physical contact for medicinal purposes. I rested my head back against the couch, soaking in the warmth of the woman beside me, but trying to pretend she was just a really beautiful hot water bottle.
Ugh.
Three episodes later, I’d managed to convince myself that her body was just an extension of mine and nothing to get hard over. Another episode after that dirty rotten lie, I fell asleep too.
Iwoke to the sound of voices, and for a moment, panic consumed me. I was strapped down again on the table, unable to shake off the restraints across my chest. But the room didn’t smell like chemicals; the table was not cold metal. The weight on my chest smelled good and tickled my nose.
I slid my eyes open, and realized I’d lain down on the couch at some point. The morning sun was just peeking through the windows. Bonnie was strewn across my body, her cheek pressed against the top of my abs. There was a little patch of drool cooling on my shirt, and I nearly laughed. That was when I realized my arms weren’t restrained, but I did have my hand tangled in her hair. My morning hard-on was pressed tight to her soft stomach.
“I thought you said he didn’t like touch,” the voice whispered, and I realized it was Radic.
A soft noise that could have been scoff or a murmur of agreement answered him. “We both know our… your girl is special.” Hmm, Dominic?
“Leave them be,” the last voice, unmistakably Courtland, echoed. “This is good for them both. Radic, would you feed one of the cubs?”
They walked away down the hall, and I was left alone with Bonnie. God, she was even more beautiful with her hair like a bird's nest and a bit of drool on her bottom lip. How was that even possible?
That wasn’t a question I needed an answer to, because I didn’t care. I closed my eyes, willed down my hard-on, and went back to sleep.
15
Radic
