Page 30 of Of Wolves and Wives

My eyes open, and I find Heath watching me, concern in his eyes. Of course, he’s worried about me. I’m acting like a fool as I shift about the bed, trying to put distance between us while also trying to crawl atop him.

“Are you feeling unwell?” he asks. “I can send for Ms. Thompson or Helena.”

“I’m fine.”

But my shifting only grows more obvious after that. His tenderness only makes the fire inside me burn brighter. I’m aware of every place that I’m touching him, of his arms around me and our legs wrapped up in one another. Of how he absently runs a hand through my hair before pausing at my neck. I can feel the way his eyes as they move over me.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, his voice too gentle.

I pause before finally pushing my embarrassment aside to admit, “I want you. Something has me wanting all of you, and I’m barely able to keep myself from pouncing on each of you. I’m not sure what’s come over me.”

He gives a soft chuckle, shifting me closer to him. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was almost encouraging my desires. But that can’t be right. Not Heath. He’s not like that. At least, I don’t think he is. Suddenly, I’m not so sure as his hand cups my cheek. Slowly, he shifts my head so that I’m staring into his eyes. My own desire is reflected back at me, threatening to make me do things I wouldn’t normally do and get lost in this man.

“From what I’ve heard, that’s quite common with shifter pregnancies. It’s meant to strengthen the mate bonds. It will probably only get worse the further along the pregnancy is. Along with other symptoms.”

A low growl escapes me, startling me as he talks. The last thing I want to be doing at that moment is lying there talking about what I can expect. Not when I’m burning for him. Unable to contain myself any longer, I reach up and drag his face to mine.

“I don’t want to hear about any more symptoms,” I tell him before crashing my lips to his. “I want you. Now.”

I feel his startled laugh against my mouth before his hands go to my waist. Without any effort, he hoists me onto him as he obliges my request. He’s gentle as he moves beneath me. His gasps whisper soft against my skin as we become one. I’m fully consumed by him, his movements as he satisfies me and leaves me silently gasping in pleasure. We’re silent as we move so as not to wake the maid, but that does nothing to take away from the moment.

Spent and exhausted, I collapse next to him. This time, when he wraps his arms around me and pulls me to him, all I do is snuggle closer. My eyes drift closed as I let the last waves of ecstasy wash over me, everything else momentarily forgotten.

15

Rose

Opening my eyes, I find that I’m alone in bed. I feel the instant ache of missing Heath. But as I sit up, I remember where I am. That I can’t be caught in bed with one of my men.

The maid bustles about the room, muttering quietly but just enough that it’s impossible to ignore her presence. She’s busy building a fire in an attempt to chase away the chill that’s seeped into the castle overnight. Pulling the blankets around me, I glance about the room.

Heath stands at the door, his face expressionless as he watches the maid. I manage to catch his eyes, my cheeks warming at the secret smile he gives me. Glancing away, I watch the maid. What would it be like to wake in the morning with him in bed still? The thought brings a grin to my face as I stretch. Once survival was all, I cared about. Now, though, I’m tempted to think of something better, a future where I can languish in happiness from time to time. It almost feels like I can grasp such a time.

But then the door opens, and Ms. Thompson comes bustling in, reminding me that such a future might as well be impossible. Either I succumb to the pregnancy and childbirth, or I’m killed by the wolves when the baby is born, and the father is not the prince. A maid trails behind Ms. Thompson, her eyes on the floor, and behind her, Helena comes sweeping into the room, looking as if she weren’t awoken in the middle of the night.

“Stay,” Helena orders, drawing my attention to where Heath was attempting to slip from the room.

He nods, looking as though he’d rather step into the hall as Ms. Thompson approaches me. I want to give him a reassuring smile, but I don’t dare. Not when I’m being scrutinized. I’m not sure what Ms. Thompson sees on my face, but it doesn’t seem to please her.

“Come, let us prepare you for the day,” she tells me, her tone brisk.

As I move from the bed, several more maids enter with trays of food. Helena settles herself on the settee next to the fire. Leaning back, she looks relaxed and content. It hits me that I’ve never seen her look like that. It changes her, melting her features into something softer than usual. I could almost forget that she’s a wolf in that moment.

Ms. Thompson bustles around me, rinsing me with cold water from a pitcher before dressing me. Her fingers are rough as she pulls my hair into a braid. I wonder if she’s ever been tender in her life, then push the thought away. In a way, I suppose her roughness is what’s allowed her to survive her for so long. With a frown, she sends me toward the table, now laden with food. Biting my lip, I settle into the chair, staring at the food.

“Guard,” Helena says. “Come feed her.”

My eyes find Heath’s as he hesitates for a moment. Then he moves, crossing the room in several strides. I can feel the gazes of the maids, Ms. Thompson and Helena, on us as he joins me, sitting just in front of me. Our eyes meet, and after a moment, everything else fades away until I can pretend that it’s just the two of us.

We say nothing as he begins to cut into a chunk of meat before feeding me. His face softens as I eat, watching to ensure I’m enjoying each bite that he delivers. I’m hesitant at first, worried that we were wrong, and any moment now, my stomach will revolt against the food. But it doesn’t. With him sitting there, I stomach every mouthful of decadent food.

Heath peels an orange for me, handing me a slice. As I chew, I glance about the room. My eyes catch on Helena. She’s sitting up, her eyes nearly sparkling as she watches Heath feeding me. His tenderness is suddenly clear as day, and I worry that she’ll step in or that we’ve revealed too much of our bond. But her gaze doesn’t waver as he hands me another slice of orange. If anything, I see a flicker of longing on her face. It’s as if she’s enjoying watching the closeness between Heath and me. Is it possible that she wants a bond like this of her own? I can’t imagine she finds anything like this from the Grey Prince.

Once I’ve finished the orange, Heath offers me a slice of cake that’s dripping with honey. I’m full, but I can’t bring myself to deny him or the cake. I take a bite, savoring the sweet tang of honey as it mixes with the spices of the cake. Honey dribbles down my chin, but I don’t care as I let out a content sigh. Heath leans forward, our eyes meeting as he kisses the honey away from my face.

“Enough,” Helena snaps. “Guard, back to the door. Now.”

Heath’s entire body tenses as his eyes remain on me. I do my best to give him a look that assures him that I’m fine. I’ve tensed as well at the sharpness of Helena’s tone. And how easy it was for us to forget our place.

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