40. Hayden
Heat cocooned me on all sides, and I let out a nonsensical mumble as I blinked against the morning light. And I kept right on blinking at the sight that greeted me. I had to be dreaming. That was the only answer that made any sense.
Because the sight in front of me was something I’d been sure I’d never see. Easton was propped against the pillows, facing me. His long hair was mussed from sleep, curling around his shoulders in that gorgeous mix of browns and blonds. My fingers itched to touch it, but I knew that would break the dream.
“How do you feel?” he asked gruffly.
I blinked again. “I’m dreaming.”
Easton frowned. “No…”
A chuckle sounded behind me. “Not dreaming, baby.” Knox pressed a kiss to my shoulder as he sat up in bed.
I struggled to do the same. My body protested the action a bit. My muscles ached as if I’d gone on an especially rough rollercoaster ride, which had memories surging to the surface.
I squeezed my eyes closed, trying to fight them back.
Knox took my hand in an instant. “You’re okay. You’re safe.”
“Safe,” I whispered, trying to get myself to believe it.
Slowly, I opened my eyes to meet concerned green ones. Easton had shifted so that he was facing me. “Do you need medicine? Is anything hurting?”
I lifted my hand to my lip. The place where it had split didn’t show any sign of injury. Then my fingers dropped to my neck. I carefully prodded the skin there, but there was no pain.
“Marcus made you a few things to help with healing,” Knox explained.
The vague memory of him and Easton treating my wounds filled my mind. A soaking wet Easton.
My gaze flicked up to his. “You got into the bath with me.”
He’d ignored the fact that he was fully clothed and simply got right in. The memory had my heart twinging at his kindness.
“You needed someone.”
And for Easton, it was as simple as that.
“Thank you.”
That had him scowling. “You don’t need to thank me.”
“All right…” I turned to Knox. “What happened to, um, you know?”
I couldn’t find it in myself to say my advisor’s name, too scared it would send me spiraling again.
Knox and Easton were quiet for a moment. It was Easton who finally cleared his throat. “He’s been dealt with.”
“Dealt with…” My words trailed off as things became clear. “Oh.”
Knox pressed a kiss to my temple. “Don’t have a moment’s guilt. Behavior like this. It’s never a one-off. We’re ridding the world of someone who would go on to hurt countless more women.”
My stomach twisted at the thought. Knox was right. There was no way I was the first, and I certainly wouldn’t have been the last. I doubted Brent’s previous victims had the kind of support and backup I did. They’d likely had to deal with it alone.
But I wasn’t alone. Not anymore.
“Knox is right,” Easton gritted out. “Death is a kindness for that piece of shit.”
My focus shifted to him, really taking him in. I could see the fury beneath the surface, but I could also see the concern. For me.
“Not going to argue with you there.”
He just grunted. “Are you hurting?”
I shook my head. “Not really.”
“So, yes,” Easton said, starting to rise.
I grabbed his arm, stopping him. “Just a little muscle soreness. Nothing that requires medication.”
Easton studied me for a moment, trying to read whether I was telling him the truth.
“I’m not a martyr. I’d tell you if I needed the good stuff.”
I was hoping for a flicker of humor in his expression, but there wasn’t even a hint.
“I’m okay,” I promised. And physically, I was. But I knew that mentally and emotionally, it was going to take some time.
Easton lifted a hand to brush the hair out of my face. “You need time to rest and heal.”
“Don’t we need to keep up our normal schedules? I’m not an expert on getting away with murder, but that seems like a good place to start.”
Knox chuckled. “She has a point.”
“I don’t have morning classes today, so I’ve got a few hours before I need to be on campus,” I said when Easton scowled again.
“We don’t have anything until eleven,” Knox said. “We can have a good breakfast and take it easy until we leave for campus.”
“Fine,” Easton huffed.
My lips twitched. “Thank you for worrying.”
The scowl just deepened. “Stop thanking me.”
“You can’t control who I thank. I’m just letting you know that I appreciate your concern.”
He huffed out a breath. “Okay.”
Easton was quiet for a moment before slowly lifting a hand to my face. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
My breath hitched as my heart sped up.
Easton’s throat worked as he swallowed. “I can’t stay away from you anymore, Hayden. I tried. So damned hard. But you smashed through every defense.”
A war erupted inside me. One part of me howled in victory. But the other part had me frowning…
Wariness flitted across Easton’s expression. “What’s wrong?”
I worried the inside of my cheek as I searched for the right words. “I want you to want me for me, not because the bond broke you.”
“The bond didn’t break me. You did. Because of who you are.”
I shook my head, scooting out of his touch. The loss of his hand on my face killed me. “You don’t even know me. Because you’ve been hell-bent on keeping me at arm’s length.”
Easton’s eyes flashed. “I know you, Hayden. Like I know my own soul. That’s what a true mate is.”
“But I want to be more to you than a true mate. I want to be the person you choose. Not just someone who’s been forced on you.”