Chapter 10 I’ll Protect You
Chapter ten
I’ll Protect You
To my great relief, there’s no one around when I reach the cabin. No one but her.
She’s tried her best to prop the door back into place, but it was clearly too heavy for her. She shivers in what little heat is left of the fire where it struggles against the cold wind.
Or maybe it’s fear making her shiver, backing up from the door until she sees it’s me.
“You good?” I ask as I shift back, pulling her into my arms. “It’s okay. You’re okay. He’s not gonna bother you anymore.”
As soon as she opens her mouth, she breaks into a sob. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I should have known he would come here. What if you got hurt? It would be all my fault. And I wrapped you into this, I’m so sorry—”
“Shhh,” I rock her against my chest, hand in her hair.
“You’re okay, I’m okay. He’s dead and he won’t be hurting either of us.
” I hope that’s true. I’m going to make sure tomorrow, just as soon as I let some of the Cedar Run folks know what the hell is going on.
Maybe I’ll bring her down to town and get them to keep an eye on her while I make sure that bastard is good and truly gone.
Savannah whimpers in my arms, shivering hard.
“You’re safe now. I’m not going to leave you alone. You don’t need to leave this cabin. Everything you need is here, and I’m going to take care of you. Okay?”
She nods, tears running down her face, and sobbing harder.
I don’t know what to do with a crying woman. This isn’t my skill set, but I do my best to comfort her, holding her tight and rocking her gently against my chest.
“Listen, I need you to stay right here for a minute. I’m not letting you out of my sight, but I am going to step outside and get the backpack I dropped there.
Then I’m going to come back in and get that door set into place, and I’ll put the bar down so no one else can enter.
You’re safe. We’re safe. Even if someone else comes looking—” I pause at the fear in her eyes, adding quickly, “Which they won’t.
But if they did, we’re safe. I’ll be on the lookout.
Now that I know, I’ll be alert all night.
You can rest. I’ll make you tea and soup or something, and then you can sleep. Okay?”
I don’t know how to take care of another person.
I’m used to living alone.
But she just nods, her sobs quieting a little.
“Good. Here.” I gently set her down on the bed, moving to the bathroom and grabbing a washcloth from the stack of clean ones. It’s frayed at the edges and not that soft, but it’ll have to do. “You can use this.”
She nods gratefully, dabbing her eyes and burying her face in the cloth as I dart outside to grab the backpack. It only takes a second, and once I’m back in, I waste no time setting the door back in place and barring it. Damn bastard really did a number on the wood, but it’s nothing I can’t fix.
But not tonight. Tonight, my priority is getting Savannah comfortable.
My mate. That word still feels odd, but the pull in my heart is true, bonding us together.
“You feeling better?” I ask as I lift the steaming kettle off the woodstove and dig out a teabag for each of us. I barely have two mugs. One is chipped, so I take that one.
She nods gratefully, accepting the tea I offer.
“No caffeine.” I nod at it. “Something a witch friend prepared, should help you sleep.”
“Thank you.”
We drink our tea in silence, and it must have more of an effect on her than me, because I can see her head starting to droop. Before she drops the cup, I lift it gently from her hands, setting it on the bedside table.
“Sleep soundly, mate.”
She smiles up at me. “You, too.”
I kiss her knuckles, glancing up at her warm brown eyes, then kiss her neck where that bastard left red marks all around. I never thought I’d have a mate.
And I sure as hell never imagined I’d get one like this.
She sleeps so soundly, so full of trust, even though we just met. Even though she went through so much.
It’s strangely peaceful in my little cabin—our little cabin, watching her sleep, and I let my chin drift down into my hand as I sip another cup of tea and the soft sound of snow rushes against the windows.
“Goodnight, Savannah. My mate.”
***
Sometime in the middle of the night, she stirs, rolling over to look at me. At first she blinks like she’s confused, then realization seems to dawn as she reaches up and touches the bite on her neck. A slow smile spreads across her face until it lights her eyes.
Her gaze settles on me where I sit beside the fire, watching the low flames. “Come to bed, Gunnar. You don’t have to stay up all night.”
“I vowed to protect you.”
“You can’t protect anyone if you don’t take care of yourself, too. You need sleep.”
She’s right. My eyes grow heavy every muscle in my body aching. I really need to lie down.
“I don’t know…” Even as I protest, I’m already standing. Already crossing the room. Already pulling back the covers and climbing in beside her. “I’ve never shared a bed with anyone else.”
“There’s a first time for everything.”
I laugh, kissing her neck, sucking the claim bite mark at the base of her collar. “I suppose I can just protect you from right here.”
If anyone tries to break in, I’ll wake in an instant.
Until then, she’s right.
I should get some sleep.