Chapter Fifteen
Con opened his door when they pulled into the resort’s underground parking lot. It was time for them to check out and return to Manhattan. He strolled around to Rey’s side of the car.
She unfolded from the seat, her long legs stretching out as her sensible boots hit the floor.
His gaze swept the garage. They were alone, and it was dark, the lights obviously having burned out. His shifter vision, however, was great.
Con leaned against the closed door, pressing Rey’s back into it.
He unpinned her hair, allowing it to cascade down her shoulders.
“Better.” He combed his fingers through it, tilting his hips forward to let her feel his arousal.
He swallowed a growl, restraining the wolf that wanted to claim and bite.
It sought to dominate, to cow his prey until she submitted to him.
Putting him on edge, Rey threatened to make him lose control and become the monster he feared—the one his father had become, the beast trapped in his wild nature.
Instead, he fought for mastery. “It’s torture being locked up with you. Smelling your delectable scent but unable to hold you in my arms to do this.”
He forced his lips to her mouth, content to rest there until she opened and urged his tongue inside. Craving her taste, he slipped in and explored.
Rey’s arms encircled his neck, her fingers lacing together. She took a deep breath, the points of her breasts rubbing against him.
His kiss was sensuous. Although it wasn’t a claiming, it spoke of his right to possess her body.
Her hands dropped from his hair to fist in his t-shirt as she wrapped one leg around his calves.
He withdrew. As she moaned with the loss, he nibbled on her jaw and then her neck. He opened his mouth and dragged his sharp canines along her skin. It would be so easy to bite.
That was his last thought before someone hit him from behind. He crashed to the cold garage floor. A ski-masked male grabbed him off the ground and pummeled his face. Con shook off the attack and laid into the stranger. A punch to his gut.
Too late, Con saw the raised knife that plunged into his chest. As he staggered, Rey screamed, and a loud party of humans crowded into the parking garage. The attacker ran, his boots pounding the pavement.
When Con stumbled and fell, Rey dropped beside him, taking his head in her lap. She pressed a hand to his chest, yelling for help. The stunned humans eventually raced in their direction. One Earther sped off, returning with help.
The entire time, Rey stayed with him, crying and trying to stay the flow of his blood. He kept reassuring her. “I’m okay. Okay.”
Con had caught the scent of his attacker. Beneath the men’s cologne was a wolf. Familiar. He had to hold onto the smell and the thought forming in his mind. Too late. He blacked out.
Con blinked in and out of consciousness, hearing sirens and feeling himself lifted onto a stretcher.
With her hand gripping his, Rey ran alongside him.
Blood soaked her jacket. If the attacker injured her, he would find him and tear out the skin, tendons, muscles, and bones in his neck.
If she were killed, he’d find the guy, his wolf would kill him slowly and painfully, and Con would never shift from fur to skin again.
Next, he awoke to a different scent—antiseptic. And Rey. She was still holding his hand, her head on the bed. He moved.
Holy fuck. Pain.
His brain began to fit together memories like puzzle pieces—one at a time until he had the whole picture. He shot upright in bed. “Where am I?”
Rey swiped tears off her cheek. She pressed his shoulders to the mattress. “Lie down. Dammit. You’re going to tear out the stitches.”
He glanced at the bandage on his chest. “Where?”
“The hospital. You were stabbed. Some masked guy attacked you. You were loaded into an ambulance, and I followed you here in the car.”
She started to cry again. “I was useless. None of my instincts kicked in. I allowed him to stab you.”
“Are you okay?” He couldn’t take his eyes off her bloody jacket.
She stared at it. “It’s not mine. It’s yours.”
Con reached for her, wrapping his arms around her. To hell with the pain. He drew her close. “Hey. I’m tough. I can handle a little cut. And freezing doesn’t mean anything. It’s a natural reaction.”
She pried herself away. Her voice went up an octave. “A little cut? It barely missed your damn macho heart. If you have one.”
He smiled.
“Why are you fucking grinning?”
“Because you care.”
“You’re my partner. And you’re old. Really old.”
“I am but that’s not why. And?”
“And nothing. That’s it.”
He dropped the subject. For now. “Did you see the asshole who got me?”
“He wore a mask. Was almost as big as you. Dark pants. Dark shirt. Black boots. No distinguishing marks. He ran off. Nobody pursued him. I was busy keeping your blood inside your chest. You coulda died.”
“Didn’t. Let’s get outta here.”
“Are you crazy?”
“Likely, but to heal fast, I have to shift. I’d rather not do it here.” Con ripped the tape off his arm, pulling out tubes.
Not pleased, Rey watched. Finally, she kicked into gear and helped him out of bed.
He stared at the hospital gown. “Clothes?”
“Yours are ruined. Boots are here. You want them?”
Good thing he’d stocked up on clothes at Target. Looked like he’d need a supply of jeans and t-shirts. “Yep.”
Before she released him, she kissed his cheek.
“Aren’t you going to tell me how brave I am? How strong I am? How proud you are that I can stand the pain?”
She brushed her lips across his. “You’re so brave. So strong. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks. Now, move your pretty ass before I fall on my face.”
When she retrieved his socks and boots, he slipped into them, and they strolled arm in arm out of the hospital. Well, more like Rey held him up as he stumbled to the car, big, brave wolf that he was.
He wanted to rip off his attacker’s head, though. Once he could stand up without help.