61. Henri
Chapter 61
Henri
I think we slept for four hours when Deacon’s alarm goes off. No, I think I slept for two hours because my body was one temperature change away from insanity. Deacon, however, is nearly bright-eyed and bushy-tailed after our four-hour nap as he comes back from the bathroom... But it’s more than that.
Deacon’s wolf rises to the surface, and mine rushes forward to meet his. I feel warmth and connectedness. It’s all-consuming, and that obsessive part of me, who has always wanted to know where he was, clicks into place.
Our mate. You get it now, right? My wolf begs me to see and accept what she’s saying.
“Fuck.” Deacon laughs. He runs his hand across the back of his neck, and his face reddens a little bit. “You feel that too?”
I make him nervous?
I nod, biting my lips together, keeping in all the word vomit threatening to escape.
“I knew it would be intense, but no wonder no one can explain this feeling to you.” He steps toward me, closing the gap between us, but hesitates when he gets to me, coming to a standstill.
I extend my hand, reaching for him. My body and wolf call for him despite my brain’s hesitation.
Slowly, and like he’s afraid I’ll spook, Deacon takes my hand. His touch stokes the fire that’s been growing under my skin. I’m salivating, and my heart rate picks up like I’m running with the pack, not just getting out of bed.
When Deacon wraps his arms around me, I could let the heat take me and melt me into a puddle on the floor. I would be content to be puddled for the rest of my life. But is this just the heat talking?
My cell phone rings.
With one last squeeze, Deacon lets me out of his arms so I can answer it. The contented warmth fizzles from my body with every vibration of the phone, flash of the screen, and by the time my hand wraps around the metal device, I’m nearly freezing cold.
In the last ring before voicemail, I slide my finger across the screen to accept the call. “Hello?”
“Where are you?” Nathan barks into the phone. “Why haven’t you been answering me?”
“I don’t know why that matters.” I check, and the phone call came from an unidentified number. One of the few things that Deacon couldn’t figure out how to block.
“Don’t bother, Henri.” He huffs and then grumbles, “I know you’re with him . I thought we were getting back together.”
My stomach sinks. “We are not getting back together. What are you talking about?”
“Henri, it’s on social media. The two of you checking into a hotel together. The poster said you only got one room and went into it together. ”
I look at Deacon, and he’s pulling his phone out of his pocket.
“Okay? What does that matter?” Tears prickle my eyes. Why is this happening?
Deacon steps up behind me, pushing his phone into my line of sight. It’s right at the top of the Cousins Grimm social media page. Deacon and I at the front desk, and then him holding the door open behind me.
Things are slamming in the background on Nathan’s side of the call. “I should have fucking known you’d cheat on me. Wolves aren’t meant to be loyal to one person, it’s why you all run in shitty packs. Hope his dick was good enough for you, Henri. You cheated on me, and now you’re just some whore.”
“Nathan, I’m not cheating on you.” I’m firm with him. My mate has his arms wrapped around me, standing here listening, so why am I even talking to Nathan? “I don’t owe you anything. We’re not dating. Unless you’ve something extremely urgent to tell me about something from the time we were together, please don’t contact me again.” My voice shakes.
“You’re a slut, Henri. Nothing more than all those fucked-up things you wanted to do in the bedroom. I should have known better the first time you wanted to try something new. I wasn’t ever good—”
Deacon pulls my phone out of my hand.
“Nathan. Hi. Deacon Alden. So, I’m a pretty tolerant individual, but you’re quickly becoming the most notable coward I’ve ever met. Quite frankly, I’ve yet to find one good quality in your possession. And I say that because the best part of you was Henri, and she’s mine now. Do not contact her again for any reason.” Deacon waits.
Nathan is screaming loud enough that I can hear him, even with my phone volume all the way down. “Fuckin’ bastard. Dirtying her with your disgusting hands.”
Deacon snorts and then answers with words thick with implications and veiled threats. “Nathan, don’t bother trying to see or contact her again. If you do, there will be consequences that are directly proportionate to the amount of disdain I’m feeling for you at any given second. Please note, it’s currently immeasurable.” Deacon hands me back my phone. The call is disconnected, and his voice is back to his usual, friendly Deacon tone. “I’ll get Adam to figure out a way to prevent that again.”
“Did you just threaten Nathan?” My brain is fuzzy with the details of what just happened.
“Oh, well, if you’re questioning it, then clearly, I haven’t learned to do it well enough.” With his hands on my shoulders, Deacon spins me to face him. He runs his finger up my cheek, and I feel the wetness of a tear that escaped. “Chin up, Hen. No boy like that is worth crying over. Remember?”
“Deacon, what should we do?” I want to shake my head away from his hand, but instead, I melt into him. “I mean, it’s hardly abnormal that you and I have roomed together in the past as your media manager.”
He wraps himself around me, holding me close. “You’re going to go shower and get into comfy clothes. Then you’re going to see how you’re feeling and if you think you can handle going to breakfast. If not, we’re going to do some gas-station and drive-through food before we get on the road. We’re going to handle the media once we’re done making sure you’re through your heat safely.”
My phone rings in my hand, and I look at it. Nathan calling again. His words hang heavy in my brain: Slut. Whore. Cheater.
Deacon pulls my phone out of my hand, rejects the call, and tosses it on the bed. With his forefinger, he tips my head back to face him and then kisses me. Soothing. He’s not hurried but dedicated.
If the mating bond pull hadn’t been there before, if I hadn’t felt it so assuredly less than ten minutes ago, this would have been all the proof I needed. The way Deacon tastes my mouth, letting his tongue explore, is the hottest thing ever.
He breaks the kiss when my phone rings again. “I’m going to make some calls and get Cade’s people aware of his threatening behavior. You get ready to go.”
My brain is foggy after the kiss, and I nod, agreeing with his request despite the many questions I should have. They’re just impossible to pick out of the cloud he’s pushed me into. So much is happening at once, and the emotions are amplified ten times over. But Deacon’s directions on what to do feel right. I follow them, feeling comfort in the way he knows what to do.