Chapter 37
Riley
I can’t stop dry-heaving. There’s nothing left to come up, but I’m so sick. I’m shaky and feel awful.
Riley, my dad’s voice booms in my head. Somebody just relayed to me that you passed out on the court.
I'm okay, I send back. I’m not, not really; but I will be. And then I feel him. Something comes over me, knowing that Reid is here. “Riley, Baby.” He puts a hand on my back. “What’s going on?”
Relief flows through me. Reid’s here, and that’s enough for my dad because he lets me go.
I turn to him, so thankful he’s here. But before I can say anything, his face turns. I can literally feel his anger. “What’s wrong?” I ask without thinking.
His eyes run over my face. “Ry, why didn’t you tell me?” he sounds gutted.
I’m confused. “Tell you what?”
“Baby, this...all this is from not bonding. That’s why you’re sick, why you’ve lost weight.” He runs a hand over his head and swears. “I knew this was a potential consequence, but I didn’t know it was affecting you this badly. I’m so sorry.”
I stare at him in shock. “This is all because of the bond?”
His jaw is tight. “Yeah. Because we were so close and then we spent time away from each other and haven’t bonded. The bond is literally fighting against you, draining your life’s energy.”
My mouth widens in shock. “How come you don’t feel this way?”
“I have at times,” he admits. He shakes his head. “I’ve heard different people react differently. Is your wolf pulling away? Quiet?”
I nod. “Yeah, she’s been...distant.”
He blows out a breath, and I can tell he’s really upset. “She needs my wolf. The bond pulling at us and then not spending any time together must be too much for her as a new wolf.”
I grimace. “It probably doesn’t help that I haven’t let her run in at least two weeks, maybe longer.” Guilt makes my stomach churn. “I didn’t know. I'm sorry—”
“No, this is not on you.” His eyes are fierce.
“This is completely on me.” He reaches out and runs his thumb over my cheek.
I can’t keep from sighing at his touch. I close my eyes at the feel of him.
“Riley,” he whispers. “I’m so sorry.” Then his strong arms wrap around me, and he pulls me up into his arms. A minute later, he sinks to the floor against the wall with me in his lap.
I can’t get over the amazing feel of him wrapped around me.
I drop my head to his shoulder. My stomach starts feeling better, and I no longer feel like I’m going to throw up.
He runs his hand up and down my back over and over and over again.
“We have to bond,” he says in a low voice.
“Okay.”
His hand stops on my spine. “You’re done fighting this?”
I sit up, so I can see his face. “I’m tired of fighting the bond; I just want to be yours.” The words are spoken from the depths of my heart. “I miss you so much,” I whisper.
He nearly crushes me to his chest. “I know, Baby. I’m so sorry. If I’d known—”
“Stop,” I tell him, putting my finger over his lips. “I chose this. You were just trying to do what I asked you to do.”
He stares into my eyes and palms my cheek. I resist the urge to close my eyes and lean into his touch. “How long have you been feeling this way?”
“I don’t even know. It hasn’t been like this the whole time we’ve been apart from each other.
I guess maybe it was just building. I don’t know.
Part of it is that I haven't been able to sleep at night, so I’m just really tired.
” I can tell he’s going to beat himself up over that.
“And that’s my fault too. I didn’t realize pushing the bond away would affect me that much.
I’m sorry, Reid.” I run my hand over his strong jaw, and he closes his eyes.
I wonder how much me asking him to push the bond off has affected him too.
Suddenly, I’m so frustrated with myself.
“I’m sorry—” I start again, but those chocolate brown eyes meet my own.
“Don’t apologize,” he growls at me, and I bite my lip.
His eyes drop to my lips, and I go still.
He’s never kissed me before, and I'm suddenly dying for him to do just that. My own eyes drop to his lips, and my body warms at the thought. “Riley,” he growls, low in his chest. “Whatever you’re thinking about, stop.” But there’s no real strength behind his words.
Suddenly, I want to kiss him and taste his lips more than anything I’ve wanted in my entire life.
“Can I kiss you?” I ask. He growls low in his chest, and I can feel it in my chest as well.
“Riley.” My name on his lips is like a prayer of desperation.
He closes the distance between us, and our lips meet for the first time.
My entire body seems to come alive under his touch.
He pulls me closer and kisses me deeper.
All sense of time and reality melt away, and I am only aware of his body beneath mine, his arms wrapped around me, and his lips on mine.
He kisses me again and again, each kiss deeper.
“Mark me, Reid,” I say breathlessly when I pull away from his onslaught for just a moment.
His eyes meet mine, and I shudder at the sight of his wolf behind his eyes.
It doesn’t make me scared; it makes me want him even more.
“Are you sure? Once we do this we can’t go back.
We—” I pull his head down and kiss him again, and he groans.
The sound undoes me, and I feel feverish in my desire to mark him and be marked by him.
I feel my fangs descend for just this purpose.
“Can I mark you?” I ask, my voice husky and not at all the sound of my normal voice.
He doesn’t wait an instant. “Yes.”
I pull his shirt to the side, ripping it in the process.
I kiss the smooth skin of his shoulder, and marvel at the muscles beneath my hands and mouth.
I kiss him over and over again. He growls in pleasure, and I strike.
My bite is deep, and he throws his head back while simultaneously pulling me closer.
When I feel like I’ve adequately marked him, I pull back and soothe the bite with my tongue.
The healing properties of my tongue will help his bite marks to heal, but it will also ensure that the marks stay permanent, a sign to all that he’s mine.
My wolf bursts through whatever it is that they put in the shot to keep her down for games and growls her approval at the sight of our mark on him.
Reid’s eyes are all wolf now. “My turn,” he says in a gruff voice that’s full of his wolf.
He kisses me deeply on the lips and then trails his lips down the side of my neck and onto my shoulder.
He drives me higher and higher and then bites deeply.
My wolf growls her approval, and he holds the bite.
Then he releases and soothes the bite with his tongue.
I feel his gaze on his bite on my shoulder. “My bite. My mate. My girl.”
“Your girl,” I reassure him. He holds me close, and neither of us say anything. I’m not sure how long we stay like that, but eventually, there’s a knock at the bathroom door.
“The game’s almost done. I won’t be able to keep anybody out much longer, and the rest of the training staff is asking for an update on Riley,” Reese says from behind the closed door.
Reid sighs but continues to run his hand up and down my back. “I guess we have to go out and face everybody.”
“Or we could stay like this forever,” I murmur, my voice sort of slurred.
He drops his head to mine. “Shoot. I forgot about the sedative part. Are you going to be okay?”
I pull back and look at him. His eyes look just as drowsy as I feel. “Are you?”
He takes a deep breath. “I just want to nap with you in my arms, but we don’t always get what we want.”
I lean forward and kiss him again. He groans low again, and a thrill races through me.
I try to pull away, but he growls and pulls me closer, kissing me so deeply I forget my name.
“This time, we will get what we want,” I say, nipping at his lips again.
“I have to face my team and coach. I’ll tell them I was just depleted, low on electrolytes, and that I need food and rest. You be ready with your car, and we can slip away to the house, if you’re willing, and get that nap. ”
He kisses me again. “On it.” He sets me on my feet and then stands. “I’ll be ready; you try to get out of here as soon as you can.” He palms my cheek. “Just keep your answers brief; don’t overexplain anything. And I’ll get you out of here.”
I lay my head against his chest for a moment. “Thanks, Reid.”
He kisses the top of my head. “Yeah, Baby. Let me slip out before anyone else sees me. I’ll wait for you.” He kisses me again and then leaves. I take a moment to compose myself and then leave the bathroom.
Reese smiles at me. “Congratulations.”
I can’t stop my smile. “Thank you.” I frown. “Apparently, that’s what’s been making me so weak because we didn’t bond.”
“I’m sorry,” she tells me honestly. “You feel better now?”
“Much.”
She smiles. “Good. Reid’s a good guy.”
“The best,” I agree.
She grabs a bag and comes back, and her face is serious. “What story are we going with?” she asks. I appreciate her intensity; I know we’re almost out of time.
“I just got tired, needed electrolytes. I’ve been fighting getting sick, and it was just too much for me.”
Reese nods. “You probably are fighting one of the viruses going around, and we’re treating it as such.
Fluids, rest, and heavy doses of Vitamin C.
Here. Let’s cover up that bite mark really quickly.
” She uses concealer and then powder. “It’s not bad.
If people aren’t looking for it, they won’t see it. ”
I nod. “Thank you.” I hadn’t even thought about it. We both hear the sounds of people coming. “Did we win?” I ask quickly.
She nods. “By two.”
“Whew. Thanks, Reese.”
“Of course.”
She pushes me over to the bench and shoves a Gatorade into my hand. “Drink half of that quickly.” I quickly open it and drain half the bottle just before the door to the locker room flies open, and my teammates start in.
“Riley!” Star pushes past a few of the girls and makes her way over to sit by me. “Are you okay?”
I grimace. “Yeah. I just got depleted. They said I probably have a virus or something.” I lift my bottle of Gatorade. “Getting my electrolytes in now.”
She stares at me in concern. “You scared me when you dropped like that.”
“I scared myself,” I admit. “I was throwing up for a little bit, but I feel better now. But you might not want to sit too close just in case I’m contagious.”
She leans back but doesn’t move. “Well, I’m glad you’re okay.”
I smile at her. “Thanks. I heard you guys won.”
“We won, yes. You had a great game before you went and passed out.”
“Riley!” Sasha and Brene and several of the other girls gather around us.
“Are you okay?”
“What happened to you?”
“Did you get a concussion?”
“How long are you out for?”
The questions come quickly. Thankfully, Reese steps in. “She’s okay now. We think she was nearly dehydrated, which we’re correcting. There are several viruses going around. We’ll treat it as such—lots of fluids, rest, and Vitamin C.”
Sasha takes a big step back and puts her hands up. “Don’t get anybody else sick.”
I stand up. “I won’t. As soon as Coach gives the okay, I'll get out of here.”
The coaching staff comes in a moment later. “Another win, Ladies,” Coach says, and the girls cheer. I smile but can’t find it in me to care at the moment. Right now, I just want to be with Reid...and maybe take a nap. I feel like I can hardly keep my eyes open.
I'm out here as soon as you’re ready. Reid’s words surprise me. I’m used to his voice in my head, but this is different. The pack link always feels a little like talking over long distance or static maybe, but this is much more direct. I can feel Reid’s essence so much more.