Page 52 of Little Mate
Gods, I needed this. Miss being outside.
Goose bumps rise on my skin, and I breathe in deep and then out, taking in the smell of grass and the sweet floral touch of sunflowers in the breeze. “This is more than nice.”
Theo stops, his body lowering us both to the ground. “Open your eyes, beautiful.”
“But I’m cozy.”
“I want you to see this.” His nails make quick work of removing every scrap of the dress from my body, leaving me bare for him. I’d refused any kind of undergarment; that was my compromise when the garments were delivered earlier by a nice girl named Marcia.
We didn’t speak much; she kept her head down.
Yet, something about her called to me. Made me feel protective of her.
I’ll have to ask Theodore about her later.
My eyes open at his low plea and I gasp, sitting up a little in his arms to get a better view of the area we are in. It’s lush with foliage, all kinds of plants fill the vast open land that surrounds a lake with what looks to be a small waterfall. Then, there’s the tree he’s sitting against, the huge trunk growing strong and firm, taller than any other nearby.
Chest expanding, I take in another cleansing breath while he situates us a little better. With his legs spread, my back is to his front and that soothing purr is back within his chest. Its calming tone settles deep within my bones, and I find my eyes closing, my chest rhythmically following the rise and fall of his.
Not that he needs to breathe, and before I can ask him why the slow and even breaths, his lips trace from my temple to my cheek. The simple touch disarms any question I may have at the moment, and so does the way he removes his dress shirt and then drapes it over my front. “Rest, my beloved. I’ll keep watch.”
“I’m not tired.”
“Our bond screams otherwise.” A kiss on my jaw. “My apologies for not realizing you needed this sooner.”
“Not your fault. I promise I’m—”
“No more arguing, pretty girl. Let me guard your sleep.”
Exhaustion settled deep into my bones and my eyes grow heavy without my permission. Sleep creeps upon me; I feel heavy in his arms and don’t notice when my hand reaches toward the earth and grabs a handful of dirt and grass, needing the feel of it between my fingers.
It’s as if I’m drained and this is my way to recharge.
He cares. A low voice whispers, and I turn my face in its direction, following it.
I don’t reach it, but Theo’s kiss is the last thing my conscious mind remembers before all goes black.
“You have always been such a heavy sleeper, sister. Wakey, wakey.” I recognize Isabella’s voice, but I’m too annoyed by whatever is tickling my nose. It’s obnoxious and after batting it away, the darn thing comes back more incessantly. “Girl, can you please get up? We have so much to talk about.”
“Move that off my face or I will bite you,” I warn, but that serves to make her laugh. The sound is just as loud as I remember, maybe even a little higher in pitch. “Come on, Isa. Give me a few more minutes.”
“You’d risk our connection severing?”
Her words cause my brows to pucker. “What are you talking about?”
“Open your eyes.” Brightness stings when I do and then something is angled in our direction, a covering to shield where we sit. Where are we? “Same place you met Mom and Dad last time; this realm belongs to the family.”
“Theo.” My voice is low, but she heard and smiled. I’m too busy looking around to ask her about the cheesy grin because I find nothing but trees and flowers surrounding us. The place is very similar to where my mate took me to rest. “Where is he? I need to thank him then explain about—”
“He’s fine. See?” Her hand points in the direction past the large tree I remember from his land, but this time it’s colorful, as if split by a rainbow down the center, and the thrumming within is the earth reading its surrounding auras. And just beyond that, in an area where darkness and brightness merge, the color a vibrant amber, I see him.
Theodore stands watch with his back to us, but his stance is clear: protect.
“Why am I here, Isa? Is everything okay?” Not that I look away from my vampire to catch her expression, but the giggle that slips is unmistakably my sister. The fool is giddy. “Talk. Was your journey worth it?”
“Look at me and tell me what you see.”
It’s hard, but I pull my attention from Theo and look at Isabella. She’s smiling, brighter and more at peace than I’ve seen her in a long time. There’s also a bite mark on her neck. It’s stark black and in the perfect shape of a wolf with warm eyes.