Chapter 15
I winced at Leo’s wistful tone. His offer of protection sounded so genuine it hurt. I wished that offer was for me, not Eva.
But the truth was he was married to Eva, the Alpha Daughter of Arthur’s pack, and he despised Tessa, the scarred maid. I had nothing but these stolen moments. It was wrong to wish for anything more.
I needed to say something, to answer his plea. What would Eva say? What would be believable?
“It isn’t that simple,” I said. “I’m the Alpha Daughter. I have an image I have to maintain.”
“Why?” Leo asked.
Why? I had no idea. I wasn’t Eva, I didn’t know why she was a haughty jerk to everyone.
“Our pack is weak,” I said, putting together Eva’s complaints with things I’d heard Alpha Arthur mutter at his desk while I cleaned. “Our numbers are low, our Alpha, my father, is aging. Our territory is small. I have to project strength. I can’t be vulnerable, at all. Our wolves are depending on me.”
That should work. Leo understood sacrificing for
pack. He’d given everything for his.
Les sighed and his shoulders slumped. “I
understand. But the
I cringed inside. I hadn’t meant to hurt his feelings.
“I know,” I said, “And I’m glad. It just… it doesn’t feel real yet.”
different now. I’m here.”
Leo nodded. “I get that. A lot’s changed in almost no time at all. It’s okay. Take all the time you need. I’ll be here.”
He hugged me closer. He kissed me and I kissed back hard. I wished I could just lose myself in Leo’s arms and not think for a while.
Leo leaned back and held my face in his hands. His thumb brushed dangerously close to the scar under my eye.
J
I smiled and reached up, drawing his hands down. I’d just meant to distract him from the scars, but he took it as an invitation. That was fine. I liked the way his hands felt,
Leo wrapped one hand around the back of my neck and squeezed gently, massaging the tension out of the nape. I melted against him. That
felt like Heaven.
“Hm. You’re carrying a lot of tension here,” he said, humming softly. “Want me to take care of that?”
“Please,” I whimpered.
“Oh, you don’t have to beg,” Leo grinned. Then he winked. “Unless you want to.”
Leo shifted until he was behind me. He kneaded the muscles in my neck and shoulders until I was basically a puddle under his hands.
I moaned softly at the sensation. Leo leaned in and kissed my neck.
“That’s what I like to hear,” he said. “I like making you feel good.”
I shivered as Leo ran his knuckle down my spine and back up. Why did that feel so impossibly good?
“If you lay down on your front, I can get your whole back,” Leo offered.
I scrambled into position so quickly he laughed.
“Oh, you are eager,” Leo hummed into my ear.
I nodded into his pillows. I was eager for more touches like that.
“I’m going to tug your nightgown up. Is that okay?” Leo asked.
“Yes, please,” I answered.
“There we go. Just relax and enjoy this,” Leo ordered.
I could do that, sure. Actually, as Leo worked his way up and down my back, loosening every stiff muscle as he went, laying there and enjoying was about all I could do. I’m pretty sure he turned me into a liquid about halfway through.
I drifted off several minutes into the massage. I tried to stay awake, I did, but it had been a long day and he made me feel so nice. I couldn’t fight it.
Chapter 15
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I was barely awake enough to feel Leo pull my gown back in place or settle a blanket over me. I did feel it when he snuggled down next to me and wrapped an arm around me though. I sighed as sleep took me and wished I could have this every night. I wished it could be real.
I woke early that morning to the sound of a voice I didn’t know.
Tessa.
I froze in place and looked around, but there was no one else in the room. Just me and Leo, and he was sound asleep.
Tessa.
I heard the voice again. Where was it coming from?
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