She shook out her legs and looked down at her perfectly healed wrist. Oh, it must be nice to have that skill, but she would never have the chance to perfect it, although she wasn’t going to give him the full truth about her health. There was nothing he could do, and it was too much having him near. Maybe it was because of the failed mating, or maybe he was just that sexy, but she couldn’t think when he was around. “I appreciate your bringing me out of the coma and saving my life. Please don’t feel guilty or responsible any longer.” Absolving him was the least she could do.

He ignored her words and looked around the room, stopping at the bed. “For tonight, we need sleep.”

She followed his gaze. In the same bed?

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Many years ago, during one of the earlier wars, Adare had been captured and tortured for a month by a psychotic shifter out of Alaska. Once he’d freed himself, it had taken a year to fully regain his strength. That was nothing compared to the agony of lying in bed next to Grace Cooper and not reaching for her.

He’d acceded to her wishes these past five years to let her live her life. That had seemed only fair, considering she’d had no say in being mated for eternity to him. But in order to grant her that freedom, he’d had to stay away, because the female was just too tempting. Now that he was headed into the lion’s den in a day, he needed to let her go. Completely. Not that he’d ever really had her.

She lay on her side, facing away from him, her thick brown hair splayed out on the pillow, the mass naturally curly and enticing.

Her sigh echoed down to his balls. “For a guy who wanted to sleep, you’re sure not sleeping.” She rolled over to face him, resting her cheek on her now healed hand, her pretty eyes clear.

“A lot on my mind.” Like taking that luscious mouth beneath his—he didn’t want to leave this world with any regrets.

“Yeah, I get that.” She stretched, barely making a lump beneath the luxurious covers. “It’s weird. You and me and being in bed together. It’s just so weird.”

Weird wasn’t the word he’d have used. “I left you alone these five years because that’s what I thought you wanted.” Why in the world was he explaining himself? “And, if I’m honest, I’ve been pretty centered on my mission.”

“What have you been doing?” She yawned and covered the motion with her hand.