“NO, I got that. It’s the ‘I’m yours and you’re mine part. We don’t even know each other!’”
“It’s what Mates means, Ave. When a male finds his One, his Mate, he claims her, no one else will ever touch her, and no one else will ever touch him. The draw is undeniable, they both NEED each other, they cannot function without the other, and it’s impossible to deny they belong to each other. They both feel it.”
“Even humans?” she asked.
“Yes, Ave, even humans. It may not be as strong, but they do feel the pull.”
“Well, then this is not happening. I will just ride out this purge thing ‘til it’s done.”
“You can’t, Ave. It’s just what the name says it is. It’s a purge, it’s painful, it will push out the other DNA any way it can. What it can’t flush normally, it will force out through even your pores, it’s excruciating. You need me to ease this. We can do this together — let me help you through it, Ave.”
She looked at him, seeing the sincerity in his face, “I don’t feel that pull, Kaid. I’m not your Mate. You're not mine. We can’t do this.”
“Yes, we can, and we are. You saved me, I’m saving you, and we will make this work.”
She had finished using the toilet for the moment with his support, but the blood was a steady drip in the now quiet bathroom. She was embarrassed at having him in there with her, but having him near did seem to ease the pain and cramping a little, and he hadn't even made a face when she went to the bathroom. She didn't have the energy to fight him, so if he insisted on being there for now, so be it. She was seized with another cramp and panted her way through it, larger splashes of blood sounding as they hit the water in the toilet. She ground her teeth and wrapped her hands in his shirt and she hugged him to her. When the pain of the cramp started to fade, she asked, “What happens when a male claims a female that is not his, Kaid?”
He stayed squatted down in front of her sitting on the toilet, his arms wrapped around her, his head against her ribs. “Nothing, a lot of couples give up trying to find their One, and they just settle for one they love enough and make it work.”
“But you don’t love me, Kaid.”
“But I could, I will.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do know that, Ave, now stop arguing with me and let me take care of you!”
She was hurting too bad to continue arguing, and the water he’d drawn in the tub for her looked sooo good, so Avaleigh allowed him to help her slip into the hot bath. She sighed as the warm water soothed her aching muscles. She laid her head back and closed her eyes as he scooped up handfuls of hot water and drizzled it over her breasts and her shoulders. She was so tired and hurting so badly that she wasn't even embarrassed by his being in the bathroom with her anymore. He was still talking in that low soothing tone, telling her about his clan, his “brothers” that were, according to him, heading in their direction, and his voice was lulling her to sleep. Just then the door burst open, and Amos shuffled in with a tray loaded with a bottle, glasses, and food, booming at the top of his lungs about whole truths and half truths and about bullshit being so deep in here that he needed to go out and get his waders. Kaid just about jumped in the tub with her trying to cover her body while snarling so loudly she was surprised that she didn't piss herself. Then Amos’ words started to make sense. She listened again to be sure she heard right.
“Tell her the rest, boy. Tell her what happens to the pair if one of them finds their One later on.” Kaid was trying to both calm her and make Amos shut the hell up while trying to hide her body and snarling about HIS, and nobody sees what’s his. It was enough to make her laugh if she didn’t hurt so much. Kaid was obviously distracted trying to wrap towels around her while she was still in the bath, so she seized the opportunity like any smart girl would to badger him about it while he wasn't focused on her questions. After about three of her timely placed, “What happens if one of us meets our Mate, Kaid?” He finally snapped, “We just fucking stay where we are, Ave! What the fuck is the difference anyway?”
“That’s not all of it, boy, finish it...” Amos said.
Kaid took a deep breath, held it for a few seconds before letting it out and looking her in the eyes—
“We stay where we are, Ave. We keep it together, and it will be okay.”
“What happens to the draw we will feel?” He looked down but didn't answer her. It was Amos who answered her. “Couple things could happen. It could drive the one that found their Mate insane to deny themselves. If not insane, the denial of their true Mate could make them angry, bitter, hateful and resentful that they found their One and won’t ever know the completeness that comes from that bond. You could end up hating each other. If your male here is strong enough to withstand that and still be decent to you, the very least is that his One would be totally broken by his denial of her. Could be any of that or he could just leave you flat out and go with her.”
Kaid started several times to stop Amos from talking, to deny at least some of his words, but his stutters never developed into words, and ultimately he didn't even try to correct Amos.
Avaleigh looked up at Amos, “Thank you, Amos. I appreciate your honesty.”
He inclined his head to her in one single nod and said, “I got whiskey here and some sandwiches. You need to eat to keep up your strength for this, and the whiskey will ease the pain a little.” He swung his gaze to Kaid, “You need to eat, too, so you can be strong for her.” Amos turned to leave the bathroom, but before pulling the door closed behind him, he said, “Your Dragon’s Mate is strong, boy. She can withstand a lot, but she deserves honesty. That’s the least you can do for her. Let HER choose.” Both Avaleigh and Kaid both snapped at him at the same time, “She’s not a fucking Dragon’s Mate!” “I’m not a fucking Dragon’s Mate!” Amos just grinned at them, shaking his head while mumbling about youth and no clue and closed the door behind himself.
She looked at Kaid. “We can’t do this, Kaid. We are not each other’s One. I don’t want you to hate me or deny your One or go insane. Isn’t there another way?”
He didn't answer for a minute; then he lifted his eyes to hers and said, “I’m not letting you go, Ave. You’re mine to protect and that is exactly what I am going to do. You won’t have me for a Mate, you don’t think I’m enough, I’ll convince you. You’ll see. For now I’ll ease your pain, but I will finish this once you’re convinced.”
“Am I your One, Kaid?”
He didn’t answer. Louder this time, “Am I your One, Kaid?!”
“NO!!! YOU’RE NOT!!!” he shouted. “But we can make it work!”
“You can do whatever you think will make the pain less, but DO NOT complete the claim. Do you hear me?” No reply. “Do you hear me, Kaid?”
“Yes, I hear you, Avaleigh.” But the simple truth wasn't that simple. Bear had decided they would protect Avaleigh. He knew that she wasn't theirs, and he didn't give a rat’s ass. She was kind, and she was good, and she had freed them, so they were going to keep her safe. Was he in love with her? No, he wasn't. But he did love her. There was a difference, but not much in his opinion, and possession was nine tenths of the law, right? So, she was gonna be theirs. He just needed to convince her.
Kaid let the cooling water out of the bath and refilled it with hot water two more times. The amount of blood she was losing was starting to worry him. She was cramping, and it was hard cramps. She wrapped her hand around his forearm, “I think I need to sit on the toilet again, Kaid.”
“Okay, baby, Just hang on and I’ll get you there.” He spread a couple of towels across the floor, so he wouldn't lose his footing and lifted her, dripping water and all, and placed her on the toilet. He turned and quickly pulled the plug on the bath, so the water would drain once he got her settled on the toilet. She wrapped her hands around her middle and hunched over. “I hurt, Kaid,” she whispered.
“I know, baby.”
“I feel like I need to push.”
“Then push, Ave. I’m right here. I got you.”
She closed her eyes and when the next cramp hit her, she pushed. She pushed hard, and she screamed at the feeling of being ripped apart. Her blood was a steady flow now, and Kaid was fucking panicking. His constant flow of loving murmurs and supportive pets and caresses the only thing that kept her grounded through it. The pain was blinding, but all of a sudden the pressure stopped. She was still hurting, but it was more manageable now. She just sat there now, panting, Kaid pushing her sweaty hair back off her forehead and away from her face. She opened her eyes, and Kaid was there smiling at her. He kissed her forehead and hugged her tightly. “Most of the bleeding seems to be tapering off now. I’m gonna run you another bath, okay?”
“Okay.”
He turned to the tub and twisted the hot and cold water knobs to start the bath.
“Kaid?”
“Yeah, baby.”
“He bred me. I think that’s what just happened. I think your DNA forced it out of me.”
His gaze snapped back to her still sitting on the toilet, “He bred you? You didn’t think it was important to tell me that?” He raised his voice as he said this.
She just looked at him, not sure where his irritation came from. Praying that he didn't think she was as tainted and dirty as she did.
“You could have fucking died, Avaleigh. I needed to know that he bred you so that I could make sure to care for you properly. You could have fucking hemorrhaged. Still might. Jesus Christ! Avaleigh!!!”
He went over to where she sat on the toilet, tears streaming down her face. “Let me get you back in the bath.” He lifted her and placed her in the hot bathtub. “I’m going to find Amos. You gonna be okay here for a few minutes?”
“Yeah, I’m good,” she didn't meet his eyes.
He was back a few minutes later, Amos in tow. Kaid came in the bathroom first and draped one of the towels across her. Amos entered just after with a box in his hand. “You doing okay, Sweetie?” Amos asked. He reached out and put his hand on her brow, obviously feeling for a fever. “I think so. Just really tired now. Want to sleep.”
“We are gonna let you sleep, but you need to eat something first. We are going to be waking you often to make sure that you’re okay, though.”
She just nodded.
“I got this from the store. I ain't opened it in a while, nobody left here to shop in it. But I had a couple of boxes of these things left in there.” He held up what was in his hands. A box of Maxi Pads. She couldn't help it, she giggled a little. “Thank you, Amos.”
“No problem, Sweetie. Let me go dig through my Mate’s private things. I’m sure I can find something for you to wear.”
Again, she nodded.
When Amos had left the bathroom, Kaid knelt beside the tub.
“I could have lost you, Avaleigh,” he said quietly.
She braved a look at him then. His eyes and brows were hunched down in concern. His mouth was a straight line, and his hands were shaking. He was truly worried.
“I thought you thought that I was dirty,” she whispered.
He let out a huff of disbelief. “Never, baby, never. I was just so fucking scared.” He leaned forward to nuzzle her and leave a kiss on her temple.
She looked up at him, a truly bright smile on her face, and tears pooling in her eyes. “You saved me, Kaid. You gave me back my life,” she sobbed at him. “I never thought I’d be free again. You did this. I’ll never be able to thank you enough.”
“We saved each other, baby. You don’t have to thank me. We’re good together. We’ll be fine. Yes?”
She wiped the tears away, and smiled, chuckling a little, “Yes,” she agreed.
He ran his hands through her hair and pulled her a little closer to him. She laid her head on his chest and pulled his arms tighter around her.
“How’s the bleeding?”
“It seems to be just a normal rate now. You know, like a regular cycle?”
“Okay, let’s get you out and dried off. Then we’ll get you to eat something.”
Amos came back with a flannel gown and a pair of granny panties. He handed them to Kaid and said that he’d be back in a few minutes, he had to take care of something. Kaid took the clothing from him and helped her into the gown. Then he took the panties and the pad and looked at them turning the pad over in his hands for a few minutes trying to figure it out. She finally took pity on him and held out her hands, reaching for them. She made quick work of attaching the pad and then Kaid helped her slip them on. He helped her out of the bathroom and carried her to the bedroom that Amos had indicated. The platter of sandwiches was already there, Amos having moved them from the bathroom earlier.
Kaid sat her on the bed, pillows fluffed behind her and smiled at her. “Let’s eat a little bit, baby.”
When she had eaten most of a sandwich and had several glasses of whiskey, Kaid decided that it was enough and she could rest now. Kaid, for his part, had eaten about eight sandwiches, but had only had one glass of whiskey. He wanted to be alert in case she needed him. She was still cramping a little, and the strained look on her face told him each time she had another one. Her fever was down, but each time he touched her, she tried to hide a grimace, so he knew her skin was still achy from the purge, and she was sore right down to her very bones. He moved the pillows and laid her back on the bed and slowly, gently removed her nightgown, dropping it on the floor behind him. She started to cover herself with her hands, but he gave her a shake of his head and a sharply uttered “Un-uh”, that was enough to stop her. “I’m gonna ease the rest of your pain, Ave. Trust me?” He waited for her to respond. When she nodded at him, he reached for the sweats he was wearing and pushed them down just enough below his hips for his hard cock to spring free. Yes, he knew he was a fucking perv, to be hard after all they had just gone through, but Avaleigh naked was enough to make any male hard. And the fact that he was the only one that could help her made him even more turned on. As she watched, he stroked himself from base to tip, hissing in his breath as he went. He did it again, and a drop of precum appeared at the head. She licked her lips as she watched him. In spite of her fatigue, it was the hottest damn thing she had ever seen. He climbed onto the bed next to her and sat back on his heels, spreading his legs wide. She reached out a hand to help, and he shook his head, “No, baby. This is for you. Just lay there and enjoy this time.” She placed her hand on his hip and gently ran her fingers back and forth there as she watched him stroke himself to completion. She was panting right along with him on every trip up and down his cock. When he had enough precum built up on the head that it started to run down his shaft, she reached out and caught it on her fingertip, bringing it to her lips to suck it off. That was all it took for him to reach his peak. He groaned deeply and took another stroke of his cock and then was shooting his release all over her stomach and breasts. Kaid cumming was a beautiful sight. His head was thrown back, every muscle in his body pulled taut and tight, a light sheen of sweat over his skin. She lay there and appreciated the sight before her. After a few moments he opened his eyes and met hers. He smiled warmly at her and lowered his hands to her stomach. He slowly, methodically rubbed his release into the skin of her abdomen and rib cage. Then he moved his attention to her breasts and rubbed in the release that had landed there as well. When he was done, she took his hands in hers and one by one sucked his fingers clean. By the time she was finished, he was hard and throbbing again. He got up from the bed, picked the gown up off the floor, laying it across the foot of the bed. He turned off the light and came back to bed. He covered her with the quilt and then climbed in behind her, pulling her back to his front. Just as they had settled in to sleep, there was a soft knock at the door. “Come in,” Kaid called.
Amos entered carrying a mug of something steaming. “This is a brew that my Mate used to make for the women in the area to drink after they’d given birth. I went through her notes and made it exactly like she did.” He offered it to Avaleigh.
/> She didn't reach for it; she turned to Kaid instead and looked at him, a question in her eyes. “Drink it, baby. It can’t hurt,” he told her.
She looked to Amos, “Are you sure it won’t hurt me?”
“Positive. I seen it perk many a woman up. Even some that didn't get to birth their young. It will heal you. Quick, too.”
She reached for the mug and drank it down.
She handed the mug back to Amos. He looked into the cup and smiled, satisfied that she had had enough. He turned the lights off on his way out of the room. “Good Night, Dragon’s Mate.”
“I’m not a Dragon’s Mate!” she called after him.
He just chuckled to himself as he closed the door behind him.
Maybe it was the whiskey, had to be the whiskey, but she was suddenly very horny. She should have been embarrassed, but all she could find it in herself to be was horny. Avaleigh had woken many hours later to Kaid's hot, hard body pressed against hers. She wiggled until she woke him and then turned in his arms. She kissed him gently on the line of his jaw, and slipped her leg across his hip to let it rest there.
“How are you feeling, baby?”
“Can’t you tell?” she whispered to him.
“Let me see how your bleeding is, okay?”
He rolled her to her back and got up to turn on the light. When he came back to the bed, he gently pulled her panties down and off. He placed a knee on the bed beside her and reached for her knees. Gently but firmly, he pulled them apart and pushed them up so he could see all the way to her center. There was no blood. “Hold on, baby, I’ll be right back.” He went to the bathroom and came back with a warm washcloth. He cleaned her thoroughly and then held it to her pussy. “Push, Avaleigh. Let me make sure you aren't bleeding anymore.” She pushed gently at first. He pulled the wash cloth away and looked at it. No blood. He replaced the wash cloth, “Harder.” So she pushed harder. He looked again, still no blood. “How do you feel, any pain at all?”
I'm Not A Dragon's Mate! Page 5
