by Kris Norris
Hollis drew herself up as best she could then faced Lucas, pushing down the resulting guilt at the hurt in his eyes. The pain creased along his forehead. She reached into her jacket pocket and fished out some money, leaving it on the bar.
Lucas glanced at it then frowned. “Did you even bother to count it? That’s more than you need.”
She shrugged, steadying herself as she fought to stay upright. “Can’t really see well enough to care. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll save everyone the worry of me being in here against the rules and see myself out.”
Hollis struck off, mentally placing each footfall as she walked across the saloon, then out the door. Somehow, she managed to make it down the stairs without falling then headed up the street toward the clinic. Nightmares or not, she needed to get some sleep, or she wouldn’t be able to stand let alone treat anyone.
Footsteps splashed behind her. “Damn it, Hollis, are you trying to hurt yourself more?”
Lucas fell into step beside her, his mouth sculpted into a frown, his hands fisted at his sides. He caught her shoulders when she teetered after stepping in a puddle, cursing under his breath when she tugged free of his hold, nearly falling in the other direction.
He grabbed her arm this time, cupping her elbow as he stopped her halfway to the clinic. Rain pelted her skin, but she barely registered it above the heat of his touch. The resulting pang of longing tightening her chest before settling hot and needy in her groin.
He moved in close, his large frame blocking out everything but the hint of gray beyond his shoulders. “I know you’re angry with me. With Cullen. But please don’t let that dictate your actions. I’m sure you haven’t survived this long in these kinds of camps by putting your life in danger when it doesn’t have to be.” He tucked some wet strands of hair behind her ear. “I promise you can kick my ass as soon as you’re better, just let me help you.”
Her chin quivered at the pleading tone in his voice, and she had to sink her nails into her palms to keep from closing the last bit of distance and falling into his embrace. Rest her head in the crook of his shoulder and allow herself to feel safe, if only for a moment.
His thumb brushed the length of her jaw, staying clear of her injuries. “Darlin’, please.”
She pried open her eyes, taking a healthy step back as she attempted a reassuring smile, even though the simple action sent another jolt of pain through her cheek. “Thank you for your concern, but I can see myself back. And I’d already planned on lyin’ down for a bit.”
“If you’d been keen on lookin’ after yourself, you would have gone to bed as soon as you’d tended to your wounds.”
More images of the attack played in her head, but she’d be damned if she admitted to him that a part of her was too scared to sleep. That just thinking of being vulnerable and alone made her stomach heave in protest—brought back too many unwanted memories from before she ventured off to medical school.
Hollis turned, deciding to let his statement go unchallenged. She took two steps then swayed sharply to her left when her vision dimmed and blurred, making the ground tilt beneath her feet. Hands snaked around her torso before she hit the mud, lifting her against a wall of male muscle. The familiar scent of leather and gun oil filled her senses as her head lolled against his shoulder, his arms holding her in close. She tried to blink open her eyes, but they felt too heavy to move.
Lucas growled. “Christ, I knew you were pushin’ too hard. You should have laid down hours ago.”
“Couldn’t. Kept seeing his face inside my head.”
“The bastard won’t touch you, again. That I can promise you. No one will, if Cullen and I have any say about it. And we want to have a say, I assure you.” He gathered her closer, the sway of his body suggesting he was walking. “You could have asked someone to stand watch. Keep you safe while you healed a bit. I’m sure the good reverend would have. He seemed quite taken with you last night.”
Had she imagined the tightness in this voice? The hint of anger?
She shook her head without opening her eyes. “I’m not interested in him. Besides, there’re only two men I’d trust to keep me safe, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask. Not after everything that happened.”
Lucas sighed. “Not sure how we managed to fuck up to this degree but…rest. We’ll straighten everything out once you’ve got your strength back. But know this… We’re done letting you run from us. So, sleep well, darlin’. You’re in for one Hell of a ride once you wake up.”
CHAPTER NINE
Lucas cursed under his breath as Hollis tensed in his arms then went slack, her breath already deepening. He held her tight, jogging up the short steps to his office before wedging open the door then marching inside. While he knew she’d probably assumed he’d take her to her quarters, he’d just instinctively brought her to his.
His bear snorted at the thought. She was unconscious in his arms—had barely made it out of the tavern under her own steam. She hadn’t been thinking much of anything, other than probably not falling flat on her face. Which she would have if he hadn’t been close enough to catch her before she’d collapsed. He huffed as he headed for the bed. The girl needed a stern talking-to regarding her hardheadedness. And he was more than up for the job.
Hollis groaned as he placed her on the mattress, her body still supported against his chest. He tried not to jostle her too much as he worked her jacket over her shoulders, tossing it on the floor. Then, he unclipped her holsters, finally allowing her to settle on the bed. Her lips twitched into a grimace as her head lolled to one side, a patchwork of bruises glaring up at him. He reached out and traced the line of swelling, careful to stay just above her skin. But even an inch away, he swore he felt the heat from the wound. Sensed the throbbing pain that seemed to pulse with every beat of her heart. But it was the touch of fear coloring her scent that burned the blood pumping through his veins.
Despite her bravado, her continued reassurances that she could handle herself, the recent attack had obviously broken through her defenses. While he didn’t think she was actually afraid of him, or Cullen, just knowing she’d been sitting in her tiny room in the back of the clinic, scared another bastard might try to hurt her, ate at Lucas’ soul. Gnawed at his sanity until he thought his grizzly would just break free. Hunt down the man in Durango, or wherever he’d gotten to by now, and kill him.
There’re only two men I’d trust to keep me safe, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask.
Her words replayed inside his head, the harsh truth in them souring his gut. If they hadn’t managed to alienate her the previous night, she wouldn’t have had to suffer in silence. He could have been holding her for hours instead of shuffling past her room, hoping to get a glimpse of her inside. Hell, chances were, she never would have been alone in the clinic to begin with, and they could avoided the entire incident.
Lucas sighed as he sat on the edge of the bed, brushing back her hair from her face. Moisture cooled his fingertips, but he wasn’t sure if the drops were from the rain or if some tears had slipped free while she’d been nestled in his arms. Either way, he longed to warm her skin. Hold her close until nothing remained but blazing desire.
That was the only thing stopping him from shifting. Despite the awkward distance between them, she’d still reacted to him physically when he’d sat beside her in the saloon—her sweet earthy musk wafting around him like a soothing mist. It’d increased when he’d cupped her elbow in the street before she’d collapsed on him. Even now, the fragrant aroma wove around him, weak but there.
Thoughts and questions tumbled through his head, but he did his best to let them slide. Hollis was safe. Hurt, but still safe. And she’d stay that way. He’d meant what he’d said. He was done keeping secrets from her. If he and Cullen had any hope of gaining her love, they needed to trust her enough to put their lives on the line.
Lucas mumbled under his breath as he shuffled sideways and removed her boots, placing them next to the bed. He reached over her and dr
agged a quilt across her body. She stirred a bit then settled, again. He tucked the blanket around her shoulders then straightened, gazing down at her. Damn, she looked good in his bed. Looked right. The only thing that would have completed the picture would have been to have Cullen snugged up against her, his scent merging with hers. He longed to see how their skin contrasted with hers, feel her body mold to theirs.
Lucas tamped down the desire hardening his shaft then headed for the door. While he didn’t want to leave her alone, he needed to ensure her patients were taken care of, or she’d bolt the moment she woke. He checked the clinic then made his way to Reverend Miller’s makeshift church. The man seemed more than a bit surprised when Lucas walked in, straightening his clothes as if he sensed Lucas’ barely contained anger. Lucas’ grizzly still pictured the man touching Hollis’ shoulder. It didn’t matter that Hollis had said she wasn’t interested, or that the act had most likely been innocent, all his animal knew was that Hollis’ scent still lingered on the man’s clothes.
Lucas kept the meeting short, explaining the situation before walking the man back to the clinic. He didn’t miss the nervous dart of the reverend’s eyes as he watched Lucas grab some of Hollis’ belongings, stuffing them in one of her bags before returning to the doorway. He heard the reverend sigh as he closed the door, heading to the saloon next.
The men at the door nodded at him, their eyes widening when he informed them he’d take it personally if anyone got injured tonight and he had to rouse Hollis from some much-needed sleep. Of course, the growl from his other half that followed the statement probably carried more weight than anything he’d said, but it didn’t matter. As long as Hollis got the time she needed to heal, he’d use whatever means worked.
Worry weighed heavy on his shoulders as he returned to his quarters, dropping her bag next to the bed. She hadn’t moved in the small measure of time he’d been gone, and he smiled, again, at the sight of her hair tousled across his pillow. His bear huffed, reminding him she hadn’t agreed to be their mate, yet, as he lit an oil lamp then scraped a chair closer to the bed.
The seat creaked as he settled in it, crossing one ankle over his other knee in the hopes of relaxing. Cullen wouldn’t be back for another few hours, at best, which hopefully meant relative peace in the camp. Especially after yesterday. If Cullen was right, Buford would be too busy replacing the men he’d lost and tending to his gang’s injuries to mount another attack. Though Lucas knew it was only a matter of time before the outlaw sent a substantial force their way.
His grizzly snarled, pacing restlessly inside his head. Lucas couldn’t deny its need to protect its mates, which meant he’d be hard pressed to leave Hollis’ side, again, until Cullen returned. Not that his bear would want to leave, then, either. But at least he’d be assured of Hollis’ safety with Cullen standing watch.
Fatigue strained his muscles, and he rubbed the back of his neck, hoping to relieve the ache that had taken root. Hollis snuffled in her sleep, the sound easing the tight feeling between his shoulder blades. He leaned back in the chair, content to watch her sleep. The odd flicker of lightning flashed beyond the window, the accompanying thunder rattling the panes.
The steady clatter of rain against the roof eased the rush of adrenaline that had kept him moving—the sleepless nights finally catching up with him. He closed his eyes, listening to the soft whisper of her breath. The room faded as he allowed himself to drift, confident his other half would rouse him if needed. Sounds chirped in the background, nothing concrete until his bear snorted.
Lucas blinked, his head still fuzzy, when the door to the building creaked open. A gust of cold air swirled around him, a familiar scent wafting through the room. He gave himself a shake, then turned to glance at the door just as Cullen walked through. His mate stopped, his gaze focused on the bed, his mouth hinging open. Red flashed in his eyes as he slowly shifted his focus to Lucas. Uncertainty furrowed his brow before he looked back, the lines in his forehead deepening.
“Shit.” Lucas stood, darting between Cullen and the bed as his partner stalked forward, hands fisted at his side, his canines poking out beneath his upper lip. He palmed Cullen’s chest, holding his mate back. “Easy, Cullen.”
A throaty growl resonated through the air. “Easy? Have you seen her face?”
Lucas moved with the man when he took a quick sidestep. “Trust me, I’ve been fightin’ the urge to track down the bastard, myself. Probably a good thing he left on the train before I saw the extent of the bruising, otherwise, he’d be dead, and I’d be a few miles away wearin’ fur.” He pushed harder against Cullen’s chest. “She’s already scared. Hurt. You losin’ control isn’t going to help the situation. So, pull back. She’s here. Granted, not quite in the capacity we’d like…but it’s a start.”
Cullen’s head bowed forward, some of the tension easing from his muscles. “How did you get her through the door, let alone convince her to stay?”
Lucas chuckled. “I wouldn’t exactly say she volunteered to come here. More like she passed out in my arms, and I made the decision for her. But that doesn’t matter. Once she wakes up, we’re going to have a long chat with her. It’s time we laid it all on the line. Stopped dancin’ around the real issues.”
The muscle in Cullen’s jaw jumped. “If she says no…”
“Then, at least we’ll know. We can…adapt.”
“Adapt? Are you seriously telling me you’d simply walk away?”
Lucas sighed. “Probably not, but…perhaps our damn bears would stop stonewalling our relationship. Despite the fact I want nothing more than to shove you against that wall and swallow your release before fucking you into submission, my damn grizzly keeps insistin’ I wait.” He grunted as a punch of lust nearly doubled him over, the strong spicy scent of male musk filling his senses. He stared into Cullen’s eyes. “Christ, what I want to do to you.”
Cullen fisted Lucas’ shirt, yanking him against his chest. “You can tell your damn bear to shut the fuck up, because regardless of what Hollis says, I’m done waiting. You’re mine.”
The man’s lips crushed down hard on Lucas’, his taste spreading across Lucas’ tongue. He moaned, threading one hand through Cullen’s hair as the other splayed out across his chest, Cullen’s heartbeat thrumming beneath his fingers. The frantic rhythm matched his, soothing the burning need coiling in his groin.
Cullen nipped at Lucas’ lower lip once they’d parted, laving the slight hurt before kissing a path along Lucas’ neck. The man nudged his way beneath Lucas’ shirt, mouthing his shoulder. The slight scrape of teeth across his flesh sent a shiver down his spine, and he arched into the firm caress, mentally telling his mate to stake his claim.
Cullen smiled against his skin, repeating the hard bite but not breaking the surface. “Soon. But I want you wrapped around me when I finish this. I want your bear to know who it belongs to.” He made another pass. “Me.”
Lucas yanked on Cullen’s hair, needing something far rougher to calm his beast. “Then, show me. Prove it.”
“Dangerous, mate. We both know I’m far too gone for you to challenge me. Which means it’s time we finally…”
“No!”
Lucas froze, twisting to look at Hollis as her voice echoed through the room. She thrashed on the bed, screaming the word, again, before bolting upright, clawing at the blanket as it tangled around her.
He released Cullen then darted to the bed. He grabbed her shoulders, trying to calm her without hurting her as Cullen joined him, stopping her from vaulting to her feet. Her gaze swept the room before settling on his face, the usual blue barely visible amidst the white.
Her chest heaved against his forearm as he held her steady, her increased breath rasping around them. She blinked a few times, frowning when she finally seemed to focus. Her chin quivered as tears pooled in her eyes.
Lucas smiled, tucking some hair behind her ear. “Easy, darlin’. It was just a dream. You’re safe.”
The skin over her nose crink
led as she glanced from him to Cullen then back. A few of the tears slipped free, and she cringed as they tracked down her cheeks. “Where…”
She groaned, palming her head as she swayed. Cullen moved in closer, gently drawing her against his chest. She stiffened, looking as if she might pull free before relaxing against him, her head nestled in the crook of his shoulder. Pain shadowed her expression, the bruising around her eye and along her cheek more prominent.
“My room. You passed out in the street, remember?” Lucas brushed his thumb along one side of her jaw at her obvious uncertainty. “I’m sure it’s all confusing to you. But that’s because you need to rest. Heal.”
She swallowed with effort, another groan slipping free. “Can’t. Patients—”
“Are taken care of. I sent Reverend Miller to the clinic to watch over them. He said you’d mentioned they could go back to their quarters once they’d woken and eaten something. Cullen just got back from the line, and there’s nothing new in need of your attention. While I’m sure you haven’t eaten much, either, I think it’s obvious you need to rest more. Which means you’re going to lie back down and sleep until you can look at me without seeing double.”
“How do you know—”
“Because I’ve had enough cracks to the head to have a reasonable guess at how bad you’re feeling. So, lie back down and sleep.”
More tears glistened in her eyes before spilling onto her cheeks as she turned her head away, shame hunching her shoulders. But it was the instant punch of fear in her scent that dropped his stomach.
He glanced at Cullen, then gently tilted her chin until she made eye contact, again. “Hollis? I know you’re angry with us, but…you don’t think we’d ever hurt you, do you?”
She furrowed her brow, grimacing when the simple movement must have aggravated the pain in her cheek. “Why would you say that?”
