Saving His Mate (A vampire-werewolf romance) (7 page)

The alpha nodded, his expression dark. “Male vamp escaped by vehicle. Asher’s tailing him now.”

Rex glanced down at Margery who was still huddled on the floor and the strongest need to protect her overwhelmed him. He looked back at Grant, all his instincts demanding that he go to her, hold her, claim her in front of these shifters. “She doesn’t want to see anyone and I need to get her out of here. Now.” The sun would be rising soon enough and she needed to be somewhere she felt safe.

Grant frowned, likely because Margery didn’t want to see anyone. For a moment it appeared as if he’d push the issue, but he just nodded. Turning his head, he barked out a few orders then focused on Rex. “Max is by the vehicles. Take one and get her back to the compound. He’s going to shadow you two so you have backup—that’s not up for discussion. The rest of us are going to stay and canvas the area until I’m certain there aren’t any more vamps around. I’ll be by Margery’s place as soon as we’re done.” He paused again, looking down at the trapdoor, but didn’t say anything else before leaving.

Rex heard him shift to his wolf form before he’d exited the barn. When Rex looked back down Margery had moved to the bottom of the stairs. She looked impossibly tired and vulnerable, her eyes even bigger in her pale face.

“Thank you and…I’m sorry for putting that on you. I’m so weak and I just…” She trailed off and he let out a savage curse.

Jumping back down, he scooped her up in his arms before she could protest. To his surprise she wrapped an arm around his neck and curled into him. He hated the circumstance, but he loved the feel of her against him. She was soft and warm, and her scent clung to him, heightening his need to protect her.

“Did they do anything other than the silver?” he asked, unsure how else to phrase it and not wanting to upset her even more.

She shook her head, her eyes growing heavy-lidded with fatigue. “No, except for the female attacking me right before you arrived. You don’t have to come with me, you know. I’ll be okay.” She slumped against him, seeming more tired with each word. The way she curled into him so trustingly made his heart squeeze.

He snorted at her last statement. “I’m going and it’s not up for discussion.” Even though Rex had more questions, now wasn’t the time. All he was concerned with was getting her to safety. Tightening his grip around her, he ascended the ladder and pulled her closer to him. He planned to take care of her as long as she’d let him. Hell, he’d use his inability to walk in the daylight as an excuse to stay with her today, to watch over her. No one was ever going to hurt her again. Not as long as he was alive.

Chapter 6

Margery let the near-scorching water from her showerhead pound her shoulders and back as she stood under the steady fall of water. The pain from the silver poisoning had almost diminished. She was exhausted and a little jittery but she finally felt safe in her own home. Especially since Rex had come back with her. The sexy male’s presence was incredibly reassuring.

Though she didn’t want to get out, she’d been in here too long and couldn’t keep avoiding the very concerned vampire waiting in her living room. On the drive back to the compound he’d kept her tight in his lap and she hadn’t been inclined to move because his warmth and strength wrapped around her had been exactly what she’d needed. Especially with that unknown male vampire still on the loose.

Rex was proving to be sweeter than she’d thought. Not to mention he was incredibly protective. Something that had never been a huge turn on for her before. But she liked the way he’d taken charge after finding her. He’d done exactly what she’d asked by telling Grant she didn’t want to see anyone. And he hadn’t asked a ton of questions or tried to tell her that she needed her pack for support right now. A shifter male would have done just that. But Rex let her take back the control she’d lost without being pushy.

He was just so damn kind and concerned. Which should set off her alarm bells. She knew the vampire wanted to get her into bed. But she wanted him naked too and she knew he would never hurt her. She knew it was time to stop hiding behind her past, especially since the pull she felt toward him was the mating pull. She couldn’t deny it any longer, even if she’d wanted to. So far Rex had been nothing but honest and honorable. It was just so damn hard to let go of something she’d been using as a crutch for so many years.

Sighing at herself, she shut off the shower and got out. After drying her hair until it was damp, she changed into short black and pink pajama bottoms with dogs on them and a pink tank top. Talia had gotten her the pajamas as a Christmas present, thinking the dogs were funny.

When Margery stepped out into the hall, she jerked to a halt to find Rex leaning against the wall just as she’d left him earlier. He was still rumpled and dirty and she could smell faint traces of butter. “Didn’t you want to take a shower?” she asked.

He shook his head, that hazel gaze raking over the length of her body and making her nipples bead. “I wanted to make sure you were okay and…didn’t want to leave you unguarded.”

His words stunned her speechless for a long moment but she finally found her voice as she crossed her arms over her breasts. “Have you been waiting out here the whole time?”

He nodded, his expression unreadable.

It bothered her that she couldn’t tell what he was thinking. “I’m sorry. You can—”

“Margery, I need to tell you something. You were taken because of me. I was hunting a vampire and accidentally killed him. Well, he killed himself, but that’s not important. You were targeted because someone saw us together at your bakery and assumed we were together. If I’d thought it was a possibility to bring danger to you I never would have pursued you. I’m sorry.” His handsome face was so stressed, so filled with guilt she couldn’t help but step closer and grab his hands in hers.

“Rex, I know. The female said something about it before she tried to kill me. She was in a rage and most of her words were incomprehensible but I gathered she wanted to use me as a bargaining chip. But she planned to kill both of us—until you arrived with backup. I don’t think she was very old for a vamp or very smart. She couldn’t have been to take me when I’m part of a powerful pack. But, I know and I’m not angry. You really thought I would be?” There was no way she could be angry at this male. Definitely not after he’d saved her, but mainly because of who he was showing himself to be.

He nodded stiffly, watching her warily as if he didn’t quite believe her.

“Well, I’m not. Why don’t you shower and we can watch a movie?” She was exhausted but didn’t want to go to bed just yet and didn’t want to be alone. And if she was being honest with herself, she wanted him to hold her, needed to feel his touch. “I mean, if you’re going to stay.” She really hoped he did. The sun had already risen but maybe he didn’t want to stay in her condo. Using the interior hallways and elevators he could move somewhere else if he wanted. She couldn’t expect him to just drop everything for her.

Finally the tenseness in his shoulders fled. “I’m staying and if you’ll allow me, I would like to offer you my blood.”

Blinking, her eyes widened at his offer. Vampire blood had supernatural healing power and would help her kick the lingering sluggishness from the poison. Otherwise time was the only thing that would work. But vampires
never
offered their blood to anyone. Not that she knew of. It was a mate thing. The implication of that stole her breath for a moment. “Rex, that’s…” She didn’t know what to say. It would be too weird to accept it, but part of her really wanted to. The thought of drinking blood should freak her out, but everything about Rex called to her. Part of her wanted to find out what he tasted like.

An abrupt knock at her front door made her jump like a cub. Inwardly she cursed her reaction.

“It’s Grant. He texted while you were in the shower,” Rex said then turned away before she could respond.

She immediately felt the loss of touching him as he withdrew his hands and made his way to her front door. She fell in step behind him, her bare feet silent against the hardwood floors. Moments later her alpha stood in the foyer of her place.

Without a word Grant pulled her into a tight hug. Being held by her alpha soothed her wolf in a way almost no one else could. Except…she’d actually felt safer being held by Rex. Later she’d examine that, but for now she returned Grant’s hug, knowing he needed to be reassured his packmate was safe.

“I’m so sorry this happened, Margery.” Grant’s voice was rough, uneven and so out of character.

She squeezed him tight then stepped back. “I’m okay. I promise. They didn’t do anything other than poison me and then that maniac tried to kill me.” Which were both terrible things, but she knew Grant had been worried about sexual assault just as Rex had been earlier. “Did you find out who the male was?” She’d heard someone with the female vampire and she’d heard Rex and Grant’s conversation earlier about the male who escaped them.

Jaw tight, Grant shook his head. “Davis lost the guy, but we will find him. If there’s an unknown in my territory he’ll only be able to hide for so long.”

“I’ve got a file on Stanley, but clearly it’s not detailed enough. I’ll reach out to my client about Stanley’s former associates and we can start digging into who could have possibly wanted to help him.” Rex’s voice was as grim as his expression.

Margery could see the rage simmering just beneath his surface. On instinct she reached out for him, wrapping her arm around his trim waist. Her inner wolf sighed in contentment the moment they made contact. Pleasure surged through her when he didn’t pause, just slid his solid arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.

Grant didn’t seem surprised at their affection as he nodded at both of them. “Let me know as soon as he gets back to you. For now, you two get some damn sleep. We’ve increased the security and no one is getting in here. I’m staying close to the compound today so let me know if you need me. And, before you ask, I’ve already told the pack to give you some space until you’re ready. I’m pretty sure they’ll only give you today alone,” he said wryly.

That, she believed. But a day was enough to rest and decompress from what had happened. She wanted to ask him about her bakery but at this point didn’t really care if he closed it for a couple days or sent some packmates to work there. “Thank you.” After giving her another hug, Grant left and she was once again alone with Rex.

After his offer of blood she was feeling more off-balance than ever.

“I am going to shower,” Rex said abruptly before turning and leaving her standing by the front door.

O-
kay
. What had that been about? Too mentally exhausted to think about it, she headed for her kitchen in search of food. Food and rest were the two cure-alls for everyone. Right now her wolf was restless though, wanting Rex’s presence more than anything.

* * *

Rex tried to will his cock to go down as he pulled on a pair of jeans Margery must have left for him when he was in the shower. They smelled like Grant so he guessed the alpha must have brought them over. Rex was just glad they didn’t smell like some random male. She’d left a T-shirt too but he decided to go shirtless. He wanted her as aware of him as possible.

Something had shifted between them since they’d returned to her place. She hadn’t minded his touch, had even reached for him. He wasn’t sure if there was more to it than just her needing simple comfort. Either way, he liked it. He found her in the living room curled up on the couch with a book in hand. All the floor to ceiling length drapes were closed, so the room was incredibly dim. He wouldn’t know it was daylight if his internal clock didn’t tell him. She must have pulled the hurricane shutters in place, which he found incredibly thoughtful.

Putting her book down, she smiled when she saw him. The open way she greeted him stroked against his senses in the most erotic way. Almost immediately her smile disappeared as her gaze raked hungrily over his bare chest. Her mouth parted slightly, her full lips so damn kissable he had to restrain himself from groaning out loud.

If she kept looking at him like that he didn’t think he’d be able to show any restraint. Not if she gave him the green light. If that happened…his body tightened in anticipation. Just imagining her underneath him, completely surrendering to the electric heat between them, made it hard to think straight.

“Your eyes are doing that glowing thing again,” she said, drawing his gaze away from her very kissable lips to her eyes.

“Seems to be a permanent thing around you.” The words escaped before he could stop himself.

“Can you control it?” There was only curiosity in her voice, nothing to indicate it bothered her.

“For the most part.” He just didn’t want to. No, Rex wanted Margery to see all of him. He was a vampire and he wasn’t going to hide that part of himself. “Did you…” He wanted to ask her if she’d given any thought to his offer of blood, but couldn’t force the question out. She’d seemed so shocked by his offer before and he didn’t want to hear her rejection, but the thought of sharing his blood with her made him so hard it hurt. Clearing his throat, he continued. “Did you still want to watch a movie?”

She nodded and reached for one of the remote controls on her wooden coffee table. “I wasn’t sure if you’d be too tired. Honestly, don’t feel like you need to babysit me.”

He snorted as he joined her on the couch, sitting closer than she’d apparently expected if her soft exhale was any indication. “I only sleep a few hours during the day.” At his age it was all he needed unless he’d been seriously injured and had to heal.