My Defender(38)

"Maybe you could change into a burlap sack." He nodded. "Yes, a shapeless sack so that no one else can see your perfection but me."

"I'd be worried if I thought you were serious." She held out a necklace. "Can you put this on me?"

He popped up out of his chair and took the necklace from her. He carefully wrapped the chain around her neck and fastened it. Once he was done, he kissed the back of her neck. "I might be half serious."

Ellie walked over to the nightstand and dropped her stone into the small clutch she had. "Do you have your stone?"

Grant looked around the room. "I left it in my pocket."

Ellie walked over to the closet. "Is it in here?" She reached for the knob. As she turned it, she heard Grant shout, "No!"

Seconds later, an avalanche of blankets landed on her. She covered her face as the tsunami of yarn kept falling. When it was over, she looked at her feet. "Grant?"

"Yes?"

"What is this?"

"You know how I knit to help with my anxiety?"

"Yeah."

He pointed to the pile of beautifully knit afghans. "Well, once the nightmares started, I was very anxious."

"Oh baby," Ellie cooed then began to giggle. She could hardly turn around as she was completely surrounded by yarn.

Grant carefully stepped between the mounds and lifted her out of the way. "That's the linen closet by the way. The actual closet is that one, across the room." Grant pointed to another door.

"Grant, have you thought about donating these?"

He shrugged. "I sell some of the more elaborate pieces through the commissary, but no one needs this many blankets."

"I bet hospitals would, or maybe the children."

He smiled. "Come here." He left the room and headed down the hall. When he reached for a doorknob, she hesitated.

He laughed at her reluctance. "It's a room, not a closet." He opened the door and walked inside. She followed.

When he turned on the lights, she was amazed. Each wall, from floor to ceiling, held nothing but knit and crocheted little animals arranged on white shelves. "Grant! They're adorable!" Her eyes immediately went to a small grey elephant. "Can I have this one?"

He shrugged, smiling shyly. "You can have whatever you want."

"Can we give these to the children?"

He nodded. "That's what I was thinking; plus, they should carry my scent. It could help keep them calm without the Bolivars and I having to race around all the time."

Ellie looked around excitedly. "We have time before dinner, let's pack some for later." He grabbed an empty canvas bag, and they crammed the thing full of stuffed animals and left it by the front door.

Thirty minutes later, they were heading down to Level One. Sebastian opened the door when they knocked and ushered them inside. Ellie was relieved to see that everyone was relaxing and sipping pre-dinner cocktails.

The men stood until Ellie sat down next to Kari. When Sebastian asked her what she'd like to drink, she requested a white wine. Beside her, Grant declined any alcohol but, instead, asked for tea. She had a feeling he'd drink if they were alone, but in a group of people, he wouldn't want to lower his guard.

Her friend turned to her. "So, how is mated life treating you?"

Ellie smiled. "I've never been happier. Now, about that long story?"

Kari leaned in and caught her up on everything that had happened since she'd arrived in the city. "I swear to the gods Ellie, he had his guts hanging out, and he was up and at 'em, raring to go."

Ellie wrapped her arms around her waist laughing. When she calmed down, she looped her arm through Kari's. "No more tumbling spells? When do you want to set up your appointments?"

Kari shook her head and let her cheek rest on Ellie's shoulder. "No more tumbles." She squeezed her arm. "Thank the gods you are here! Nothing against Dr. St. John, but I really was not looking forward to him giving me exams."

"He better not be giving you any exams, not if he wants to continue breathing," Declan growled.

"It's his job," Grant interjected.

Declan gave him a shit eating grin. "Exactly and he'll be the only doctor here when Ellie gets pregnant, so it's really convenient that you feel that way."

On her other side, Grant began to growl so loud they attracted the attention of the others in the room. Adriel raised an eyebrow. "Problem?"

Grant snarled. "No one is touching my mate."

Adriel looked around. "Was someone going to?"

Ellie patted his leg. "Don't worry, when the time comes, my grandmother will take care of all that. She is a nurse, remember."

Grant visibly relaxed. When Declan chuckled, Grant picked up a decorative wooden apple from the arrangement on the coffee table and beaned Declan in the head.