Bear the Burn(17)
With a soft gasp, she opened her mouth and let him taste her. His jaw worked as he maneuvered in between her spread thighs and leaned his body closer. His warmth seeped into her, and she cuddled closer, desperate to forget everything that had happened, even if it was just for a little while.
Dade’s hand gripped her ribs, arched her toward him until she sat on the very edge of the bed. A soft groan of want escaped her lips. His breath shook as he eased back and plucked at her lips once. Twice. Leaving her with delicious little smacks until, at last, he rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. She understood. She was savoring him, too.
“Wow,” she murmured, leaning her cheek against his palm and feeling utterly drunk.
His sensual lips turned up in a sad smile. “I’m sorry, Quinn.”
Confused, she frowned and eased back. “Sorry for what?”
“For this.” He brushed his fingertips down her arm and pulled her wrist until the underside of her forearm was exposed. A faded, pink scar in the perfect shape of teeth marks decorated her pale skin, just inside her elbow.
“Is that a…”
He nodded, failing to meet her eyes. Leaning down, he kissed the scar gently, then rubbed the pad of his thumb across the raised mark.
“Why did you do that?”
He winced at the accusation in her tone, but hang it all. This morning, she’d been happy. She’d known exactly how her day was going to go, and now, because of Dade, she was hurt and scarred and in trouble with the government, and this was all too much.
“I did it because I thought it would save you. It’s a claiming mark.”
“And a claiming mark means I’m yours?” Anger blasted through her chest as she clutched wads of her hospital gown in her fists. He’d done something to her that meant a lot more than she was ready for, and without her consent. She crossed her arms over her chest and bit her lip hard to stop the tremble there. “I want to go home.”
He looked sick as he nodded slowly.
“Please,” she begged in a ragged whisper.
“Okay, Quinn. I’ll see what I can do.”
Chapter Seven
Quinn sat there wide-eyed with her lips pursed as she listened to Dade ream out the police guards who seemed determined to keep her here. She could both see them through the window and hear them clear as day.
“We aren’t under arrest, are we? No? Then we’re going.”
“We have strict orders to keep her here until we hear otherwise.”
“For what? She isn’t some lab rat. She’s a person, just like you. I’ll write down the address where we will be staying, and you can follow us there and watch over us until you realize how fucking boring that job is since we’re just people who get up every day and go to work. Just like you.”
“Monroe,” Boone’s softer voice sounded. “You know us. Have known us for years. Have we ever hurt anyone?”
“No, man, and I hate this, too. You’ve only helped people that I’ve seen. I’ve watched you Kellers run back into burning buildings just to make sure they were clear and that everyone survived. Do I think this is right?” The dark-headed man shook his head. “But I have orders.”
“She can’t finish healing here, Monroe. She needs to be with her crew where we can take care of her. Adjusting to what she is in a sterile room with protesters outside won’t work for her. It’ll hurt her worse.”
“For chrissakes, Keller,” Monroe muttered.
The other uniformed guard muttered, “I hope you aren’t seriously considering letting her go. She could be dangerous.”
“Look, kid, you’re new. I’ve worked with the Keller brothers for years and had no idea what they were capable of because they obviously expressed massive amounts self-control. If Dade says they can rehab her better at her home, I trust him.”
“You trust him with the public’s safety?”
“He’s a damned good firefighter who has served his country on two tours. I trust him. And you—don’t be like one of those protestors out there and ignore what you’re seeing right in front of your face. You’ve been standing in the presence of two grizzly shifters, and neither one has eaten you yet. She’s half-healed without assistance, and Dade wants to take care of his mate. Right? Did I say that right?”
“Yeah,” Dade said, casting a worried glance at the window.
They argued on, but Quinn couldn’t hear anything past the words “grizzly shifter” and “mate.” She’d thought Dade was putting her on when he talked about changing into a bear, but no way were the cops in on the joke just for the benefit of a laugh at her. And those protesters outside were holding signs about caging people up. No, not people. Animals.