Finally, his lengthened teeth retracted, and Jay purred as he bathed his mating mark with his tongue. He had no idea how quickly, their mate was going to heal, but he hoped, prayed that it would be fast. Now that they'd claimed her as his, his body was hankering to complete the bond by making love to his woman.
While she'd agreed to be their mate, he hoped that she wasn't pissed for doing so without her awareness. He wasn't sure he could stand to see horror or anger in her eyes even though she said she accepted them.
He wasn't sure his heart, his soul, could take it.
Chapter Eight
Kenzie frowned as soon as she opened her eyes. She wasn't sure what was going on, but she felt different. She glanced to either side of her and sighed with disappointment when she realized she was in bed alone.
Her frown deepened as she tried to remember when she'd fallen asleep. She shook her head because she couldn't. The last thing she could recall was trying to bolster Jayson, Jenson, and Jordan's self-confidence in the way they perceived themselves.
She gasped when the recollection of agony stabbing into her ribs and insides had been so intense, she hadn't even been able to breathe, but after that was a total blank.
She threw the covers aside and stared at the tank top and boy shorts she was wearing. One of her men must have gone out and bought her some clothes, because she hadn't had anything other the clothes she'd been wearing and that dreaded hospital gown.
Kenzie stood and hurried toward the closed door off to the side of the room and gasped as she took in the huge bathroom. It had a granite countertop, four sinks, and a spa bath big enough to fit ten people. She turned toward the facilities and stared wide-eyed at the large open-style tiled shower and multiple showerheads. There was even a bench seat to rest on. She shook her head and continued to another closed door and opened it. She sighed with relief when she found the toilet. Her bladder was so full it was near to bursting.
After making use of the facilities she washed her hands. When she glanced up into the mirror she gaped at herself. The bruising and swelling was gone from her face. That was the moment she realized her ribs no longer hurt. She turned her side toward the mirror, lifted the hem of the tank top, and bared her side. There was nothing. Not a single mark, bruise, or mottled skin hue to be seen. She turned until her back was toward the mirror and lifted the tank higher and gazed over her shoulder.
Tears stung her eyes when she didn't see any of those thin silvery lines that had been left on her back and thighs after her stepfather had taken his belt to her.
They were gone.
She dropped her shirt, turned once more, lifted a hand to push her hair back from her face, and stilled when she saw the bite mark on her inner wrist. Rotating her arm, she stared at the teeth marks embedded in her skin. She was about to remove her top to search the rest of her body, but she caught the marring in the crook of her neck and shoulders. A slow smile curved her lips up and she covered her mouth when she giggled. Her men had claimed her. Why they would do that while she was unconscious she didn't know, but she was happy. She was theirs and they were hers. She belonged for the first time in her life.
Kenzie grabbed a new toothbrush from the cupboard, brushed her teeth and then hurried toward the shower. She had no idea what day it was or how long she'd been sleeping, but she needed to bathe. After taking a deep sniff, she didn't think she smelled but she couldn't remember how long it had been since she showered. She turned the water on, checked the temperature, removed her clothes, and stepped into the shower with a satisfied sigh.
She frowned when she felt nervous butterflies taking flight in her stomach, but couldn't work out why she was feeling that way. With a mental shrug, she pushed the nervousness aside, washed her hair and body.
After wrapping a towel around herself, she dried her hair and then walked toward the bedroom. She stopped in the doorway when she saw all three of her guys were sitting on the bed waiting for her. A flush crept into her cheeks when she noticed they were eying her over with hungry intent, but when she shifted on her feet, they lifted their gazes to her face.
"There are clothes in the dresser, baby," Jordan said, standing and walking toward it. He pulled drawers open and then beckoned her by crooking a finger. She moved toward him, peered into the drawers, and gasped. There were enough clothes in them to last her for at least a week, probably more.
"Thank you." She looked into Jordan's eyes, and frowned when he nodded and glanced away. She turned to glance at Jayson and Jenson. "Thank you for buying me some clothes."
"You're welcome," Jayson replied.
"No problem." Jenson shrugged.
She knew there was something wrong when none of them would hold her gaze, and while she wanted to ask them what was up, she was feeling vulnerable and nervous, so she decided to gather up something to wear. Once she'd picked out underwear, jeans, and a T-shirt, she hurried back into the bathroom to dress. By the time she was decent her gut was churning so much she felt ill. She placed a hand on her belly, hoping the roiling would settle down soon, and after sucking in a breath, headed into the bedroom again.
They were still sitting on the side of the bed and avoiding her gaze.
Kenzie moved further into the room, crossed her arms beneath her breasts and asked, "What's going on?" Fear skittered up her spine when her imagination took over. She gasped and covered her mouth with her hand and backed away. "They're here, aren't they? They've found me."
"No, honey, they haven't found you," Jay replied as he stood. He took a step toward her and stopped.
She glanced at Jenson and Jordan as they both rose and came to stand on either side of Jay.
"Would one of you tell me what's going on? The longer you delay spitting out whatever it is, the more scared I'm getting."
"We claimed you," Jordan stated.
"And?" Kenzie quirked an eyebrow.
"And?" Jay threw his hands into the air. "What do you mean, and? We claimed you while you were unconscious."
"And?" She frowned.
"Sweetie, why aren't you mad at us?" Jenson asked.
"Because I agreed and want to be your mate. I figure you had to have a very good reason to claim me while I was out of it." She sighed with relief when her upset stomach eased. That was when she realized she hadn't been the one feeling nervous or ill. That feeling had been coming from her mates … times three. No wonder she'd been feeling anxious and sick. They were scared she was going to be upset about being claimed while she'd been unaware.
Jay clasped her hand in his and tugged her against him. "We've been worried sick about you, honey. You punctured a lung and the only way to heal you without surgery and weeks of recovery was to claim you."
"I did?" She drew back to gaze up into his eyes.
Jenson and Jordan caressed a hand up and down her back.
"You don't remember being in pain?" Jordan asked.
"That's not something I'm going to forget any time soon."
"I'll bet." Jay rubbed at the back of his neck. "I can't believe you're not angry with us?"
"Why would I be, Jay? I'd already told you all I wanted to be your mate. I should be thanking you all for claiming me and speeding up my healing process. So, thank you. How long was I unconscious?"
"Three days," Jenson answered in low raspy tone.
"Three days?"
Jay nodded.
"Actually, it was more like four days and three nights," Jordan answered.
"I'm sorry."
"What are you sorry for, baby?" Jordan clasped her shoulder and squeezed.
"For worrying you all."
"You didn't do it on purpose, honey." Jay stroked a finger down her cheek. "Let's go and get something to eat. I know you're starving because I can hear your belly grumbling."
Kenzie nodded eagerly. It was funny because she hadn't noticed how hungry she was until Jay mentioned it. Maybe her concern as well as feeling her mates' turmoil had superseded her hunger issue.
They all walked to the kitchen. Jenson grabbed a jug of water from the fridge, poured her a glass, and handed it to her. She drained the contents quickly, quenching her thirst and nodded when Jenson lifted the jug in query. He poured her another drink and she sipped it.
"What can I do to help?" she asked as she watched her guys remove ingredients from the fridge.
"Nothing, baby," Jordan said as he put the salad fixings on the counter. "We've already got a dish of lasagna and garlic bread cooking in the oven. All that's left to make is the salad."