Bree looked down in embarrassment. She suspected Avery knew exactly what they had been doing, but Bree was grateful for her charade.
Avery clapped her hands briskly. “Leta, go and wake your sister and brother please. Nicholas, could you build up the fire? It’s chilly in here.”
Nicholas nodded as Tristan cleared his throat. “I’m uh, I’m going to go find out what’s for breakfast.”
“Alright Tristan. I will join you shortly.” Avery smiled warmly at him before squeezing Bree’s blanket-covered shoulder.
“James and Bree, you stay right where you are. It’s important that Bree starts to feel better. I’ll send Nicky for you when breakfast is ready.”
Chapter 7
Nicholas built the fire up without speaking to either of them and then, after a cheeky grin at his brother, left the common room.
Bree couldn’t look at James, and she didn’t object when he cupped the back of her head and urged it towards his chest. She rested her cheek against his skin and listened to the steady beat of his heart in her ear.
“Do you feel better Bree?”
“Yes, other than wanting to die of embarrassment.” Bree muttered.
“You have nothing to be embarrassed about.”
She snorted. “Nearly your entire family saw me half-naked and kissing you but no, I don’t need to be embarrassed. Thank the gods your mother is a fast thinker and told Leta you were helping me heal.”
He chuckled. “I am helping you heal.”
“What do you mean?”
He shifted under her. “Kissing me, touching me, helps you heal faster. I don’t know why it does, but my mother was speaking the truth when she told Leta that.”
Bree didn’t reply. Her stomach was burning with shame. James had only kissed her in order to heal her. She thought he had kissed her and touched her because he wanted her. She swallowed her disappointment. Believing someone like James would ever want someone like her was ridiculous. Besides, it was for the best. He was a Lycan and she hated Lycans.
Still, she couldn’t help but recall the way it had felt when James had touched her. She shivered lightly at the memory of his deep voice promising to help her with the ache between her thighs.
“Are you cold little one?” He hugged her closer to his warm body.
“No.” She said shortly. “I think you can let go now. My side isn’t hurting at all.”
He tightened his arms around her. “Are you trying to get me in trouble with my mother? She told us to sit here until breakfast, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
She could hear the grin in his voice but she refused to look at him. “Will this be enough to heal me completely?”
“I don’t know. We’ll find out when I let go of you. Of course, since you have a tendency to lie to me about how you’re feeling, I’ll probably have to join you in my bed tonight just to be on the safe side.”
She stiffened against him. “No! You promised me you wouldn’t.”
James frowned at the fear in her voice. “I’m only teasing you, little one. I’m sorry. I did not mean to frighten you.”
“I’m not afraid. I’m just – I’m very tired. Can we please stop talking now?”
“Yes.” He sighed and stared into the fire as Bree trembled lightly against him.
* * *
“How do you feel now?” Avery sat down on the couch beside her and rested her hand on Bree’s leg.
“Better, I think.”
It was just after breakfast and Avery had invited her to sit in the common room with her for a bit. The others had disappeared, and Leta had been thrilled when Bree had given her permission to take Tia to her room to play.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. My side doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Avery smiled. “Why don’t you let me hold you for a while?”
It was a strange thing to offer but Bree didn’t really think about it. The idea of being held by Avery was very appealing to her, and so she scooted her butt across the couch as Avery opened up her arms. She snuggled into the redhead, resting her head on Avery’s shoulder and sighing happily when Avery wrapped her arms around her.
She closed her eyes as Avery stroked her long hair. “You have very pretty hair Bree.”
“Thank you. I like yours better.” Bree said shyly. “I have never seen a Red before I met you and James.”
Avery laughed. “We are uncommon.”
“I do not believe the stories you know.”
Avery continued to stroke her hair. “Sadly, there are still plenty who do. Five years ago, men from a nearby village attacked our home. There had been some strange animal deaths, and they blamed James and me. They wanted to burn both of us at the stake.”