“First and foremost, I will not risk you. Second, I would not place any of the humans who are driving here in danger because I am too cowardly to face my enemy when they would attack.”
The formal speech had returned, which told Elizabeth he wasn’t focusing on sounding normal. She blinked. How did she know? They’d never discussed it and yet she knew it as if she’d understood him for years. Bizarre.
“Elizabeth, I require your attention.”
“What?” She felt like a parrot. Every other second she had to say “what.” He touched her head gently, almost like one would caress a newborn baby. “Is your head bothering you again?”
Who was this creature touching her? It wasn’t Rex, not exactly. For as much, as he’d terrified her seconds earlier, the feel of his skin against her cheek moved her. She hadn’t expected gentleness from his wolf. Was it possible the beast was more compassionate than the man? “No. Do I seem out of it?”
He shook his head. “Your attention wavered and this is a most inopportune moment.
I wondered if the whack to your head caused you trouble again.”
“I think I’m fine.”
“Good. I regretted removing you from the hospital before you’d had all your exams.
I had no choice. You understand, yes?”
She nodded, totally transfixed with Rex’s mouth. He could talk all day; she’d stare at the way his lips moved.
“Good. Now, stay in the car.”
She shook her head, coming out of her sensual stupor all at once. “You want me to stay in the car?”
“Of course.” He moved as if he would exit the door, and she grabbed his arm pulling him back. No way was she strong enough to stop him if he wanted to go, but he stopped as if she’d yanked on him in a meaningful way. “What is it?”
“You can’t go running out there. You don’t even know how many of them there are.” He smiled as if she’d said something amusing. “But, of course, I do.”
“Your nose.” So that argument was not going to work. “How many of them are there?”
“Fifteen.”
“Fifteen?” she shouted, not able to help herself. “Then you certainly can’t go out there alone.”
“Little witch.” She hated that name immediately. Witch was bad enough. Little witch? No, not happening. “I cannot sit here and wait for reinforcements. As much as I love my pack, they are in no position to leave Maine and come to South Carolina.
They’re under constant attack. It is just us here. I will handle things, as I can. You will stay in the car.”
Well, now she at least knew where they were. Rex still planned on going outside by himself even knowing the crazy odds? Maybe he was the insane one.
“Rex, there has to be another way.” She squeezed his arm. “I need to help you. What will happen if they kill you?”
“I will not allow that to happen. In a million years, I would not leave you unprotected.” He pulled his arm from hers by gently disengaging her fingers from him. It felt like electricity shot up her arm when their fingers touched. He didn’t seem to notice, which made her heart tumble into her stomach.
Was she the only one having these types of feelings? Was he completely unaffected by her?
Suddenly, he whirled around. In two seconds, he’d pulled her over the center console and into his arms. His mouth met hers. She’d been transfixed with looking at him earlier and they’d briefly kissed once before. But it was nothing compared to this.
Maybe it was the danger awaiting him the second he moved out of the car. Or it could have been they knew each other a little better now. Perhaps chemistry just increased with time. In any case, all Elizabeth knew was one second she was very tense and in the next moment she melted into a pool of mush, supported only by Rex’s hand on the back of her neck.
His lips were firm but soft as they caressed her own. His tongue slipped between hers, and she moaned as she craved even more of him. She’d had sexual encounters in the past, but nothing like this. No one had ever made her think she might come in her pants simply from a kiss.
He pulled back to regard her. “Thank you. I’ve never gone into battle with a kiss from my mate before.” He raised an eyebrow. “Even if she is a witch.”
“Hey.” She whacked him. “Lay off the witch comments, and I don’t want you going to battle at all. They’re not attacking us yet. Maybe they’ll leave us alone.” Rex had the audacity to laugh, which made her want to whack him over the head.
As if she had manifested them with her words about them not appearing, three wolves leaped onto the hood of the car. She jumped back, squealing at the top of her lungs. Her hands shook as they instinctually covered her throat.