Read Online Mate of Her Heart by R. E. Butler - Free Book Online Page B

low voice as he walked slowly towards her.  He bypassed her and went to the front door and threw the lock.  The sliding bolt echoed in the room in a final way.  He was staying.
    “You have to leave, Luke.”  Her voice was still low and growly, and he liked it.
    He turned from the front door and faced her.  “No.”
    Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the sheet she held against her body.  A body he’d wanted to touch for years.
    “Luke, it’s not safe.”
    He cracked his neck as anger wove through him.  Hadn’t he just proven that he could take care of her?  “Really?  Because those assholes came here to rape you, Ev.  Males from your own pack.  From where I’m standing, it seems as if you’re safer with me than alone.”
    Her eyes widened and she shook her head.  “No, it’s not safe for you to be here with me .”
    Before he could tell her that he would be able to handle whatever her heat-cycle threw at him, she made a pained sound and doubled over, clutching her stomach.
    Tired of the couch between them, Luke stormed over to her and picked her up in his arms.
    She struggled weakly at first as he strode to the bed, but then she seemed to melt into him, pressing her face against his neck.  He felt the gentle scrape of her teeth against his flesh and he shuddered.  Laying her down on the bed, he sat next to her and put one of his hands on hers as they continued to clutch the sheet to her body.
    She tensed and gritted her teeth together.  Squeezing her eyes tightly shut, she said, “Please, Luke.”
    “Please, what?  Leave you in pain?  Unprotected?  Your father is an idiot for thinking you’d be safe.  And don’t get me started on your brother.”
    She went still and opened her eyes slowly.  “What about Acksel?”
    Luke shook his head.  “He’s the one who told Vince where you were.  Vince called his buddies to join him, but Acksel caused the problem.  This might have been a safehouse, but Acksel compromised it.  Their best intentions involved you getting gang-raped, and judging from their chatter about Acksel’s grief, I don’t think they intended to let you live.  I’ll deal with him after your heat.  Right now, you’re going to drop that death grip on the sheet and let me take care of you.”
    “Luke.”  She licked her lips and he wondered if she was thirsty.  Before she could say anything else, he went to the refrigerator and opened it, looking for something cold to drink.  There wasn’t anything inside.  He settled for filling a glass with water from the sink, and then wet a clean dish towel.
    Joining her on the bed, he put the towel in his lap, hooked his hand behind her neck and lifted her gently so she could drink.  She gulped the water until the cup was empty and then he settled her back on the bed.  Pressing the towel lightly against her skin, he tried his best to cool her down.
    She exhaled softly when he pressed the towel to her neck.  “Thank you.”
    “I will always take care of you, Ev.”
    Her eyes drifted to his.  “No, I mean thank you for coming for me and protecting me.”
    “I will always do that, too.”
    He tried to untangle her fingers from the sheet, but she tensed.  “You still need to go, Luke.”
    “Not going to happen.”
    “You don’t understand what this means.  You have to go so I can do this on my own.”
    “I’m not going anywhere.  I want you, Ev.  I want to take care of you.  Not just for your heat, but forever.”  He felt as if he were standing on the edge of a mountain, unsure whether his next step would be safe or send him plummeting to his death.  “I’ve proven I can protect you.  I can help you with this, too.  I love being your friend, but I want every part of you.  Forever.”
    He tossed the wet towel aside and rested his fingers on the edge of the towel around his waist.  His cock had gone shamelessly hard the moment that she was safe.  Her eyes trailed down his chest and landed where his