Fated Mate

“What’s wrong, did I say something or do something to offend you?” How could she have, all she did was say please and thank you, she hadn’t even moved.

“No, it’s not you,” he clenched his fists on his side, “when I see you hurt, sick, and in pain, I remember what that animal did to you.”

Her brows propped up. “Animal, are you sure? The only wild person I saw was you.”

Lee’s words made him self-conscious again. He fidgeted, shifting further away from her. “I’m sorry…about what you saw, but I’m not going to apologize for Steve!”

“Don’t. Just explain to me what happened. Don’t forget the part where your eyes turned silver, and the super speed you guys were moving at, that would put Flash Gordon to shame.”

He looked at her, horrified by what she’d said. That’s when she knew she hadn’t imagined it, any of it. His face went cool, and then he looked forward.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“I lost my temper, just like any man would.”

“And…” she prompted him. She wasn’t going to let him shut her out.

“That’s it, I reacted, and there was nothing else to it.”

“Oh please, I know what I saw. Steve dislocated my shoulder, not my brain.”

“Lee, you were passed out.”

“In the car not in the deli,” she countered.

“The mind can make up a lot-”

“Don’t patronize me! How stupid do I look?” She cut him off before he fed her more bull.

He took a deep breath and changed the subject. “You were imaging things. Should I get you something to eat?”

“Get out!” She wasn’t going to let him treat her like a child. She just finished with one person who told her, her mind was making up stuff she didn’t need anyone else telling her so.

“No, I’m not going to leave you alone.” He stood up and went to the oven. He was really pissing her off. She stood up in a huff and pointed at the door.

“I said out, now.”

“No.” He was cool and collected. He took the plate out and uncovered the food. He then opened the drawer and picked a fork. He poured some water into a glass and carried it and the plate of food into the living room.

“The only reason I agreed to see you is because I needed you to tell me the truth.” The smell of food hit her hard. She could taste the bile in her mouth. She put her hand over her unsettled stomach.

Ash was next to her, his face full of concern. “Are you okay?”

“Please take the food away, now, please.”

He picked up the plate and rushed it to the kitchen. She picked the glass of water and drank it, hoping to wash the bile taste out. It didn’t help. It just made things worse.

“Oh no…” She placed her hand over her mouth. She could feel the vomit come up. She wasn’t going to make it to the bathroom. Ann would kill her if she puked on her carpet. She rushed to the bathroom but she wasn’t fast enough. Suddenly, she was off her feet and over the toilet in a matter of seconds.

When she was done she looked up, too tired to move. Ash let go of her hair and picked her up.

“Wait, I want to brush my teeth.” It came out as a whisper. He put her down and held her steady at the sink. “You don’t have to stay, I’m fine now.”

“I’ll wait.” His voice was firm but warm.

“Of course you will,” she said under her breath. She wasn’t at all surprised. Ann and Maria had been just as stubborn.

After she was done, he picked her up again and carried her back to the couch. She was feeling embarrassed. She felt she had to give him an explanation, but he beat her to it.

“Maria told me about the dizzy spells and nausea. She wanted me to be prepared, just incase. It was either that or she stayed. I don’t think Joe would have forgiven me if she had.”

Typical Maria. “Don’t worry, you’ll get used to her.”

Lee was feeling weak. She had vomited everything she’d eaten that day. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back. It was quiet for a while, she was glad he was giving her time to recover.

She felt a tap on her leg. “Lee, take this.”

She opened her eyes to see what it was. It was a tall glass, with orange brown liquid in it.

“What is that?”

“It’s a vitamin shake. It will help you get your strength back.”

She shook her head. There was no way she was drinking that. She didn’t want another trip to the bathroom. He took her hand and put the glass in it.

“I promise, this will stay down.” He gave her a smile, a smile that she’d seen once before, at the club when they were bonding.

She took a sip of the concoction and waited for her stomach to send it back out. Nothing. She drank half and waited. When nothing happened she finished the whole glass. It was tasty and very fruity.

“I told you so. Do you want another glass?” His grin was wider and his face bright. She couldn’t help but smile.

“Yes please.” He stood up and went to get more.

Lee downed four more glasses before she had enough. He was very kind and patient with her. They talked about the two couples for most of the night, avoiding the diner topic all together. She hadn’t forgotten about it, she just didn’t want to ruin the mood. She’d be patient, she’d wait for him to tell her, or she’d ask him again when he got more comfortable around her. She knew that there was something not human about him, and the other two but she didn’t want to scream fire before she got the whole story.

She could feel her eyelids droop as she was getting sleepy but she fought it, she was having too much fun.

“Lee, do you want to lie down?” He put his palm on the side of her head. She leaned into it, rubbing her cheek in his soft palm.

She tried to stop it, but the yawn fought its way out. “No, I’m good.” He picked her up and headed for her room. “I’m not sleepy, honest.”

“Of course not, I just want you to be comfortable then we’ll continue with our conversation.”

He sat her down on the bed, and then slowly took off the sling. He lifted her and laid her against the mountain of pillows she had to support her. The bed rocked under his weight. He held on to her tight then paused when the bed settled.

“You owe me a bed.” Lee spoke in a sleepy voice.

“Yes, I do.” He laughed, remembering what caused the bed to break in the first place. Then a shadow came over his face, he had remembered something else. “Lee, I’m sorry about the bruises.”

I swear I could kill Billy, and Ann for telling him. “Its fine, they weren’t that bad anyway.”

He felt guilty, one would think he broke her and not just put a couple of bruises on her. She hoped he hadn’t seen the bite mark otherwise he would be sulking even more. She pulled her hair over her shoulder to cover her neck, hoping he wouldn’t read into it.

“You don’t have to down play it. Joe told me you fell down a flight of stairs, and you were hurt pretty badly. But when I heard Steve at the diner, the disgust in his voice, I knew it was far worse. I can’t image the pain you were in. I’m so sorry.” He closed his eyes tight, he seemed repulsed by himself. She reached up and touched his cheek.

“Stop beating yourself up. Look at me, I’m fine, and so you know, the girls were pretty jealous.”

“Jealous of the hideous marks on your body, or the pain you were in. Now who’s patronizing who?”