His Mate, His Enemy novel · Chapter 19 of 24

Chapter 19: No Reward

I went to the lodge nursery at ten at night to check Wyatt's chest.

That was my excuse, and I had used it five nights running.

Lorcan was on the floor beside the crib with his back against the wall and a burp cloth over his shoulder.

He had been sleeping there since I handed the baby over.

The lodge had a dozen empty bedrooms, and he lay on the boards because the boy might wake.

"He's clear," I said, folding the stethoscope. "No fever."

"Thank you."

"You said that yesterday."

"I'll say it tomorrow."

He got up carefully so as not to rock the crib.

His forearm still carried the pale shine of the silver burn.

I looked at it for too long.

He noticed and didn't say anything, and that was the thing about him now.

For two weeks he had noticed everything and said nothing.

He had rebuilt the ferry dock with his own hands in daylight and stood watch in the dark.

He hadn't asked me for one thing.

It had started to drive me out of my mind.

"Come here," I said.

He crossed the room slowly.

I took his collar in my fist and kissed him.

For a moment he kissed me back, his hand rising to my face, his breath shaking.

Then he took my wrists and held them gently against his chest.

"No," he said.

I stared at him.

"No?"

"Not like this."

"We did it twice, and you didn't say no."

"The first time you were collecting a debt. The second time you were still full of the fight."

He let go of my wrists.

"Tonight you're thanking me. I can feel it on you."

"You're feeling what you want to feel."

"I'm feeling what you're feeling, Cori. It's the thread."

Heat rushed up my neck.

It was true, and he knew it.

Keep reading free with an account. Start His Mate, His Enemy from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.