by Victoria Sue
Lisa’s body stopped shaking, and a soft sigh eased out of her. With one last gentle kiss on her curls, he eased himself up her body and tucked her into his side. Eyes closed, she looked totally out of it, but her breathing was steady, and her shaking had stilled. Smiling, he lowered her arms and kissed each palm as he brought them down. Satisfied, he pulled a sheet over her as he could feel her skin cooling. Head shaking and guilt pricking him, he ignored his own need to clean up and brushed another satisfied kiss on her head.
Mac lay quietly reveling in the sound of Lisa’s relaxed breathing. He smiled contentedly to himself, his arms full of a soft, pliant woman. Definitely a first. Not that he hadn’t had a satisfied woman fall asleep on him before. Hell, he’d had loads of satisfied dates. But I’ve always slept alone. He’d never been one for more than casual hook-ups. Kept it light. Three dates maximum. He couldn’t exactly introduce a casual date to his family. Way too much of a privacy issue.
The screen on his phone lit up. He’d had it on silent deliberately. Easing out of Lisa’s arms slowly, he almost went straight back when she whimpered. He tucked the pillow he’d been laying on into her, and she quieted.
He looked at the screen. Daniel. Walking to the bathroom, he called him back, keeping his voice down.
“Mac?” Daniel’s voice was always quiet, and he relaxed some.
Mac quickly told him about Lisa and the orderly from the hospital. Daniel agreed to do some digging and call him back. They exchanged a few updates about the latest kid he’d found and satisfied there was nothing urgent, he rang off. Mac would respond if there was an emergency with a missing kid, but for now his mate needed his full attention. He took the fastest shower he’d ever had and went back to Lisa, inordinately pleased when she immediately sought him out. Satisfied, he shut his eyes.
Hours later, he’d been awake for some time, and his arm that she rested on was numb, but there was no way he was gonna move and disturb her. He’d listened to her soft sighs through the night, and could feel the contented rumbling from his bear as he held her close. Her temperature was fine, and she had stopped her shaking a long time ago.
Feeling her stiffen and start to shuffle, he supposed she probably wanted the bathroom. Opening his mouth to reassure her before she freaked out, a soft finger touched his lips, and he glanced down.
“I don’t know you. I don’t know what I’m doing here. I know you’re taking care of me.” She worried her bottom lip, obviously searching for words. “I’ve been in a bad place for a long time, so if this is what you want, then I’m okay with it.”
Mac stared at Lisa, dumbstruck.
His jaw hardened, he wanted to inflict bodily injury on the ass-wipes that had her for so many years. God, where did he start? Mac clamped down on his howling bear.
“Lisa, do you remember any of yesterday?”
Lisa’s eyes clouded, and she ducked her head. “I lost my temper.”
Mac lifted her chin up gently with his finger. “There are a lot of things going on that you don’t understand. You’ve been treated badly for a long time, but that’s over now. I’m gonna take care of you. Never worry about losing your temper. Everyone does sometimes, and I have a feeling your fuse isn’t gonna be as short anymore.” Mac grinned, he could live with his form of anger management.
* * * *
But why? Why do you care? She desperately wanted to ask, but was afraid of the answer. No one had ever cared. There was no way this gorgeous man didn’t have some ulterior motive for helping her. She was a mess. Ugly, stupid hair and an uglier body. Wicked. Tears sprang in her eyes, and she squeezed them shut, so he couldn’t see.
She remembered being scared of the other guy when he’d walked in. She’d had a flashback to the hospital. She always got punished for losing her temper. Sudden images of heavy cruel hands that hurt crowded her brain. They sometimes they even tied her down. That was the worst. At least when they gave her drugs, she wasn’t aware. Some choice. Cautiously, she studied him surreptitiously. His blue eyes, quite startling with his dark hair, watched her steadily, but they weren’t angry.
Taking a breath, she looked at him again. His black hair flopped casually over his face, nearly covering one eye. Without thinking, she lifted her hand to brush it away and stilled as her fingers tingled like when the kids in the home said you were cool if you put your tongue on the end of a battery. Her mouth parted in surprise.
She had to be careful. As soon as she figured out what he wanted or gave him what he wanted, she would be sent back. There was no way she could let that happen again. She would bide her time. Humor him. Let him think she was docile, and then, when she saw her chance, she would go.
He leaned into her, and Lisa couldn’t help tracing his jaw line with her finger. She took a calming breath. His deep blue eyes clouded over at her touch and arms hardened underneath her, but she didn’t think he was angry. Tight muscles were controlled. He leaned closer into her, and she gasped. A very large, hard, mound pressed into her through his shorts, and she knew exactly what he was controlling.
Panicking slightly, she pulled herself out of bed. She needed to visit the bathroom. She stood up, but as her feet hit the floor, her body nearly followed. Both of her knees gave way. Instantly, Mac was there. He’d moved so fast he was a blur. She put a shaking hand to her head, thinking she still had some drugs to work through her system.
“Steady, baby.”
Lisa gasped as Mac swung her up. Suddenly very conscious of being naked and of her generous body, she turned her red face to his neck. “I’m too heavy. I can walk.” Lisa stared, shocked as a soft growl reverberated through him.
“Utter nonsense. You’re a lightweight, and I’m a bear, err—a bear of a man.” Mac kissed her head. “I like carrying you.” His arms tightened around her. Lifting her into the bathroom, he set her onto the toilet. “I’ll be just outside. Don’t move.”
Lisa managed to wash her hands. Mac came back in when she turned the water on and sighed audibly at the death grip Lisa had on the side of the sink. Wrapping a soft towel around her, he gently deposited her on a stool.
“Can I use the shower, please?” she asked.
Mac bent down. “Lisa, this is your home. You don’t have to ask to use anything, but for now I’m gonna run the bath as I don’t like the idea of you standing for too long.”
Mac ran the water and added some soft bubble bath. Lisa tried not to gape as he calmly stripped. Oh God, he was getting in with her. She cringed as Mac straightened up and moved to lift her. He was gorgeous, moving easily and confidently, completely comfortable in his own skin. Lisa closed her eyes in shame. And why wouldn’t he be? He was like some Greek God. Maybe, if she was very lucky, she might drown in the bath. Her jaw dropped as he pulled her close and gently lowered her onto him as he settled in the tub, her back to his chest. Okay then, well maybe not drown exactly.
Lisa swallowed.
Mac swallowed.
Lisa daren’t move. His dick, ramrod straight, was pressing into her. It was like she was having some out of body experience. He picked up the sponge and started drawing lazy circles on her shoulders. Then the sponge moved lower. The circles didn’t seem that lazy anymore. She stiffened.
“Lisa, honey, just relax. Nothing’s gonna happen to you, nothing. I just want to look after you.”
Lisa’s body trembled as she struggled to hold herself away from him. She was fighting leaning back.
“Lisa, do you remember I told you where you are?” She nodded carefully. Her neck ached with the effort of holding herself rigid. Oh God. He’d just found where it hurt, and his hands were smoothing the aches away
“You’re safe here. No one’s going to drug you, hurt you, or force you to do anything.” Her muscles shook a little as she started to relax. “Things are complicated with your body, and it’s gonna be confusing for a while.”
Maybe she could lean back just a little bit. Just so he could reach that bit…Ohh.
Mac was telling her about the h
ome, but she wasn’t really listening. The sound of his deep voice made it hard to keep her eyes open. He told her about the kids they looked after, explained how Dr. Michaels had got her released to them because he knew them and realized she would be safe.
Lisa thought she must be dreaming. But it wasn’t like any dream she’d had before. She didn’t have nice dreams. Lisa only had nightmares. But this one? This one she definitely didn’t want to wake up from.
Chapter Five
While Mac dried her hair, Lisa sat on the stool in the bathroom, trying to process all the things he had told her since yesterday. She sniffed surreptitiously. She could smell honey and wondered if it was one of the shampoos. She understood where she was. It sounded like a group home she had stayed in briefly, in between foster placements as a child. Some of them had been very nice. She’d never known her real parents. They’d died in an accident, and she didn’t have any other family. That’s what they’d told her while growing up in the system.
She remembered the first time she’d lost her temper in one of the group homes. Just started getting breasts and had been proud of her body. She was so excited she’d been able to use her clothing allowance to buy a bra. Lisa scowled at the memory of the boy, Bryan, his name was. He’d followed her all the way down the stairs to the TV room, snapping her bra strap, laughing and asking to see her boobs. It seemed so silly now. Other kids would have just laughed and ignored him. Other kids would have maybe shouted, or maybe told the house mother, but no, not her. She’d snapped and pushed him down the stairs. They moved her to a secure group home then, and things had gone from bad to worse. She’d never worn a bra again.
Mac’s arms rested gently on her shoulders. He totally confused her. He said his family ran the group home, and she remembered him coming for her in the hospital, but she still didn’t understand why.
She took in his powerful body. God, the guy was enormous, all muscles with short black hair. He was like one of the football players some of the orderlies commented on when they watched a game. Weird blue eyes. Like he could see right through you. And he had spent the day with her. God, he had bathed her. He had kissed her and held her like she was his, like she belonged to him. She remembered when she reacted downstairs to Alex, Mac hadn’t hit her or drugged her. He’d just held her and told her to stop, and her body had listened. No one had ever been able to get her to calm down by just talking, ever.
“You about done?” The smiling blue eyes pulled her from her thoughts.
Lisa nodded, still unable to trust her voice after it being silent for so long.
“I’ll just be outside.” He pushed some clothes toward her, smiled, and left her to get dressed.
Lisa smiled again at his thoughtfulness. She hadn’t had any privacy in what seemed to be a very long time.
She opened the bathroom door, dressed in the jeans and blue T-shirt she’d pulled from the pile, liking the snug fit of the denim. She looked shyly at the man who stood by the bed, relaxed with his arms crossed.
“Very nice.” Mac smiled and came closer. “Now, you need food. You have hardly eaten anything since you got here. Everyone’s out except Riley and Cassie, so think you could brave downstairs again?”
Lisa’s breath hitched. Downstairs? Could she?
“We’ve also asked Dr. Michaels to look in on you today.”
“Why?” Lisa’s feet came to a stop, alarm spiking.
“Dr. Michaels has the experience to understand what you’ve gone through. He can give any advice Riley needs to help you. Don’t worry, I’ve got you.” He pulled Lisa into a big warm hug. She stiffened and waited for the slivers of panic to creep in. She didn’t do touching much. No, she did. It was just that no one had touched her without trying to restrain her, forever. Mac tucked her under his chin. Her body relaxed, and she sighed. Safe, safe and warm, warm right down to her toes. Her stomach rumbled.
“Come on, let’s feed you. I’m starving.”
Lisa blushed and thought about her plump body again. At least, he hadn’t commented on that, but she would only eat small bits. She was big enough.
Lisa walked into the kitchen, holding Mac’s hand and smiled at Cassie and Riley. Cassie grinned and put a burger and fries in front of her.
“Thank you,” she murmured shyly, and realizing she was hungry, started tucking in. As usual, by the time she’d gotten less than halfway through, she put the bun down and pushed her plate away. Her stomach wasn’t full, but her head was full of the orderlies’ faces when they’d watch her eat. She was never allowed to eat on her own. Sometimes, she just wasn’t hungry. Too many pills stuffed down her throat. They’d stood over her. Cracking jokes about her going on a diet. Her throat closed, and she couldn’t eat any more, even though when she’d first seen the food, she could have eaten two of them.
She glanced up at Mac, and his hand squeezed her thigh. She stilled. Another guy had come into the room. She hadn’t noticed him before, and she drew into Mac’s side, alarmed.
“This is Dr. Michaels. This is the guy responsible for getting you out of the hospital.”
Mac smiled, but made no move to make Lisa go near the doctor.
The fairly average looking, sandy-haired guy with glasses, had a smile that crinkled as he spoke. “Hi, Lisa, good to see you’re a bit better. Do you mind if we talk some?”
Lisa nodded carefully and kept close to Mac.
“Lisa, I want to apologize. The system hasn’t treated you very well I’m afraid.”
Lisa gaped, amazed. She blurted out, “It wasn’t your fault,” before she could stop herself. Heat crept up her face.
“Well, no, not personally maybe, but really, in this day and age, these things shouldn’t be happening.” He sighed. “I just stopped in to say hi, but I can see you’re doing well. If it’s okay with you, I’m going to stop in regularly over the next few days. Just to talk.”
She was sure they could all hear her heart hammering, trying to escape her chest.
“I’m on my way to see another patient, and I can’t stay today, but I just wanted to say hello.”
Short breaths became longer. He didn’t seem that bad.
“I’ll be going now. Mac, want to walk out with me?”
Mac gazed down at Lisa. “Will you be okay with Riley for a few minutes?”
Lisa nodded. She quite liked Riley, and she needed Mac to stop guarding her so closely. Didn’t she? So she could get away when she needed to.
* * * *
Mac walked to the door where Zack stood, obviously guarding the kitchen door in case Lisa and Dr. Michaels needed privacy. Mac gave him a grateful smile.
“What do you think, Doc?”
“I think it’s remarkable she seems to have come out of this relatively unscathed. According to Riley, her mind is quite clear. At the very least, I would have expected serious side-effects, if not permanent damage. Shifter metabolism is quite remarkable.”
Mac nodded, pleased.
“You’ve still got a long haul with her. Panic attacks certainly. I wouldn’t be surprised at moderate or severe agoraphobia. I’m amazed she isn’t suffering serious withdrawal symptoms. I asked for the drugs to be reduced,” he smiled questioningly, “not completely stopped.”
Mac shrugged. “Riley would know if it were a problem.”
Dr. Michaels let out a heartfelt sigh. “I wish he would consider a career in medicine. I understand you’re her mate?”
Mac nodded.
“Well, I suppose what I’d normally say to spouses won’t apply to you.”
“Which is?”
Dr. Michaels sighed. “She needs someone for the long haul. If you’re not totally committed, I can arrange for a transfer.” He shook his head at Mac’s askance look. “Like I said, if you weren’t a shifter. The other thing is her general health. I’m can’t be entirely sure without getting a full work up on her, which given her reticence, isn’t a good idea at present, but you’ve noticed she’s quite plump?”
Mac growled, feeling his
bear rush to defend his mate. Dr. Michaels took a step back.
“Whoa, listen. That isn’t a criticism. It’s something I’ve learned from a colleague I worked with last year, a wolf shifter, and my wife also. She’s seriously undernourished, she’s probably had junk forced on her from that excuse of a hospital, and that, coupled with at least one of the drugs she was on, is a natural appetite suppressant. Thing is, malnutrition doesn’t show itself in shifters the same way as humans. Her body has shut down. If she gets the correct diet, a large percentage of meat, she will slim down pretty quickly. I noticed she hardly ate any of her lunch.”
Mac nodded, and Zack put in, “She pretty much pushed her breakfast around yesterday also.”
Mac frowned. “Hell, she hasn’t eaten anything since she got here.”
“Well, it needs monitoring. As it is, she will get very tired, very quickly. Let me know if her eating doesn’t pick up, and I’ll find out some more info.” Dr. Michaels put his hand out. “Anything you need, call me.”
Mac shook hands, pleased with the doctor, and hurried inside, wondering how soon he could conceivably get Lisa to eat more.
Going back into the kitchen, he suddenly stopped. She was smiling.
Leaning on the kitchen counter, Mac gazed at his mate. Her short stubby brown hair was cute. Hell, she probably hated it. Cassie had mentioned something about a salon visit later in the week, so that was good.
Lisa laughed at something Riley said and looked up at Mac. Her beautiful hazel eyes sparkled with gold flecks. He wanted to make them shine like that all the time. How on earth could he possibly have thought they were just brown? His eyes slid over the bruises yellowing on her neck and the darker ones on her face. They’d be the last ones ever to mar her smooth skin. He’d make damn sure of it.
“I was just telling Lisa about Mom and Dad finally going on that cruise he’s promised her for the last twenty years.” Riley nodded at Mac, showing everything seemed to be okay. “I’ll leave you to it, got some homework to do.”