Claws & Crochet

Part 74

ZOEY

A delicious warmth caresses my face and I realize Warner has laid his palm on my cheek.

"How are you doing?" He asks.

I take a mental rundown of my situation. "Sore. Some of the cuts sting. Tired." I try a shrug, but then I have to bite back a groan. Even though I stifled the sound, I can tell from Warner's furrowed brow that he picked up on the pain that just shot through me. Before he can go into overprotective mode, too, I add on a last important bit. "But I'm happy."

"Happy?" Now his brows are up, and if I had more strength in my jelly arms, I'd reach up to trace them.

Instead I nod. "It could've been worse, but I'll heal. Plus, my brothers are here. And you're here. So yeah. I'm happy. Can you help me change?"

Warner's eyes rove over my face, and I wonder if he's searching for more injuries. He'll probably find some, seeing as how I'm pretty beat up. Then he leans down and brushes a light kiss on the tip of my nose before disappearing out of my eye-line.

"You want the loose flannel ones?" There's a sound of drawers being pulled open.

"Sure. Anything to help you keep it in your pants."

He snorts, and then is by my side again, helping me sit up so we can pull my tattered T-shirt off. And I can't stop a pout when he doesn't spare a glance for my bare chest.

"See? They're not even on and you're already uninterested in half-naked me," I grumble.

Warner kneels in front of me, working his way up the buttons, but he pauses at my words. When I look down to meet his eyes, I find they are almost entirely black.

"Never think that I am uninterested in you, Zoey. Never."

A shiver sneaks through me that has nothing to do with the fact that my shirt is half open. I reach up to twirl a strand of his black hair around my finger.

"How do you feel about putting banging back on the menu?"

That finally gets a grin out of him, but Warner shakes his head and finishes with the buttons. "You're evil," he informs me. "A wicked temptress."

"Sounds like the perfect partner for a werewolf." I keep my voice low even though there's a door in between my words and my brothers.

Warner chooses not to respond, and he slips off my torn pajama pants with efficient hands then has me covered again seconds later.

"Under the covers temptress." He pulls the blankets back for me.

"Are you staying?" I try to keep the vulnerability out of my voice as I crawl up the bed.

"Do you want me to?"

"Yes." I respond almost before he finishes his question.

Warner toes off his boots, hangs his jacket over a chair in the corner, then climbs onto the mattress beside me. Only, he keeps his jeans on and lays on top of the covers. Before I can direct him to take his pants off and actually get in bed with me, he curves his body around mine, becoming the perfect big spoon.

"Can I ask you something?" His question brushes against my ear, bringing warmth and the smell of him.

"With all the questions I'm always throwing at you, I think you're due."

Warner chuckles, and I love the feel of the vibration against my back. "Abram, Byron, Carver, Donovan ...Zoey? Do you have twenty-one more siblings wandering around Denver?"

A goofy smile spreads across my face. "Mom liked the ABC idea, but after five kids she said she was officially done. Skipping to the end of the alphabet was her way of making that point. And getting her tubes tied."

I expect Warner to snort, or maybe start chuckling again. But he stays silent, and the quiet makes me curious enough to turn. When my eyes catch on Warner's face, I read a mixture of amusement, bafflement, and an eerie level of focus.

"I want to meet your mom."

"Really? You want to meet more of my family? Even after them?" My fingers flick toward the bedroom door.

Warner gazes at me, and again, surprises me when he doesn't immediately offer up a joke. Instead, he murmurs a determined, "Yes."

The one word leaves me reeling, and I answer with the first thought that comes to my mind.

"I don't think she'll come to Pine Falls. She's never been back since she left."

His mouth struggles against a frown, and eventually he leans in to press a gentle kiss against my forehead.

"We'll figure it out. Time for you to sleep. I'll ask more questions later."