Page 54 of Brock’s Mate

Brandon gave a little snort.

When he was finally finished, he put the medical supplies away, and then he turned to face them.

“Okay,” he said. “Now we’re going into the other room, and you’re both going to tell me everything.”

Chapter 21

Brock sat on the couch in the great room, trying not to breathe too deeply, while the whole fucking crew piled in. Desi sat next to him, her leg touching his.

Shifters needed touch—especially wolves—to keep their animals settled and allow them to feel their pack bonds. Now that Desi had managed to get in touch with her wolf, she’d obviously figured that out, but Brock wasn’t sure whether she was touching him for her comfort, or his.

Maybe both.

He wished he could tell what she was feeling. The roller coaster of today—her accessing his memories, the heat and emotion of their sexual encounter, and the fight with Jered—had left him not even knowing what he was feeling.

Except that he needed her—and he was pretty sure he hated it. He was used to being the one who was needed.

And she didn’t seem to need him at all. She didn’t need anyone.

Between the two of them, he and Desi managed to cover their whole story. From Desi being courted and Turned by Jered, to DiSantos’ attempt to abduct her, to what had just happened at the house—minus the finger-bang/hand job-on-the-floor part.

He also threw in the near-altercation with the Bubbas, and the farming communities’ being on the alert for rogue wolves.

Brandon said, “So anyone who’s a wolf better stay in our territory for awhile.” He looked pointedly around the room.

“I feel singled out,” Kitty said.

Brandon gave her a little smile, his face softening the way it only did for Kitty. “You shouldn’t,” he said. “Apparently, you’re the only wolf in this crew who hasn’t been parading around the countryside wreaking havoc.”

“Hey,” Desi said. “It’s not my fault my asshole ex turned me into a wolf. I didn’t even know.”

Brandon turned a ‘What’s your excuse?’ look on Brock. He said wearily, “Just needed a little excitement in my life, I guess.”

Brandon shook his head. “Before I abandon you all and move to Bali to save my sanity, what have you got on these people?”

Brock rubbed his temples with his palms; he had a headache the size of Minnesota. “It’s in my notes and my laptop. Titan should be bringing them with Desi’s stuff. Can we do this tomorrow? Because quite frankly, I’m fucking done with today. It sucked.” He gave Desi a quick glance. “Most of it, anyway.”

Because the sex on the floor was the only part of the day that hadn’t sucked. It had made him more confused, but it definitely hadn’t sucked.

He saw the corner of her mouth quirk. Maybe she thought so too? Apparently, she’d handled this day better than he had. She even still had her sense of humor; his was lying somewhere in the blood and dirt in front of the cabin.

Brock took Desi upstairs to his living quarters—a former guest suite with a spacious bedroom and kickass bath, and a big living area with a kitchenette. Brandon had started to offer one of the actual guest suites to Desi, but Brock had shut him up with a single look.

Whatever the hell was going on with him and Desi, his wolf couldn’t handle being separated from her right now. He’d never sleep, and he and his wolf needed sleep so they could heal.

Not to mention he needed the fucking oblivion.

While Desi took a shower, Brock poured himself a drink. A big one—good Kentucky bourbon, straight up.

Just the thing to wash down the painkillers. He fucking hurt all over.

He opened the glass door to the balcony, not caring that cold air blasted into the living area. It felt good on his bruised and torn body.

Desi. What the fuck was he going to do about Desi? How did he even talk to her about this?

She was his mate. He wanted her, he needed her, he wanted to love and protect her. All she wanted to do was get enough control over her wolf so she could get the hell out and disappear.

She hated being trapped above all else. Wouldn’t she see a mating bond as the ultimate trap?