Chapter 34
Being mated with Ryker has been a very different feeling. Since we mated, our bond has been stronger and I can always feel him at the back of my mind, like an ever constant presence.
The first night after we mated, I wasn’t sure whether he would want me to spend the night in his room again so I had retreated to my room, only for him to knock on my door a few minutes later.
I opened it and he walked inside then stripped and proceeded to lie down on my bed. When I asked what he was doing, he had said.
“If you don’t feel comfortable coming to me then I’ll come to you.”
have spent every night in his room since then. In fact, right now my room is more of a formality. Most of my things have been moved into his and the only time I have gone back to my room is when I need to knit with Eve.
A soft k*ss to my temple pulled me out of my thoughts and I looked up from my position on the oversized bed to see Ryker leaning over me. “We have to train,” he reminded me and I groaned but pulled myself out of bed.
I didn’t feel well rested; maybe it was because I didn’t fall asleep until the early hours of the morning due to Ryker realizing that he found my nightgowns extremely s exy.
I changed into my gym cloths and dragged my tired b*dy out of the room and down the stairs where I knew he would be waiting. He was holding two bottles of water and when he saw me, I saw his eyes darken for a second before they switched back to normal.
That should have been my first inclination that training probably wouldn’t go very smoothly but I ignored it.
We trained in our usual spot and I was happy to note that I was actually building up my stamina and I was getting better at sparring. He hated sparring with me but he did it because he knew I had to learn. I knew he was going easy on me but regardless, the first day we soared, he had me on my back within seconds. He still beats me but at least I can hold my own for a while, sometimes even a few minutes.
We were sparring when Ryker spun me around and pulled me close to his chest, his hand was at the base of my throat and although it should
have signified the end of the session, neither of us moved.’
He buried his head into my neck and pressed a small k*ss to my mark that had my knees wobbling.
“Ryker,” I warned but he didn’t seem to care because he did it again.
“Do you know how beautiful you look in that outfit?” he whispered. against the shell of my ear.
I didn’t respond and his hand moved to my waist to run his thumb across the sliver of skin that was showing. I knew it was incredibly reckless of us to do this in public where anyone could see us but I couldn’t bring myself
to care.
He traced his l*ps across the shell of my ear then he pulled back abruptly. I was so shocked by the change in motion that it took me a few seconds. to understand what had just happened. I turned to him with curious eyes and he offered me a small smile.
“You’re exhausted,” he explained to me as he placed a hand on my lower back to lead me inside, “I saw it in your stance throughout training. Let’s get some food into you first.”
By the time we got in, Eve had already set the table. I thought I was going upstairs to get changed first but Ryker led me to the table. It wasn’t until after I had finished eating that I realized just how hungry and exhausted I previously was. Ryker must have been paying extra attention to me in order to have noticed it when I didn’t even realize.
Ryker finished eating first and he went to freshen up while I stayed down a little longer to finish up my food. By the time I was done, I stood to my feet but my knees wobbled and I almost fell down. I gripped the table for dear life and tried to regulate my breathing before I took another step. I was grateful no one saw me because Ryker would have fl*pped out about my well being.
It was a chore to make my way back up the stairs but I managed to drag my b*dy into Ryker’s room. When I got there, he was stepping out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel. Despite my tiredness, I could feel myself getting turned on for him but I knew I wouldn’t have the energy to keep up with him so I cast my eyes to the ground as I made my way over to the edge of the bed.
I sat down but Ryker’s footstep carried until I saw him come to rest in
stilte
front of me. He cupped my cheeks softly and tilted my head upwards. until I was looking him directly in the eyes.
“Are you okay?” he asked and I nodded, “you look a little green.”
I shook my head which was a mistake because it made my entire head pound, “I’m fine, I just need to take a bath and go to bed.”
He went quiet for a second then he pulled back from me and disappeared into his closet. When he returned, he was in silk pajama trousers and he was shirtless. He picked me up bridal style and carried me into the bathroom where he deposited me on the floor.
Before I could ask what he was doing, he slowly stripped my clothes off me, never once taking his eyes off my face as he did so. He balled up the sweaty clothes and put them in the hamper before picking me up again. and putting me in the tub.
He filled the tub with warm water and that was when he brought a wash cloth.
“I can do it,” I told him but he ignored me and soaped it up, “Ryker, I’m serious.”
“Let me do this for you.”
There was a sort of plea and vulnerability in his voice that had me
pausing in my tracks and nodding. He washed my entire b*dy and even when his hands brushed against the sensitive parts of me; it felt more intimate than S**ual.
He cleaned me up and wiped me down with a fluffy towel then carried me back into the room again. He placed me on the bed and retrieved a white nightgown for me. Before he put it on me, he let his eyes roam my b*dy and then he went on his knees in front of me.
I was confused as to what he was doing until his finger softly traced the barely there scar on my stomach. I watched him as he traced it in silence then he stood to his feet and helped me put on the nightgown.
As soon as I was dressed, there was a knock on the door and Ryker opened it to reveal Eve. She had a small flash in her hands along with a mug that was steaming hot. She placed both of them on the table and left immediately.
Ryker handed me the cup and I realized it was tea.
“Drink,” he instructed, “it will help you fall asleep.”
“Ryker you don’t have to do all of this,” I whispered as I took the cup from him, “I’m just a little tired that’s all.”
He smiled knowingly and k*ssed my forehead, “You’re my mate,” he
explained, “if you are in pain or discomfort then so am I. I don’t care if it is tiredness or if you pr icked your finger on a rose thorn. I will do everything in my power to ease your discomforts or I will never be comfortable myself.”
I sighed in resignation because I knew I wasn’t going to win with him and drank the tea. When I was done, he took the cup from me and gestured for me to lie down.
After lying down, he crawled into bed beside me and pulled me into his chest-pulled me over his chest sounds like a better description if I’m being honest. He was sitting up and I was practically draped all over his b*dy.
“Don’t you have to work?” I asked and he hummed, “you should be getting dressed to leave.”
“Don’t worry about me Camilla.”
“I don’t want you to be late.”
He laughed at my words, “I’m the Alpha Camilla, I cannot be late.”
“Ryker,” I began again and he sighed.
“I will work from home today,” I was about to protest and he knew it too because he cut me off, “nothing you say will change anything. I will be more useful here where I can keep an eye on you. If I go there, I will spend my entire day worried.”
“I’m sorry that I’m disrupting your life so much.”
His entire b*dy froze at my words and one second I was lying down, the next I was sitting straddling him and he was gripping my jaw so I wouldn’t look away from him.
“You have never disrupted my life,” his voice was low and he enunciated every word, “it is a pleasure and a privilege to look after you.”
“I was just-,”
“Understand me Camilla,” he cut me off, “I will look after you forever if you give me the chance. You have never been a disruption or a bother.” I nodded and he k*ssed my l*ps softly then lay me flush against his b*dy once more. His fingers began to run through my scalp and the feeling was so blissfully euphoric that I felt my eyes begin to droop of their own accord. I tried to fight it for as long as I could, but sleep kept pulling me under.
“I’ll be here when you wake up.” Ryker promised and that was all I
needed to finally allow the darkness take me.
