Bartholomew snuggled against me. “Alright.”
I beamed. Had I proven my worth? I hoped so, because I didn’t want to live without him.
Chapter 28
The past can be unpleasant.
A scream tore through the air, and I bolted upright. Bartholomew had rolled away from me in his sleep, and he was writhing on the blankets, sweat covering his exposed skin. Pookie was screeching outside the tent. My wings threatened to flare as I searched for the threat in the darkness, but there was nothing besides us.
“It’s alright, Pookie,” I called out and slid over to Bartholomew, pulling him into my arms. He thrashed, screaming. I rolled on top of my mate, pinning him to the blankets, so he couldn’t hurt himself.
“Flower, I’m right here. You’re safe.” My lips traced gentle kisses over his skin. “I’m here, Mate.”
He jerked beneath me, panting.
I nuzzled his cheek. “It’s alright.”
Bartholomew gripped my back, securing me to him. “Mindy.”
“Flower.”
Panting, he held me even tighter. “Mindy.”
“I’m right here. You’re safe.”
He took deep breaths and squeezed me.
I tried not to put all of my weight on him, as I was significantly heavier than my thin mate, but it was difficult with how tight he held me. I kissed his cheek, and Bartholomew turned, catching my mouth with his. I groaned at the softness of his lips. His legs hooked around me and his fingers buried into my hair. Bartholomew tentatively licked my lips, and I opened for him without hesitation.
His silky tongue slid along mine, and I moaned into his mouth. He swallowed the sound and pressed closer. My tongue twined with his as we slowly kissed. My hands wandered his frame, and Bartholomew arched beneath me.
My cock started to thicken. I drew back, my breath harsh. I needed my mate, but he wasn’t ready. And I was far more concerned about why he’d awoken screaming.
Bartholomew chased my lips, and I stayed out of reach. He asked, “What?”
I licked his neck, and he jolted with a moan. I nipped him, then replied, “Why were you screaming, Flower?”
He turned away, burrowing against me.
Not tonight. I didn’t wish to force the issue, but I needed to know how to help. I’d noticed that he had nightmares frequently, but this was the first time he’d woken up screaming. I hooked my fingers under his chin, making him look at me. In the darkness, I couldn’t see much. The lights were on a low setting, so it wasn’t pitch black, but still, there wasn’t enough to truly see him.
“Please, Teddy. What’s going on?”
A long gust of air escaped from his lips and rushed over my scales, making my cock twitch in desire, which I ignored. He repositioned beneath me and froze. “You seem to be interested in doing something other than talking.”
I bit his neck. “I wish to fuck, but I want to know what’s wrong more.”
“I have bad dreams.”
“About?”
“About what happened on Xome.”
I snuggled my mate close, squishing him with my weight, but he didn’t seem to mind, because he held me as tight as I did him. “I’m here.”
“I know, Honey.”
I paused at the endearment. Honey was a sweet, sticky substance created by a certain type of insect. As Caleb had explained, mates often had pet names or endearments for each other, as we did. And if humans called you something sweet-related, it was good.
