“No, I’m not angry.” Linc caught my fingers between his teeth, gently nipping them.
My eyebrows shot up. “You’re not?”
“Of course not,” he said as though it was the most logical thing on earth.
Was he purposely messing with my head? How could this man, who seemed to want to control everything, not care that I had gone on such a dangerous jaunt through the burrow?
“No. I’m so dang proud, sugar. You’re an incredible woman, and I’m lucky to be your mate.” Linc’s tongue swirled around my fingers, making it even harder to think clearly.
“I agree.” Copeland sat down on the end of the bed and pulled my feet onto his lap. “Although I’m a little annoyed over it.”
Fletcher huffed and wrapped an arm around my waist from behind me. “I’m definitely mad about it, but I’m also in awe of our incredible mate.”
My heart swelled with happiness. All three of my mates were proud of me.
“Now it’s time for you to tell us what happened while you were at Blackberry Burrow.” Copeland began massaging my feet.
“Well…” I hesitated, not sure if I should tell them the full truth or not.
“And don’t leave out any of the violent parts. Those are my favorite,” Linc warned. “Besides, I want to know who did that to your face and bruised your wrist. Because if you didn’t kill them, I’m going to.”
All three men settled in around me like kids, waiting for a bedtime story. I cleared my throat as a flood of happiness filled my chest. “Well, you see, it’s kind of abunnystory.”
The men healed fasterthan me, so they’d been free to come and go while I was stuck inside the four bland white walls. Now thatI had my own room, Linc and Copeland had smuggled in a king-size bed while Fletcher caused a distraction in the lab. It took up nearly all the free space, but it was worth it when I got to fall asleep nestled between my mates.
Despite not having to share the room, it still wasn’t private. Every time I’d fall asleep, a nurse or doctor would appear to wake me up. I’d been removed from all the machines and I was no longer in danger, but the staff didn’t seem to get that memo.
Although, that might have had something to do with the way Monroe and Cillian drilled into their heads that I was to be treated like a princess during my stay. Still, I was grateful for their kindness and friendship. Just that morning, Monroe and Ellora had popped by for a visit.
They shooed the men, as well as the hovering staff, out of my room. Once we were alone, they’d helped me into a bath overflowing with bubbles. While I’d soaked away my stresses, the girls had prepared another surprise for me.
When I’d come out of the bathroom, I’d found pajamas, bras, and panties in every color under the rainbow. Apparently, since my new friends weren’t willing to help me escape, they hoped to make the stay more comfortable.
After picking a silky cami and matching pair of booty shorts, I got back under the blanket. Monroe had settled behind me to brush my hair, while Ellora painted my nails. I listened as they shared pack gossip, hardly able to believe this was my life now. By the time they blew me kisses and left, I not only felt human, I felt pretty.
I’d never admit it, but just that little bit of exertion had exhausted me. Scooting down in the bed, I decided to rest my eyes, but that turned into a four-hour nap. I was well-rested and bored out of my mind by the time my guys appeared an hour later.
“Ugh! It’s been five days! How much longer are they going to hold me hostage here?” I grumbled as soon as my three mates entered the room.
“Hostage?” Fletcher laughed. “Feeling a bit dramatic, aren’t you?”
“If I have to lie here and count the ceiling panels one more time, I swear I’m going to die of boredom,” I grumbled. “You guys get to come and go, but when I tried to sneak to the vending machine for a candy bar, I was tackled and hauled back to this room. One nurse threatened to handcuff me to the bed!”
“Did she happen to leave the handcuffs?” Copeland asked, wiggling his eyebrows.
“Unfortunately, no,” I huffed. “Practicing how to escape them would have given me something to do.”
“I have an idea.” Copeland pulled his phone from his pocket and tapped the screen a few times before handing it to me. “That’s my Kindle account. My credit card is linked, so buy whatever books interest you. Go crazy.”
“Ooh!” I barely kept myself from snatching his phone from his hand.
Lost in the whole new world that had just been opened to me, I didn’t notice the guys moving around the room or the nurses coming in to check on me.
“That was a serious error in judgment on your part, Copeland. With so many books at her fingertips, I think she’s forgotten we exist.” Fletcher sat down on the bed beside me, but I still didn’t look up. “She’s probably already fallen for a half dozen book boyfriends.”
“Maybe she needs to be reminded why real boyfriends are better.” The foot of the bed sank as Linc leaned over to rest his palms on it.
I didn’t look up. “Shh. I just got to the good part.”
