Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
I laugh awkwardly at his joke and then pull out my stethoscope, pretending that’s why I was here all along.
“I have to check your heart.”
He watches my trembling hand as I awkwardly place the drum end onto his enormous pec.
“You’re shaking,” he says. God, that voice… it’s as smooth as melted chocolate.
My hand is shaking. I’m so nervous.
“It’s a medical technique,” I lie. “It helps me hear the heart better.”
He doesn’t question it. He just watches me as I listen to the pounding of his heart.
“Sounds good,” I say as I yank the drum off his chest and put the stethoscope back around my neck. “It’s still beating.”
“Of course, it’s beating,” he says with a serious look on his face. “It’s truly working for the first time in my life. It’s beating for you.”
I don’t know what to say to that—he’s clearly still delirious from the healing process—so I try to make my way out.
“Well, I’m glad to see that you’re doing better, Mr. Young,” I say as I take a step back from the bed. “I’ll leave you to your doctor.”
His hand darts out and he grabs my wrist in an impenetrable grip.
There’s a fierceness in his eyes that goes straight to my core and makes my pussy clench.
“You can’t leave.”
A low rumbling roar emanates from his chest and I gulp. That’s his grizzly bear making that sound…
“Do you need something?” I ask with my voice cracking.
“You,” he says with a dark edge to his voice. “I need you.”
“Are you in some kind of pain?”
His grip on my wrist tightens. “I’ve been in pain for twenty-eight years. It’s been torture. It’s been agony. But now that you’re here, it’s over. There’s never going to be pain again while you’re by my side.”
I’m confused.
“So, do you want painkillers? I’m not sure I’m understanding—”
“What’s your name?” he interrupts.
“I’m Dr. Matthews.”
“No. Your first name. Your real name.”
I swallow as I watch him. He’s hanging on my every word like he’s going to die if I don’t tell him.
“Mila,” I whisper. “Mila Matthews.”
He repeats it low under his breath, savoring every syllable. “Mila Matthews.”
“Um, sir,” I say as I try to peel off his steel fingers. “Are you okay? You don’t seem… like a… normal person.”
Shit. That was probably inappropriate. And mean. The poor guy got hit by an eighteen-wheeler truck. No wonder he’s not acting like a normal person.
He tries to sit up, but I put my hands on his chest and push him back down. “Don’t get up,” I quickly say. “You need your rest.”
“I need you,” he says as he looks me up and down.
“Can I call someone for you?” I ask, not knowing what to say to this guy. “Can I call your mate to come in?”
His head flinches back. “Mila,” he says slowly. “You are my mate.”
I clear my throat and tilt my head as confusion fills it. “I’m your what?”
Chapter Five
Rylan
“You’re my mate,” I tell her again.
She looks shocked. Stunned.
I can’t get over how beautiful she is. Her bright green eyes are locked on me as the truth slowly dawns on her. The warm morning sun is gleaming in through the window and bathing her in a soft orange glow.
Her blonde hair is done up today and all I can think about is reaching up and seeing if it’s as soft as it looks.
“I’m your… mate?” she asks as she sits down on the bed beside me. My eyes drop down to her thick hips and my bear groans. I know exactly what he wants. I want the same thing.
“You are,” I tell her as I gently take her hand in mine. She watches my fingers as I stroke her soft skin. “We were made for each other. Born as two halves that are now completed.”
Her stunned face cracks and she starts to laugh. “Is this some kind of a joke? Did Alice put you up to this?”
She tries to pull her hand away, but I keep it where it belongs—with my protective hand wrapped around it.
“It’s not a joke, Mila. You’re mine.”
My inner grizzly bear lets out a possessive growl as she swallows hard. I inhale deep and her sweet scent fills me up. There’s a hint of strawberries mixed with the smell of her skin. Her shampoo or soap maybe?
“I think you got hit in the head,” she says as backs away a little. “You might have a brain injury. Did you get a CT scan or an MRI?”
“My brain is fine. I have shifter healing.”
She yanks her hand away from mine and gets up quickly. Both me and my bear are watching her closely as she walks over to my files. Her cheeks are flushed and her breath is coming out quick and rough as she rifles through them.
“You did an MRI,” she says when she finds the results of the scan.