Dana Bell - Cat of a Different Color

He’s at my place now.”

Her lips twitched up. It wasn’t a smile, she hurt too much for that, but it was the beginnings of one.

“Belinda’s awake and talking. She’s in pain, and she’ll need physical therapy, but she’ll be okay.” His hand moved back to her hair, stroking softly. “Gabe’s looking into who hit her, and we’ve set up security measures for the both of you. Someone will be with you at all times.”

She stirred, frowning. Just as she opened her mouth, his finger pressed against her lips.

“No. I need this, sweetheart. Don’t fight me on it. I can’t be with you all the time, but I need to know you’re protected or I’ll lose my fucking mind.”

She kissed his finger in answer.

“Thank you.” His lips gently touched hers, a barely felt caress that didn’t jar her head. “I put the same security measures on Belle, just in case.”

She bit her lip and tried not to cry. She knew it wasn’t her fault, but she couldn’t help feeling it was. The medicine the nurse had given her began to work, making her drowsy. She felt herself slipping away again as his lips brushed hers once more.

“Sleep, princess. I’ll guard you.”

She wasn’t sure, but just as she drifted off she thought she heard him whisper, “Love you.”

That was good. Because she loved him, too.

“Good morning, sleepyhead!”

Sheri considered keeping her eyes closed just a little bit longer. Maybe four or five hours. Just until Mrs.

Anderson left.

“I know you’re awake, Missy McFaker! Open those eyes! It’s a beautiful day out!”

Oh, dear God, please don’t let her have opened the blinds . Sheri cracked her eyes open and shut them with a squeak as ice picks in the form of sunlight jabbed themselves into her eyeballs. “ Please close the curtains !”

“Dear, you need more sunlight. You’re way too pale.”

Sheri groped the nightstand, trying to find her sunglasses. “Can you hand me my sunglasses, please, if you won’t shut the curtain?”

“Those old things? They’re way too dark. You should try using blue blockers. You’ll see much better that way.”

That would turn the ice picks into broadswords. No, thank you. “I have albinism, Mrs. Anderson.

Sunlight is dangerous for me,” she explained as patiently as she could.

“Oh? OH!” Sheri heard the rattling of the curtains being drawn. As the light dimmed she sighed in relief.

She cautiously opened her eyes.

The room was comfortably dim again. Mrs. Anderson stood at her bedside holding her sunglasses.

“Sorry, dear. I didn’t realize.”

Sheri stared at her, totally dumbfounded.

“Yes, I know. I’m not the world’s most observant person. Are you hungry?”

“Ah…yes?”

Mrs. Anderson beamed down at her, dark blue eyes twinkling. “Good. I’ll just get you your lunch then.”

She marched over to the door and pulled it open. “The young lady is awake and we’re hungry.” She shut the door and marched back over to the bed. “There. Your food should be here shortly.”

Sheri tried, and failed, to stifle a giggle. “Door to door service, huh?”

Mrs. Anderson nodded decisively. “Of course. It pays to be the grandmother of the sheriff and the mate of the Marshal, you know.” She plopped down into the chair next to the hospital bed, grinning. “So, what is it you want to know?”

Sheri thought about it for a moment. “The secret of immortality?”

One salt-and-pepper eyebrow rose into the air. “When you learn that one make sure you share with the rest of the class.”

“How’s Belle?”

The smile left her face. “They had to put a pin in her hip.”

Sheri winced. “She won’t be able to change unless they remove it.”

“Which won’t be for quite a while, unfortunately. And don’t feel guilty, either. Belle said she wants to see you as soon as you feel up to it. She’s worried about you.”

“Okay. As soon as I’m allowed I’ll take a walk and go see her.”

“Not without the guards.”

Sheri grinned. “Of course not.”

“Let’s see, what else.” Mrs. Anderson tapped her finger against her chin. “Oh! Someone vandalized Wallflowers.”

“What?”

“Yup. Threw a brick through the front window. I don’t know why they didn’t do any other damage, but Emma arrived to find the window totally smashed. Luckily whoever did it wasn’t there any longer and no one got hurt.”

Sheri knew why no other damage had been done. That was next. If Emma and Becky continued to harbor her, things would only get worse for them.

The older woman chattered, giving her all the Pride gossip. Most of the people she mentioned Sheri didn’t know, and she felt her mind beginning to drift back into sleep.

“Lunch!” a male voice announced from the doorway.

“It’s about time.” Mrs. Anderson got up and got the meal, two nice big bags full of fast food burgers, fries and milk shakes. “I know this isn’t exactly the healthiest thing on the planet to eat, but frankly, my dear, I never could resist a Big Mac,” she shared with a guilty grin as she handed Sheri her food.

Biting into her own burger, Sheri could only nod in agreement. Yum .

She had a bruise the size of his fucking head on her hip. The sight of it made him furious again as he gently helped her into the tub. He’d bought several large candles in glass jars, placed them on the counters and the edges of the tub and lit them so she’d have soft lighting for her sensitive eyes. She’d smiled when she’d seen it, and that made the extra trip to the store worthwhile.

“God, that feels so good,” she moaned as the hot, bubbly water covered her creamy skin.

She’d been home for maybe an hour, and he couldn’t stop touching her. Two days in the hospital; two days of pain Parker needed to pay for. Every bruise, every mark on her was etched into his brain, a visual reminder of the payback he meant to exact. “You need help scrubbing your back, princess?”

She smiled up at him, soft and sweet, her blue eyes languid. “Maybe later. Right now I just want to soak out the aches.”

He knelt down and, careful of her injuries, gently pulled her mouth to his. It was the first time since the attack he’d been able to really kiss her, and he took full advantage. He persuaded her lips apart, tasting her mouth like it was fine chocolate, slowly and with exquisite care. He loved the way she tasted, sweet as honey, tart as apples. He could sit there and kiss her all day long.

When he reluctantly pulled way she was panting and her eyes were glazed. She licked her lips and swallowed. “You know, I feel much better now.”

“Do you?”

“Mm-hmm.” Wet arms encircled his neck as she tried to pull him back down to her mouth.

“Well, then, if you’re a good girl maybe I’ll tuck you into bed after your bath,” he purred.

Her eyes flashed red as his fingers tweaked one bubble-covered nipple. “What if I’m a bad girl?”

He growled, his eyes flashing gold. “Then I’ll just have to punish you.” He stood abruptly, lips twitching as she gasped in surprise. “Now be a good girl and take your bath.”

“Pig,” she pouted.

He laughed all the way down the stairs, his heart lighter than it had been in days as he heard her amused sigh.

As soon as her muscles were all nice and warmly relaxed from her bath he had every intention of seeing his princess safely ensconced in his bed. He then had every intention of licking every inch of her body.

And once she was boneless he’d curl up around her and finally get his first night’s sleep in days.

He heard the phone ringing and decided to answer it in his office. “Hello?”