Colton's Dilemma (Shadow Breeds) by Dara Nelson Page B

walking funny after I’m done with you, if you’ll let me.”
    “I’m already walking funny – bad ankle, remember?” she’s said, smiling through her tears.
    “ Touche,” he said as he climbed off of the bed.  He held his arms out to her, “Allow me?”
    As she walked over to him on her knees she smiled and said, “Are you ever going to let me, let me, whoa, head rush.”
    The doctor in him took over immediately.  He scooped her into his arms, “Let your head fall back, Tess,” he said as he tilted her body so that her feet were higher than her head. He turned towards the door, “Hansen,” he called out.  The door opened a few seconds later, “Sir?”
    “We need steak and eggs for breakfast, please,” Colton said.
    “Yes, sir.”  Hansen turned and walked quickly down the stairs, followed closely behind by Colton and Tess.
    Tess’ head lolled to one side as she hovered precariously close to unconsciousness.  “Stay with me Tess.  Come on.  Look at me.  Focus.  Don’t you fucking leave me,” he said as he shook her slightly, trying to bring her out of her stupor.
    He set her on the couch in the living room, just across the hall from the kitchen, and sat next to her.  Hansen emerged from the kitchen carrying a glass of orange juice and a wet wash cloth, “Steak is on the grill.  Should be done in about ten minutes, Sir.”
    “Thank you, Hansen.  In the meantime, do you have any crackers or something?”
    “Certainly, Sir,” he said as he swept out of the room.
    Colton mopped her forehead with the damp cloth then slid his arm underneath her neck – lifting her head slightly.  “Come on honey, drink this.  It’ll help you feel better.”
    Her eyes rolled in her head then slowly came around to focus on Colton’s face as she took a sip from the glass.  He smiled at her as he dabbed a drop from the corner of her mouth.  “This is stupid,” she mumbled, slurring her words.
    “No.  This is human.  And we need to be more careful,” he said as he tilted the glass to her lips again.  Hansen walked into the room carrying a box of wheat crackers.  “Five more minutes on breakfast, Sir.”
    “I don’t know if I can eat.  I’m feeling nauseous,” Tess mumbled.
    Colton reached into the box of crackers and pulled a few out, “Try these.  I’m sure you’re just nauseous because your stomach is so empty.  Once you start eating I’m sure you’ll be fine.”
    Thirty minutes later, Tess picked up her empty plate and started licking the egg yolk off of it.  She smiled at Colton over the top of the plate, “Guess you were right.  I was starving.”
    “Lucky plate,” Colton said, smiling.
    “I’ve got plenty of tongue left, you want some?” she teased as she set the plate down and leaned towards Colton.
    “God, more than anything,” Colton said as he put his hands on her shoulders to hold her away.
    “But?” she said.
    “But, I need to ask you something first.”
    Tess sat back against the couch, eyeing Colton warily.  Out of the corner of her eye, Tess could see Hansen hovering near the door of the kitchen – this must be important.
    “The alpha male that attacked you, did you get a look at him at all?  His face, his feet, his hands, anything?”
    Tess’ first instinct was to get angry – how dare he bring this up again.  What right did he have to force her to think about it yet again?  She automatically lashed out at him, “Gee, I don’t know Colton.  Do you think my first thought as a total stranger shoved himself into me from behind was ‘hey you, let me get a look at you and see what your face looks like’?  Yeah, that was what my reaction was.  It wasn’t to try to get the fuck out of there – it was to see what he looked like.”
    Tess could see that she’d hurt Colton and she felt bad, but she was still pissed.
    Colton gently placed his hand on her forearm, “That’s not what I meant Tess.  Do you remember last night – I mean before we made