Lifesong by Erin Lark Page A

her chair and joined me in the kitchen. When she melted against my chest, my heart stopped beating.
    “How’s your ankle?” Emma asked, sitting me down in one of the chairs around the kitchen table. She did just as she’d done over the last handful of days—unwrapping the bandage, then grimacing at my torn-up leg before covering it with clean dressings. “Think you can stand on it?”
    I shrugged and closed my eyes, sniffing the air for Emma’s unique scent amongst all of the pine, fur and dog. I moaned, and she cupped her hands around mine.
    “I made tea,” I said, nodding to her mug, which was still full.
    She ignored the delicious drink and tugged at my arms, urging me to stand. I stood with her help, one hand holding on to the counter for support as I tested my weight. It wasn’t nearly as painful as it had been a few days ago, or as bad as I’d expected it to feel when I stepped on it. Emma positioned herself under one of my arms, and I let go of the counter. I took a step with her help, followed by many more.
    When we reached the living room, the pack stood up, their heads bowed in submission.
    “Stay here,” Emma said, hooking an arm around my waist. “My mate needs attention.” She flashed a smile in my direction, and for a second, I began to wonder just how long she’d planned on making me wait. “What?” Emma asked when I stopped at the bottom of the steps. “You wanted me to lie down right after your fight with Zarrius so you could sleep with me and make your busted leg even worse?” She shook her head. “I’m not that cruel, you know.”
    I smiled at that, and scaled the stairs with her help. Once we reached our room, I closed the door, but left it unlocked. If Emma told the pack to wait, that was exactly what they’d do.
    Emma clutched the collar of my shirt, pulling me in close. I moaned when her body rubbed up against mine, and she muffled my whimper with a kiss. I stiffened, and she stopped, waiting for the tension to leave my body before progressing any further. It was strange, not being the one who made the moves, but she did make a good point. I couldn’t exactly sweep her off her feet, or do anything quite as passionate, without tripping or wincing at the pain in my leg.
    She wasn’t in control because she was the alpha, or because she wanted some strange power over me. She did it because I couldn’t do it myself.
    I exhaled, willing my heart to slow until she kissed me again. Harder this time. As she pressed me between herself and the door, Emma let her hands wander, working on the buckle around my waist. Without breaking the kiss, I leaned against the door to keep the pressure off my leg, freeing Emma’s hand in the process.
    The warmth around my middle released, and she slowly slid my pants down to my knees. I screwed my eyes tightly shut and pressed both palms against the door behind me.
    “Are you strong enough?” Emma purred, her voice trailing off as she knelt in front of me, her breath warm against my groin.
    I sucked in a breath of air as she curled her fingertips under the waistband of my boxers. My cock pulsed under the fabric. I tried to think of something else. Her scent was sweet, matching the shampoo she’d used ever since we’d got here. She pulled my boxers down to join my jeans. Gods. Something brushed against my head. I gulped and locked my knees.
    I didn’t open my eyes. I couldn’t have looked at Emma even if I’d tried. Every touch, every breath pushed me further away from this place in time. I forced myself to lean against my back leg and yelped from the pain.
    Emma held a hand against my hip, as if to make sure I didn’t do it again. A spark ran through me when she wrapped her fingers around my shaft, her thumb tracing the vein underneath.
    And in that instant, she pulled away. Ice rushed through my veins, and I worried that I’d done something wrong. Or that she’d had second thoughts. I wouldn’t have blamed her if she had. She’d only done