Page 48 of The Reluctant Alpha

I swallowed hard. "He didn't agree to the bond."

"Did you ask him if he wanted your knot?"

I nodded, remembering Danny's desperate insistence.

"Then he knew, on some level," Esther assured me. "The heat may have clouded his judgment, but it doesn't create desires that weren't already there. It just...intensifies them."

I wasn't convinced, but I nodded anyway. "What happens now?"

"Now," Esther said, gesturing to the tray, "you make sure he eats and drinks when he wakes. His body has been through a tremendous change. He'll need nutrients and rest." She placed a small jar beside the water pitcher. "This salve will help with any soreness."

"And the bond?" I asked, unable to keep the worry from my voice.

Esther's expression softened. "That's between you and Danny. But for what it's worth, I've never seen two people more clearly meant for each other." She smiled gently. "Even if you're both too stubborn to admit it sometimes."

With that, she quietly left the room, leaving me alone with my sleeping mate and a messy pool of conflicting emotions. I carefully shifted Danny so I could reach the water, taking a long drink before settling back against the pillows. His face was peaceful in sleep, the tension and pain of the heat finally gone.

I must have dozed off because the next thing I knew, Danny was stirring against me, his eyelashes fluttering as he slowly woke. I tensed, bracing myself for his reaction.

His eyes opened slowly, confusion giving way to recognition as he focused on my face. A small smile curved his lips before memory fully returned, and I saw the moment everything came rushing back—his heat, our joining, the intensity of what we'd shared.

"Hey," he rasped, his voice rough from screaming my name repeatedly.

"Hey," I replied softly, afraid to say more, to break whatever fragile peace existed in this moment. "How do you feel?"

Danny stretched cautiously, wincing slightly. "Like I ran a marathon in a sauna. While being hit by a truck. A sexy truck, but still."

I couldn't help the small laugh that escaped me. Even after everything, his humor remained intact. "Esther brought some salve for...soreness."

"I bet she did," Danny mumbled, a blush creeping up his neck. "Everyone must have heard us."

"The rooms are soundproofed," I assured him, “but the house will have been emptied.” I watched Danny cautiously, expecting some embarrassment at kicking Phoenix and Em out of their home, but at his smile, I realized I should have known better. He chuckled. “Serves Em right for getting all loved up when I needed some bestie time last week.”

Danny attempted to sit up, grimacing with the effort. I supported him with a gentle hand at his back, feeling every muscle twitch beneath his skin. "You need water," I said, reaching for the pitcher Esther had left. "And food."

"What I need is a shower," Danny countered, looking down at himself ruefully. "I'm covered in...everything."

"Let me help you," I offered, already moving to lift him.

He hesitated, then nodded. "Okay."

I carried him easily to the ensuite, setting him gently on his feet by the shower. He swayed slightly, and I steadied him with a hand at his waist.

"Maybe stay close," he said, turning on the water. "Just in case."

I nodded, helping him step under the spray before retreating to give him space. I’d get my shower after. Steam filled the room as he stood beneath the hot water, eyes closed, letting it sluice over his body. I watched, mesmerized by the way rivulets traced paths down his chest, his back, the curve of his ass.

"You can join me, you know," Danny said without opening his eyes. "No point in being shy after what we just did for...how long was it, anyway?"

"Three days," I admitted, stepping into the shower behind him.

His eyes flew open. "Three days? Jesus." He leaned back against me, letting me support his weight. "No wonder I feel like death warmed over. Isn’t that what the French call it?"

I blinked. I didn’t actually know any European shifters.

“An orgasm,” he continued.

Wondering if I’d missed something, I hesitated. “I think you need to recharge a little first.”