In the aftermath, the only sound in the room was their breathing, at first quite loud, then growing quieter and quieter, until they were still.
As her heightened senses receded, her mind came forth, and the same seemed to be true for him. Releasing his hands from below his waist, he revealed a wetness on the sheeting that had not been there before.
"Are you okay?" he said roughly.
She opened her mouth. Her voice lost, all she could do was nod.
"You sure about that?"
It was so hard to put into words what she was feeling. She was not threatened, to be sure. But she was also not. . . right.
She was spinning and antsy. Inside her head. Outside of it. "I am so. . . confused. "
"What about?"
The bullet wounds in his flesh had her shaking her head. This was not the time to talk. "Let me get the healers. You need to be attended to. "
"You're more important than that. Are you all right?"
Given the stubborn line of his jaw, it was clear he wasn't budging. And no doubt if she left to get the surgeon, he would follow her and leave a trail of blood he did not have to spare.
She shrugged. "I just never expected to. . . "
As she went no further, the realities of their situation returned to her. That arousal, that satisfaction that he'd found. . . it had been about his shellan, hadn't it. She had told him that Wellesandra was welcome between them, and he'd made it amply clear that he wanted no one but that female: Whilst he had appeared to be focusing on her, in all likelihood he had merely projected the image of someone else.
It had had nothing to do with her.
Which really shouldn't have bothered her. It was, after all, exactly what she had told him she wanted.
So why did she feel so curiously deflated?
"I am fine. " She met him in the eye. "I swear to it. Now, may I please get the healers? I will take no true full breath until they care for you. "
His eyes narrowed. But then he nodded. "Okay. "
She smiled stiffly and turned away.
Just as she got to the door, he said, "No'One. "
"Yes?"
"I want to return the favor to you. "
Well, didn't that stop the female in her tracks.
Kind of made Tohr's heart freeze, as well.
As No'One stood at the door with her back to him, he couldn't believe what had come out of his mouth - but it was the goddamned truth, and he was determined to follow through on it.
"I know you go to the Sanctuary to take care of your blood needs," he said, "but that can't be enough. Not tonight. I've taken so much from you in the last twenty-four hours. "
When she didn't reply, he caught her scent and had to tamp down an answering growl in his throat. He wasn't sure she knew it in her mind, but her body was clear: It wanted what he could provide to her.
Badly.
Except. . . God, what was he getting into? He was going to feed someone other than his Wellsie?
God help you if she ever wanted you back. . . .