“I…. When we were here before, you consumed my thoughts. You were so kind and generous, and I couldn’t believe someone like you could be my master.”
“I wasn’t, though.”
“No, I understand that now. But in my head, you were. I started to heal, both in body and spirit, and it was thanks to you.”
Deke reached up and put a hand atop Quinn’s. “That was all I ever wanted for you. To see yourself the way I see you. How good and kind you are, how sweet and pure. You underwent a horrifying experience, but you came out strong and able.” He grabbed Quinn’s hand. “I would have given anything for you to be happy again.”
“I was, believe me. Even thinking of you as my master, I was happy. I would have gladly and gratefully served you forever. I still will.”
“What? No, that’s—”
Quinn pushed on as if needing Deke to hear him. “I’ll serve your meals, I’ll take care of your house, I’ll make you happy.”
“But you don’t have to do that. You could go out, get a job if you wanted.”
“Oh, I’m going to be doing something. I’ve talked with Dr. Franklin. He’s setting me up with a psychologist who will help train me. I want to be the pack counselor. The Mother said I have a gift, and I’d like to explore that.”
A month ago, Quinn would never have entertained the idea that he could do this. He would have overthought it to death, pleaded with Deke to help him. Now? He was finally coming into his own, and Deke couldn’t have been prouder.
“I think it’s a great idea.”
“There is one thing, though….” Quinn drew in a deep breath. “I want to talk to a therapist of my own. I need their help in getting over what Ryker did, and I know I can’t be there for others if I refuse to talk to someone for myself.”
As proud as Deke had been before, he was even more proud now.
“You’ve changed so much in such a short time.”
“I haven’t,” Quinn protested. “I’m still the same Quinn, still need you to give me guidance and nurture me, but I also know I can’t let the past define me anymore, and I need to be willing to stand up and face it head-on. Which I can do because I know you’re in my corner.”
“Always and forever. Even if you weren’t my mate, I would be so in love with you.”
A pink tinge touched Quinn’s cheeks. “Thank you.”
“Am I clean now? Because I’m going to prune if I’m here too long.”
“Can’t have that.” Quinn drained the tub, then grabbed a fluffy white towel from the bar. “Let me get you dried off; then I can put you back to bed for a while.”
And Deke was tired, but….
“Would you sleep with me? I had a nightmare last night about the people I killed. In my head, I know they deserved it, but that doesn’t mean I liked doing it.”
“It was kill or be killed for you and the humans. I can’t feel bad about how it turned out.”
Neither could Deke, and that was what scared him. “I don’t feel bad; that’s the problem. I didn’t enjoy it, but I don’t feel like I did anything wrong.”
“A wise man once told me that I did what I had to do, and that it took strength.”
Deke recalled saying the words to Quinn. “Sounds like a genius, if you ask me.”
“He is. The same can be said about you. You’d normally never take a life, but in this instance, what choice did you have? It was that or die.”
“And that wasn’t an option because I’d made a promise to my mate to come home to him.” He squeezed Quinn’s arm. “And I will never lie to my mate.”
Quinn’s gaze grew soft, and Deke loved being the recipient of that look.
“Let’s get you to the bed. Is it okay if I help?”
“Do you think you’re strong enough to lift me?”
Quinn gave a wolfy grin. “I’m a shifter. I think I can do it.”
And after Quinn wrapped Deke in one of the enormous towels, he slipped an arm under Deke’s legs and another behind his back and lifted Deke from the tub.
Deke had never felt as safe as he did in Quinn’s arms.
Chapter Twenty-Three
THE FIRST thing Deke noticed was the clean linen scent that permeated the room.
“Dani must have changed the bedding while we were in the bathroom,” Quinn said as he helped Deke, still