Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 65066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Chapter 6
Grizz
The bike growls as I weave between cars, pushing it faster and faster. Jordy’s fingers dig into me, but I don’t slow. I gotta get her home, get her safe before the power drains from my veins, leaving me too weak to defend her. Coming off the juice is always hard.
At least we’re not being followed. Just in case, I change lanes and turn onto a side street.
By the time my bike has climbed my mountain, the red hot rage simmering in my blood has cooled. I cut off the engine and slump forward, my limbs heavy and cold. My stomach a mass of knots. When I fight, I’m made of adrenaline. After the adrenaline leaves, nothing’s left.
My vision goes black a moment. I fight through the sludge of my own consciousness, back to reality, back to life. There was something I needed to do—
A slight weight moves behind me and I raise my head. Jordy. Gotta get her off the bike, get her safe.
“Grizz?” Jordy calls. She’s standing beside me now. I’m losing seconds, losing time.
Blinking, I shake my head. “Inside. Now.”
I haul my body off the bike, take a few steps and stagger.
“Grizz!” She presses to my side. Propping me up. Helping me walk. Not right. I should be helping her.
“Inside. Gotta get…safe…” My tongue is swollen, filling my mouth, making me mumble.
Keys clink and the door opens, the familiar scent of my den embracing me. Almost there. I power forward and fall to my knees before I reach my kitchen.
“Grizz, what’s wrong?” Jordy’s voice is high pitched. “What do you need?
“Coming off the fight. Be…fine.” I don’t know if I will be fine. It’s never been this bad before.
“It’s okay, just lie down.” Her hands pat over my body. Something cushions my head. My boots come off. “Grizz, can you hear me? Can I get you something?”
“Meat,” I groan and lick my lips. “Water.”
A rushing sound and she’s back, holding the cool rim of a glass to my lips. “Drink this.” Her breath comes in frantic little pants. I pat her leg. I want her to know I’ll be all right. The water rushes down my throat, clearing out my lungs. I can breathe. Yes, that’s it. Replace the juice with something clean and pure.
“Here,” Jordy says. Her voice is funny. Blood hits my lips and I snarl, grabbing the hunk of meat she found. It’s half frozen but my bear doesn’t care. I rip and gnaw into it, slowly coming back to myself. I’m on the tiles, lying on my back, my leather jacket under my head. Jordy kneels close to me. She gives me more water when I ask, and another hunk of meat.
I raise my heavy arm, find her face with my hand. I cup her cheek, frowning at the wetness I find there.
“It’s all right,” I mumble around my swollen tongue. “Just give me a second. Be right back.”
“Shhh.” She holds my hand to her face. “It’s okay. I’m here.” Beyond her is my front door. She could easily walk out and leave, return to her master, but she doesn’t.
“Stay with me,” I murmur. I don’t have the energy to order her.
“Of course,” she whispers and I let my head roll back as I slide out of consciousness.
I come to in stages. There’s something soft under my head—softer than the leather jacket. A pillow. A slight body presses against my sore ribs. A lovely scent wafts up to my nose. Jordy. She’s lying next to me and my bear loves it.
I’m warm, too warm. Something’s draped over us and it smells of vampire. With a growl, I rip off the blanket I found on Jordy’s cage and toss it across the room. It lands by the door. I’ll burn it later. Don’t want to smell that vampire again.
I’m on the floor halfway between the door and kitchen, my jacket’s hung on its hook and my boots are stacked neatly underneath. My body is a mass of fiery pain, the worst is a bite on my leg and another on my shoulder. Damn cats. As soon as I can move I’m gonna rinse these bites out real good.
In the meantime, I’m just gonna lie here and thank my lucky stars things went down like they did. That was the hardest I’ve come off the juice. And I’m healing slower, my body having to recover in more ways than one. Not a great sign. I’ll have to be more careful in the future.
I’m the luckiest bear in the world. Not because I survived the fight, but because of the warm weight tucked against me. Jordy got me inside, fed and watered me. She made a bed on the tiles and lay down next to me.
I could lie here forever, sore ribs be damned.
A small noise and Jordy raises her head. Her eyes are worried under the tangle of her hair.