By the Light of the Silver Moon

Chapter 26 Fox

I said goodnight to Marigold and retreated to my bedroom. I changed into a pair of comfortable pants and a T-shirt before walking back out into the hallway and taking up my post in front of my mate's door. It was the only way I could ease the feeling of constantly being on edge. I laid my head against her door and closed my eyes, waiting to hear the sound of her quiet snores from the bed.

After a few minutes I realized that she must have been taking a bath. A strong fragrance was covering up my mate's intoxicating scent and the warm steam was starting to seep out from under her bedroom door. I was just starting to worry about how long she was taking in the bath when I heard a quiet cry come from her room.

I jumped up and nearly ripped the door off its hinges. I ran through her room and pulled open the bathroom door. I scurried to my mate's side from where she laid on the marble floor. I pulled her wet hair from her face,

"Are you okay? What happened? Are you hurt?" I began to rattle off questions as I looked over my mate for injuries. It was then that I realized she was wrapped up in a gray fluffy towel, still wet from the tub. My breathing immediately increased at the sight of her bare skin.

"Finn! What are you doing here?" She gasped, a crimson blush creeping up her neck and covering her face.

"I heard you fall." I said.

"From your room?" She was looking at me accusingly.

"Not exactly." I mumbled. Marigold shook her head as she tried to stand up. I grabbed her elbow and helped her stand. I was struggling with my control, attempting to look anywhere but her bare skin and only touching what was absolutely necessary.

"I'm fine." Marigold snapped my focus back to her face.

"Are you sure?" I asked, giving her body another once over. I was too damn distracted by her beauty to check for injuries the first time, the second time wasn't much better.

"My butt hurts." She shrugged, rubbing her tiny, round backside. I couldn't help but chuckle,

"I can help with that." I wink. Marigold swatted at my hand and her blush deepened.

"You can go now." She said.

"How about I wait until you change just so I know that you're okay?" I begged. Marigold rolled her eyes but agreed. I helped her walk to the closest and closed the door behind her.

I grabbed a spare towel from the bathroom closest and wiped up the water. I laid down a bathmat for her to walk across and made a mental note to have Zoey pick up a bigger one for Marigold's next bath. I escaped to the bedroom and sat on the corner of her bed, attempting to calm my breathing. I clenched my hands into fists and took some calming deep breaths, trying to get Hunter under control.

I couldn't help but be immediately turned on at the sight of Marigold. She was breathtakingly gorgeous, with or without clothes, dry or wet. But, standing there in that towel with her soaking wet hair clinging to her face, she was irresistible.

I had just gotten myself under control when Marigold came walking out of the bathroom. I sucked in a breath at her pajamas, groaning internally. She had on a knee length, navy blue nightie with the hint of matching silk undies underneath. I clutched my heart and flopped backwards on the bed,

"Are you trying to kill me, Marigold?" I groaned loudly.

"What?" She asked innocently, a slight hitch to her voice,

"This was the most appropriate thing Ferra bought for me." I made a mental note to kill Ferra later.

"You don't understand what you do to me, do you, beautiful?" I pulled myself up on my elbows and eyed her skeptically. She started biting her lip, looking down at the floor from under her dark eyelashes.

"I sit outside your door." I said suddenly, making her look up at me.

"What?"

"I can't sleep without you, so I sit outside your door and I listen to your heart beat. It lets me know that you're okay and helps me sleep." I admitted. She stared at me for a second, like she was trying to work something out,

"I can't sleep without you either. I guess I finally fell asleep when you sat outside my door." She whispered. I sat up on the bed and held out my arms towards her. She stepped forward and placed her petite hands in mine.

"I don't want to push you, love, but maybe I could sleep on the couch? We both need our rest." I suggested, nodding towards the couch in the sitting area. Marigold looked between me and the couch, and shook her head slightly. My heart dropped in disappointment.

"The couch isn't comfortable." She said.

"I don't care, love, it's more comfortable than the floor." I said quickly, trying to convince her.

Marigold took her hands from mine and walked away from me. I ducked my head, afraid that I had tried to move too fast and scared her off. Instead, she pulled back the covers and crawled into bed. She pats the bed next to her and raises an eyebrow at me.

"You want me to stay in bed with you?" I asked in shock.

"On top of the covers." She gave me a warning look with her wide eyes.

"As you wish." I smirked, grateful for any opportunity she gives me to be close to her. I scrambled to her side and cautiously laid my arm around her shoulders. She pulled herself up onto my chest and snuggled as close to me as she could. I sighed, breathing in her comforting scent, and quickly drifted off to sleep.