Mine for Eternity [Council Enforcers] (Siren Publishing Classic)

but she could feel the stitches pulling at her skin and itching. She knew the claw marks on her face had to be bad if someone took the time to stitch her up.
    She thought about Mitch as she spit the toothpaste out and rinsed her mouth. She had lied to him when she told him that she was okay with killing someone. On the outside, she was calm, but on the inside her emotions were in turmoil. She meant everything she had said to him. Still, to know she had taken a life was something that was going to take some time to get over. With Mitch’s help and support, she knew it was possible.
    Tessa smiled at the thought of what kind of support Mitch would offer. She had a feeling it would involve her naked and the closest flat surface he could find. That was fine with her. The man had told her he loved her twice, and Tessa hadn’t said it back either time. She planned on correcting that as soon as she left the bathroom. She was in love with Mitch. There was no doubt in her mind. When she had seen the wolf jump on his back, the possibility of losing him was too much to handle. That alone had given her the courage to do what she did to defend her mate. She loved him enough to kill to protect him.
    Taking a deep breath, Tessa gathered her courage and looked up. Mitch hadn’t even flinched when he had looked at her. Staring in the mirror, she understood why. Shocked, she gasped and brought her hand up to her cheek to make sure she wasn’t hallucinating. Tessa could see where the claw marks should have been. Not because of the gruesome scars that she expected to see. There were no scars. The neat rows of tiny, black stitching were the only thing that indicated there had been an injury. Other than that, her skin was smooth and blemish-free.
    She didn’t know how long she stared at her reflection with her mouth hanging open. The sound of the door opening behind her and Mitch wrapping his arms around her was her only indication that it had been a long time.
    “Are you okay, baby?”
    Tessa found her voice. “Yeah, I’m just fine. I just didn’t expect this when I looked in the mirror.”
    “We need to get the stitches out before your skin starts to grow over them.”
    He turned her, and Tessa let him lift her to sit on the sink. “How is this possible, Mitch? I should be in pain right now with half my face peeled off.”
    “I told you that you would inherit my abilities. Accelerated healing is one of them. You have Ben to thank for the stitches. He sewed you up when you didn’t seem to be healing. It wasn’t until I got you cleaned up and in the bed that you started to heal. I guess it had to do with the fact that you actually went into a deep sleep rather than just being unconscious.”
    Tessa sat quietly while she listened to each snip of the scissors as Mitch worked. When he was finished, he lifted her in his arms and carried her back to bed. She waited until he climbed in next to her and then climbed on his lap with her knees straddling his hips. She was reminded of the fact that they were both naked when she felt his cock nestle against the slit of her pussy. He was stiff, and she could feel him growing harder beneath her when she teased him by wiggling her hips. Tessa smirked when Mitch groaned and gripped her hips. He started to move her against him, but she placed her hands on his to stop him.
    “There are some things I need to say to you, and I can’t think with you doing that.”
    “We can talk later.”
    Tessa was already panting at the deep growl in his voice that turned her on so much, but she refused to give in. “No, I need to tell you this.” She placed both her hands on his cheeks and looked into his eyes. “I love you, Mitch Ericson. My world was turned upside down the night I saw that rogue kill a woman. It didn’t turn right side up again until you chased me down the stairs and asked me to stay for lunch after I broke into your house. Not only did you take me in, but you took my son in as well. Not only am I yours, but you are mine for eternity as well.”
    Mitch kissed both her eyelids as he wiped away the tears streaming down her face. “For a man that was happy living his life alone, you gave me a pride and a family. I can’t imagine my life without you.”
    No more words were said as Mitch sealed his lips over hers. The kiss was gentle and slow, different from their usual frantic pace, but no less good. Tessa ran her tongue along his top lip until he opened, letting her have control of the