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

Mitch rasped.
    Tessa spun and looked at Mitch lying on the bed smiling up at her. She couldn’t have stopped the tears if she had tried as she threw herself at him. She wrapped her arms around him and held him tight, placing kisses all over his face.
    Mitch grunted. “Easy, baby.”
    His voice was tinged with pain that he was trying to hide, and it brought Tessa back to reality. Mitch was hurt, and she was climbing him like he was some kind of jungle gym. “Oh, God, I’m so sorry. Are you okay? Did I hurt you?” She tried to climb off his lap, but he just held her tight.
    “I’m okay, just a little sore. It will go away soon enough.” Mitch held her face between his palms. “I missed you, baby.”
    Tessa didn’t respond as his lips covered hers. She kept the kiss tender and gentle, mindful of the fact that Mitch was hurting. She ignored the heat building between her thighs and held herself still to keep from wiggling her hips against his lap. When the kiss became too much, Tessa pulled back, panting. She stood and moved away from him.
    “Tessa? What’s wrong?”
    Ignoring Mitch’s concerned look, she pasted a smile on her face. He was hurt, and he didn’t need her attacking him while he was still recovering. “Nothing’s wrong. I just don’t want to hurt you. I’m glad you’re awake though. You had us worried.”
    Mitch looked over at Nico sitting quietly beside him. He held out his hand, and Nico didn’t hesitate before leaping onto his lap. “Did you take care of your momma while I was gone?”
    Her son smiled and nodded. Just like that, Tessa watched as Nico’s frown and worry lines disappeared. With one simple question, Mitch had banished his fears. It seemed that was good enough as proof for Nico that Mitch was going to be okay. He laid his head on Mitch’s chest and sighed.
    “Come here, Tessa.” Mitch held out his hand to her.
    “Are you sure it’s okay? I don’t want to hurt you.”
    “Yes, I’m sure. Just come here. I want to hold you both.”
    Tessa did exactly as he asked and climbed on the bed. She curled up beside him as he wrapped his arm around her. She had missed his warmth and snuggled even closer to him. “I love you, Mitch.”
    “And I you.”
    Nothing else was said as they lay in bed together. Nothing else was needed. Mitch was home safe, they were together, and they were a family. Tessa vowed that she would kill anyone or anything that came between them or tried to tear them apart.
     
    * * * *
     
    Mitch stared at the singed strands of hair littering the sink. They had once been long, golden, and silky. Now they were shriveled, dark lumps. We will just have to grow a bigger and better mane.
    “You’re taking this surprisingly well.” Mitch was impressed at how well his lion was taking him having to shave his head.
    How else am I supposed to take it?
    “I figured you would be growling and ready to tear someone’s head off.”
    Please. His lion sniffed, and Mitch could see him turning up his nose. As if I would lower myself to such childish behavior. I am a mighty lion.
    It seemed mating had matured them both. Mitch couldn’t imagine his life without Tessa or Nico in it. It was hard for him to even remember a time before them. His mate walking into his life was the best thing that ever happened to him.
    Mitch stared in the mirror at his shaved head, and his happiness dimmed a little at the reminder of his friend. They still hadn’t found any sign of Ben. He carried the guilt of leaving his friend behind and not knowing what happened to him. He knew Ben was a genius when it came to demolition and he knew the layout of the estate. If there was one person who knew what to do to survive that blast, it was Ben. The fact that they hadn’t found his body was good news. The bad news was they hadn’t found the bodies of Percival or the woman that had been with him either. Mitch wouldn’t give up looking for them until he found them alive or the bodies. It was the least he could do for Ben and to make sure Percival’s evil was eradicated.
    In the meantime, Mitch needed to find his little mate and convince her that he was healthy enough to participate in a few “extracurricular” activities. The burnt skin on his back had peeled in the shower leaving pink, healthy skin behind. The pain was gone, and he was determined to get his mate to stop running from him.
    Since he woke up, chaste kisses were all she had given him before running like the room was on fire. He