Page 22 of Vampire Pack

King called the medical team.

My shoulder was definitely in bad shape. No way around that fact.

He drove me back to the arena, where our medical team was permanently located. It was way past their hours of operation, but they made time for us, considering that our bodily damage largely funded their paychecks.

They did a bunch of scans.

Made me do a ton of stretches, and told me I had to come back three times a day for more of the same until I was completely healed, too. It would only take a few days, but that was still miserable.

Before they let me go, they injected me with some sketchy shit that was supposed to help with my recovery. The effects would only last an hour, but it wiped me out to the point that King had to literally carry my floppy body back to his sports car.

He kept a hand on me at all times on the drive back, to make sure I didn’t fall.

It was late when we made it back to the apartment, and I was barely conscious.

"I'll be back at six to take her in for physical therapy," I heard him tell my friends, after he typed the code (he knew it) and stepped inside.

They must've been waiting on the couch.

"That's in six hours, and you had a game today," Paige said, her voice soft with sleep. "Just stay the night. You can take the couch if you're worried about being a gentleman."

"I don't think Carmen would appreciate me staying. The drugs will be out of her system in the next hour, so she'll be well aware of what's going on by the time she wakes up."

Mallory made a noise of disagreement. "You've basically been together for five years, and you literally carried her injured, drugged ass to and from the doctor's office in the middle of the night. She'll be fine with it."

"I'll take the couch, then. Thanks,” King said.

"You'd be more comfortable in her room," Paige called out. "She won't complain about spending the night snuggled up together."

I heard one door close. Then two others.

The room went dark as a light flipped off.

King lowered me to my mattress. I had the energy and awareness left to cling to him, not wanting to let go of his warmth or the glorious way he smelled.

Snuggling was good. So good. And it had been a long time since I snuggled with anyone other than Paige and Mallory. Werewolves had serious snuggle needs.

"Let go," he murmured into my ear.

"Nuh-uh," I mumbled back.

"You don't really want to cuddle, Gorgeous."

Gorgeous.

That was new.

Warmth spread through my middle.

"Always wanna cuddle." I was pretty sure my words were slurring. Oops.

"Just—" He cut himself off as he tried to peel my arms away. I wrapped my legs around him too, forcing him closer. He grunted when his face smashed against my pillow. "You smell too fucking good."

More warmth followed the grumbled compliment.

"Cuddle me," I ordered.

"You don't actually want me to—" He growled when I yanked him closer, smashing his face into the bed a little harder. "Dammit. Fine. Don't kill me for this when the drugs wear off."