Page 78 of Dark Cravings

When I returned to the training room, Eddie was half-awake and trying to sit up while leaning heavily on his left thigh. "Father de Leon?" he asked groggily. "I thought you left."

"You thought I abandoned you naked in the training room?" I asked, holding the robe out to him. "I'm not sure what to make of that."

He blew a puff of air through his nostrils and pulled the robe around his shoulders. When he tried to get up, he collapsed back on his knees with a sharp cry.

Fuck, I'd really done a number on him. I hated whatever primal instinct it was inside me that felt a thrum of pride alongside the concern, but I wasn't even sure I could blame that all on the wolf blood.

"Here," I said, bending down to help him. I draped his arm around my shoulder and lifted him onto his feet. "Do you need me to carry you?"

His face was flushed when he looked up at me, his other hand resting on my chest, but that was common enough. "I'm okay. I can walk."

"Come on," I said, slowly leading him over to the door. "I'm taking you to my room. It's closer."

He nodded, limping along. At least it seemed to be the middle of the night, so we probably wouldn't run into anyone. But of course, when we got to my room, there was another priest across the hall who cast a brief glance in our direction before she walked away quickly. I figured I could just brush it off as him getting injured in training, considering that had happened enough times, but that wouldn't explain why he was wearing my robe, or why I was taking him to my room.

Of course, what my colleagues thought about me fucking my student was the least of my damn problems right now.

"Bed or shower?" I asked him.

He hesitated, glancing at the bathroom. "Shower," he said.

I nodded, helping him in. I turned on the water, and the guilt sank in full force when he took off the robe and I saw the dried blood that had trickled down his thigh. He'd always unleashed a side of me I would rather keep hidden, but this...

He stepped under the water, hissing in a breath as it hit his skin. I turned away because the last thing I needed was to get caught ogling him under these circumstances. It was fucked up enough that my brain could even go there.

"I'll wait outside. Just call me when you're done," I said, closing the door behind me. I sank against it, letting my head fall back against the wood as I shut my eyes. What the hell was wrong with me?

About ten minutes later, I felt the doorknob turn and stepped back as Eddie opened it. He was wrapped in my robe again, a sheepish look on his face, but he didn't seem to be in quite as bad of a condition as before.

"You should've told me you were ready. You could've fallen," I scolded.

"I'm fine," he mumbled. As jarring as this night had been for me, it had to be even worse for him.

It wasn't like he hadn't been hurt before, and I knew he was probably already at least partially healed from whatever damage my knot had done, but he'd been giving a lot of blood lately. Still, I knew there was part of my behavior that was irrational, since it wasn't like I had ever been particularly gentle with him. I figured that, too, was some latent wolf instinct. The problem was, as aggressive as I had been before, my instincts toward him were less predatory and more...

Fuck, I couldn't let myself go there right now. I helped him over to the bed whether he wanted me to or not. "I'm gonna go take a shower, okay? Make yourself comfortable. I'll be right back."

"I'm fine," he repeated, pulling back the covers.

I was still hesitant to leave him, but I didn't want to get into the clean bed smelling of sex and sweat. A few minutes later, I returned to find my bedclothes in disarray. Eddie had piled the pillows and extra blankets around him in a circle, and he was presently burrowed under the rumpled comforter in the center.

"What the fuck is this?" I asked, walking over to the edge of the bed.

He gave me a sheepish look. "I don't know. It just seemed like the right thing to do."

I blinked. "Are you… nesting?"

"No!" he cried, glaring at me with indignation that waned a second later. "I don't think. What is that, anyway?"

"Never mind," I sighed, starting to climb into the nest with him.

"Careful!"

I rolled my eyes, gingerly climbing over the pillow fort and under the blanket with him. He seemed satisfied as he moved closer, snuggling against my chest. He glanced up. "Is this okay?"

"Yeah," I murmured, draping an arm around him as he rested his head against my collarbone. "This is fine."

It felt better than I wanted to admit. The truth was, my room being closer than his was just an excuse. I didn't want him to go back to his room. Not now. Not ever. Even if I wasn't turning into something that would endanger him and everyone else at the Abbey, that alone was enough reason to leave.