"Max, I…", Tatiana paused. She was not sure how to respond to Maddox's sudden emotional outpour but she knew that her actions really hurt him.
His eyes were angry and disappointed, and there was some anticipation as well, but the most striking was the strength of his insecurities that reached her through their mate bond and she couldn't look at him.
Tatiana leaned closer and rested her forehead on Maddox's chest.
"I want to thank you for saving me."
"No need.", Maddox said curtly. "I did what should be done. If you want me here only as a thank you, I should leave."
Tatiana's arms tightened around him. "No. Don't go. It's not that."
"Then what is it?"
"Damn it, Max!", Tatiana snapped. "I said, thank you. Can't you just say, you are welcome, and we will be done with pleasantries?"
"What happens after pleasantries are over?", Maddox asked reluctantly.
Tatiana shrugged. "I don't know. How about… we start over?"
Maddox's eyebrows shot up. "Does that mean you are over what happened…"
He stopped talking when Tatiana put her fingers over his lips. "Can you not talk about it? Please?"
"Only if you promise not to bring it up again."
"I can do that."
Maddox smiled a little. "So… are we good?"
"I don't know. You tell me.", Tatiana said.
Maddox's eyes anxiously roamed over Tatiana's face, like he was expecting to find something unpleasant.
He was not certain if this was real or if she was up to something, and he needed to make sure which one is it before he makes a move that can earn him another slap.
Tatiana couldn't believe that Maddox was not moving. He was so close that his coffee-infused breath fanned her lips, yet he didn't close that minuscule distance.
"Max, this is a good time for a kiss."
Maddox really wanted to kiss her, but he also wanted to relish this moment a bit longer. She just asked for a kiss! How can he just give in? Won't she consider him easy to get?
"Khm…", Maddox cleared his throat. "It depends."
Tatiana paused. "On?"
"Will you slap me after that?"
"It depends.", Tatiana said dryly.
"On?"
"Are you hiding women around here?"
Maddox's lips twitched. "This is your room. So, if any woman pops out, you are the one hiding her."
Tatiana stifled a giggle. "I thought we agreed that we won't mention what happened this morning."
"You started it.", Maddox reminded her.
"Technically, you started when you…" The rest of Tatiana's words were swallowed in a kiss.
Maddox kissed her hungrily, like he was starving for her forever.
He was sucking her lips and nipping, and then his tongue made its way into Tatiana's mouth and her toes curled involuntarily. It was that good.
No one ever kissed her that way, and this was much more than just lips on lips. It was the scent and the flavor, and tongue, and the way his arms held her against his firm body, and it was all amplified by delicious sparks of their bond that rewired her brain.
'BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!'
The machines Tatiana was attached to started beeping loudly due to her increased heart rate, and Maddox and Tatiana broke the kissing frenzy in order to swiftly yank the attachments off her arms and chest. There was no need for any of that and neither of them wanted to be disturbed.
The moment noise from machines stopped, Maddox and Tatiana plunged onto each other, lips first.
Tatiana moaned into his mouth when his hands moved under her hospital gown with urgency.
His palms left behind fiery traces on her skin that were charged with addictive sparks which made her crave for more, much more of Maddox.
What the couple didn't know was that their action caused a disturbance in the room for monitoring patients.
"Doctor Travis!", a nurse called with urgency to get his attention and she waved frantically at the monitors that were flashing.
Travis looked at the screen that showed Tatiana's vitals going haywire and then it all stopped. Can a werewolf suffer from heart failure? It certainly looked like it.
Caden told him not to disturb Alpha Maddox and his Luna, but this looked like an emergency.
If anything happens to the Luna of the Blue River pack on his watch, Travis wouldn't be able to explain himself. Just stopping medical practice won't be enough because they might exterminate his whole family.
By the time Travis finished his thoughts, he was at the door of the VIP room.
"Aaaah!", Tatiana screamed while pulling the cover to her chest level when she realized that they have an audience.
Tatiana's hospital gown was somewhere on the floor and Maddox pushed her bikini top higher, exposing her breasts. His lips were an inch from Tatiana's hard nipple, ready to suck on it, and things were going great, but then she pushed him away and screamed.
Normally, bare breasts are not a big deal for she-wolves, but Tatiana spent many years among humans, and Travis showed up unexpectedly, and she ended up screaming like a shy teenage girl. How embarrassing.
Travis' eyes landed on the cables and attachments lying on the floor haphazardly and he understood what happened.
"Get out!", Maddox growled at Travis.
Travis cursed his luck. Why did this look like déjà vu?
And what's with Alphas getting frisky in the hospital? This is a place for sick people and not a love hotel!
Travis gritted his teeth, and he grabbed the door handle to steady himself as Maddox's murderous aura washed over him.
"Miss Tatiana is fine. You can leave the pack hospital anytime.", Travis said with difficulty and moved to leave the room.
"Wait!", Maddox called. He exhaled a sharp breath while pulling back his Alpha aura.
He was pleasantly surprised to see that Tatiana was not affected and he wondered if that was because she was that strong or maybe the rumor that fated mates can't harm each other was true. In either case, he had a few questions for Doctor Travis.
"Is she really fine?"
"Yes.", Travis confirmed. "She is exhausted physically and she suffered a shock. Some rest and relaxation will help her bounce back. Time with her mate will speed up that process."
"So...", Maddox paused and licked his lips. "Are any activities off-limit for her?"
Under the cover, Tatiana pinched Maddox's waist harshly. She knew very well what activities he was talking about, and Doctor Travis would be stupid not to figure out that Maddox was talking about sex.
Travis cleared his throat awkwardly and looked at Tatiana who hid her discomfort behind a stiff smile. "Miss Tatiana, you can engage in any activity, however, listen to your body. If anything seems too strenuous, slow down."
Tatiana nodded in agreement and when Maddox confirmed that he had no other questions, Travis left the room.
The door closed behind Travis and Maddox turned to Tatiana in slow motion.
Against all odds, Maddox hoped that the mood was not ruined.
Damned doctor!
