"I'll try to be gentle," he whispered. He rose up, slowly unwinding his arms. When he stood to his full height he was trembling and near exhaustion. She could see that he was literally fighting to remain lucid.

He took her in his arms and for a moment simply stood there with her cheek against his chest. She inhaled taking his scent deep in her lungs. She would never get enough of him. With every breath his scent was getting ingrained on her soul. He lowered their bodies slowly to the rug and tilted her head to one side. He ran his tongue down the column of her neck and she shivered. She had expected him to strike like a starved animal, yet even at his most desperate, he was taking time to ensure that she felt as little pain as possible.

When he began to nip and nibble behind her ear she sighed as her body coiled in expectation. His arms tightened before he sank his fangs deep in her neck.

She had expected pain, but there was very little, just a quick pinch then a flood of pleasure. He held her as if she were the most precious thing in the world as he drank deeply. She could feel his restraint as he took slow, measured sips. Each pull of his lips sent jolts through her body, it felt as if he were licking and caressing her nipples and clit from the inside. Panting, she thrust her hips against him trying to find relief. She felt his lips curve against her neck and he brought his thigh up between her legs. The second his firm muscles hit her throbbing flesh she cried out and ground against him chasing the pleasure that stayed just out of reach. When his hand reached down to brush against her tightened nipples, she exploded crying out. Wave after wave of pleasure cascaded through her. She felt the swirling darkness begin to take her. Smiling she let go. The last thing she remembered was his gentle kiss against her neck.

*****

"Are you certain she is well?"

"She's fine."

"I could have killed her."

"She's a shifter. It would take more than a blood donation to kill her." The male voice sounded amused.

"Listen to Adam, my friend. He doesn't know much, but he does know about healing," another male voice spoke.

Elizabeth blinked and focused on the voices. Of the three, her mate's voice was the sexiest. She froze. Her mate? That's right she had found her mate.

"Ha ha. Very funny, Aiden. Be nice or I'll figure out a way to put Meryn on a caffeine IV drip."

"Gods no!"

Elizabeth smiled. "That actually sounds good right about now." She sat up to face the men. Two of them towered over her mate and looked enough alike she assumed they were related. Instantly her mate was at her side running a gentle hand over her hair.

"How do you feel, zain'ka moya?" he asked.

"What's zain'ka?"

He leaned in and whispered against her neck. "My sunshine or rabbit. I thought it fitting."

His warm breath against her neck sent renewed shivers through her body.

The two men behind Gavriel cleared their throats. Gavriel stood and kissed her forehead.

"Elizabeth, I know it may be belated but I am Gavriel Ambrosios. May I introduce to the Unit Commander Aiden McKenzie and his brother Adam McKenzie. Adam runs the clinic for the unit warriors. Gentleman, I finally have the pleasure of introducing my mate. Elizabeth Monroe." Gavriel brought her hand up and kissed it.

"I'm glad she made it to Lycaonia in one piece. Thrice welcome Elizabeth, you couldn't ask for a better mate." Aiden gave a courtly bow. Adam smiled and waved.

She looked at Adam. "You're the doctor?"

"Yes, I am," he replied.

"You and I will be great friends. I am constantly tripping or falling, or tripping then falling over things." She turned to Gavriel when he groaned and covered his face with his other hand. He looked at her, a pained expression on his face.

"So what I saw in my dreams was your everyday life, not just the terrifying moments?" he asked.

"I'm not sure what you saw, but I do get hurt on a fairly regular basis."

"Did you fall out of an office window?"

"Yes."

"Did you fall down the sewer ladder?"

"Yes, that was equal parts painful, humiliating and disgusting." She shuddered.

"How did you manage to live to adulthood?"

"That's a question for my father. I'm sure he could give you an entire dissertation about my childhood." She grinned up at him.

"I may just have to ask him," he murmured.

"Elizabeth are you well enough to leave? My mate was curious about you." Aiden said.

She nodded and gently pulled her hand from Gavriel's. Reluctantly he let go. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and went to hop off but her right leg became tangled in the blankets. If it weren't for Gavriel's reflexes, she would have spilled onto the floor. Aiden and Adam stared at her open mouthed, Gavriel paled.

"I'm okay, really." She stood and smoothed out her clothes.

"Okay then. I'll drive." Aiden held up his keys.

Gavriel kept a hand on her lower back as they said goodbye to Adam and walked out to the parking lot.

"Do you all live together?" Elizabeth asked once they were on the road.

"Yes, all of the Alpha Unit members live together," Aiden confirmed.

"Even your mate?"

"Meryn has made some changes recently." Gavriel had yet to let her hand go. It was as if he had to be touching her.

"She just couldn't stand to be away from me," Aiden said puffing his chest out. Elizabeth looked over to her mate who just shrugged.