The Designated Mate novel Chapter 42

"So demure except for when I'm pleasuring you," he said smugly before nipping playfully at my inner knee. I giggled softly and let him finish cleaning me up in silence as sleep began to tug at my mind. He rejoined me in bed before pulling me towards him so that I laid rested against his chest, unable to pry my eyes back open in my delusionally sleepy state.

"I'm still mad at you," I managed to slur out to which I could feel his amusement through our newly strengthened bond - which I could feel wrapping around me like a security blanket.

"I'm sorry, Flower. I was irrational this morning thinking you were trying to force me away to speak with another man. I should've just stayed and asked you instead of jumping to conclusions. As for me ignoring you, I would never intentionally do so. My wolf was so angry I couldn't focus on anything but the pulsing in my body and my need for destruction," he murmured, ghosting his lips across the top of my head.

"So, what, now that you've marked me you're Dr. Phil all of a sudden?" I huffed in annoyance at his sensible answer, wondering when he decided to become so talkative. His chest rumbled for a few seconds with laughter, something that shocked me into silence and had my eyes cracking open. I peered up at his happy expression as my jaw slackened having never seen him wear that look before.

Crazy how quickly something can become your favorite sight in the whole world.

Poppy's POV

When we reached the bathroom, the nauseous feeling became too much and I patted incessantly against Knox's chest. He took me straight to the toilet where I knelt down and proceeded to purge everything I had left in me, which wasn't much considering I hadn't had dinner. The longer I was awake, the worse I began to feel. I hadn't felt this horrible since I'd shifted for the first time and boosted my natural immune system.

"Knox," I croaked out miserably, wiping my mouth with a piece of toilet paper and flushing the contents. I leaned back against his legs and blindly reached out my hand for his own, needing his reassurance just then. Now that he was officially my mate, and I was sick with whatever the heck this was, I wanted nothing more than his arms wrapped around me. I felt him move just the slightest, unsure of what he was doing until he pressed the small cap to some mouthwash to my lips. I accepted it thankfully and swished the burning liquid around in my mouth until I could no longer taste bile. I whined once again, unable to put into words what I was feeling.

"I know, Flower," he mumbled sympathetically before hoisting me up and helping me into the ice cold tub, not needing to strip as I was still naked - something that was highly convenient in my half-coherent state. He stepped in right after me, settling his bulky frame behind me. He began cupping the water with his hand and bringing it up to the top of my head, letting it coat my scalp before rushing down the rest of my body. I sighed with relief as I molded my body to his own, curling up into a small ball in his lap. He continued to bring the water up and over my body, the sound morphing into something so rhythmic and soothing. His strong fingers tangled in my long, wet tresses as he began massaging at my pounding scalp. His hands constantly touching me in some way had done wonders to sooth the uneasy feeling in my stomach, forcing away any last niggling of nausea I had remaining.