Free Victoria's Challenge by M. K. Eidem Page A

to give him a good shake when his eyes open, boring into hers. She doesn’t know what she’s seeing but it’s not pain…
    “What? ” Using an arm, he pulls her into his lap.
    “Lucas ! What are you doing?”
    “Shut up for a minute okay ? Just give me a minute.” She fits perfectly in his lap, in his arms. Tucking her in closer, he rests his head on top of hers, breathing her in.
    He knows what his dream is telling him. He needs to decide if he’s willing to risk, risk her rejecting him. To trust that the bond they forged all those cycles ago is still there and will hold. He knows he’s hurt her, but he could fix that, couldn’t he? He just needs to tell her the truth, the whole truth.
     
    Oh God, she’s in his arms. Closing her eyes, she breathes in his scent, this is Lucas, her life mate. She hadn’t been wrong all those cycles ago. This is the man for her. How is she going to survive this? Survive not only losing him but have him hate her. Feeling tears start to well up, she knows she has to move. If he sees her cry, he’ll think she’s incompetent then she can’t help him.
    “ Let me up.”
    “In a minute.”
    “No, now .” Her tone has him loosening his arms. She quickly stands, going to the tray to pick up his plate.
    “Forc or spoon? ” The eyes she raises to his are blank and expressionless. God how had he hurt her now? “Major…”
    “Forc and its Lucas! ”
    “Y ou’re not going to be able to hold it like you’re used to, not yet. Think of this as a training mission. Don’t force anything.” She ignores his last comment.
    “Shut up and let me figure it out! ” His frustration is getting the better of him, fuck! He watches her walk away. Looking back to his plate, he tries to pick up some food. He can’t get a good grip on the forc and it slips out of his hand. It takes him three tries to pick it up. This time, he wedges it between two fingers like a seesaw, using his thumb he braces it to slide under the vegetables on his plate. Half of it makes it to his mouth. He goes back for more.
    Watching , Victoria senses his building frustration but he doesn’t quit. That’s Lucas, once he’s decided on something, that’s it. Just like he decided she wasn’t going to be part of his life. How her heart hurts at the thought, but that was it, especially now, after the treatments. He might tolerate her, but he'll never love her. She’ll learn to live with it, eventually. When he finally leans back, she steps up.
    “Do you want help finishing?”
    “No.” His eyes burn into hers.
    “Okay . How does your hand feel? The truth.”
    “It’s sore. ” Pulling on gloves, she carefully unwraps one arm.
    “Cramping?”
    “No.” Lifting his hand, she pokes the spot where the forc had been resting.
    “Fuck ! Stop that!” He whips his hand away.
    “You need a treatment to relax that tendon. ” She calmly meets his eyes.
    “Fuck that!”
    “If it tears, you’re back to the beginning.” She sees the anger in his eyes, anger directed at her. “Your choice.”
    How could she ask that of him ! Didn’t she know how much those treatments fucking hurt?!! Did she enjoy hurting him! Through his anger, he hears his Granddad’s voice. I beat your butt a few times for his own good, to help him. Closing his eyes, he takes a deep breath, just as Victoria is doing. Helping him, he knew that, he knew it. She knew exactly what the treatments were doing to him and it hurt her just as much as him, but she didn’t let it stop her because it was helping him.
    “Treatment. ” Opening his eyes, he looks at her. “I’m sorry.”
    “Nothing to be sorry for , Major.” Her tone is brisk, her eyes shuttered. “I’ll get the sink ready.”
     
    Standing in the doorway, he watches her prepare the treatment. She’s precise, efficient, knowing exactly what needs to be done. Picking up the syringe, she walks over to him.
    “How much longer am I going to be taking this stuff?”
    “Depends.” Giving him