“Amnios are minimally invasive procedures but they’re still a disruption to how the body functions. So when introduced to what I will assume was a highly stressful experience, that disruption was compounded and your body reacted.”
“Have I permanently damaged something?”
“No,” Dr. Patterson shook his head. “Not at all.”
The ER doctor had given Nisa a heating pad and Tylenol to ease the cramping and were considering giving her terbutaline if that didn’t do the trick. But Dr. Patterson assured Nisa that wouldn’t be necessary.
He closed the sliding glass door to her room, then walked over to Nisa and put his hands on her belly. It was not unlike what Shereen had done earlier in their backyard. Only this time, his touch slowly eased the cramping until there was none at all.
He then stepped out to speak with the attending.
Arlo kissed Nisa’s palm and put it to his cheek. “How do you feel?”
“I feel good. I’m okay.”
“So Blake is one of us now.”
Nisa looked at him for a long time. “I guess she is.”
“And Shane’s gone.”
“And Shane is gone,” she exhaled.
“You’re crying.”
Nisa withdrew her hand and wiped her eyes. Arlo put his hand on her knee instead.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
Nisa looked up at the ceiling. “I’m not. He made choices that led to this. But now my sister’s a murderer and that’s my fault.” The tears were really coming now.
“This is not your fault.”
“She changed because Owen bit her, right?”
Guilt hung heavy on Arlo’s face. “Most likely.”
“Then it is my fault. She was trying to protect me and now she’s Lycan. And I know that’s not a bad thing, but she had no say in it. No choice. Oh, God. And then I left her all alone, again. She’s probably scared to death.”
“She’s not alone,” Arlo soothed. “Willa and Owen are with her.”
Nisa’s laugh was slightly hysterical. “That doesn’t make me feel better.”
“I meant that they will help her. Changing as an adult isn’t easy. It takes time to find your equilibrium. They will guide her through it.”
“I should be with her.”
“They’re the ones she needs right now. At least until she can control her beast.”
“How long will that be?”
“It’s different for different people. Maybe a month? Maybe a year?”
“A year?” Suddenly Nisa was feeling worse.
“I’m so sorry,” Arlo said again. “I should have taken care of Shane myself.”
“No,” she said firmly. “Then you’d be in the same trouble as Blake.”
Arlo laughed. “Too late. I’m already Lycan.”
Nisa pursed her lips. “I meant with the police.”
Arlo tilted his head. “Why would Blake be in trouble with the police?”
“Arlo, she killed a man.”
“But the police will never know that. The pack will make it look as though he took a bad fall or was savaged while hiking. Law enforcement would ask too many questions. It’s better to keep them out of it.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive. No one will ever link this back to Blake.”
Nisa stared at Arlo for a moment, wanting to trust him. “Do you promise that Blake will be okay?”
It took Arlo a moment to answer. “I promise.”
Dr. Patterson walked back in the room, again closing the door for privacy.
“So,” he said, “I’ve spoken to the RN and the attending and let them know that you’re good to go home. Someone will be in momentarily to start the discharge process.”
“Great,” Nisa said. “Thank you, Dr. Patterson.”
“It’s really my pleasure. Now, do you want to know the results of the paternity test?”
Nisa rolled up to sitting. In the chaos she’d forgotten all about it. There had been many revelations that day, but this might be the most important. “Please, go on.”
“I’m pleased to say that Arlo is the father and the baby is definitely Lycanthropic.”
The people at the nurses’ station turned to look as Arlo let out an earsplitting “Whoop!” Then he grabbed Nisa’s face and kissed her, and she kissed him back hard not caring who saw.
Dr. Patterson laughed. “Easy there, Arlo. Easy.”
Arlo let Nisa go but he stayed by her side, beaming.
Something opened in Nisa’s chest—a knot of dread dissolving into nothingness.
The nurse came in with Nisa’s discharge papers.
Dr. Patterson stood to go. “Absolutely no strenuous activity for the next few days.” He looked at Arlo. “I mean it. None.”
“We won’t doctor,” Nisa responded. “I swear.”
“Good,” he said. “Call me if you need anything.”
“We will,” Nisa said as she waved good-bye. Then she looked at Arlo. “You’re going to be a father.”
The nurse smiled as she continued filling out her paperwork.
Then Nisa sighed. “You’d better text Willa.”
Epilogue
“Stop that.”
Arlo was kissing Nisa’s neck again. They were supposed to be taking it easy, but every time he touched her it sped things up.
“I can’t help it,” he murmured. “You taste too good.”
His hands were creeping up to her breasts, his thumbs reaching out to graze her nipples.
“Arlo. No. Slow, remember?”
Then he nipped at her chin.
They’d taken a midnight ride to Topanga State Park. The moon was waning, but there was still enough light for sex under the stars. They’d hopped the entry gate at Entrada, then stole through the parking lot and up to one of the meadows.
Nisa continued rolling her hips, moving his hands from her tits to her ass.
Arlo was sitting cross-legged on a blanket with Nisa in his lap. It’d been two days since she’d been in the hospital. Dr. Patterson had told her they could resume sexual activity, but Nisa still wanted to be cautious.
She leaned back to use his knees for leverage.
“Jesus,” Arlo groaned. “Now your tits are in my face.”
Nisa hooked her ankles behind his back. “Just enjoy the sensation. Listen to my breath.”
Arlo fell silent and closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around Nisa’s waist. His head dropped forward to rest against her chest as Nisa’s hips continued to undulate. Things had always moved fast between them. For the first time since they’d met, they could finally take their time.
Crickets formed a chorus as fire oozed through Nisa’s body. The wings of a night bird flapped overhead. Desperate coyotes chased rabbits through the brush.
Nisa’s hand was in Arlo’s hair, then she kissed the top of his head. And this time when his lips found her throat she didn’t protest.
His mouth brushed hers, feathery light, and she afforded him a single kiss.
“You almost there?”
Arlo swallowed and nodded.
Nisa’s tongue darted into his mouth, as she rotated her hips. Then she spoke against his lips.
“We’re gonna come now, okay?”
“Yeah,” he panted.
“You ready?” she breathed.
“Uh-huh.”
Their bodies shuddered in unison—their cries guttural and silencing the night. Nisa gripped the back of Arlo’s neck as her hips drew out those last bits of friction. They swayed back and forth until their passion was surely spent.
Arlo’s tears were salty on her lips.
“Hey,” she whispered. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” he whispered back.
Then they stayed like that, sharing the same breath—him breathing her and her breathing him.
#
NIGHT CREATURES
BOOK 3
COMING SPRING 2019
Can Blake find the strength to c
ontrol her violent instincts? Or will her newly raging beast force Owen to put her down? Find out when Night Creatures continues with Blake and Owen’s story and a love that might be doomed before it’s even begun . . .
* * *
A NOTE TO THE READERS
If you enjoyed this book, I’d be honored if you left a review on Amazon!
As a new author, reviews help me promote the book and increase its visibility. They also let me discover what excites the readers about the story and what I can do better in the next one.
Thank you for taking the time!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
To my family… I’m so incredibly grateful for you guys. Your continued support and unconditional love keep me going.
To April, The Munchkin, Irene, Kim, Meredith, and Angelica… You guys rock! And there’s more potpie if you read Book 3.
Thank you Marta for the spectacular cover art, the laughter, and the cocktails. Thank you Jay for the beautiful typography. And thank you Troy for the detailed copyediting and curbing my, ahem, love affair with commas.
And a very special thank you to Niko, Julien, Manuel, Chris, and Lina for helping my characters fight like pros!
EBONY’S OTHER WORKS
Night Creatures: Book 1
An elite Hollywood soiree. A cheating husband. A carnal encounter in the woods… It’s been a hell of a Friday for Nisa Lennox, and the weekend has only just started. By Sunday she’ll have discovered the secret world of Lycans, herself, and possibly true love.
Dark Seduction: Part One
Luciana has never liked pitch-black basements. Good thing she’s not the only one down there. Is it her husband rekindling their sex life? Or has a savage stranger set her passions aflame? Read to find out, and discover how even in the dark, desire can light the way.
Dark Seduction: Part One is a short story available for free when you subscribe to the newsletter through www.ebonybrightman.com.
Night CreatureS Playlist
Always by Panama
Hard Love by NEEDTOBREATHE
Keep Running by Tei Shi
Joga by Björk
God’s Whisper by Raury
Champagne Coast by Blood Orange
To Love Somebody by Nina Simone
And
Easy by Anna Wise & Xavier Omär
Night Creatures: Book 2 Page 12
