Forbidden Addiction (Forbidden, Book #4)

by R. L. Kenderson

  There was another knock at the door, and the nurse from earlier walked in. She handed Phoenix another piece of paper. “Here is your prescription. Did you already get your packet?”

  Phoenix gritted her teeth. “No, I have no idea what the hell is going on.” She held up one hand. “I have appointments for who knows what.” Then, she held up her other hand. “And, now, I have a prescription that I don’t know anything about.”

  The nurse looked confused. That made two of them. “Dr. Houseman hasn’t come back and talked to you?”

  “No.”

  “Oh, dear,” the nurse said. She spun around on her heel and headed for the door.

  “Oh, dear what?” Phoenix called out.

  But the female was already gone.

  Phoenix turned her eyes to Dante to show him how frustrated she was, but now, there was worry in his eyes, and she was suddenly scared.

  If Dante, her rock, was worried, then that meant she should be worried.

  A third knock sounded at the door, and the doctor walked in like her feet were on fire. “I am so sorry, Phoenix. There was a slight emergency with another patient out front. My nurse and medical assistant didn’t realize that I was with that patient and that I hadn’t talked to you yet.”

  Phoenix swallowed and stiffened her spine. “Am I sick?”

  Dr. Houseman looked alarmed. “Heavens no.” She handed Phoenix a thick folder. “This should explain everything.”

  Dante stood up and came to her side. They both looked down at the words on the outside. Her eyes locked on to one word.

  “Pregnant?” she whispered. She lifted her head and looked at the doctor, who was now blurry. Phoenix wiped the tears from her eyes. “How? I don’t understand. I was barely in heat.”

  Dante put his arm around her as the doctor said, “My best guess is, you got pregnant that first night. And, since that’s the goal of mating heat, it was over after that.”

  “But I bled.”

  “Yes, but you said only lightly, correct?”

  “Yes.” Phoenix had assumed that, since her heat had been short, her bleeding had been light, too.

  “And you haven’t had any other bleeding since then?”

  Phoenix shook her head.

  “There you go then. You have nothing to worry about.”

  “I still don’t understand,” Phoenix said, still in shock.

  “Well, we still don’t know a whole lot about shifter-vampire conception, but as you know, there has been another couple who conceived rather easily. We might be seeing a trend. We won’t know until more mating and pregnancies, or lack of pregnancies, happen. It’s obviously not something we can make a case study out of, so we just have to go with the info we have right now.”

  “Is this why she’s been craving my blood?” Dante asked.

  “Again, we—the vampire doctors and those of us here at the infirmary—are going by assumptions. But it would seem that the vampire half of the baby needs your blood. So, my suggestion is to just give in to the cravings. Your body will tell you what it needs. Just don’t ignore it,” she said to Phoenix. Then, she turned to Dante. “But I would hold off on feeding from her until she gives birth, for safety’s sake.”

  “Done,” Dante said.

  Phoenix wasn’t happy about watching Dante feed from someone else for several months, but if it meant they got to be parents, it would be worth it.

  “Any other questions?”

  Phoenix shook her head.

  “All right. Feel free to call anytime. Otherwise, we’ll see you back here in a few weeks.”

  Dante led Phoenix out to the SUV while she felt like she was still in a daze. She looked over at her mate, who was practically strutting to the car.

  “You’re pretty proud of yourself, aren’t you?”

  Dante grinned. “Fuck yeah.”

  Phoenix rolled her eyes.

  “I’m sorry, Red. It’s a guy thing. I can’t help feeling like a stud. I wish I could explain it to you.” He put his arm around her and kissed her head. “Do you still love me despite my caveman mentality?”

  “I suppose.”

  He stopped halfway to the vehicle, lifted her chin, and kissed her long and hard. “You’d better because I love you.” He started walking again, taking Phoenix with him. “I can’t wait to tell everyone.”

  “Me either.” Except…

  This time, Phoenix paused.

  “What’s wrong?” Dante asked, concerned.

  “How am I going to tell Kenzie and Sawyer?”

  Despite Kenzie’s strong attitude at the hospital, she definitely had good days and bad days. She was trying to continue with life, but she would never forget about the baby she’d lost. Phoenix didn’t want to add to her friend’s pain.

  “That’s a tough one. But I’m sure Kenzie will be happy for you, no matter what.”

  “I know, but I still feel bad.”

  Dante kissed her again. “You’re a good person, you know that?”

  “What? Like you ever had any doubts.”

  “You’re right. No doubts,” he said with a glint in his eye.

  “Come on, stud. Let’s go home.”

  S EVERAL MONTHS LATER

  DANTE FLIPPED THROUGH his paperwork, going over applicants. Months later, they still hadn’t found a good replacement for Lexine. Thankfully, things had been pretty calm lately, so they weren’t short. And having Sterling off suspension also helped, but Dante still wanted this whole recruiting process to be over with.

  But, if that was all he had to complain about, life was pretty good.

  Just then, Hunter walked by the open office door.

  Well, finding a new Guardian and Hunter’s sullen mood were his only complaints. The normally content Hunter had turned into someone no one wanted to be around lately. Dante had tried to talk to him, but the Guardian refused. He just hoped they weren’t headed toward another Lexine situation, though he hadn’t been getting that vibe from Hunter.

  Dante put his head down and read over a few more applications when he smelled her. He looked up to see his beautiful, vibrant, and quite pregnant mate enter his office. She shut the door behind her and leaned against it with a mischievous smile on her face.

  “Red, I need to get through these applications,” he told her.

  He could tell his words went in one ear and out the other as she stalked toward him.

  “Phoenix,” he warned, but he couldn’t quite get the stern tone into his voice.

  She continued toward him, her eyes completely feline, and he knew what she had in store for him. He should kick her out, but his dick was already hard and telling his brain to shut the fuck up.

  Dante loved the confident sexual look in her eyes, and he was so proud to be the one who had helped her achieve it. Although the real credit went to Phoenix. She’d decided she wanted to change, and she had done it.

  She reached his office chair, put her hands on the armrests, and pushed his seat back. She leaned over and kissed him. She pulled back and smiled at him again. Using the armrests, she lowered her body until she was kneeling before him.

  She slowly lowered his zipper and pulled him out of his pants. She took him in her hand and licked him from base to tip before taking him in her mouth. Dante’s eyes rolled back in his head.

  Yes, his mate had come a long way. She had gone from being sexually repressed to giving the best blow jobs.

  She finished him off and then stood up to get in his lap. Dante had to help her up now because her belly got in the way often. He tucked himself back inside his pants, and Phoenix curled up against him.

  He rubbed her expanding belly. “Any contractions so far tonight?”

  “Nope.”

  Dante sighed with relief. “Good.”

  Phoenix had begun getting contractions about a month ago. Because of this, they weren’t allowed to have sex, and she was definitely not allowed any orgasms because that was what had started the contractions in the first place. He missed being inside
her, but he couldn’t deny that he loved how much oral sex he’d been receiving. He would worry she did it just to make him happy, except he could tell how much she liked it from their blood link. He wasn’t supposed to feed from her, but Phoenix insisted that he take enough for him to stay connected to her. How could he not love this female?

  “Are you sore anywhere?” he asked her.

  “My back a little.”

  “Lean forward.”

  Since he couldn’t return the favor, he’d been trying to give her as many back rubs and foot rubs as she wanted. He dug his fingers into her lower back, where he knew she was usually the most sore, as she rested her arms and head on his desk.

  “So, no luck with finding a new Guardian?” she asked.

  “No.” Sigh. “Maybe I should just hire you.”

  She sat up so fast that she almost hit him in the nose. “Dante, you’re a genius.”

  “Not going to argue, but why?”

  She turned around on his lap. “To further our alliance with each other—shifter and vampire—why don’t we have something like a liaison program? We could have shifters, both cat and wolf, be Guardians, and you could send one Guardian to be a cat-shifter sentinel and one to be a wolf-shifter sentinel.” She frowned. “Of course, you’d still have to replace Lexine, but it’s still a good idea. I already live here, and it would be easier to work here than go back and forth between the bunkhouse and here.”

  “Wow, Red, that’s a really good idea.”

  She smirked. “I know.”

  Dante laughed. “I’ll talk to Vance and Damien about it and then the Guardians. I feel like it’s something we all have to agree with.” Dante kissed her. “You’re the real genius.”

  She smiled and turned back around. “Well then, this genius needs you to continue with that back rub.”

  Dante laughed and began kneading his fingers over her again. After a few minutes, it became pretty apparent that she wasn’t going to stay awake much longer.

  “Dante?” Phoenix said, her voice low and sleepy.

  “Yeah?”

  “I really do love you, you know.”

  He smiled. “I know. I love you, too, Red.”

  Thank you for reading the fourth book in our Forbidden series! We had a great time writing Forbidden Addiction, and we hope you enjoyed Phoenix and Dante’s story! Up next will be it’s a secret and we’re not telling anyone yet. #sorrynotsorry But you will see more of Hunter and Quentin, along with all the other characters you’ve come to know and love.

  If you liked Forbidden Addiction, please consider leaving a review. That’s the biggest thanks you can give us. If you would like to stay up-to-date, sign up for our newsletter.

  Until Next time,

  Happy reading!

  Forbidden Series

  Forbidden Blood – Forbidden Series #1

  Naya Kensington & Vaughn Llewelyn

  Forbidden Heat – Forbidden Series #2

  Payton Llewelyn & Damien Lowell

  Forbidden Temptation – Forbidden Series #3

  Kenzie Swanson & Sawyer Lennar

  Forbidden Addiction – Forbidden Series #4

  Phoenix Kaplan & Dante Leonidas

  New Contemporary Romance

  Turn the page for a sneak peek of Dirty!

  Dirty Sneak Peek

  Elise Phillips scanned the bar and grill as the door closed, leaving the June warmth behind her.

  An arm toward the back of the room shot up, waving. Next, she saw her college friend’s light-brown hair, and then Rachel Garwood’s pixie face lit up as she beckoned her to the table.

  When Elise approached, Rachel stood and squealed, her hazel eyes shining, as she held out her arms for a hug. Rachel had to step on her tippy-toes while Elise had to bend down. Elise was five-seven, but Rachel was only five-two.

  “I’m so happy you’re here,” Rachel said. “I can’t believe you get to come out with us whenever you want now.”

  About a month ago, Elise had moved back to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, where she’d gone to high school and college. She’d found out her father was sick, and she wanted to be close to him just in case he didn’t have much time left. Even though Rachel had also been born and raised in the Twin Cities, they hadn’t met until they became roommates at the University of Minnesota.

  “Me either,” she said as she stepped back from her friend.

  “So, how’s the house-hunt going?” Rachel asked as she took her seat.

  Elise sighed as she hung her purse on the edge of the chair next to Rachel and sat next to her. “Okay. I’m so glad my old house sold; that’s a relief. I really like the realtor you referred, but so far, I haven’t found something I really like and want to buy.”

  “I’m so glad you like Cara. She’s great. And I know what you mean. Sean probably would have been happy with the ten other houses we saw, but I didn’t have that I-could-live-here feeling.” Rachel had just bought a home with her fiancé, Sean, about six months earlier. “I’m sure you’ll find one you like sooner rather than later.”

  “I hope so. I can only live with my parents for so long before they drive me completely nuts. I’m twenty-nine, but sometimes, I think they forget that I’ve been living on my own for over a decade.”

  “Ah, they’re sweet.”

  Elise snorted. “You don’t have to live with them.”

  Her mother had always been protective, but her hovering had gotten worse ever since her father was diagnosed with colon cancer.

  “Well, let’s agree to disagree. I’m just happy you’re home.”

  So was she. Elise had enjoyed living in Denver since finishing graduate school, but it felt good to be home. And, while she would miss it, she didn’t regret coming back once she learned her father was sick.

  Elise gestured to the four open seats at the table. “Who else is coming?”

  “Do you remember Shelly and Joe Howard?”

  “Hmm.” Elise couldn’t quite remember them off the top of her head. “Oh. Did I meet them one year at your Christmas party? Shelly teaches with you, and her boyfriend is Joe. Both redheads?”

  “Yes, that’s them. Although they’re husband and wife now. Shelly is actually pregnant. They are going to have the cutest little ginger baby.”

  Elise chuckled. “That’s so great for them,” she said, meaning it even though she felt slightly let down.

  When Rachel had asked her to have dinner and drinks, Elise had assumed it was going to be a girls’ thing. While she remembered liking Shelly and Joe, they were a couple, which meant one of the six seats belonged to Sean. So, either it was a couples’ get-together and Rachel was setting her up with someone or she was going to be the dreaded fifth wheel. Neither option sounded appealing.

  “So, Shelly, Joe, and Sean are coming. Is the sixth seat someone you’re trying to hook me up with?” she asked just as Rachel said, “Oh, look. There are Shelly and Joe now.”

  Her friend stood and waved to catch the newcomers’ attention.

  Despite the two of them speaking at the same time, Rachel had heard her question. She sat back down and cocked her head. “I wouldn’t do that to you. I know how much you hate being set up on blind dates.”

  Fifth wheel, it was then. Elise didn’t know whether to be relieved that she wouldn’t have to fake interest in someone—because she really didn’t have the energy for that tonight—or disappointed that she was going to be the poor single girl.

  Turned out neither because Rachel then said, “No, the last seat is for Luke Long. Do you remember him?”

  Elise’s answer was a groan of irritation. Oh, she remembered him all right. So did every other member of the student body—at least, those with ovaries. Girls’ IQs dropped when Luke was around. It almost made her embarrassed to be a member of the female sex.

  Thankfully, Shelly and Joe walked up, so Rachel didn’t hear her response because Elise knew Sean and Luke had been good friends in college. Greetings were made, and Elise was reintroduced to the couple co
nsidering it had been a few years since she last saw them. They talked about Shelly’s ever-expanding belly. She was huge, but she still had seven weeks to go. Shelly was barely over five feet while Joe was a former football player and closer to six feet tall, and they joked about how she was going to have an enormous baby. Thankfully, the group’s joking had Elise almost forgetting all about the previous conversation.

  When the door opened, she was sure she could feel a breeze all the way at the back of the room as Sean and Luke walked in. The two of them contrasted each other. Sean was blond and blue-eyed and only about five-eight while Luke was over six feet with thick dark brown hair and chocolate-brown eyes. Sean was showing Luke something on his phone, and Luke threw his head back and laughed, catching all the attention in the room. Elise swore she saw drool on a couple of ladies’ chins.

  Barf.

  To be fair, Luke wasn’t a horrible person, and she hadn’t seen him in years, since college, so he’d probably matured…hopefully. But, back in school, he’d been quite the man-slut. While he hadn’t been truly arrogant—she’d known some conceited assholes, and Luke had never been like that—he was gorgeous, and he knew it. Girls had practically thrown themselves at him, and he’d had no shame, sleeping his way through the female student body and leaving a trail of broken hearts.

  Elise hadn’t been a saint. She’d had a few one-night stands and even a couple of exclusive friends with benefits, but she’d like to think she’d had some discretion. She certainly hadn’t slept with every guy who had hit on her.

  Luke looked at one of the girls—probably ten years his junior—who was staring wide-eyed at him, and he winked at her.

  Elise rolled her eyes. She might have given him too much credit on the maturing thing.

  Luke and Sean reached their table, and she realized that she had watched them walk through the whole restaurant. God, she was such a hypocrite. Her only defense was that she didn’t have her tongue hanging out, and she’d never been dumb enough to hop into bed with Luke.

  Sean leaned down and kissed Rachel before taking the seat across from her in the middle chair. Shelly and Joe were already sitting on opposite sides of the table, so all the girls were on one side, which only left the seat directly on the other side of Elise open.