“You’ll need to wait about ten or fifteen minutes for the plaster to harden before you can pull up your clothes. It’ll take at least a day for it to fully cure.” She repeated the procedure with the sweatpants without looking any higher than his knee.
“Gracias, chata.”
Damn, if the man’s voice wasn’t as sexy audibly as it was telepathically. “My name’s Heidi, and you’re welcome.” She climbed to her feet and turned before she could give in to a desire to watch him dress. She desperately wanted another peek at what lay beneath that shirt. “I...uh...I’ll go check on whether the coast is clear and get your crutches.”
When she returned several minutes later, he was dressed and had even gotten to his feet with the help of the cage fencing. He stood, breathing a bit heavily and leaning against the fence near the unsecured doorway. Even wilted with pain and exhaustion, he was an imposing figure, well over six feet tall, all muscle.
“Going somewhere?” she asked, a mild attempt at keeping her tone light.
His dark lashes lifted, and again his heated gaze penetrated her to the bone. “Not without you, doctor.”
“Or these.” She held out the crutches, ignoring his acidic response. “If you haven’t worn yourself out with impatience, hobble this way. My Land Rover’s outside, and our audience has left...for the time being.”
As they made their way through the clinic, however, the front door opened, and Ritchie walked in. Beth was on the phone with a customer, leaving Heidi to deal with her untimely visitor.
“Hey, Heidi. I stopped by to check on our panther.”
She sensed more than saw Javier tense beside her, so she slid a palm over the small of his back.
“Black panthers don’t exist—”
“You said it wasn’t a cougar.”
“Right.” Before he could speak again, she asked, “Ritchie, why did you have to contact the media?”
He frowned, casting a quick, wary glance at the scowling man beside her. “I didn’t. Shirley contacted me. She saw a picture I posted to Facebook. Why?”
“I don’t need her harassing my customers or trespassing on my property trying to get a picture of a thing that doesn’t exist.”
“But the cat’s real. I shot it.”
Her palm balled into a fist, grasping some of Javier’s shirt. “Yes, you shot a jaguar, an animal, I might add, that is on the endangered species list, which could land you in a lot of hot water if it dies.”
“But I thought it was a bear.”
“You honestly think that’ll matter if the authorities realize what you really shot? You’ve heard the uproar the environmentalists make over fur coats and lab rats. What do you think they’ll do if they learn a hunter shot an endangered jaguar in a state where there are so few already.”
None really, but she didn’t elaborate.
“Shit, I didn’t think of that.”
She sighed. “I know. Look, I denied having any big cat here, and I told Shirley you were just playing a prank. So long as the animal survives, you should be off the hook.”
“Okay.”
“But I’d appreciate it if—I’d suggest you try to spin this on your Facebook page or wherever else you posted it as a hoax, a doctored photographic prank. A joke that got out of hand.”
He frowned but nodded. “I can do that, and I’ll talk to Dave too.”
“Good. You do that.” Relief coursed through her, and she let go of Javier’s shirt.
“Can I see it? It’s going to live, right?”
She smiled. “Yes, he is. But he’s not here anymore. I’ve transferred him elsewhere with better security and proper facilities to help with his recovery and reintroduction back into the wild.”
“Oh. Okay.” Ritchie glanced at Javier again. “I, uh, guess I’ll see you later then.” He tossed a thumb over his shoulder. “Gotta get back to work anyway.”
“Ritchie.” When he paused, she gave him a quick a hug. “Thanks again for calling me. You might’ve made a mistake, but you did the right thing and helped save the cat’s life. That’s something to be proud of.”
His expression brightened. “Sure, sure. Thanks. See ya later.”
“Bye.” She watched him walk out then said to the silent giant beside her, “Let’s go.”
Javier waited until he was seated in the passenger’s seat, his crutches in back, and she was behind the wheel before he spoke. “Your boyfriend?”
“No. An old friend.” She cast a sideways glance his way. “Don’t even think about getting revenge.”
He huffed and stared out the window.
“I mean it. Ritchie is a nice guy, and if he hadn’t called me when he realized you weren’t the black bear he was hunting, then you wouldn’t be here, and we wouldn’t be having this discussion.”
“Is that what this is?” He didn’t look her way.
“Of course, what do you think it is?”
“You dictating to me what to do.”
Her lips twitched. The man was so...alpha. “Call it whatever you like. Ritchie is a friend of mine, and I’m in the business of helping save lives, not condoning the harming of them. So if you want my help, you’ll have to abide by a few rules.”
That made him turn his head as she braked for a stop sign at a four-way intersection. “Those rules are?”
She kept her eye on the road and hands on the wheel, maneuvering through light traffic. “No harming anyone I care about. That includes family, friends, or casual acquaintances.”
“Am I not permitted to defend myself?”
“Of course, but that won’t be necessary.”
He scoffed at that, but she chose not to respond.
They were a few blocks down the road before he spoke again. “Where are you taking me?”
“My home.”
He muttered something she didn’t catch, although the tone left no doubt to his intended sarcasm.
“Don’t worry. You’re virtue is safe with me,” she teased, trying to lighten his mood. The man could scowl a hole through granite.
He snorted, but she noticed a brief twitch to his lips.
Chapter Five
Heidi sat behind the wheel of her SUV, the engine off, scanning the windows of her home, searching...preparing.
“Nice house,” Javier said. “Big.”
“Thanks.”
“What are we waiting for?”
She ignored his question. “Can I trust you to stay put?”
Before he could respond, one of her fathers stepped onto the front porch. Dressed in a stylish pair of beige slacks and an evergreen golf shirt, Fridrik moved into the sunlight, both hands on the rough-hewn log rail that spanned the space between the thick tree trunks acting as support beams for the roof.
Too late now. “Never mind.” She opened the driver’s side door. “Come on.” She rushed around the vehicle, retrieved the crutches and handed them to Javier.
Touching the small of his back, she guided him toward the house and kept a smile on her face as Burke, her other dad, positioned himself at the top of the porch steps. He wore a short-sleeved shirt similar to Fridrik’s, but with faded jeans and sneakers.
“Hi,” she said, keeping her tone cheerful in spite of the nervous turmoil in her belly.
She could feel Javier tense when he too noticed the older men blocking their path. Feeling already outnumbered, Heidi looked at the front door to see whether anyone else was home to make an appearance.
“Who—or what—do we have here?” Fridrik asked, his serious gaze on Javier.
Burke took a deep breath, and Heidi knew from the look in his eyes that he now recognized the scent that must’ve clung to her the other night.
“This is Javier Montero.” She kept her hand at Javier’s back until Fridrik
’s gaze pointedly zeroed in on her arm. “Uh, he’s a jaguar shifter from Mexico who was wounded recently and needs a place to stay...just until he recuperates.”
“Heidi—”
She risked their wrath by interrupting Burke. “I can’t leave him at the clinic now that the media is snooping around, which is a really long story, but let’s not get into that. Suffice it to say I figured it was safer to bring him here.”
Burke ended her rambling. “You thought wrong.”
“If you’d rather I leave—” Javier began, only to stop when her fathers glared at him.
“State your intentions, shifter,” Fridrik demanded in a fierce tone that brooked no argument and surprised Heidi. In all the years since she’d been old enough to date, neither of her fathers had ever taken such an aggressive approach when greeting anyone she brought home.
Axel, the family’s official alpha, had been the more aggravating one to deal with, the rest of her brothers a close second.
She glanced at Javier, his features hard and stern, knuckles white where he gripped the crutches. He neither backed down nor threatened with his solid stance, but she could tell he didn’t like having the low ground when it came to facing her fathers. Neither did she, if she were to admit the truth, even though she didn’t think they would attack a wounded, unarmed man without provocation. Of course, she’d never brought a lone shifter home either.
“I mean no harm to you or your family. Once I locate my car, I will gladly leave.”
“You can’t drive,” she pointed out, drawing an exasperated look from her patient and a pair of familiar fatherly glances. She took a deep breath and met each gaze. “Well, he can’t, not until his broken leg has healed enough to remove the cast. Until that happens, he’s my patient. Under my care and supervision and, therefore, protected by me.”
That earned her a raised eyebrow from Burke.
“I gave him my word.” Not exactly a promise, but that was beside the point. “I know I should’ve called first, but we’re here now. So, can I keep him? Here, I mean,” she rushed on, feeling her cheeks heat. “Just until he’s healthy enough to leave. He won’t be any trouble.” She looked at Javier for confirmation and got a dry smirk for her effort. Squaring her shoulders, she grabbed him by the elbow and faced her fathers. “I’ll make sure of it myself.”
And where do you plan to put him, daughter? Fridrik asked her telepathically, causing her to glance at Javier again to see whether he’d heard the exchange. He cannot hear us. To do so would require a blood relationship...or a mating of the lines.
Oh. She hadn’t known that limitation. Of course, Javier had been able to speak to her directly while in jaguar form as could all shifters in her family, but such abilities were limited in human form.
Burke filled the extended silence that had fallen between them as she and Fridrik conversed. “What brings you to Washington?”
“Business,” Javier said, “in Seattle.”
You haven’t answered my question, Fridrik said.
My room? She hadn’t really thought that far, but now that she did, her room was the only location that made sense. It’s the only bedroom besides yours that’s on the ground floor. He can’t be expected to navigate the stairs this soon, and it won’t hurt me to sleep on the couch for a few nights.
Fridrik frowned. Careful, daughter. He’s not as weak as he might have you believe.
“What kind of business?” Burke asked.
Javier hesitated. “Personal business.”
Burke gave a brief nod. “I see.”
I know, Dad. The sooner he heals, the sooner he can leave. She struggled against the feelings of disappointment over that thought. Opportunities to meet others of their kind were unheard of, and she wasn’t keen on the idea of rushing him out the door.
Fridrik leveled a serious look on Javier. “We will permit you shelter, shifter, while you heal. But one false move that brings injury to any member of this family, and your life is forfeit. Are we clear?”
“No one in your family is in danger of harm by my hand, so long as I have no fear of injury by you or your kin.”
Heidi sighed. “I already said you’re under my protection. That should be enough. Now, come on. Let’s get you off your feet and in bed so you can rest.”
Her fathers moved out of her way as she guided her patient into the house, but she didn’t make it through the door before Burke’s telepathic order came to her loud and clear.
She tried not to cringe.
Once he’s settled, you, young lady, have more explaining to do.
* * *
“Isabela? Where are you?” Javier stopped in the foyer with a smile on his face, his gaze lowered to the trail of rose petals on the floor.
Were they from the bouquet he and his brother had sent to the hospital? Their first anniversary was this weekend, but the brothers had decided to gift their mate with something special each day leading up to the momentous occasion. Yesterday had been a box of her favorite chocolates. Today, two dozen peach-colored roses, again her favorite.
He closed the front door and followed the fragrant petals that lead through their living room and down the hall. Soft classical melodies, his wife’s preferred music, filtered through the house. The petals continued through the master bedroom, ending at the doorway to the master bath.
His smile turned into a full-blown grin. No wonder his mate hadn’t answered his call. She couldn’t, not when his brother had her pinned against the shower’s glass wall, his tongue in her mouth as they kissed with passion.
Javier cleared his throat and heard them chuckle.
“You’re late,” Juan muttered without pulling his lips from Isabela’s. His brother’s shirt was unbuttoned but still on his shoulders, the tails pulled free of his pants, which told Javier he hadn’t arrived too long after Juan, no more than a couple of minutes at the most.
“Traffic was a bitch.” He kicked away from the doorway and closed in on the couple.
“Rough day?” Juan peppered their mate’s face with playful kisses on the nose and cheeks.
“No, the usual. Mostly training exercises.” Javier waited for his brother to come up for air. “And you?”
“Drug bust...small operation, but got three in custody, and no one was hurt.”
“Good.” Sometimes he wished his brother had chosen to reenlist in the military like he had instead of pursuing a career in law enforcement, but Juan had a stubborn streak that rivaled his own. Truth be told, both careers were inherently dangerous. Javier’s helicopter accident last year was proof enough of that.
At least they both could serve from their nation’s capitol. Being apart from his brother and mate when on a mission was bad enough; daily separation for months on end would be torture.
Isabela gave Juan a quick peck and then turned her beautiful smile on Javier. “I want to thank you for the flowers.”
He pulled her free of Juan’s embrace and eyed her skimpy peach negligee. “I want to thank you for wearing that,” he said, making her giggle as he wrapped her in his arms and pressed his lips to hers.
He loved coming home to her, kissing her, waking up beside her each morning.
To the soft beat of the instrumental music, he danced her out of the bathroom and to the bed.
His tongue dueled playfully with hers while he stripped her body of the silky fabric. He heard more than saw his brother kick off his shoes and felt Isabela’s fingers tug his zipper down.
After his pants slid down his legs, he helped her remove his shirt, sat and pulled her to stand between his thighs. Juan’s hands skimmed around her sides as Javier dipped his head to suckle from a plump breast.
She hissed softly and combed her fingers through his hair. He sucked harder, cupping her sweet ass and letting his brother cradle her breasts while he feasted.
>
Juan murmured sweet nothings to Isabela, which made Javier smile. She was perfect for them, soft, supple, a treasure he’d never dreamed possible.
Breathlessly, she said, “I—I can’t think—”
“Don’t. Just feel.” He fell back on the bed and snagged her by the hand to pull her down over him.
“But I have something to tell you both.”
“Hold that thought,” Juan said, moving behind her as she straddled Javier’s groin.
Javier smiled at Isabela, watching her expression transform as his brother entered her slowly. Her lashes drifted down. Her rosy, well-kissed lips parted, and his cock swelled. Hard and ready, he told his brother telepathically to hurry. He wouldn’t be able to wait much longer.
Just as his brother withdrew from her pussy to align his dick with her ass, she blinked at Javier as if awaking from a dream.
“I’m pregnant.”
Both brothers froze. Javier thought his heart would pound its way free of his chest. His mate had just given them the greatest gift he could ever hope for.
His cock poised at the precipice of paradise, he cupped her nape and drew her down for a tender kiss.
“Isabela.”
* * *
Having survived her fathers’ inquisition, Heidi reheated some leftover stew, paired it with dinner rolls and one of her favorite bottles of beer—which she kept hidden in the fridge so her brothers wouldn’t drink it—and went to check on her patient.
Setting the tray of food on her dresser, she approached the bed to see Javier was still asleep. Though he seemed peaceful now, he’d tossed and turned enough to kick off most of the covers.
She decided to let him rest. The meal could wait. She lifted the corner of one sheet and began to drape it over his body when he snatched her by the wrist and pulled her off-balance. With a gasp, she fell into his arms, his large hand at her nape, pressing her face toward his.
“Javier?” She pushed at the mattress, trying to squirm free without jostling his injured leg. “What are you doing?”
His eyes were closed, and his only response was to draw her down the last few inches and kiss her on the mouth.
Falke’s Renegade Page 5
