by Dena Christy
“Do you want me to perform the ultrasound, Doctor?” Rachel looked up at him, a smile in her eyes that was always there when she looked at him. He had a feeling that she liked him a little more than she should for a typical co-worker relationship. He didn’t know how to let her know that while he thought she was a nice woman, he wasn’t interested in her romantically. Maybe once it got out that he was with Hadria, he wouldn’t have to.
“That’s okay, Rachel. I’ll be doing it. I want to see my niece or nephew myself.” Nick kept his manner professional, and he ignored the slight look of disappointment on her face as she turned and left the room.
“She has the hots for you.” Samara lay down on the exam table and raised her shirt far enough to reveal the tiny curve of her belly.
“How do you know that?” Eric looked at his woman in confusion. “She said one sentence the whole time she was here. How do you know she has the hots for Nick?”
“She wasn’t exactly subtle. Her emotions were an open book to me.”
Eric looked over at him, and Nick fought the grin at his brother’s bewildered face.
“Did you know about this?” Eric asked as he elevated one eyebrow.
“Yeah, I knew. Not everyone is as dense as you when it comes to women.” Nick moved over to the exam table and sat beside it. He squirted the clear ultrasound gel on Samara’s belly and turned on the ultrasound machine.
“Well hopefully she’ll get the message that you aren’t into her once she hears about you and Hadria,” Eric said as he grabbed a chair, and pulled it over so he could sit near Samara’s head.
“What? What about Nick and Hadria?” Samara looked between him and his brother, and Nick didn’t even try to fight the smile that had been on his face for most of the morning.
“You may be adept at reading emotions sweetheart, but I’m good at reading my brother. He and Hadria did the dirty deed last night.”
“It wasn’t a dirty deed.” Nick sent a scowl his brother’s way as he picked up the wand and ran it over Samara’s belly as he studied the monitor in front of him.
“Sex is always the best when it’s dirty,” Eric said. Nick didn’t bother to look up at his brother at that comment. His eyes were on the monitor and he laughed when he heard a muffled smack. “Ow. What was that for? I’m only telling it like it is.”
“Quit giving your brother a hard time. Personally I’m very happy that he and Hadria are finally together.”
Nick manipulated the wand a little more and the blob on the screen began to take shape, showing the fuzzy indistinct form that he knew was the baby. “Look at the screen you two. Your child’s on it.”
Silence enveloped the room and Nick glanced up to see his brother and his woman gazing with rapt attention at the screen.
Nick gently moved the wand over Samara's stomach.
"Wait a minute." Nick focused intently on the screen, trying to see what he thought he was seeing.
"What is it?" Worry edged his brother's voice and Nick looked over at him to see his skin grow pale as he clutched Samara's hand.
"There isn't anything wrong, it's just that I think I see two babies."
"Two babies?” Samara asked.
Nick moved the wand and a smile broke out over his face. Yes there were definitely two babies in there.
"Congratulations, it looks like you are having twins."
"Twins?" Eric's voice had gone from worried to stunned, and Nick laughed. His brother was taking this about as well as he would if he found out he was having two babies instead of one.
"Are you sure Nick?" Samara's chimed in and Nick glanced over at her, to see a look of joy on her face.
"I'm sure. Here, I'll move the wand and you should be able to see them better."
The fuzzy outline on the screen changed, and while Nick knew exactly what he was looking at, he didn't know if they would be able to make out the form of two babies.
"I think I see them. Eric look, we're having two babies."
"Twins?" His brother's voice came out with the same disbelieving tone, and when Nick tore his eyes away from the monitor to look at him, he looked like he'd been run over by a truck.
"Don't tell me you didn't expect this? You are a twin and you should know the chances of you having twin children. Besides, a lot of wolves have multiple births. This can't be that shocking."
His brother blinked and seemed to shake himself. "I knew it wasn't unexpected. It's just that this has come out of left field for me and I'll need a minute to get used to it. Can you tell the sex?"
Nick looked back at the monitor, squinting as he tried to make out what the sex of the babies could be. “It’s too early for that. We’ll schedule Samara for another ultrasound and we’ll see then.”
Eric was silent, and Nick glanced up at him. He still had an apprehensive look on his face, and Nick could guess that he was still worried about one or both of the babies being a girl. Nick realized that the pep talk they'd had in the hallway had not done any good. Eric was still worried about having a girl. Nick sighed as he put the wand back and handed Eric a cloth to wipe the gel from Samara's stomach.
"Eric, what is it? What do you know that I don't? I can read your worry from here. Please, if you think there is something wrong with the babies you have to tell me."
Nick could see Samara's growing agitation and knew he had to nip it in the bud before she started freaking out. "Samara, please calm down. There isn't anything wrong with the babies. Eric has some concerns if one or both of the babies turns out to be girl, which can be a problem in normal wolf pregnancies. But I think we can all agree that this isn't a normal wolf pregnancy. You survived the change because of your demon blood, and as I told Eric earlier, I think your strength will be with your daughter as well. You will be carefully monitored through out your pregnancy and I promise you that I will do my best to make sure that nothing happens to you or your children."
Samara slowly let out her breath, and the tension eased out of her shoulders. She seemed to be taking this much better than his brother had.
“I didn’t think I’d survive the change and I did. I trust you Nick. I know you won’t let anything happen to our babies if you can do anything about it.”
Nick ushered them out of the exam room and bid them goodbye. He hoped that if Samara was having a girl, that it was within his power to keep his little niece safe. This family had lost too many girls as it was, his mother had been devastated with each stillborn girl she’d had. He would do everything in his power to make sure that Samara never experienced the same devastation.
***
Nick wanted to bash his head against his desk. He’d finished examining his brother Rowan, and while his vitals were normal and there appeared to be no reoccurrence of the virus, he was worried over his brother’s mental state.
“How much do you remember from before your coma?”
“Not much. I remember getting injected with the formula, and I remember the times when I was relatively normal, but as far as anything I did when I was feral I don’t remember.” Rowan spoke as if he had no interest in their topic of conversation, and spent most of the time in Nick’s office staring out the window. “Why do you go to MacDonald Park?” Nick wanted to break past that impassive look on his brother’s face. He didn’t know what he could say to him to get through to him and let him help.
Rowan glanced at him sharply. “How do you know I go there?”
“Eric told me. He followed you one night.” “Oh, so Eric is spying on me?” Rowan’s voice sharpened, and for a moment Nick was hopeful that he was getting through to him. His brother slammed his hands down on Nick’s desk and he stood up. “I’m done. You want to play psychiatrist, that’s fine but I’m out of here.”
Rowan stood and marched to the door, yanking it open. Hadria stood on the other side and drew back in surprise.
“Rowan, wait. We’re worried about you. Let us help you.” Nick came around his desk and rushed to his office door.
His brother d
idn’t turn, didn’t acknowledge a word he said, he simply stepped around Hadria and strode down the hall. Nick raked his fingers through his hair and blew out a frustrated breath. He tried to summon a smile for Hadria when she stepped into his office and shut the door. He couldn't manage it, his worry for his brother was too overwhelming for him to pretend he was fine.
“I won’t ask how it’s going, since I can see that things aren’t going at all well. Do you want to talk about it?” She smoothed the hair away from his face. Nick let out a breath and rested his head against her forehead as he slipped an arm around her waist. He kissed her softly on the mouth, before straightening with his arms still around her.
“I don’t know how to reach him. He’s growing more and more distant and I don’t know what to do to stop it.”
“He’ll come around when he’s ready. Does he remember anything at all?” Nick tightened his arm and drew her over to his desk chair and pulled her down on to his lap. She slipped her arms around his neck, resting her head on his shoulder.
“He says he doesn’t.” Nick pressed his lips against her forehead. He could feel the tension easing out of his body, and knew it was her doing. With her he didn’t have to put on the strong, brave front that he did in front of his brothers. She didn’t expect him to know everything, to be able to take care of everything, and it was such a relief to just let his worries out.
“Do you believe him?”
“I want to, but I think he’s hiding something. Why would he be going to the park all the time? Why would he get so angry when I mentioned it if he didn’t have something to hide?” Nick inhaled the clean floral scent of her hair and closed his eyes.
“I don’t know. When he’s ready to talk about, he will. Just give him some time. Maybe he’s trying to sort it all out in his head. It can’t be easy to go through something like that.” Hadria said as she stroked the curve of his bicep. Nick tightened his hold on her, drawing comfort from her.
“I just want to help him,” he said his voice low as he reacted his head on the top of her and the silk of her hair caressed his cheek.
“And I’m sure deep down he knows that, but you have to wait until he’s ready. You can’t force it, otherwise you’ll push him away. Now why don’t you stop worrying about it for now, and take me home? You’re finished for the day aren’t you?” She sat up and kissed him. “We could go for a run, grab something to eat and then... ”
“And then?” A grin curved his mouth when he thought about what she might want to do after.
“Then we could go to bed and I can make you forget everything, even your own name. Would you like that?” She dragged her lips across his cheek, until she came to his ear. She took the lobe between her lips and suckled. Nick closed his eyes with a groan, and when she wiggled her hips on his growing erection he thought he would explode. He pulled her back and kissed her mouth like a man in the desert with his last drink of water. He wanted her now, here, on his desk. He didn’t give a damn if they could be interrupted.
“Nick. Stop.”
“I don’t want to stop. I can’t wait to get home to have you,” Nick said as he pulled back and put his hands on the hem of her T-shirt. She placed her hands on his and forced them to stop.
“Nick you have to stop.”
Nick looked at her and noticed her eyes darting toward the door. He looked at the doorway and saw a pale looking Rachel standing there. He cleared his throat and slowly eased Hadria off his lap.
“Rachel, was there something I can help you with?” Nick asked, choosing to remain seated behind his desk. They’d already given Rachel a show and there was no need to give her an even bigger one.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I’ll just... ” Rachel turned on her heel and fled down the hall. Nick regretted that she’d seen him and Hadria together like this, but perhaps this was for the best. Rachel needed to know that there was no chance for her attraction to him to come of anything.
“Are you going to go after her?” Hadria asked as she smoothed her hands over the rumpled hem of her top.
“No,” Nick said as he shook his head and stood. “There isn’t anything I could say to her at this point that seeing us together didn’t already tell her.”
“She has a crush on you, doesn’t she?” Hadria said as comprehension dawned on her face. She looked out the door where Rachel had fled, a look of compassion coming into her eyes.
“I’m afraid so. I didn’t even really notice it until today. I’ve been too wrapped up in thinking about you all the time to notice much else going on around me. Why don’t we forget about Rachel, and get out of here.”
“Good idea. We can finish where we left off once we get home.”
As Nick took her hand and led her from the office, he couldn’t help the smile that broke out across his mouth. More than once during their conversation she’d referred to his place as home, and he took that as a very positive sign.
***
Hadria put the finishing touches on the casserole she’d made for dinner and slid it into the oven. The phone rang and after a moment’s hesitation she picked it up.
“Did Nick tell you our wonderful news?” Samara’s excited voice came through the phone and Hadria smiled as she settled back against the counter.
“No he didn’t. What’s up?”
“We had our ultrasound today and we’re having twins. Eric is determined to worry, but I couldn't be happier.”
“That’s great sweetheart.” Hadria forced a smile on her face, and hoped it reached her voice. She stared out the window and didn’t register what Samara said next. She was happy for her daughter, but there was a slight twinge of something she couldn’t define in her gut. At first she thought her feelings were caused by Samara needing her less, but now she wasn’t so sure.
“Are you still there?”
Samara’s voice jolted Hadria back to the present and she tightened her hand on the phone.
“Yes I’m here, honey. I think it’s wonderful news,” Hadria said, her voice softening as the news that she would be having two grandchildren sunk in. A genuine smile broke out across her face.
“It is great. I’m a little hurt though that you didn’t tell me you’re wonderful news.”
“What news would that be?”
“The news about you and Nick. The fact that you two are lovers now. It’s not that I wanted to know the dirty details or anything, but you could have shared it with me.”
“How did you know? Did Nick tell you?” Hadria bit her lip. She didn’t really like the idea of Nick discussing the intimate details of their life.
“Of course Nick didn’t say anything. He’s as closed mouth about this sort of stuff as you are. Eric guessed, based on the grin Nick’s been wearing on his face all day. So it is true then?”
“Yes it is,” Hadria said, not seeing any point in trying to pretend that she and Nick weren’t together.
“And how do you feel about it?”
“To be honest, a little weird. We’ve been friends for so long that I always thought if we did get together it would be awkward afterward, but it wasn’t. I don’t know where things are headed, but I’m happy for now.”
“Happy for now? That doesn’t sound very encouraging,” Samara said with a chiding tone in her voice.
Hadria concentrated on exhaling as she forced herself to relax. She took a moment to think carefully about what she was going to say next.
“Samara, I’m just taking things one day at a time. I don’t want to rush into anything right now,” Hadria said her tone firm. She really didn’t want to get into this with Samara.
“You still think that Nick will betray you, that’s why you’re holding back.”
“I’m not holding back.” Hadria cradled the phone against her shoulder as she folded her arms across her chest. “For once in my life I want to have a normal relationship with someone, and you’re accusing me of holding back? Nick and I have been friends for years, and now we’re lovers. That’s going to take some
time to adjust to. Why can’t you just be happy with things as they are? Why are you pushing me for more?”
Silence greeted Hadria on the other end of the phone. She realized that she’d completely lost the thread of her conversation with Samara and now she was arguing with someone completely different.
“I’m going to let you go. I’ll talk to you later.” Hadria said, and she didn’t wait for Samara to make a reply, she simply hung up the phone. She stared at it for a moment, before turning around, to see Nick standing in the doorway. The concerned look on his face told her that he’d been standing there for a while.
“You want to talk about it?” He walked to her and pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear.
Hadria’s chin came up as she clenched her jaw. She was tired of talking. It wasn’t what she wanted, wasn’t what she needed right now. “You know what? I don’t want to talk. I don’t want to rehash everything. Why don’t we leave things the way they are?”
“So what do you want to do?” Nick asked his voice calm. He stood relaxed before her, close enough to touch but making no move toward her. She looked at him and the urge to throw herself at him threatened to swamp her.
“I want to fuck you.” She grabbed his shirt, went up on her toes and kissed him, hard. She didn’t want tenderness, didn’t want gentle, and her kiss was none of those things. She devoured him, her tongue stabbing inside his mouth as she drove her fingers through his hair. It didn’t take long for the spark to ignite in him, and a growl rumbled in his chest as he kissed her back with a ferociousness that he’d never shown her before.
He backed her up until the edge of the kitchen table bit into the jean covered flesh of her bottom. His hands found the neck of her T-shirt, and her excitement increased tenfold when she heard the fabric tear under his hands. He pushed the bra up over her breast, spilling them free. His mouth tore away from hers and latched onto one of her nipples. Her head arched back, a low moan escaping her. He continued to suck as his hands found the waistband of her jeans.
He broke contact when she pulled his shirt over his head. Her tongue danced over the smooth golden skin covering his well muscled chest. She found his nipple just as his hand dived into her open pants and beneath her underwear. His fingers moved slickly over her flesh, and when he slipped a finger inside her, she sobbed against his chest.
