by Lynn Hagen
But when he met up with Viktor again, Reese planed on ending the sick son of a bitch.
* * * *
“What do you mean you walked away?” Ingmar bellowed through the phone. “How hard is it to kill one lousy vampire?”
“He had help,” Viktor said. “Apparently Jude has mated, and the rhino shifter isn’t easy to take down.”
Viktor recalled the fight a decade earlier. Reese had been a beast and had nearly defeated him. But it seemed time had softened the guy. It was still one of Viktor’s regrets that he’d mistakenly killed Thomas instead, although he’d used that mistake to offset Reese earlier tonight.
Viktor killed those he was contracted to kill. He never let innocents get involved. Thomas had been a mistake that still weighed heavy on Viktor’s conscience.
Ingmar snorted. “I thought you were the best of the best. Clearly your reputation has been inflated. I’m not paying you to run, Viktor. I’m paying you top dollar to kill the little prick who killed your father. If you ask me, this should have been free considering the circumstances.”
Viktor ground his teeth. True, Ingmar was paying him well, but he didn’t like being taunted by someone who used others to do his dirty work. Ingmar was a sniveling bastard, not fit to lead a coven.
But Viktor kept those thoughts to himself. Maybe when his contract was fulfilled, he’d end Ingmar for free.
He also knew Jude’s mother had added to the pot. He’d never met a more bloodthirsty woman. She wanted Jude dead more than Ingmar did.
“The contract will be taken care of,” Viktor said. “And taunt me again and I’ll come after you next.”
Viktor hung up before Ingmar had a chance to respond. He would rest after the wounds he had suffered at the rhino’s hands. Viktor would allow Jude and Reese time to relax and let their guard down. Then he would strike and fulfill his contract.
* * * *
Jude was wide awake and sitting up as he listened to the noises throughout the Den. There was loud music and what sounded like explosions. When he’d asked Dr. Sheehan about it, he said some of the mates were playing video games.
An hour after Jude had risen, Reese finally woke up. Jude hadn’t disturbed his mate. For one, Reese had needed the rest. Two, Jude still felt guilt ridden that it had been Viktor who had killed Thomas.
He hadn’t been ready to face Reese. But now his mate was wide-awake and looking up at him.
“How do you feel?” Reese asked.
“Better.”
Reese stood and stretched, and Jude’s gaze zeroed in on the patch of skin just above his waistband where his shirt had ridden up. He placed his hands over his lap to hide the fact his cock had gotten hard. What Jude wouldn’t give to lick that delicious exposed skin.
His mate kissed him on the forehead as though Jude were five. “I’m gonna use the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”
As soon as Reese was gone, Dr. Sheehan appeared. “Please tell me I can go home today.”
The doctor gave him a knowing smile. “I’d put off having sex for a few days and nothing strenuous when you two go all aggressive cuddling on each other.”
Jude felt his entire body blush as he looked toward the bathroom door.
The doctor sat on the side of the bed and folded his arms over his thighs as Jude looked his way. “It seems this pregnancy is very delicate for you. I don’t want to take any chances. You still have a little under two months to go, Jude. Promise me you’ll take it easy and get plenty of bed rest.”
Jude nodded, hearing the doctor, but his attention was pulled back to the bathroom door as he waited for Reese to emerge. Had his mate really forgiven him for having such a twisted cousin? Last night it had seemed like the end of the world. Jude never wanted to experience that level of pain and despair again.
Dr. Sheehan patted his leg. “I’ll send you two home, but heed my warning, Jude.”
Jude dragged his gaze to the doctor. “I will.”
“Give it three days before you two have sex. I’ll grab Carter so he can take you guys home.” The doctor walked out, and Reese came out of the bathroom.
Reese leaned his hips against the counter and folded his arms over his chest. “I heard, and we’re gonna take his warning seriously. I’m not gonna jeopardize your health or the health of our baby just to get laid.”
Reese’s statement was like having a bucket of ice water dumped over Jude’s head. His mate and the doctor were right, but that didn’t stop Jude from wanting Reese in the worst way.
“Fine,” Jude said as he sighed. “No sex for three days.”
That might not have seemed like a lot of time, but for Jude and his hard cock, it would feel like an eternity.
Chapter Nine
“Ari Bjord.” Moose clasped hands with his old friend, but careful of Ari’s thin hand. “I’m glad you could make it.”
“Thank you for inviting me.” Ari looked around the police station. “Quite the intimidating place.”
“Not for you.” Moose led Ari to Grayson’s office. “My mate is out on a call. To be exact, he’s really on a coffee run. He should be back any minute.”
It had been about five years since Moose had last seen Ari, and the lithe man still looked the same. Dark hair, black-rimmed glasses, and the palest blue eyes Moose had ever seen. The human was on the thin side, too.
Ari had delicate features, too. Like a lady’s, but not. His hands were slim and dainty but, from what Moose recalled, very capable.
The doctor took a seat in one of the chairs lining the wall. “So, from my understanding, you want me to buy into Dr. Cormack’s practice?” he asked. “Does this doctor know about me, or are we springing this on him?”
Moose dropped into the chair next to Ari’s. “That’s where Grayson comes in,” he said. “My mate has all the details. He just asked me to find a qualified person, and as I remember, you’re the best at what you do.”
Ari blushed as he smoothed his hands down his pant legs. He seemed a bit nervous and timid. “I am a certified doctor of practical medicine but trained alongside a very skilled man who knew preternatural anatomy inside and out. He taught me everything I know about your kind.” Ari’s brows dipped. “You told me that a male vampire is pregnant and that his pregnancy is tricky?”
Moose liked Dr. Sheehan plenty, but he knew Nicholas was overworked. Maverick had been right when he’d said that Maple Grove needed their own doctor to care for nonhumans. He just hoped Ari was up for the task.
“I have the number of the doctor who has been treating Jude Pearson. You guys can compare notes, and he can bring you up to speed. Have you ever treated a pregnant male before?”
Ari nodded as he pushed the bridge of his glasses up his nose. “In Prague and then in Ireland. But both were shifters. This will be my first vampire pregnancy.” He patted Moose’s hand. The size difference in their hands was noticeable. “But rest assured, I’m quite capable of handling Jude’s case.”
“You must be Dr. Bjord,” Grayson said when he entered the office. He extended his hand, and Ari shook it. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Same,” Ari said. “Moose tells me you have the details, and I’d like to hear them before I decided to uproot my life.”
“Of course.” Grayson took a seat behind his desk but not before handing Moose his coffee.
It was lunchtime, and Moose had planned on getting a nooner, until he’d received the call from Ari telling Moose that he was in town and wanted to meet.
But that didn’t stop Moose from molesting Grayson with his eyes, and from the way his mate was looking at him, the sheriff had the same thing on his mind.
“Some things have changed,” Grayson said as he sat forward in his chair. “Dr. Cormack has decided to sell his practice and retire instead of taking you on as a partner. He and his wife have been waiting a long time for this day, and I told him I knew someone who wanted to buy the business.”
“A little presumptuous,” Ari said. “I would have to see the clinic
and pore over his financial records. I’m not in the business of making hasty decisions.”
Grayson shot Moose a curious look. From the conversation Moose had had on the phone with Ari, his friend had made it clear he was looking for a change. Why was he backpedaling now that he had made it to town?
“Moose, why don’t you take your friend to see Dr. Cormack?” Grayson asked.
“Yeah, sure. Ari, why don’t you follow me?” Moose got up and led his friend outside. As soon as they were alone, Moose turned toward Ari. “What gives? You made me look like an idiot in front of my mate, Ari. You assured me over the phone that you wanted this, and now you’re not so sure?”
“Things are never that simple,” Ari argued. “Now that I’m here…” He gazed down the street as he rubbed the back of his neck.
“Look.” Moose laid a hand on Ari’s slim shoulder. “I know what happened back then. Hard choices were made. You stayed, and I don’t blame you for that. But you’ve decided to leave, and I’m proud of you for that decision. Don’t go second-guessing yourself now. Olin was a real bastard who didn’t deserve someone like—”
Ari held up his hand. “I don’t want to talk about that right now. Can we please go to the clinic?”
With a frustrated sigh, Moose led Ari to the parking lot.
* * * *
It had been six weeks since Viktor had attacked Reese behind the tavern, and every day Jude worried that Viktor would return to finish what he’d started.
But so far, nothing. Not a single peep from Viktor, and that set Jude on edge. His cousin was ruthless and calculating. Knowing Viktor, he was waiting for Jude and Reese to get comfortable, to let their guard down before he attacked.
“Do you have to eat that now?” Jude asked.
“What?” Aiden asked. “You don’t like burgers?”
He gave the bear shifter a daft look. “I don’t eat food, and that smell is making me want to dry heave.”
Jude shifted on the couch. His stomach was as big as a beach ball, and his back was killing him. Not to mention how swollen his ankles were. He just wanted this pregnancy over with.
“Don’t push your luck, or I’ll tell Reese you got out of bed,” Aiden warned. “I’m starving, and this burger is delicious.”
“Don’t you have a home to go to?” Jude stretched out on the couch, tucking his feet behind Aiden’s back. His calves hurt, and Jude hoped stretching them helped.
It didn’t.
Aiden rolled his eyes. “Do you mind?”
“What?” Jude asked. “This is comfortable for me. Don’t like my feet on you?”
Aiden waved the burger under Jude’s nose, which made Jude gag. “Two can play at that game,” Aiden said. “Now move your feet if you want to keep your toes.”
And this was how Jude and Aiden’s relationship had been for the past two months. Getting on each other’s damn nerves. To be fair, Aiden was a nice guy who helped Jude out a lot. It was just fun needling each other.
Jude lifted his foot and wiggled his toes in Aiden’s face. “Smell them.”
Aiden knocked Jude’s foot away. “Stop being so nasty. Feet are ugly.”
“Mine aren’t.”
They were just swollen.
Jude gasped and reached for his calf. Muscle cramp.
“What’s wrong?” Aiden looked panicked as he stared wide-eyed at Jude. “Stomach pains? Should I get ahold of Reese?”
“No. A charley horse.” Jude hissed as he tried to massage the muscle, but his stomach was in the way. Too bad he couldn’t detach his belly and put it someplace safe until the baby was ready to be born. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
Aiden eyed him then set his plate aside. “That bad?”
“Hurts,” Jude whimpered.
With a wary expression, Aiden grabbed Jude’s leg and set it on his thighs. “If Reese kills me, it’ll be all your fault.” He massaged Jude’s calf.
“That hurts!” Jude slapped at Aiden. “Not so rough.”
“I’m not being rough,” Aiden argued. “And don’t go bitching about a free massage. A lot of people pay for this kind of shit. I’m giving it to you for free.”
“How?” Jude asked. “You’re digging your fingers in, you Neanderthal.”
But Jude had to admit Aiden knew what he was doing. The contracting muscle began to relax, making Jude sigh in relief.
“See, I told you I wasn’t being rough,” Aiden said. “Just chill and let me work my magic.”
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Jude nearly jumped off the couch at the sound of Reese’s angry voice, but Aiden had a tight hold on Jude’s leg and wouldn’t let it go. Was the bear shifter suicidal?
“Your magic?” Reese came from around the couch, glaring daggers at Aiden. “Please don’t tell me I have to kill you.”
Aiden kept massage Jude’s leg as though Reese wasn’t standing there ready to gut him.
“Chill,” Aiden said. “He had a cramp, and you weren’t here. What was I supposed to do, let him suffer?”
“Stop it,” Jude said in a low hiss to Aiden as he batted at his hands. “You’re trying to get us both killed.”
With a roll of his eyes, Aiden let Jude’s leg go. “Fine, suffer. I’m gonna go have my last meal in the kitchen before Reese buries my body.”
“But you just ate,” Jude said. He didn’t want Aiden returning with another foul-smelling burger.
Reese scowled at Aiden as the shifter passed him then looked down at Jude.
Jude held up his hands. “I told him to leave me alone, but he insisted on torturing me.”
“Liar!” Aiden shouted from the kitchen.
Reese dropped onto the spot Aiden had just vacated. He pulled Jude’s leg onto his lap and picked up where Aiden had left off. With Aiden, Jude had wanted to kick the guy for being too rough. But with Reese, his touch was light, soothing, and made Jude sink farther into the couch as his eyes rolled to the back of his head.
“You’re the one with magic fingers,” he said. “Please don’t stop.”
“You’re not supposed to be out of bed.” Reese’s hand moved farther up Jude’s leg, and Jude was getting hard.
“You try staying in bed all the time. You’d go stir-crazy, just like I am. It’s just the couch,” Jude argued. “I was bored out of my mind.”
“And you’ve been experiencing dizzy spells,” Reese countered. “I don’t want you walking. You could’ve fallen.”
Jude turned and crawled his way to his mate. He had a difficult time straddling Reese’s lap but finally succeeded, though there was a large bump between them.
Reese placed his hands on Jude’s hips. “I like that you and Aiden are getting along, but if I catch his hands on you again, I will bury his body in the backyard.”
“I just love it when you get all jealous. It turns me on.” Jude curled his arms around Reese’s neck. He was horny, and the last time they’d had sex was weeks ago. Reese had taken the doctor’s warning too damn seriously. It was as if his mate was afraid to touch him. And when they did have sex, Reese was so damn gentle and careful that Jude wanted to knock him over the head.
Reese gave him a chaste kiss. “You need your rest.”
“I need to get laid,” Jude countered. “I have needs, you know.”
He kissed along Reese’s jaw, nipping his skin. Reese sighed as if he was enjoying what Jude was doing, then he gently grabbed Jude’s upper arms and set him aside.
“I’m taking you to bed.”
Jude glared at him. “If you take me to bed, you better fuck me.”
“Jude.”
“Don’t you Jude me,” he snapped. “I’m not made of glass. I won’t break if you shove your dick in my ass.”
He heard Aiden cough in the kitchen.
“Mind your own goddamn business,” Jude shouted. “Go play in traffic.”
“I’m heading home,” Aiden replied before Jude heard the back door close.
Jude wiggled his brows. “Now we’re
all alone. You better take advantage of me.”
Reese pressed his hands against Jude’s face. “There’s nothing more that I want, but you heard the doctor.”
“He said we couldn’t have sex for three days, and then we were fine after that,” Jude argued. “It’s been six weeks, and I’m so horny that it will be your body that’s buried if you don’t screw me.”
Reese got up, keeping a tight hold of Jude as he walked them to the bedroom. Jude feared his mate would put him to bed and leave, but he laid Jude out and then stripped naked.
Jude wanted to pump his arm and shout for joy.
Until Reese walked out of the room.
What the hell?
Jude wiggled out of his clothes. He was hard but unable to see his damn cock. If Reese didn’t return, Jude would jack off and then beat his mate over the head.
Reese came back into the room, and all Jude could do was stare at his impressive body. Corded thighs, ripped abs, slim waist, muscled chest. Jude was about to come just looking at him.
“Slow,” Reese warned. “And I do all the work.”
Jude would let him think that, but he planned on participating. No way could he lie still while Reese fucked him. That just wasn’t in Jude’s genetic makeup. “Fine, but you didn’t have to make it sound like we were moving furniture.”
Reese smiled. “Sorry.”
Jude liked that his mate seemed embarrassed as he crawled into bed next to him. Jude could smell Reese’s minty fresh breath, which meant he went to the bathroom to brush his teeth.
Jude had showered an hour before Reese had gotten home and was sure his breath smelled fine.
Reese propped his head on his hand, smiling down at Jude. Jude’s stomach fluttered as his mate traced his fingers over Jude’s naked hip. Reese lowered his head and kissed him, soft and gentle, although Jude wanted hard and fast. He was dying to shove Reese onto his back and climb atop him, but Jude knew from the last time they’d had sex that his mate wouldn’t go for it.
