Chapter 17
Kasey went home four days later. There was really no reason for her to have stayed the extra day, but Royce had insisted and the staff, whether charmed or bullied by him, had done as he’d asked. She didn’t care. She just simply didn’t care. It was where they’d taken her that pissed her off.
“I can very well stay on my own or with my uncle. In fact, I’d rather stay with him. Take me there. I have absolutely no reason to stay with you.” She’d said this same thing a total of eight times now and she knew she was wasting her breath. “I insist that you listen to me and take me back to my apartment this minute.”
“You’re very cute when you get all bossy,” Royce told her with a cocky grin. “But your uncle agrees that you shouldn’t be left alone. I’m taking a few days off and I’ll be caring for you. It’ll be fun.”
Fine, she thought, let him care for her all he wanted, but she wasn’t speaking to him. See how he liked being frustrated. She turned in the seat of his monster car and looked out the window. She just wanted to have some quiet time. She’d been denied that for the past few days and she wanted it.
She’d nearly lost her baby. She’d been so very lucky, the doctor told her, and then he’d explained what she needed to do to keep the baby and to stay healthy. She just needed to take it easy, avoid stress, and make sure that she didn’t lift anything more than ten pounds until the little guy was born. And he told her she was having a boy. She looked up when the car stopped.
The house was magnificent. Tall pillars of white graced the front of the long, open porch. There was a beautiful lace-worked railing surrounding it and she could see that someone had set several rockers around it in varying colors. The large urns were filled with bright flowers that spilled over and the floor to roof windows sparkled in the morning light. The brick façade was rich in deep-colored clay and the grout was creamy against each one. She was startled when someone picked her up out of the car and started to carry her.
“Put me down, you moron. I can walk. I was told to walk, as a matter of fact.” So much for not speaking to him, she thought. Maybe she’d just yell, that would certainly piss—
He kissed her mouth and all thoughts just flew away.
“I’m carrying you because I want to. Now hush up. I want you to take a nap. The doctor said that you’d need to rest as much as possible these first few days and you’re not to lift anything over—”
“I’m very aware what the doctor said. Even though you tried your best to make me seem like a simpleton, I heard and actually understood every word he said.” He grinned at her as he set her on the porch. “I want you to take me to my uncle’s house if you won’t let me go home. This is ridiculous for you to miss work for me.”
“No,” he said as he unlocked the door. When the door opened, he scooped her up again and took her inside. When he set her down, she turned to look around. There were several people standing there looking at them when they entered. “I want you to meet the staff. I’ve been very lucky in that I was able to get someone so quickly to help us out.
This is Mrs. Apple. She does the cooking when I’m not in the mood. This is Mrs. Jankins. She helps out around the house and she—”
“May I have a word with you?” She had to tell him that enough was enough. And as much as she wanted to scream at him again, she wouldn’t do it in front of the people who worked for him. She’d had that done to her enough to know how embarrassing it was. He picked her up again and she squealed.
“I’ll just take Miss York up to our room. If you wouldn’t mind fixing her a tray…what would you like, Kasey? They can—”
She leaned into his ear and bit him. Hard. “I want you to fucking put me down and stop carting me around like a bab—” The tears came hot and fast. She buried her face in his neck and didn’t say another word. She knew that he’d carried her up the stairs. She knew that he’d spoken to the two ladies there in the hall and the two others she’d not learned the names of. She wanted to crawl in a hole and simply lay there. The bed beneath her made her roll into a ball and weep.
She didn’t know how long it was before she fell asleep, but she woke to a semi-dark room and a warm, hard body next to her. She tried to roll away from him, knowing that it was Royce, but he pulled her back and snuggled over her breast.
Kasey lay there, her heart pounding and her body needing his. She tried again to pull away, to get up to use the bathroom, but wasn’t able to budge him.
“Royce, let me up. I have to use the bathroom.” He groaned when she punched his arm. “Royce, let go of me. I have to pee.”
He rolled and let her go, but before she could get the blanket off and stand, he was there. She wanted to tell him she was fine, but the room tilted a bit and she had to grab onto him or fall. He held her up, speaking to her in low, soothing tones. She laid her forehead on his chest.
“I have to pee.” She hated the way her voice sounded small and weak. “I just…I think I’m fine now. If you’ll just tell me where my clothes are, I’d like to take a shower too.”
“I don’t think so. Not unless you take one with me. Come on, I’ll help you to the bathroom and then we’ll get you changed.” He held her close, but he didn’t pick her up this time.
“I feel fine. I promise to take a quick one. And I won’t lock the door.” He laughed, but said nothing. “Seriously, Royce, this is stupid. I want to…I need to take a shower. I feel nasty.”
He stopped walking and she looked at him. He looked so…sad, and her heart thudded in her chest. Before she could tell him that she was sorry that she was being a pain in the ass, he kissed her gently on the mouth. Then he leaned his forehead to hers.
“I don’t…I can’t tell you how I felt when my brother called me. He was hysterical with worry that I nearly didn’t know what he was saying. He said you were screaming for your uncle. That you kept telling him that there was so much blood. He’d thought…he told me later that all he could think about was that someone had broken in and that they had hurt you. I couldn’t breathe for not knowing. I got a ticket on my way to the hospital.” He kissed her again before continuing. “I love you, Kasey. I know you find that hard to believe after what I’ve done to you, said to you, but I do. I love you so very much.”
He took her the rest of the way to the bathroom and she let him. She didn’t fuss at him when he insisted on helping her with the toothpaste, nor did she say anything when he turned the shower on. She did, however, speak up when he started to peel off his own clothes.
“I’m not taking a shower with you,” she told him as she gripped her own T-shirt over her hips. “I can’t. You have to…Royce, please don’t. I’m…I’ve had…I’m not ready for this. The doctor said no sex so I can’t take a shower with you.”
He stopped undressing and stared at her before he nodded. “Kasey, I’m not an animal. Having sex with you…well, I was going to say is the last thing on my mind, but that would be a lie. I want you with all my heart. But I’m still going to get in with you. You take care of whatever it is you need to for five minutes then I’ll get in and clean up too. I won’t…I won’t touch you unless you need me too, but honey, I’m just as nasty-feeling. I’ve not had even a sponge bath in three days and I need a shower too.”
She supposed she could have insisted that he take one after her, but she only nodded. Kasey turned her back on him while he brushed his own teeth and she hurried into the shower. She wanted to be clean in the worst way possible. She ducked her head under the shower to get her hair wet again when she heard the door open behind her.
Kasey had never had anyone wash her hair for her before. She thought maybe her mom had done it for her as a child, but no one since she’d become an adult. When Royce took the shampoo from her and started massaging it into her hair, she nearly moaned. When he told her to stand under the spray and rinse, she felt his cock brush slightly against her hip. She froze.
~~~
Royce wanted her. He wanted her in ways he didn’t understand yet, but was very happy to explore with her. But more than anything, he wanted to simply hold her. She was his world right now and he wanted her to realize that.
He knew that she’d felt his cock. He’d have to be a dead man not to want her. He wouldn’t hurt her, wouldn’t even touch her because he didn’t want to hurt her. He pulled her to his chest and held her to him.
“Royce, I can’t—”
“I know. I just want to hold you. I’m sorry if I make you feel uncomfortable like this, but Christ, woman, you’re beautiful and sexy to me.” She shook her head and he brought her mouth to his for a quick kiss. “I know sexy when I see it and you are so. Now, let’s get cleaned up so you can get back to bed. I can feel you getting a little shaky.”
The shower wasn’t what he’d hoped for when he’d thought of getting naked with her like this. He helped her wash her back and she returned the favor. By the time he got out, he was in pain, but he didn’t say anything. He wanted her to know that he wanted her in his life, not only his bed. He gave her one more of his shirts, put her into his bed, and she fell asleep within a few minutes. He kissed her on the forehead and after getting dressed himself, he left her to her quiet to call his mom.
“She’ll be fine, Royce. She just needs to rest and take it easy. It can’t be easy for her right now. Poor thing has lost so much.”
He felt tears gather in his eyes when he thought of the amount he’d taken from her all on his own. “She hasn’t said she loves me. I wonder…do you think she ever will?” He wished he knew, wished he knew that she could forgive him. “She cried again.”
He heard his mother laugh softly. “She will be doing that a lot for the next few weeks. The doctor said her body will have hormonal rushes because she’s pregnant. And honey, crying is the least of your problems. She’s going to be an emotional bouncing ball.”
“I want her to be mad at me again. Hell, I’d take her throwing something at me rather than tears. They hurt more than her punches do.” He smiled. If Kasey heard him say that, she’d probably make him regret it. “And she’s not eating much. She needs to stay healthy and she won’t be able to do that eating like a bird. I had Margo bake up some sweet stuff to tempt her.”
“You should call her uncle. I’m sure Jay knows something she really likes. Also Bobbie. Bobbie is sweet on Jay and I’m betting she knows more about that family than anyone.” He heard her say something then come back on the line. “Donald said to tempt her with a shopping spree. He said his wife will do most anything for that. And no, I did not ask him what she’d do. I believe that goes under the heading of too much information.”
Royce started to laugh. His mother was one of a kind. He did think about the shopping trip, though. She would need some clothes while she was recuperating. While he enjoyed her wearing his shirts, he wondered how practical that would be once she was up and about. He made a mental note to see about getting one of the local stores to gather some things up and bring them to her. He wondered how he’d figure out sizes when his mother spoke again.
“Now about her living there. You know I don’t really like it so you’ll either have to make more permanent arrangements with her or send her to her uncle’s. I’d actually prefer that you marry her. I like her a great deal and your brothers can’t say enough good things about her. But as before, I don’t think you should. You can’t possible think that—”
“If she’ll have me after this, I want to marry her. I’m in love with her.” She didn’t say anything for several seconds. “I am in love with her. I think I have been for some time. She certainly has no reason to love me, but I’m going to work on that.”
He realized then that he really did want her to love him. He’d been fighting with her and mostly himself for so long that he’d fallen in love with the most wonderful woman in the world. And he’d been a complete ass the entire time too.
“I should have shut up and listened to you all. But…Mom, you had it so great with Dad that I didn’t want to lose her, I think. I know what it did to you to have Dad die like he did and I didn’t…I’m an idiot.”
“Yes, you are. But you’ve finally come to your senses and have finally admitted that you’re going to love her no matter what. And, Royce, you should know that she loves you too. I think she has for some time.” He heard her clear her throat. “Do you have any idea how happy I am for you?”
“No…yes. I’m happy too. And I want her to love me, but I’m afraid that it’s going to take me some time to convince her of that.”
“Good. Then you’ll need to work faster. You’re not getting any younger and the thought of having a grandbaby just makes me all simple in the head. But don’t you dare rush her.” He laughed at his mom before she continued. “Also, let’s try very hard not to piss her off too much this time, son. And don’t think I’ve forgotten that you didn’t practice safe sex with her and that’s how you got yourself in the situation you’re in now.”
“Yes, ma’am. I know. And if she’ll let me knock her up every year for the next twenty, then who am I to turn a lovely lady down? And just for the record, I know there were only six months between your marriage and my birth.” He disconnected the call with his mother sputtering. He figured he was going to pay for that, but for now he’d live with it. His next call was to Jay. It just so happened that Bobbie was there too.
Stay Tune for Next Week Chapter 18
Books In the series
THE HUNTERS -
1 ROYCE – http://smarturl.it/royce
2 CURTIS – http://smarturl.it/curtis
3 JESSE – http://smarturl.it/jessethehunters
4 DANIEL- http://smarturl.it/danielthehunters
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Emma McBride loves working in the law firm, and hopes someday to hang out a sign that has her on name on it. But for now, she has some proving to do. By the time she is caught up for the day, it’s nearly ten o’clock. If this doesn’t help her make partner, she has no idea what will. Emma is going to her car when she hears someone coming down the lane she was in. Instead of getting in, being trapped in her car, she pulls out her gun….
Landon McBride owns the ranch next door to the Double Deuce. It is the largest ranch in the state. His health is failing and he figures it’s time to sell. Lord knows, his son Dirk isn’t fit to run the ranch, and Landon can’t think of any person better to buy it than Mason Douglas. Mason is a good man and could manage the large spread better than he could.
Mason is interested, sure, but knows he can’t afford a spread that large, and tells Landon that. Landon jokes and tells him to marry his daughter and he can have it for free. Mason isn’t amused. Although he’s never met Emma, he knows Dirk, and if the siblings are anything alike it’s not no, but Hell no.
Emma is more embarrassed than she is hurting, but the entanglement with those men did a number on her body―she hurts everywhere. Recuperating at her parent’s ranch seems like the logical thing to do, but with her brother showing his ass and getting kicked out, she’s wondering if she’s not better off in her apartment in the city. But when the man next door shows up and shifts into an angry cougar, all bets are off.
The scent, the fear, and the smell of Emma is making Mason’s cat wild. He knows that he is scaring her—hell, he is scared himself…. He growls low, “She’s my mate. And hurt.”
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Leonard Earl wants no part of Rembrandt’s rag tag team of saviors. Before the cancer he’d been happy teaching children. But when the mysterious man in black shows up in his hospital room and heals him, he has no choice but to join the group. No one says he has to like it.
Jamey has been on her own awhile. It doesn’t take her long to figure out she is different, and that the malefactors can’t change her into one of them. Since the malefactors have taken over her town, she spends her days picking them off with her bow and arrows, or delivering food and water to the remaining survivors.
Jamey’s body is also a “host” to a dragon that has been with her for as long as she can remember. He protects her and keeps her safe…. The dragon is leading Jamey to the man he is destined to transfer to. He tells her together they will balance. Jamey is willing to take the dragon wherever he needs to go, but the man she wants no part of…. She will miss her friend.
Leo is none too happy to find out that Jamey is bringing the dragon to him and the discovery that she is his mate. He’s already had a woman break his heart and wants no part of this mate business. He takes the dragon to save her life, but that’s where it ends…or does it?
The malefactors are increasing in number and they need to stand together to defeat them. Jamey sees her chance and takes it to defeat their enemy. Will Leo make the ultimate sacrifice to save her? Find out in the next installment of Blood Brotherhood―Leonard.
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Leonard Earl wants no part of Rembrandt’s rag tag team of saviors. Before the cancer he’d been happy teaching children. But when the mysterious man in black shows up in his hospital room and heals him, he has no choice but to join the group. No one says he has to like it.
Jamey has been on her own awhile. It doesn’t take her long to figure out she is different, and that the malefactors can’t change her into one of them. Since the malefactors have taken over her town, she spends her days picking them off with her bow and arrows, or delivering food and water to the remaining survivors.
Jamey’s body is also a “host” to a dragon that has been with her for as long as she can remember. He protects her and keeps her safe…. The dragon is leading Jamey to the man he is destined to transfer to. He tells her together they will balance. Jamey is willing to take the dragon wherever he needs to go, but the man she wants no part of…. She will miss her friend.
Leo is none too happy to find out that Jamey is bringing the dragon to him and the discovery that she is his mate. He’s already had a woman break his heart and wants no part of this mate business. He takes the dragon to save her life, but that’s where it ends…or does it?
The malefactors are increasing in number and they need to stand together to defeat them. Jamey sees her chance and takes it to defeat their enemy. Will Leo make the ultimate sacrifice to save her? Find out in the next installment of Blood Brotherhood―Leonard.
