Slade Read online

  He chuckled. “I won’t. I’ll just stay where I am right now. Between the frequent sex and the swelling afterward, I’ll be locked into you all the time. I could hold you this way forever.”

  “I have to eat sometime.”

  He laughed. “I won’t starve you.”

  “Good to know.”

  “You’re going to need your strength.”

  Slade held his Trisha until her body started to sag and he realized she was about to drift off to sleep. The swelling at the base of his shaft had receded. He adjusted his hold on her and carefully lifted her off his lap and onto her side. Her blue eyes met his and she smiled softly at him.

  Emotions nearly choked him, making him unable to speak. She was so beautiful to him and so fragile. She carried his child within her womb. That fact still stunned and humbled him. She’d given him the ultimate gift. She’d given him her body and a future with her. His lips curved into a smile and he cleared his throat.

  “I’ll turn off the light. You need plenty of rest, Doc.”

  “Trisha.” Her lips pouted slightly with irritation.

  “Sorry, Trisha.” He grinned. “Old habits die hard and in my defense, I’m no longer inside you.”

  “You’ll use my name while you’re in my bed unless you want to sleep on the floor.”

  “Fair enough.” Amusement and happiness mingled inside Slade. She’d taken him back, forgiven him, and he wasn’t sure he deserved it. He’d made a mess of things. Good intentions aside, he regretted his choices. “I’ll turn off the light and we’ll sleep.”

  She would have said something to him but instead, when her lips parted, a yawn came out. He turned off the light and reached for his woman. He pulled her lush body against his own, his arm wrapped around her waist and he spooned her from behind. He couldn’t get close enough to her, didn’t want even an inch of space between their bodies, and she willingly allowed him to settle them onto their sides.

  “I really missed you,” he confessed softly against her shoulder where he tucked his chin, breathing in her scent. “I thought about you constantly.”

  “I missed you too and couldn’t get you out of my head. I hated it after you abandoned me.”

  He inwardly winced at the painful tone of her voice. “I’m sorry, sweet thing. It won’t happen again. I swear that to you on my life. I made a stupid decision but it won’t happen again. I’ve smartened up.”

  She lay still in his arms for long moments. “Are you okay about the baby?”

  The uncertainty laced in her voice stung. He’d done this to her, made her question the bond between them. “I’m thrilled.”

  “I am too but I’m scared.”

  “I’ll protect you.” A flash of anger shot through him at the thought of her being in danger. “No one will hurt you. They will die if they try.”

  Her small hand gripped his arm that was around her waist, her fingers tracing his skin. “That’s not what I’m afraid of. What if something goes wrong with the baby? Ever since I saw it on the ultrasound I knew I wanted it, Slade. There’s so much that could happen. I’m a doctor. I know that—”

  “It will be fine.” He cut her off. “It’s our baby, a miracle, and life has been too cruel to me as it is. I refuse to lose you or our child. Fate has to give us a break.”

  Her silence worried him but then she sighed. “Happy thoughts?”

  He nuzzled her neck. “Yes. Happy thoughts, Trisha. We’re together and that’s what matters.”

  He knew when she drifted to sleep. Her breathing changed and her fingers stilled on his skin. He pulled her a little tighter against his body, careful not to crush her, but wanted to wrap around her more. The woman inside his arms meant life to him…and death. He’d do anything to be with her and he’d kill anyone who attempted to come between them.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “No,” Slade growled. His eyes flashed his anger. “I’ll stay and protect her. You go do my job at the construction site.”

  Brass growled back. “I will not deal with all those humans.”

  Trisha shook her head at the two men who were about to come to blows again. She sighed. “Boys? Could we please not have a fight inside the living room? We already lost a coffee table and I’m partial to the couch because it’s comfortable.”

  “Give it up.” Harley chuckled. “They are so going to fight.”

  Moon had his arms crossed over his chest, looking bored. He nodded at Trisha.

  “Want popcorn?” Harley headed for the kitchen. “I love to eat it when I watch a good fight.”

  “I’ll take some,” Moon grunted.

  “Stop it,” Trisha sighed. “There will be no fistfights in the living room. At least take it outside to the yard if you two are determined to beat each other up. Slade? Do you hear me? Brass? Come on, guys. No fighting inside the cabin.”

  Slade’s gaze shifted to Trisha. “I am not leaving you. Tell him to go deal with Justice’s projects. He can handle ordering a bunch of humans to build things on time as good as I can. They respond well when we snarl and show teeth. It motivates them to work faster to get away from us.”

  Brass cursed. “I have no idea what projects need to be done. All I said was that you can leave to do your job during the day and I told you that you can stay with her at night.”

  “She’s mine,” Slade growled. “You’re telling me when I can spend time with her? Don’t even try it. You have no say when it comes to my woman.”

  “I’m telling you that I can take care of her while you are at work. You have a job, remember? She doesn’t need four of us sitting here watching her. She’s safe in the wild zone. Valiant promised to talk to the others and that she would be protected by all of them. He assured me no humans would come near her.”

  Slade didn’t appear convinced. “Do you need me to show you who can protect her better? Do you want me to wipe the ground with you again?”

  “Enough!” Trisha yelled, finally losing her temper. She realized they weren’t exactly normal men but their dominating nature started to irritate her. She glared at Slade. “You, stop beating your chest and threatening my friends.” Her attention fixed on Brass next. “And you, stop baiting him.” She sighed, lowering her voice as she stared at Slade. “You do have a job to do and I’m fine here. I don’t see why you can’t go to work and come home to me at the end of the day.”

  “Fine,” Slade snarled. “Choose your friend over me.” He stomped to the door.

  “Slade? Stop thinking that way,” Trisha groaned. “That’s not it. Please just―”

  Slade spun when he reached the door. “I will see you tonight.”

  He stormed out and slammed the door. Trisha walked to the couch and threw herself down, cursing softly. She sensed three pairs of eyes on her and she looked back at each of them.

  “Why did him saying that sound as if it were a threat?”

  Moon grinned at Trisha. “Because it was.”

  “Yeah,” Harley agreed. “You’re going to get it tonight.” He removed the popcorn from the microwave. “But I doubt he’d let us watch whatever it is he will be plotting to do to you to get even. I do enjoying watching porn movies though. I’m betting that it would be a good show. Too bad.”

  “Porn?” Trisha sputtered, shooting Harley a glare. “That’s not funny.”

  “He won’t hurt you but…” Moon winked at her. “I bet he’s going to think up something good to do to you. He’ll want to convince you to pick him next time if there’s an issue of you choosing.”

  She frowned. “What does that mean?”

  Brass laughed. “We are aggressive and competitive. It’s our nature. He’s going to probably do something that soothes his pride.”

  “His pride? I wasn’t picking you over him. What do you think he’s planning? Come on, guys. I’m a doctor for goodness sake. Stop talking in riddles. What do you think he’s going to do to me?”

  “My guess?” Moon grinned. “He’s going to turn you on until he makes you beg him