Lover Unleashed - Дж.Р.Уорд 12 стр.


Except . . . the only thing worse would be his not coming back from that dark side of himself. And killing his sister? Well, that was an express train right into that part of his neighborhood, wasnt it.

The hand of her patient found her own. Help me, Jane. Help me. . . .

As Vishous left the nightly meeting with the Brotherhood and headed for the training centers clinic, he was feeling more like himselfand not in a bad way. The sex with his shellan had been mission critical for them both, a kind of reboot that hadnt just been physical.

God, it had felt good to be back with his female. Yeah, sure, there were problems still waiting for him . . . and, well, shit, the closer he got to the clinic, the more the mantle of stress returned, hitting his shoulders like a pair of cars: He had seen his sister at the beginning of every evening and then again at dawn. For the first few days, there had been a lot of hope, but now . . . that had mostly passed.

Whatever, though. She needed to get out of that room, and that was what he was going to do tonight. He was off rotation, and he was going to take her to the mansion and show her there was something other than that white cage of a recovery room to live for.

She wasnt getting better physically.

So the mental was going to have to carry her through. It just had to.

Bottom line? He was not prepared to lose her now. Yeah, hed been around her for a week, but that didnt mean he knew her any better than he had when this had all startedand he was thinking they both needed each other. No one else was the offspring of that goddamn deity mother of theirs, and maybe together they could sort out the crap that came with their birthright. For shits sake, it wasnt like there was a twelve-step for being the Scribe Virgins kid:

Hi, Im Vishous. Im her son and Ive been her son for three hundred years.

HI, VISHOUS.

Shes done a head job on me again, and Im trying not to go to the Other Side and scream bloody murder at her.

WE UNDERSTAND, VISHOUS.

And on the bloody note, Id like to dig up my father and kill him all over again, but I cant. So Im just going to try to keep my sister alive even though shes paralyzed, and attempt to fight the urge to find some pain so I can deal with this Payne.

YOURE A STRAIGHT-UP PUSSY, VISHOUS, BUT WE SUPPORT YOUR SORRY ASS.

Pushing his way out of the tunnel and into the office, he crossed over to the glass door and then strode down the corridor. As he went by the workout room, someone was running like their Nikes were on fire, but otherwise, there was a whole lot of no one aroundand he had a feeling Jane might still be back in their bed, lounging after hed done her right.

Which the bonded male in him took a fuckload of satisfaction from. For real.

When he came to the recovery room, he didnt knock, but

As he stepped inside, the first thing he saw was the hypodermic needle. The next thing was that it was about to change hands, going from his shellans to his twins.

No therapeutic reason for that.

What are you doing? he breathed, abruptly terrified.

Janes head whipped around, but Payne didnt look at him. Her stare was fixated on that needle like it was the key to the lock on her jail cell.

And sure as shit it was going to help her out of that bed . . . right into a coffin.

What the fuck are you doing. Not a question. He already knew.

My choice, Payne said grimly.

His shellan met him in the eye. Im sorry, V.

A whitewash cut his vision off, but did nothing to slow his body down as he lunged forward. Just as he reached the bedside, his eyes cleared and he saw his gloved hand latch onto his shellans wrist.

His death grip was the only thing keeping his twin from death. And he addressed her, not his mate. Dont you fucking dare.

Paynes eyes were violent as they met his own. And do not you dare!

V recoiled for a moment. He had stared into the faces of bested enemies and discarded subs and forgotten lovers both male and female, but he had never seen such depths of hatred before.

Ever.

You are not my god! she screamed at him. You are but my brother! And you will not chain me unto this body any more than our mahmen will!

Their fury was so well matched that for the first time in his life, he was at a loss. After all, it made no sense to enter into conflict if your opponent was equal.

Trouble was, if he left now, he was coming back to a funeral.

V wanted to pace to dial down his pissed-off, but hed be damned if he was looking away for even a split second. I want two hours, he said. I cant stop you, but I can ask you to give me one hundred and twenty minutes.

Paynes eyes narrowed. Whatever for.

Because he was going to do something that would have been inconceivable when this whole thing had started. But this was a type of war, and accordingly, he didnt have the luxury of picking his weaponshe had to use what he had, even if he hated it.

Ill tell you exactly why. V took the needle from Janes hold. Youre going to do it so this doesnt haunt me for the rest of my fucking life. How bout that for a reason. Good enough?

Paynes lids sank down and there was a whole lot of silence. Except then she said, I will give you what you ask, but my mind will not be changed if I remain in this bed. Assure yourself of your expectations afore you departand be forewarned if you attempt to reason with our mahmen. I will not trade this prison for one on her side, in her world.

Vishous shoved the needle in his pocket and unsheathed the hunting knife that was perm-attached to the belt on his leathers. Give me your hand.

When she offered it, he sliced her palm with the blade and did the same to his own flesh. Then he clasped the wounds together.

Vow it. On our shared blood, you take a vow to me.

Paynes mouth twitched as if, once again, she would have smiled under different circumstances. Trust me not?

Nope, he said roughly. Not in the slightest, sweetheart.

A moment later, her hand gripped his and a slick of tears formed over her eyes. I so vow.

Vishouss lungs loosened and he drew a deep breath. Fair enough.

He dropped his hold, turned around, and strode for the door. As soon as he was in the corridor, he didnt waste time heading for the tunnel.

Vishous.

At the sound of Janes voice, he wheeled around and wanted to curse. Shaking his head, he said, Dont follow me. Dont call me. Nothing good is going to come out of my being within earshot of you right now.

Janes arms crossed over her chest. Shes my patient, V.

Shes my blood. In frustration, he slashed the air with his hand. I dont have time for this. Im out of here.

At that, he took off at a run. Leaving her behind.

NINETEEN

When Manny got back to his place, he closed the door, locked it . . . and stood there. Like a piece of furniture. With his briefcase in his hand.

It was amazing how, when youd lost your mind, you were kind of out of options for what to do next. His will hadnt changed; he still wanted to get control of himself and this . . . whatever it was that was going on in his life. But there was nothing to grab at, no reins to this beast.

Shit, this had to be how Alzheimers patients felt: Their personality was intact and so was their intellect . . . but they were surrounded by a world that no longer made sense because they couldnt hold on to their memories and associations and extrapolations.

It was all tied to that weekendor at least, it had started then. But what exactly had changed? Hed lost at least some of one night, as far as he could tell. He remembered the racetrack and Glorys fall and the vet afterward. Then the trip back to Caldwell, where he went to . . .

The forewarning of another blooming headache had him cursing and giving up.

Walking over to the kitchen, he dropped his briefcase and ended up staring at the coffee machine. Hed left it on when hed headed off for the hospital. Great. So his morning java had actually been nighttime joe, and it was a miracle he hadnt burned his fucking condo down.

Sitting on one of the stools at the granite counter, he stared out the wall of glass in front of him. The city on the far side of his terrace was glowing like a lady heading to the theater with all her diamonds on, the lights in the skyscrapers twinkling and making him feel really and truly alone.

Silence. Emptiness.

The condo was more like a coffin.

God, if he couldnt operate, what did he have

The shadow appeared from out of nowhere on his terrace. Except it wasnt a shadow . . . . There was nothing translucent about the thing. It was as if the lights and the bridges and the skyscrapers were a painting that had had a hole cut in them.

A hole in the shape of a large man.

Manny rose off the stool, his eyes fixated on the figure. In the back of his mind, at the seat of his brain stem, he knew that this was the cause of everything, his tumor upright and walking . . . and coming for him.

As if bidden, he went over and opened the sliding glass door, the wind hitting him hard in the face, his hair stripping back from his forehead.

It was cold. Oh, so cold . . . but the frigid shock wasnt just the chilly April night. A deep freeze was rolling out from the figure standing so still and deadly mere feet away from him; he got the very distinct impression the arctic blast was because this fucker in black leather hated his ass. But Manny wasnt afraid. The answer to what was doing with him was tied to this huge man who had appeared from out of nowhere, some twenty stories up off the pavement

A female . . . one with braided dark hair . . . this was her

The headache slammed into him, tackling him on the nape of the neck and shooting forward over his dome to pound the shit out of his frontal lobe.

As he sagged, he caught himself on the slider, and lost his patience. For fucks sake, dont just stand there. Talk to me or kill me, but do something.

More wind on the face.

And then a deep voice. I shouldnt have come here.

Yeah, you should have, Manny groaned through the pain. Because Im losing my fucking mind and you know that, dont you. What the fuck did you do to me?

That dream . . . about the woman he wanted, but couldnt have . . .

Mannys knees started to buckle, but to hell with that. Take me to herand dont fuck with me. I know she exists . . . I see her every night in my dreams.

I dont like any of this.

Yeah, and Im having a party over here. The motherfucker went unsaid. As did the fact that if this dark bastard decided to act on all the aggression he was stewing in, Manny was going to bust out the fists and do some damage of his own. He was going to get creamed for sure, but fucked in the head or not, he didnt go down without a fight.

Come on, Manny spat. Do it.

There was a tight laugh. You remind me of a friend of mine.

You mean theres another son of a bitch lost in his own life because of you? Great. Well start a support group.

Fucking hell . . .

The guy raised a hand and then . . . memories exploded in Mannys mind and flowed through his body, the sights and sounds of his lost weekend returning with a vengeance.

Stumbling back, he put his hands to his head.

Jane. Secret facility. Operation.

Vampire.

An iron grip on his biceps was all that kept him off the hardwood, his patients brother grabbing on. You have to come and see my sister. Shes going to die if you dont.

Manny breathed through his mouth and swallowed a lot. The patient . . . his patient . . .

Is she still paralyzed? he moaned.

Yes.

Take me, he bit out. Now.

If it was a case of that spinal cord being permanently damaged, there was nothing he could do for her clinically, but that didnt matter. He had to see her.

Wheres your car? the goateed fucker asked.

Downstairs.

Manny broke free and beelined for his briefcase and the keys hed left on the kitchen counter. As he tripped and fell about his place, his brain felt fuzzy in a way that terrified him. Any more of this in-and-out shit with his motherboard and he was going to be permanently damaged. But that was a discussion for another time.

He had to get to his female.

When he got to the front door, the vampire was right behind him, and Manny switched his stuff to his left hand.

A quick pivot and he threw out his right fist, snapping it up in an arc perfectly calculated to catch the guys jaw.

Crack. The impact was solid and the bastards head knocked back.

As the vampire releveled his stare and lifted the corner of his mouth in a snarl, Manny was having none of it. Thats for fucking with me.

The male dragged the back of his hand across his bloody mouth. Nice hook.

Youre welcome, Manny said as he stepped out of his place.

I could have stopped that at any moment. Just so were clear.

Undoubtedly, that was true. Yeah, but you didnt, did you. Manny marched over to the elevator, punched the down button, and glared over his shoulder. So that makes you a chump or a masochist. Your choice.

The vampire got in close. Careful, humanyoure only alive because youre useful to me.

Shes your sister?

Dont forget it.

Manny smiled by baring all his teeth. Then theres something you need to know.

What.

Manny rose up on his toes and met the fucker eye-to-eye. If you think you want to kill me now, this aint nothin compared to how youre going to feel when I see her again.

He was practically hard just thinking about the female.

With a ding, the double doors opened and he stepped off, stepped in and turned around. The vampires eyes were spears looking for a target, but Manny shrugged off the aggression. Just letting you know where I stand. Now get in or ghost down to the street and Ill pick your ass up.

You must think Im an idiot, true, the vampire growled.

Actually, not at all.

Pause.

After another moment, the vampire muttered under his breath and slipped in just as the sliders started to shut. And then the pair of them just stood side by side, watching the numbers count down over the double doors . . .

Five . . . four . . . three . . . two . . .

Like the countdown to an explosion.

Be careful, human. Im not someone you want to push too hard.

And Ive got nothing to lose. Except for this big bastards sister. Guess well just have to see where this ends up.

You got that right.

Payne was a grim block of ice as she stared at the clock by the door to her room. The circular face was as plain as the white wall behind it, marked by nothing but twelve black numbers separated by black lines. The hands of the thing, two black, one red, lolled their way around as if they were as bored with their job as she was with watching them work.

Vishous had to have gone to see their mother. Where else would he turn?

So this was a waste of time; for certain, he would come back with nothing. It was sheer arrogance to think that She Who Could Not Be Swayed would be affected in the slightest by the perils of her birthed children.

Mother of the race. What piffle

Payne frowned. The sound started off as nothing save a dim rhythm, but it quickly grew louder. Footsteps. Heavy footsteps traveling over a hard floor at a fast clip, and there were two sets of them. Perhaps it was naught but her twins Brothers coming in for a check

When the door swung open, all she could see was Vishous, standing so tall and uncompromising. I brought you something.

He didnt so much step aside as he was pushed. . . .

Dearest Scribe Virgin . . . Payne mouthed as tears rushed to her eyes.

Her healer burst into the room, and oh, he was just as she had remembered . . . so broad at the chest and long of limb, with a flat stomach and a sharp jawline. His dark hair was sticking straight up, as if he had been running many fingers through it, and he was breathing hard, his mouth slightly parted.

I knew you were real, he blurted. Goddamn it, I knew it!

The sight of him rocketed through her, energy lighting her up from the inside and tripping her emotions into a free fall. Healer, she said hoarsely. My healer . . .

Fucking hell, she heard her brother say.

Her human spun around on Vishous. Give us some privacy. Now

Watch your fucking mouth

Im her doctor. You brought me here to assess her clinically

Dont be ridiculous.

There was a pause. Then why the fuck am I here?

For precisely the reason I hate you!

That ushered in a lot of silencealong with a sob on her part. She was just so glad to see her healer in his strength and his flesh. And her single sniffle whipped both their heads around, her healers face changing instantly, going from flat-out fury to driving concern.

Shut the door behind you, he barked over his shoulder as he came to her.

Passing her hands across her eyes, she cleared her tears and looked past her healer as he sat on the side of her bed. Vishous had turned away and was going for the exit.

He knew, she thought. More than anything their mother could have done for her, he had brought her the one thing guaranteed to make her want to live.

Thank you, brother mine, she said, eyes locked on him.

Vishous stopped. The tension in him was so great, both of his fists were curled in tight, and as his head slowly cranked around, his icy eyes burned.

I would do anything for you. Anything.

With that, he pushed his way out . . . and as the door eased shut, she realized that I love you could indeed be said without actually uttering the phrase.

Actions did mean more than words.

TWENTY

As the pair of them were left alone together, Manny couldnt get enough of looking at his patient. His stare just kept going over her face and her throat and her long, lovely hands. Jesus, she smelled the same, that perfume of hers burrowing into his nose and going straight to his cock.

I knew you were real, he repeated. Christ, it probably would have been better to say something else, anything else, but that was all he had, evidently: The relief at the fact that he wasnt going crazy was just overwhelming.

At least until the luminous sheen of tears in her eyes registered . . . along with bottomless lack of hope in her stare.

Hed done all he could for her, and yet he had failed. Totally.

Although it wasnt as if he hadnt guessed her condition before now. That brother of hers hadnt come into the human world again because shit was going so frickin well on this side.

How are you doing? he asked.

As he stared into her eyes, she slowly shook her head. Alas . . . I am . . .

When she didnt finish, he reached for her hand and held on to it. God, her skin was soft. Talk to me.

My legs . . . are no better.

He cursed under his breath. He wanted to do an exam on her and look at her newest X-rays . . . maybe make arrangements to get her into St. Francis for another MRI.

But, as critical as all that assessment stuff was, it could wait. Right now, she was fragile emotionally, and he needed to help her deal with that first.

No feeling still? he said.

When she shook her head, a tear escaped and slid down her cheek. He hated that she was crying, but as God was his savior, he had never seen anything so beautiful as those eyes of hers.

I am . . . eer to be thus, she said on a shudder.

And thus to you means precisely what?

Here. Upon this bed. Stuck. Her eyes didnt just hold his, but reached out and grabbed them. I cannot countenance this torture. Not for a night more.

She was dead fucking serious, and for a split second, he felt a terror that cut right through to his soul. Maybe in another female . . . or male, for that matter . . . a statement like that might have been an emotional release of despair. For her? It was a plan.

You got Internet around here? he asked.

Internet?

A computer with access to the Web.

Ah . . . I believe there is one in the larger room beyond. Through that other door.

Ill be right back. Stay here.

That got a half smile. Wherever shall I go, healer?

Thats what Im going to show you.

As he stood up, he had to resist the urge to kiss her, and he hurried out to make sure he didnt. It took no time at all to find the Dell in question and get signed in with the help of a rather attractive blond nurse who introduced herself as Elena. Ten minutes later, he came back to Paynes room and paused in the doorway.

She was fixing her hair, her hands trembling as she smoothed the crown of her head and felt down the length of her braid as if searching for defects.

You dont have to do that, he murmured. You look perfect to me.

Instead of replying, she blushed and grew flusteredwhich was just about the best thing she couldnt say. Verily, you tie my tongue.

Well, now, didnt that take his mind into places it shouldnt be going.

Staring across at her, he forced his head to change gears. Payne, Im your doctor, right?

Yes, healer.

And that means that Im going to tell you the truth. No sandbagging, no hiding anything. Im going to tell you exactly what I think and Ill let you make up your own mindand I need you to hear me on that, okay? The truth is all Ive got, nothing more, nothing less.

Then you need not utter a thing, for I know too well where I sit.

He glanced around the room. Have you been out of here since you came back from the operation.

No.

So youve been staring at these four empty walls for a week, trapped on a bed, having other people feed you, bathe you, and deal with your bodily functions.

I do not need the reminder, she said drily. Thank you kindly

How do you know where youre at, then.

Her frown was deep and dark . . . and sexy as hell. Thats ridiculous. I am here. She pointed to the mattress under her. I have been here.

Exactly. As she glared up at him, he closed the distance between them. Im going to pick you up and carry you, if you dont mind?

Now her brows popped. Wherever to?

Out of this godforsaken cage.

But . . . I cant. I have a

I know. Of course she would be worried about her catheter, and to save any embarrassment, he snagged a clean white towel off the bedside table. Ill be careful with it and you.

After he made sure her equipment was secure, he untucked the top sheet that covered her and scooped her up. Her weight was solid against his upper body, and he took a moment just to hold her, her head on his shoulder, her long, long legs draped over his arm. Her perfume or soap or whatever it was reminded him of sandalwood and something else.

Oh, right . . . orgasms.

The ones hed had when hed dreamed about her.

Great, now he was pulling the blush-and-flush.

Payne cleared her throat. Do I weigh too much? I am large for a female.

You are perfect for a female.

Not where I come from, she muttered.

Then theyre using the wrong standard.

Manny carried his precious load through the door into the exam room. The place was empty, at his requesthed asked the nurseElina? Elaina?to give them some privacy.

No telling how this was going to go.

Keeping her in his hold, he sat down in front of the computer, and angled them so she could see the monitor. When she seemed more interested in staring at him, he didnt mind in the slightestbut it was hardly conducive to concentration. Or the reason hed gotten her out of that bed.

Payne, he said.

What?

Christ, that husky voice of hers. The damn thing was capable of ripping through him like a knife and making him like the bite of pain that came along with the wounding: To want her as he did and restrain himself was an agonizing pleasure that was somehow better than the best sex hed ever had.

It was an antici-gasm at its finest.

Youre supposed to be looking at the monitor, he said as he brushed her cheek.

Id rather stare at you.

Oh, yeah . . . ? As his voice grew as husky as hers, he knew it was time for some internal dialogue along the lines of oh-no-you-dont-big-boy.

But damn.

You make me feel something all over my body. Even in my legs.

Well, sexual attraction would do that to someone. His circuits were sure as hell lit up like Manhattan at midnight.

Except there was a larger purpose to this Santas-lap routine, something that was so much more important than a quickie . . . or even a session that lasted a week, or a month, or God save them both, a year. It was about a lifetime. Hers.

How about you look at the computer for a little bit, and then you can stare at me all you like?

All right.

When she didnt glance away from his face, he cleared his throat. The computer, bambina.

Italian?

On my mothers side.

And as for your fathers?

He shrugged. Never met him, so I couldnt tell you.

Your sire was unknown?

Yup, pretty much. Manny put his forefinger under her chin and tilted her head toward the computer. Look.

He tapped the monitor and knew when she focused properly because she frowned, her dark brows going down low over her diamond eyes.

This is a friend of minePaul. Manny did nothing to keep the pride out of his voice. He was also a patient of mine. He kicks ass . . . and hes been in that wheelchair for years.

At first, Payne was not sure exactly what the image was. . . . It was moving; that was for certain. And it appeared to beWait. That was a human, and he was sitting in some kind of contraption that rolled oer the ground. To ambulate, he pumped with his great arms, his face in a grimace, his concentration as fierce as any warriors would be in the height of battle.

Behind him, there was a field of three other men in similar mechanicals, and they were all fixated on him as if trying to close the eer-widening distance betwixt them and their leader.

Is it . . . a race? she asked.

Thats the Boston Marathon, wheelchair division. Pauls coming up Heartbreak Hill, which is the hardest part.

Hes ahead of the others.

Wait for ithes only getting started. He didnt just win that race.... He snapped it in half on his knee and lit it on fire.

They watched the man win by a tremendous margin, his huge arms going like the wind, his chest pumping, the crowd on either side of the road roaring in support. As he broke through a ribbon, a stunning woman ran up and the pair embraced.

And in the human females arms? A babe with the same coloring as the man.

Paynes healer leaned forward and moved a little black instrument around on the desk to change the picture on the screen. Gone was the moving image. . . . In its place was a static portrait of the man smiling. He was very handsome and glowed with health, and by his side were the same red-haired woman and that young with his blue eyes.

The man was still sitting down, and the chair he was on was more substantial than that which he had competed inin fact it was much like the one Jane had brought in. His legs were out of proportion to the rest of him, small and tucked away beneath the seat, but you didnt notice thator even his rolling apparatus. You only saw the fierce strength and intelligence.

Payne reached out to the screen and touched the face of the man. How long . . . ? she asked hoarsely.

Has he been paralyzed? About ten years or so. He was on his touring bike when he was hit by a drunk driver. I did seven operations on his back.

He is still in the . . . chair.

You see that woman next to him?

Yes.

She fell in love with him after the accident.

Payne whipped her head around and stared up into her healers face. He . . . sired young?

Yup. He can drive a car . . . he can have sex, obviously . . . and he lives a fuller life than most people who have two working legs. Hes an entrepreneur and an athlete and a hell of a man, and Im proud to call him friend.

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