A Hunt Among Vampires (The Angel Series) (19 page)
Read A Hunt Among Vampires (The Angel Series) Online
Authors: M. Cheykota
Phedora interjects. “I am standing right here! You don’t talk about me as if I am not in the room, whore!”
Kayle scolds Phedora effectively. “Do not speak to Jess in that manner Dora or you will regret it.”
“When I asked you why you were in the room, you said you were babysitting me. I don’t like your answer so I am asking Kayle. If you can answer the question without the sarcasm, go ahead and answer it. Otherwise, shut the fuck up and don’t interrupt me again or I’ll shut you up myself.” I tell Phedora with as much irritation as possible.
“Who do you think you are?” Phedora pushes herself upright and stands in front of me in a threatening manner.
Grabbing the knife from Phedora’s waist, I spin her around, standing behind her. I have the knife buried into Phedora’s back and inches away from piercing her heart before she can react.
Phedora screams but wisely doesn’t move. “Get that knife out of me, you bitch!”
Kayle calmly warns Phedora from across the room. “I would not move or piss her off if I were you, Dora.”
“Master will kill her if something happens to me.” Phedora says confidently.
“You would be surprised by what the master allows
her
to get away with Phedora.” Kayle murmurs.
Phedora’s eyes widen with fear as Christien and Roman enter the room.
“Damn!” Roman curses while reaching into his pocket. He pulls out a fifty-dollar bill and hands it to Christien’s outstretched hand.
Christien chuckles while tucking the money in his pocket. “I told you she would not kill her.”
“What is going on?” I ask, wiggling the knife in my hand. Phedora tenses.
Christien walks up next to me. “Will you please let Phedora go,
chatte
?”
I reluctantly remove the knife from Phedora’s back and hand it to Christien.
“Thank you,
ma petite chatte
.” Christien smiles and kisses me on the cheek.
I sit on the edge of the bed next to Roman, watching Phedora closely as her wound closes. She leaves the room to find a donor to regain her strength.
Christien looks at me. “Have you fed since you have awakened?”
“No. No wonder I am so cranky.” I reply sharply.
Christien calls for a donor and a glass. Less than a minute later, a man comes into the bedroom. He hands Christien a small glass. The donor raises his arm in front of him. Christien takes the knife I gave him and slices the man’s wrist. As the glass is filling with blood, the smell hits me and I run into the bathroom again.
Christien and Roman have perplexed looks on their faces. Before either of them move, Kayle follows me into the bathroom again. “Still feeling nauseous from the flight?” He says quietly with a little humor as he hands me another cool, wet towel.
“Oh God, you know?” I whisper as quietly as possible.
Kayle only smiles at me and responds just as quietly. “I have had my suspicions that you have now just confirmed.”
“Please don’t say anything Kayle. No one is supposed to know except me right now.” I plead as I press the cool towel over my face.
“I do not know anything so how can I tell anyone anything.” Kayle smiles conspiringly at me.
“Thank you.” I smile gratefully at Kayle.
“Why are you thanking Kayle?” Christien asks while approaching the bathroom doorway.
Kayle blanks his face and returns to the bedroom.
“He gave me a wet towel. I do have manners you know.” I wash out my mouth again and give Christien a comforting hug.
He holds me close as I close my eyes, resting my head on his chest.
“Are you still feeling sick from the flight?” He asks worriedly.
“I’m feeling much better now. I think I just need some toast and soda water to settle my stomach. I’ll be fine.”
“Okay,
chatte
. I will get everything you need and have it brought to you. It is time for you to get back into bed.” He whispers into my ear.
As Christien helps me into bed, Roman expresses his concern for me by climbing into bed with me.
I pat Roman on the leg, reassuring him that I am going to be fine and push him away from me. Roman gets the hint and gets out of bed. He and Kayle leave the room.
Christien watches me for a moment before asking, “Do you mind if I stay with you for a while?”
I smile and nod. “Thank you for asking me instead of assuming.”
He climbs into the bed and snuggles close to me. He offers me the glass of blood.
I guzzle the blood quickly, plugging my nose to prevent myself from gagging again, and then fall asleep minutes later.
Christien watches me sleep for a while. He rests his head on my chest, feeling my heartbeat against his face.
As he is lying there falling asleep, he hears a faint and faster heartbeat coming from me beneath him. He jerks his head off my chest and stares at my stomach. Not certain of what he has heard, he rests his ear on my stomach this time. Christien can clearly hear the fast
thump, thump, thump
, inside my belly. His eyes fill with tears as he realizes that his mate is pregnant with his child.
Christien is kissing and rubbing my stomach when I wake up.
“Christien, what are you doing?” I ask a little confused at why he is kissing my stomach while in tears. Then it hits me.
Oh no! He knows!
“Why did you keep such a wonderful thing from me?” More tears fall down his cheeks. “How do you feel,
chatte
?”
Nauseous is my first thought. Scared, terrified, lost, uncertain… the list goes on. Instead of the truth, I lie. “I’m fine. Don’t make a big deal out of it.”
He looks at me in disbelief. “It is a big deal. A baby! We are going to have a baby!”
“Whoa! Back up a second Christien. I haven’t exactly made my decision just yet.”
I don’t know why I just told him that. I already know I am going to keep our child. I just want him as upset as I am feeling
.
Christien starts at my distress before he gets up and leaves the room without saying a word.
I think about following him to apologize, but my pride will not let me get out of the bed. I roll over and begin to cry.
Within minutes, there is a knock at the door.
“Go away.” I call out.
“It’s me Jess. Can I come in?” Roman asks softly.
I don’t respond so the door opens and closes quietly.
Roman lies down beside me and puts his arms around me.
This time, I let him. That action only makes me cry harder.
I lay there with Roman holding me for about 15 minutes while I cry before Roman speaks.
“What’s wrong Jess?”
“I’m sure Christien already told you so why are you asking?”
“I have not spoken to Christien. I only saw that he seems very upset. That is why I came to check on you.” He clarifies.
Christien reappears and finds Roman and me lying on the bed with Roman’s arms around me. Christien’s power flares. “Roman, I need to speak with Jessica alone please.”
Roman looks at me.
I nod, silently telling him that I will be okay. He gets up and leaves the room.
“You will allow him to comfort you yet you push me away? I am the father of our baby Jessica, not him! I am your mate, not him! You should be looking for comfort from me!” I can feel his jealousy thick in the air.
“I know. I’m sorry Christien. I’m comfortable with Roman. We have known each other for years. You and I can barely communicate without arguing. We hardly know each other and you expect me to treat you the way I treat Roman. I can tell you right now. That’s not going to happen. I’m sorry I didn’t say anything when I first found out a couple of days ago, but I needed time to come to terms with it.”
Christien looks towards the door then back at me. “How do you feel?”
I study Christien, completely surprised by his response to my rant.
He walks towards me slowly, crouching next to the bed and holds my hand.
Tears roll down my cheeks from his tenderness. He brushes my tears away as he repeats his question. “How do you feel?”
I look into his eyes and reply. “I’m fine. I am sorry about earlier. I just wasn’t ready to talk about it.”
He smiles. “Now, how do you really feel?”
“Christien, I…”
Christien interrupts me. “You must be scared, confused, uncertain, or many other emotions that are probably running through your mind. I apologize for being so insensitive earlier. I should have thought about how you are truly feeling. I know it is not easy, but I would like to talk to you about this.”
My jaw drops, truly speechless.
Christien kisses my hand and hugs me.
I cling to him as if he is a life ring and I am drowning. After a few moments, I pull back and kiss him softly. “I am ready to talk.”
We talk for what seems like hours about our relationship, the baby, and the entire time, Christien sits quietly and listens to me. It is wonderful.
Christien tells me how excited he is about the baby. He even agrees to stay home with the baby if I choose to continue working. He does request that I find a new job, but we will see about that. I agree to move in with Christien when we return home on a trial basis. If everything works out, we will officially move in together before the baby is born.
For now, my body seems to relax as if a weight has lifted off my shoulders. Still afraid, but knowing that Christien will be there to support me, makes me feel better.
“Why the sudden change in you?” I ask Christien as I rest my head on his chest.
“There is no change in my behavior, only the delivery.” He responds confidently.
“Yes, that is true. When did you learn to communicate so well?” Curiosity burns inside me.
“I admit I had some help. My way of communicating with you was not working. You are a strong, dominant woman and I am a strong, dominant man. We can get along, but our communication and interactions are struggling. I asked Roman to tell Kayle what I needed to say to get through to you. Kayle relayed what Roman told him.” He volunteers.
“Roman told you what to say to me? Roman knows that I’m pregnant then?” I ask, completely surprised.
“I only asked for assistance communicating. He does not know what we are discussing?” He says mildly curious. “Roman is not aware that you are pregnant?”
“No! I thought I should tell you first. I told you I needed time to get used to the idea first before telling anyone.”
Christien smiles brightly. “Thank you for that. It must have been difficult not to tell Roman.”
I nod. “What happens now?”
“First, we get a doctor to make sure you and the baby are okay. Second, you tell Roman so you two can talk about the baby. Finally, after you are feeling better, we will get rid of Hassan once and for all.”
“I am starting to really believe that you care about me.” I tease him.
He kisses me deeply. “Then my lessons in communications are succeeding.”
We make love slowly for about an hour before falling asleep again in each other’s arms.
Chapter 15
The next morning while Christien, Kayle and I are eating breakfast, Roman comes into the dining room carrying a little girl. My jaw drops in amazement.
I have never seen Roman go near a child and here he is carrying one.
I continue to watch Roman as he settles the little girl in the chair and makes her a plate for breakfast. Christien looks just as confused as I feel.
A very pretty woman with short, black hair enters the room with a baby in her arms. She sees Christien and me looking at her and stops in her tracks.
“There you are.” Roman says to the woman as he kisses her cheek.
Christien raises an eyebrow in surprise.
Roman puts his arm around the woman’s waist. “Good morning everyone.” Roman says to all of us as Christien and I continue to stare. Kayle chuckles in amusement.
“Good morning.” Christien replies, finally finding his voice as he walks over to Roman and the woman.
“Christien, I would like to introduce you to Alexandria, my mate. Alex, this is Christien. This is his estate.” Roman says as he takes the baby from her.
“Thank you for opening your home to our family. You have been very generous and we appreciate it.” Alex says with a heavy Italian accent.
“You and your family are welcome in my home. There is no need for you to be afraid of us. No one will harm you or your family. I will guarantee that with my word.” Christien shakes her hand and smiles.
Roman growls and Christien looks at Roman completely amused. “I am only offering hospitality and safety Roman.” Christien moves away from the woman allowing Roman to see me at the table. “Hi Jess. I hope you are feeling better. This is Alex. Alex, this is my best friend and fellow associate Jessica.”
The woman and I stare each other down for a few moments until Roman draws our attention away from each other by introducing the children. I almost fall out of my chair when he introduces them as his daughter and son.
