Caging the Bengal Tiger (17 page)

"Sleep, Isaac and quiet worrying. I know the perfect place for your training center and we'll be all right as long as we have each other," Lacey kissed his chest and peaked up at him smiling.

Just her smile eased the tension enough that he could relax. "You were supposed to be sleeping, Lady Cat." He placed a kiss on the top of her head.

"Hmm, really? Now how am I to do that when my handsome warrior is all tense and needs some snuggling time?" Lacey said.

Next to him, Anthony laughed, as did Dan. "Snuggly time? Isaac?"

Her foot swung and kicked Anthony in the leg. "Don't laugh. You'll need me one day to snuggle with you, wait and see."

"Aww, baby, I didn't mean to hurt you. I was just teasing, I promise. I would love to cuddle with you anytime," Anthony leaned over and kissed her.

"We'll see. So are you going to tell me now about being pregnant? How long do we carry the baby?" She lifted up her head and looked at him, and he had to laugh. "You know like how long do I carry the baby or is anything weird going to happen?"

"Well, you'll carry it for at least a year, and then you'll give birth to an egg. It will take from two days to five to hatch," Isaac said, smiling as her eyes got big and she mouthed egg?

"Yes, an egg. You will not get as big as a human, but big enough. The eggs usually weigh about ten pounds when born," he held her down when she would have rose up. "Relax, we'll help."

"Eggs," she mumbled and lowered her head down sighing. "Eggs. You know tiger's eat eggs."

Smiling, he shook his head and closed his eyes. Yes, Lacey would always keep them on their toes, but he wouldn't have it any other way.

Lacey stood at the side of the bed and stared down at the bed. Supposedly they didn't need much sleep, her ass. All three of them were snoring away. Not waiting, Lacey turned and headed towards the door. She needed to check on her sister and the other women.

She still couldn't believe her heat was over so quickly. Having Ina was a blessing and she was funny too. She got along well with her cat.

Making sure the door closed behind her, Lacey made her way down the tunnel to the kitchen. She knew Abby would be there with coffee going. Lacey stopped and frowned. "
Ina will coffee hurt the baby?"

"No. Have all you like. I'll let you know if anything shouldn't be ingested. Warriors are a tough bunch and their children seem to have immunity to almost everything. I want to thank you both for allowing me here. It would be hard to stay away from my male while he was here."

"He won't wake Isaac will he since we left my quarters? And it's no problem. Thank you for coming to help us."
Lacey stepped into the kitchen to see Abby taking a sip of coffee with her sister right next to her.

"Hi, Abby. How are you doing?" Lacey asked taking the cup Abby held out to her.

"I'm doing better. I'm surprised your men allowed you out and about by yourself," she came to the table with her sister following her.

"I'm not leaving the compound. Plus they were sleeping like babies. So how did it go last night? Are all the women settled? I was thinking of asking Maya about buying the rest of the buildings on this block. Isaac was saying something about setting up a training facility for the men here. With more women coming, we should have some extra rooms built that they can use." Lacey sat down across from her sister and took another sip of her coffee. "Did you sleep okay?" She asked her sister and Betsy glared at her.

"Like you care," she mumbled.

"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't. I really didn't know you were alive, Betsy," she said placing her coffee on the table. "I would have gone back if I had known." She looked up at her sister who stared at her.

"It wouldn't have done any good. He would have just killed me and taken you. So how long have you been here?" She asked, sitting back, looking around, but jumped when a roar filled the tunnels. "What was that?" She asked looking at the door behind her.

"I have a feeling it’s Isaac, damn," she mumbled and took another sip of coffee.

"
Where are you?" he snapped.

"You know I'm sitting here talking with my sister and Abby. I have gone nowhere, so calm down,"
Lacey shook her head. "I swear I thought they said females were bad. So what do you have planned for today?" She asked Abby.

"I thought I'd show the new women around. Why? Do you have something you need me to do?" She asked and laughed when her mates came running into the room. "Wow, they must have really missed you," she teased.

Rolling her eyes, Lacey turned in her seat to see the three of them with only pants on looking down at her. "What? You three obviously needed the sleep more than I did so I let you sleep. Isaac what time did you want to go over the plans with the women? You have a list of who is pairing up with whom?" She asked taking another sip of coffee before Anthony took the cup out of her hand. "Hey, I need that, give it back." She tried to grab the cup, but he held it up.

"It's not good for the baby, plus you need breakfast not this," he stated.

"Anthony, I have never lied to you and I would appreciate the same respect or we are going to have serious trouble. Now hand it over," she growled.

"You need to come back to the room," Isaac said, not moving.

"No," she slowly stood facing off with Isaac. "I have not left the building. I'm enjoying my coffee, which I know for a fact will not hurt the baby since I asked. But you are going to have one pissed off lady here if I don't get my coffee and you three back the hell up."

"
Now this is not good for the baby. You need to calm down Lacey, even though they are acting like they are infants,"
Ina stated and a calming breeze ran up from her toes to her head.

Sitting down she sighed. "Dan, what time do we leave? Maybe we can stop at that gas station at the corner. They have these little greasy breakfast sandwiches..." she frowned hearing Ina.

"
No, no, no
," she said and Lacey couldn't help but laugh.

"Great, I have a woman in my head that loves to sing and tease me. Well forget those sandwiches, but I'm sure we can hit those donuts?" She punched the air when Ina sang yes, yes, yes in her head.

Even Isaac laughed and shook her head. "Anthony, give her coffee back and if you want her to eat, I suggest you can make her breakfast now. Dan, go get ready since it's obvious Lacey is ready. We'll meet with the women around noon after Anthony and I meet with Talhrn at 10. Betsy, how are you doing? Did you sleep all right?"

Her sister nodded. "First time in years I didn't have to worry. Thank you Lacey for that box. It helped," Betsy said taking her cup to the sink. "If you'll excuse me, I need to take a shower and I'm sure you need to speak with my sister alone. Are you coming Abby?" Betsy asked as Abby stood and followed her.

"You guys don't have to leave. Damn it, Abby, we always talk in the morning," she pouted but left them leave. To her right Anthony started digging out things in the fridge and started making breakfast. Taking Abby's seat, Isaac looked over at her. "You scared me, Lacey. I woke and you weren't in my arms." He reached over and took her hand into his squeezing it.

"I'm sorry, Isaac. I always had early coffee with Abby. We sit and just bullshit while we wait for the coffee to kick in. Then we'd go workout. I didn't think this would upset you so much," she sighed and gulped down the last bit of coffee before getting up. "If you'll excuse me, I'll grab my things so Dan doesn't have to wait."

"Come here, Lacey," Isaac reached out and pulled her to his lap. "What's wrong?" he kissed her cheek.

"It's hard for me, Isaac. I'm not going to lie. Change scares the crap out of me, but I'm trying. I wake up early as does Abby. It's just an automatic alarm I guess, but we both like the quietness in the morning before everyone is up and roaming around. I guess that's going to change too," she smiled at him. "I'm really sorry I scared you." She slid her arms around his neck.

"How about we start our own ritual?" Isaac wrapped his arms around her. "Why don't you and I have coffee in our room? We can even take a walk if you'd like. Just you and I. I know Dan likes to work out maybe after our coffee, you and Dan could work out, then you can have breakfast with Anthony. That way we each get to spend some time with our woman before the day starts. But please don't leave the room without us knowing about it. You're carrying our child now and we are going to be very protective of you."

She moaned. "As if you aren't already?" Lacey looked at Isaac, seeing he was trying. "Maybe it's time my sister spends some time with Abby. They'll be good for each other, but Isaac I wake up early."

"Lacey we really don't need sleep, but yes there are times when our bodies require it." He placed his hands on her face and covered her mouth with his. His kiss hot and slow.

Lifting his head, Isaac smiled. "Morning baby."

"Umm, I guess if I get woken up like that every morning I'll share my coffee with ya," she teased.

"Breakfast is done," Anthony said pulling her out of Isaac's arms and into his. "I'm sorry about the coffee. I panicked. It won't happen again. Please forgive me, Lacey."

Hugging him tight, she said, "Don't do it again, Anthony. If it's one thing I can't stand is anyone who lies. My father lied to my mother, to all of us for years. I don't want that. If you're mad at me, fine we'll work it out, but never lie please." She squeaked the last part when Anthony lifted her up and stared into her face.

"I promise I will never do that again and I'm sorry, Lady Cat, really, really sorry," he said and Lacey could read the regret in his face.

"I know and I accept your apology. Now put me down so I can eat great meal you made for me," she ruffled his hair and he growled bringing her closer so he could nip at her lip. "You’re giving a few too many orders aren't you?" Anthony asked a twinkle in his eye.

"What?" she squealed when behind her, Isaac reached under her shirt and lifted her breasts, tweaking her nipples through her bra.

"I have to agree with my
weru.
We are definitely going to have to do something about that mouth later," he teased and stepped back as Anthony lowered her to the ground.

"Great, now I'm hungry for sex and food," she mumbled and plopped down in the chair, digging into the food.

"One good reason you should wake with us?" Isaac sat back down when Anthony placed a plate of food in front of him.

"Dan, sit down. I have a plate for you two," Anthony said when Dan walked in and moaned.

"If I keep eating like this, I'm going to get fat," he mumbled but sat down and started to dig into the food.

"You won't get fat once training starts, plus we never go over our target weight. Something about our digestive system," Isaac said, frowning. "I need to find my brother tonight. He needs to come back into the fold. I still can't figure out what happened with him and our father. Anthony, you up to a family meal tonight? I'd like to invite them here."

"What?" Lacey dropped her fork onto the floor and growled. "You know you guys could give me warning here when folks are involved. No offense, but I'm not too fond of your father after the crap he pulled with Maya," she grumbled and stuffed another piece of bacon into her mouth.

"I didn't hear anything? What did he do?" Isaac sat forward waiting for her to answer.

"He hurt her, is what he did," she tapped her head. "He forced his way past her barriers in her head, hurting her. I'm going to warn you now. If he even thinks of taking a walk through my head, I'll deck him. There is also the possibility that Ina will pop him too," she smiled and threw her napkin on the table.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure he behaves or he'll answer to me. He has a lot of explaining to do about Lark. I want him back with us, Lacey. I don't like him out there without any back up." He frowned and took a sip of his coffee. "He and I used to be so close. I'd like to get that back."

"Fine, but you've been warned." Lacey stood and looked at Dan. "You ready, cop?" She asked.

"That's Sir Cop to you, Lady Cat," he grumbled as he pulled her into his arms and nipped her nose. "You do not leave the station unless I'm with you, understood?" Dan asked and she rolled her eyes.

"Yes sir! Now can we go? I want to see my friend Sally. Oh wait, I have a box for her in my room," she squirmed out of his arms and ran down the hall, hearing her men laugh.

***

Isaac followed at a slower pace, with Dan. "If you have any trouble, you contact me immediately." He stopped and looked at Dan. "I'm trusting you with our life. If something happens to her, we are all in trouble," Isaac said, watching Dan.

"I know this is my first outing since I've been back. I'm nervous, but I won't let you down, I promise. Even if I have to spank her in the middle of the police force," he grumbled. Isaac laughed, as he pushed Dan up against the wall.

"I not only worry about her, but you. You are my
weru
and are just as important to me. Never doubt that Dan. Without you and Anthony our family would not be complete.” Isaac covered his mouth, kissing him, almost punishing him for even doubting his love. The two of them fought for dominance, but finally Dan gave up and relaxed in his arms. Breaking the kiss, Isaac placed his forehead on his. "You amaze me sometimes with you strength."