Viper's Hope (Anguis Defenders Book 1) (11 page)

Hope nodded as she adjusted her blanket.

Viper had no idea how to even approach the delicate subject. He wanted to know specifically how close she was with her male friend. But then again did he really want to know? He might kill the male. Viper was doing his best to not let his jealousy control him since his reaction to the male earlier had made Hope angry. Viper had no doubt that she'd leave entirely if he couldn't reign in his possessiveness. But dammit it was hard! All he wanted to do was toss Hope over his shoulder and blockade them in a small room again.

"What is your relationship like with your male friend?" Viper asked but quickly followed; "We don't have a lot of male, female friendships among my people."

"We work together and will go to lunch or go out drinking. Just the usual stuff."

Viper wanted to growl at the thought of the male escorting his subeo.

"One time I got so trashed JP had to hold my hair while I puked in the bushes, then helped me home. It was pathetic, I was way too old to be doing that nonsense." Hope shook her head. "I don't know how I would've showered and made it to bed if JP hadn't helped me."

Viper really, really had to suppress the urge to kill. This male had seen his female nude.

"Hope is bonded with JP. I'm the usurper!" Viper was leveled by the sudden realization.

Viper felt as if his hearts were breaking. No wonder Hope rejected him. She already had a male. Why had the human male let Viper take Hope away? Was the male so afraid of him? What was Hope doing separated from JP by half a continent in the first place?

"I understand. I have come between you." Viper stated feeling miserable.

Hope snorted and rolled her eyes.

"Not hardly." She yawned. "The only way JP could come between us, is if he tried to steal you from me." Hope laughed quietly again as she closed her eyes and started to drift off.

"Steal me? Why would the male steal me?" Viper wondered.

He didn't understand what Hope was talking about, but liked the sound of her laugh. Instead Viper concentrated on the fact that Hope said he hadn't come between her and the male. Viper assumed that meant they weren't bonded or mated in the human tradition. That seemed odd if JP was showering with her and dressing her. Maybe he shouldn't have asked. Viper was more turned around than before.

Viper shifted uncomfortably in the chair, it looked nice but he was too damn tall. Hope roused and looked at the way his legs hung over the footrest.

"Why don't you take the other side of the bed. You look uncomfortable." She said groggily then drifted off again.

Viper looked at Hope in the large bed. There was more than enough room. Viper's hands flexed as his fingers itched to touch her. There'd be no way he could lay in that bed and not pull her close, Viper didn't trust himself. Hope only invited him to lay in the bed because she was a considerate female, not because she invited his touch. She had made that clear earlier today, and it was evident now by the way she dozed off. Instead he stayed in the chair and watched Hope sleep. Her scent was calm and peaceful as she made quiet snoring noises.

7 Monthly Friend

Hope

Hope awoke in the morning to see Viper still asleep awkwardly stretched out in the plush, yet too short chair. The man was so huge. Hope admired his body as he slumbered. His muscular shoulders and broad tan chest were too wide for the sofa so he lay at an odd angle, with his thick legs propped on the footrest, his feet dangling. Man he looked uncomfortable. For some reason Viper never took her up on the offer to share the bed, it was more than big enough.

Hope knew he regretted what happened between them and had promised not to touch her. But Hope couldn't help wonder if Viper regretted more than just how he'd treated her. Sure he acted all hot and horny for her, but that was just biology. It didn't mean he was thrilled about it.

Hope's stomach cramped uncomfortably, so she got up and wandered to the bathroom. She sat down and immediately groaned. Shit this is not good.

"Of all the times to start my period."

All the crazy events had made her forget her little monthly friend. Hope heard movement in the next room and wondered how long she'd been sitting in the bathroom.

"Are you okay?" Viper called through the door.

"Yes and No. Can you call Acris please."

Hope had no clue what to do. She felt like she was twelve all over again, getting her period while on a road trip with the family. There's nothing worse than trying to finagle a giant ass pad for the first time in a rest-stop bathroom.

"Are you ill? Let me come in." Viper insisted through the door.

"No Viper just get Acris please."

This was a female problem, human men could barely deal with hearing about it, she imagined Anguis weren't much different. Hope heard Viper huff as he moved away from the closed door. A minute later Acris knocked gently.

"Uxorem you need me?"

"Yes come in."

Acris opened the door slightly and slid into the room.

"Are you ill Uxorem Hope?"

Hope could see Viper hovering outside before Acris closed the door behind her.

"I'm not ill, just bleeding and didn't know who else to call."

Acris looked suddenly alarmed.

"You are injured!" She exclaimed with a rather loud squeak.

Hope was pretty sure she heard Viper make some strange noise on the others side of the door.

"No relax. I'm just on my period."

Acris looked at her in confusion.

"Do your women bleed when they become fully grown, capable of bearing children?"

"We shed our internal lining, but it doesn't involve a great deal of bleeding. It is not our time of year so I have not brought anything aboard."

"Wait. How many times a year do you have your period?" Hope asked as she tried to shuffle to the shower.

"Twice a year. Oh Hope, that's a lot of blood!" Acris panicked as she glanced at the toilet. "Is this normal?"

Hope was shocked and so was Acris, but for different reasons. It must be nice to have your period only twice a year, and apparently it wasn't aggressive. Hope felt lucky she didn't have horrendous cramps like some woman. However she did get PMS like a mother fucker.

Hope stripped and stepped into the shower.

"It's normal. Human females have a cycle every thirty days and it lasts about five days."

"Holy Kadru, you bleed like this for five days! That can't be good Uxorem."

"Some of us have more pain than others. Mine aren't bad. It's more annoying than anything. I just need something so I don't make a terrible mess."

"We have a replicator. I can try to have it make something." Acris tried to think.

There was a knock on the door.

"Hope?" It was Tara.

"Come in." Hope hollered over the spray of the shower.

"Now there'll be a party in here, discussing my period." Hope groaned as Tara entered the bathroom.

"What are you doing here? Not that you aren't welcome." Hope asked her best friend.

"Viper woke us up beating on the door. I almost forgot where we were and freaked out. He seemed a bit frantic, said you were injured. What's wrong?"

"I got my period!"

Tara burst out laughing.

"Is that all!" She cried.

"Yeah except the Anguis only have a cycle twice a year and it's nothing like ours. Acris doesn't really have anything for me."

Acris nodded in confirmation to Tara.

"Oh man, that must be nice." Tara appraised Acris like she wanted to exchange places with the woman.

"Can you help Acris figure out what to replicate, and I'd like some underwear and a razor too."

Tara was still laughing at Hope's misfortune as she left with Acris. Her time would come!

"Hope?!"

She looked up to see Viper standing in the middle of the room. His chest was heaving as he stared in horror at the toilet.

"Great! Who forgot to flush that? Me! I'm such an idiot." Hope groaned to herself as she looked at Viper's stricken expression.

"You ARE injured! Why was your friend laughing at you!?"

"I am fine, really."

"You are not fine! The smell of blood is filling this room." He exclaimed with panic.

"Viper calm down this happens to human women every month."

"I hope they come up with a razor. My legs and armpits are going to be frightening soon." She thought as she glanced down at her legs.

Viper spun around to face her.

"This is normal for your females?" He practically yelled as he gestured to the commode.

"Yep." Hope nodded.

Viper relaxed but only marginally, his shoulders dropping from the stiff position. Then he looked at her suspiciously.

"You are sure I did not cause you this injury when I mounted you?"

"NO!" Hope said in exasperation. "I'm lucky many woman get really bad cramps and...never mind I'm fine." Hope almost stated the disturbing fact that some women had really heavy periods. "Ask Tara. Why'd you go get Tara?"

"You said she was a doctor. I smelled your blood when Acris came in. I hoped she could help you." Viper explained as he hovered outside the shower.

It was kind of sweet though embarrassing. And the fact he could smell her blood was just plain gross.

"I am fine please relax."

"Hope do you mind if I take a sand bath?" Viper sighed in acceptance.

Hopefully the weird bath would relax him.

"No go ahead."

She watched as Viper stripped off his pants and got into the large basin filled with sand. His hands roamed his body and Hope started having illicit thoughts. Her hand grazed her breasts as she washed, her nipples hardening.

Tara and Acris came in and stopped in their tracks.

Hope blushed as if she'd been caught mid masturbation, although she hadn't quite gotten that far, unless you counted what had crossed her mind.

Tara stared at Viper's muscular back and flexing ass while Acris turned around rapidly to face the other way, her eyes still closed.

"Um I think we might have something for you." Tara coughed.

Viper turned leisurely, grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist, while Tara still gawked.

"Hope says she is fine."

The way Viper said it, it was more a question than a statement.

Tara nodded mutely.

"I am glad. I don't understand how, but I will believe you. Do you need my help?" Viper asked as he waded out of the sand

"No but food would be nice." Hope interjected.

Viper nodded and exited, with Tara's eyes still riveted to his barely covered ass. For some inane reason it made her jealous.

"Tara!" Hope barked.

Tara spun around blushing.

"What?!" Her eyebrows wagged at Hope.

"Don't start!" Hope declared.

"I have never...Basilisk must never know." Acris turned back towards them sputtering.

"Hope you naughty girl!" Tara crowed.

"Ugh, Tara you're just as bad as JP! Acris don't worry, we won't utter a word. What did you ladies come up with?"

Tara held up a giant wad of medical gauze. She also had a razor, but no panties.

"How is that going to work without underwear?" Hope demanded as Tara handed her the razor.

"You tie this string around your waist and then loop the gauze up through the front and back." She demonstrated. It was like the dreaded sanitary belts from the 1950's.

"Are you kidding me! You want me to wear a damn diaper? I'd rather shove the gauze up my hoo ha." Hope groaned. "My life is a freaking nightmare."

"It does look a lot like the nappy we put on infants." Acris said with a snicker.

"Oh so now you're mocking me too!" Hope exclaimed with a smirk.

Acris looked suddenly devastated.

"Oh no Uxorem. I am very sorry!"

"No no Acris it is fine." Hope smiled at her. "And if it wasn't me, it would be hilarious. As one of my new friends you have my official permission to make fun of me as much as you want. I'm sure Tara can give you pointers. Just remember ladies. Payback is hell."

"That is fair." Acris smiled more comfortably.

"Why don't you have underwear?" Hope asked and Acris blushed, a bluish tinge against her ruddy skin.

"Oh I know." Tara announced. "Acris and I had this discussion already. Apparently it gives their males easy access!" Tara giggled and wagged her eyebrows again.

Hope really wanted to wax the offending brows off her smart ass face.

"Seriously. Get out of here both of you!".

Several minutes later Hope exited the bathroom minus the extra body hair, plus an awkward diaper beneath her knee-length skirt.

Viper rose rapidly from his seat where he'd been reviewing something on a hand held tablet.

"I was going to have food waiting for you but there is a communal mid-morning meal in the arboretum. I invited your friends. Tara said you were well enough to go if you'd like." Viper said dubiously.

Hope got the feeling he really didn't believe this whole period thing was normal.

"I am well, embarrassed but well. That's the big domed area with all the plants, right?"

Viper nodded.

"Okay that sounds good."

"You are ready?" He looked her up and down as he sniffed the air.

"I'm ready."

Hope wondered if she smelled. She'd just showered, she couldn't stink that bad. Then she remembered Viper could smell her blood earlier and wanted to groan. She'd have to shower twice a day, just, so she wasn't self conscious about BO, especially if Viper was some kind of crazy bloodhound, no pun intended.

Viper walked towards Hope and picked her up, cradling her in his massive arms.

"What are you doing?"

"You shouldn't walk in your condition. Blood loss can make you dizzy."

"Sweet mother of god. I'm fine."

Viper walked across the hall and knocked on the door. Tara smiled wide when she saw Hope draped in Viper's arms.

"Good morning Hope." JP chimed. "Sorry I missed all the fun but as you know I need my beauty sleep."

Viper cast JP a confused look.

"Morning JP. Tara tell Viper I'm fine to walk!"

"She's lost a lot of blood. I don't want her to pass out and fall!"

"Viper's right Hope. Fainting does occur from excessive blood loss." Hope watched Tara's serious clinical face almost crack.

JP's lips trembled in amusement.

"Just you wait!" Hope threatened them as they walked towards the arboretum.

Viper

The smell of Hope's blood nearly overwhelmed Viper. The scent of an injured mate was enough to drive a male mad. Hope implied he was overreacting but Viper didn't care. He couldn't believe such a thing was normal, no matter what the humans told him. How could she bleed like this for days every moon without becoming seriously ill? Viper was relieved Hope didn't protest too much when he insisted on carrying her.

They entered the domed garden and Viper led his guests towards the table reserved for them. He was glad Hope was well enough and agreed to come. Viper hadn't told her this was an informal celebration for their mating. He didn't want her to balk since she hadn't yet come to terms with it and he wasn't quite prepared to announce he'd been rejected. That was a shame he hoped to suffer in private.

"Ophidian keep watch over Hope she is injured." Viper said to his friend. Hope opened her mouth but before she could object he added, "I will show your friends the buffet and bring back a bit of everything."

Viper pulled out a chair for Hope and she sat with a shake of her head.

"I'd be honored." Ophidian replied.

"Oh good we can have you point out what everything is. I like spicy foods and she likes it as bland as it get." JP said as he and Tara followed Viper to the food.