Charity Received (27 page)

Remy sighed, sinking into a chair and accepting the glass of Macallan Levi thrust into his hand. “The only way Jet will get over his distrust is if he is forced to come to terms with it. Watching Kash interact with his mate, and in turn, Charity with Kash, is the only way I can see to get Jet to realize she is a heart mate and for him to accept the distinction. If he doesn’t come around, he will be lost to us eventually.”

“And you are willing to risk Charity’s life,” Zeke said flatly.

Remy met Zeke’s glare and shook his head slowly. “He will not let harm come to her, no matter his feelings. Not when he is honor-bound to protect her. And I figure if anyone will be scrutinizing Jet’s every move, it will be you. Am I correct?”

“Damn straight.”

Remy smiled. “Maybe Charity’s effect on this fortress will be more pronounced than even I suspected. Hell, look at you.”

Zeke rolled his eyes. “Can I assume this meeting is over since Bale, Penny, and Jet have all managed to escape?”

Remy chuckled, setting the glass of scotch on the side table next to him. “No. We still need to decide what to do about the male wolf you insisted on capturing.

Charity seemed very reluctant when asked to shift. Do you know why?”

Zeke shook his head. “And good luck getting an answer from her or Kash. From the looks of the two when we left, they have days’ worth of making up to do.”

A tinge of a smile lit Remy’s face. “Then I guess I should disturb them now before Kash gets too involved with his pregnant mate.”

Arak felt Remy connecting to Kash via mind-speak, the slight backlash of power tickling the base of his neck. It lasted only a moment before Remy broke the connection and sucked the energy back in.

“Charity cannot shift, or she will miscarry,” was Remy’s surprised response. He then centered his gaze on Arak. “I want her and the baby carefully monitored. Kash said a shifter’s pregnancy lasts about seven months, and Charity is three weeks into it. Is that the information you obtained when you examined her?”

“Since I am familiar only with a human’s gestational period, I will need to take careful notes and rely on Charity for much information. But I’ve already asked her to allow me to see to her health.”

“And?”

“She has agreed.”

“I gather things are progressing as they should?”

Arak smiled, an excitement the likes of which he had not experienced for a very long time consuming him. “She and the baby are fit.”

“Good,” Remy said on a soft breath, and for just a moment, as he grew reflective, Arak considered that maybe Bale wasn’t the only one to find Charity’s pregnancy a double-edged sword. When Remy’s mate had died, she had been due to deliver their son at any moment. Many of the Grigori had lost children, and with them, the hope of ever having more. “Now, about this wolf. I guess I will need to meet with O’Malley.”

“Great,” Zeke mumbled. “That should be fun.”

Remy turned his head to him. “Or you can release our visitor.”

Zeke smirked at their leader. Both he and Arak knew Remy wouldn’t really allow that to happen. This was their one chance to find out what was going on with these wolf attacks. If this wolf had not hurt anyone yet, they couldn’t risk allowing him the freedom to do so now.

“Find out how to make that happen,” Remy demanded, his focus still on Zeke. Then he grinned. “Now the meeting is over.”

“Bastard,” Zeke muttered, stomping from the room.

Arak smirked at Zeke’s back as he followed him. “Now what?”

Glancing over his shoulder, Zeke frowned at him. “You heard our wise leader. I track down that O’Malley bastard. I can only hope he gives me an excuse to nail him in the mouth. It would make my day.”

Arak laughed. Apparently Zeke still held a grudge against O’Malley. “Have you considered he might have been justified in his attitude?”

Zeke stopped suddenly, turned, and glared at him. “No.” Then he continued traveling through the abbey until he reached the carport. He paused, his hand on the door handle. “Do you plan on helping, or just annoying the shit out of me?”

“Both sound like fun,” he said with a grin as he climbed into the passenger seat. For Arak, it was a win-win situation. He’d get to irritate the shit out of Zeke and have the chance to participate in a good old-fashioned brawl. What could be better?

The aroma of coffee wafted up the stairs, and Charity stretched lazily. As she opened one eye, she could tell by the amount of sunlight peering in from the one covered window that she had slept the previous night and a good chunk of the day.

Usually one to sleep only four or five hours at a time, she could only guess it was due to the pip-squeak growing inside her.

She reached across the bed but found Kash’s side empty, and as she let her hand fall to the mattress, disappointment raced through her. She’d hoped to curl into his side, steal his warmth, and let it soothe her back to sleep. But apparently her mate had other ideas, hence the wonderful scent now enticing her to rise.

Succumbing to her curious nature, Charity went in search of Kash, only to find he was with a most unexpected guest. Jet was sitting at the kitchen table, drinking her coffee, and she was quite put out.

She waited a moment to see if her presence would capture either male’s attention, but neither acknowledged her, instead continuing to stare at each other sullenly.

Charity didn’t know if some silent communication was occurring that she was not privy to or if Kash and Jet were playing a sort of game, where the first to break eye contact had to wash the coffee cups. Shaking her head in amusement, she finally stepped into the room.

“Is there anyone in this place who isn’t going to intrude upon our privacy?”

Both males turned to her. She could tell Jet was surprised by her appearance, but not Kash. He had known she was there watching. Without waiting for a response, she moved toward the coffeepot and fixed herself a cup. As she brought the hot beverage to her lips, her sigh quickly turned to a groan. Decaf.

Kash was smiling at what had to be a look of revulsion on her face. “Jet brought it for you.”

“To what do I owe the honor?” she asked with more than a trace of sarcasm. She couldn’t believe she’d lost her caffeine already. She’d hoped for at least a few more days before Kash would think to take it away.

Kash reached out, grabbed hold of her arm, and pulled her into his lap. He rested his hand on her abdomen, a gentle reminder, and Charity leaned her head back onto his shoulder with a disgruntled sigh. He chuckled softly. “You aren’t the only one who has to get used to this crap.”

“But you don’t have to give up caffeine.”

He lightly massaged her stomach. “I can’t really understand much of what you will be going through over the next six months, but this, at least, I can share with you.”

“Oh Christ. This really is too much,” Jet mumbled, closing his eyes as if he thought the image of the two of them cuddling would burn his retinas.

“You’re welcome to leave at any time.” Her tone was sickly sweet, but Charity’s thoughts were anything but. She didn’t know why Jet was sitting in her kitchen, nor did she really care. She didn’t like him, had no intention of ever thinking fondly of the other male, and wouldn’t be upset in the least if he left to never darken her door again.

“Unfortunately, twinkletoes, I can’t. I’m your new bodyguard, and I plan to stick to you like glue.”

Charity glared at Kash. “Tell me Marlboro Man is joking.”

“’Fraid not, chérie. Remy assigned him last night.”

“Why?” she asked, genuinely perplexed. “Couldn’t Remy have gotten someone who actually cares if I live or die? I would think that a requirement.”

Before Kash could respond, Jet retorted, “Apparently it’s not as important as you’d think, mutt.”

“Jet.” Kash’s tone held a warning, but Charity placed a hand over the one on her stomach and gave it a light pat.

“It’s mutual. We don’t like each other. As long as you do your job, I don’t care what you think of me. But just understand, this baby is the most important thing, so you’d better be prepared to do it, and do it well. Once she’s born, if you want to step aside and let a demon take a swipe at me, so be it. I’ve been taking care of myself all of my life, and I don’t intend to stop now. My daughter’s protection is the only thing that matters.”

“I’m kind of partial to your protection too,” Kash murmured in her ear before his teeth nipped her lobe.

Jet had been assessing her throughout her speech, and now he stood and stared down at her. “I’ll do my job. Just make sure you don’t leave this fortress without notifying me. Until that baby is born, your ass is mine. As for the rest, we’ll see, won’t we?” Then he turned and stalked from the room, his feet making not a sound.

And the way he could move, undetected by her shifter senses, filled Charity with a sense of calm. Jet would protect her, and he’d do a damn fine job of it, because somewhere deep inside him burned the same sense of honor all of Kash’s brethren held. He wouldn’t let his personal feelings get in the way. But even so, she couldn’t help wondering why. Why had Remy sent Jet and not Zeke or Arak?

“Well, he’s just a ray of sunshine.”

Kash gave a humorless chuckle. “I’ll talk to Remy, have someone else assigned. I don’t want Jet looking out for you any more than you want him to.”

Charity remained silent for a moment. Did it even matter who followed her about?

She would have more fun with Zeke; that was for sure. But what was more important—that she enjoy herself, or that their baby was safe? Unfortunately the answer was obvious.

“Kash, do you trust Remy’s judgment one hundred percent?”

When he sighed, Charity knew her fate was sealed. “Yes, I do.”

“Then I guess I do also.”

He tightened his arms about her and kissed the top of her head. “If Jet bothers you too much, I will take care of it, chérie. I will not have you needlessly upset just because Jet is pissed at the world.”

“What’s his story, anyway?”

“I only knew him in passing before our fall, but something occurred that made him as he is now. What? I cannot really say, except he has been this way for centuries.”

“And what’s with the boots, hat, and chaps? Don’t get me wrong; you make chaps look hot. But suede and fringe…” Charity shuddered.

“Jet had spent the last several centuries in Texas and throughout the Southwest. It had been a popular destination for demons after the Civil War. All the lawlessness and mayhem provided the perfect atmosphere, and Jet was able to use the Rangers as cover for decades. I just don’t think he ever left the Wild West.”

Charity gave a snort. “You think?” Then she giggled.

“What?”

“Do you think I could get Jet to agree to a makeover?’

Now it was Kash’s turn to snort. “Good luck on that one. The only way a woman is going to pry that Stetson away from Jet is through sex. And I can’t see any female willing to get that close to him.”

“Maybe you’re right,” Charity mumbled, chewing on her bottom lip. Kash’s thumb immediately brushed across her mouth, and she released her lip, smiling sheepishly.

“So what’s on the agenda today?”

Kash shrugged. “The main residence is in an uproar, so I figured we’d stay in bed all afternoon.”

While his plan sounded wonderful, Charity couldn’t resist asking what he meant.

“An uproar?”

Kash seemed reluctant to explain, and as she arched a brow in challenge, he smiled softly. “It seems our news was not fondly received by all. Faith was quite upset over it.”

Charity contemplated his words. She hadn’t considered how Faith would react. Or anyone else, for that matter. But she wasn’t surprised. She knew that Faith’s being a vampire meant the likelihood of her delivering a full-term baby was next to nil, and she was also aware through Prue that this deeply troubled Faith. The belief that the curse had now been lifted must have been even more upsetting to her boss.

“And did you know Prue was planning to leave town?” Her guilt must have shown on her face, because Kash made a tsking sound. “Faith is in a tizzy.”

“Well, crap.”

“Why did she leave?”

Charity met Kash’s gaze and wondered whether she should tell him about Prue, then decided it wasn’t her secret to reveal. “There are things about Prue I don’t think anyone is privy to. Things about her past. She seemed spooked last night and wanted me to go with her. But I couldn’t without trying to work things out with you.”

Kash cupped her cheek in his palm. “I’m so glad you came back. Christ, I would have ripped this world apart searching for you.”

She leaned into his touch, unconsciously closing her eyes. He brushed his lips against hers before sliding his hands under her and cradling her in his arms as he stood. Opening her eyes, Charity wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered his name.

“We are returning to bed, chérie.”

With a small smile, Charity rested her head on his shoulder, letting her eyes drift closed again. She could feel Kash climbing the steps, but it wasn’t until the mattress sank beneath her then dipped under his additional weight that she peered at him through her lashes. He leaned over her and brushed her hair from her face, his fingertips trailing lightly across her forehead, and, arching into his touch, she let a soft rumble escape her throat.

Kash gazed down at her, the look of adoration in his eyes almost choking her with emotion. As he traced the side of her face with his fingers, Charity ran a hand down the smooth skin of his bare chest, wondering when exactly he had gone from being just her mate to being her whole world. When had he wormed his way so deeply into her heart that being with him was more than just a biological need? It was essential to her emotional well-being. The bastard had sneaked up on her and done something she’d sworn no one ever would. He’d made her love him, and though not quite ready to say the words, she was more than willing to show him.

She let her fingertips wander down the expanse of his chest with a teasing touch until she reached the top of his jeans. The button was undone, as if he’d thrown the pants on in haste, allowing for easy access, and Charity slowly slid her hand inside.