Once Upon a Shifter (31 page)

After a long wait, where she knew he was arguing with himself, he finally took her hand. She pulled him to his feet, unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans before she turned him around. Revealing what she guessed was a spectacular ass would be much easier on her already aroused self than seeing that beautiful erection again, in her face, close enough to—

Stop it
.

She slid the jeans down, absolutely right about the spectacular ass, held his right arm as he carefully stepped clear of them, and helped him slide under the covers. Once he was settled, and his lower half covered, she picked up the glass of water she’d brought with her, along with the syringe she had prepared in her exam room.

“I want you to drink all of this. The antibiotic is going to dehydrate you some, so I like to do a little preventive medicine.”

“I like the way you think, Doc.”

His unexpected compliment had her blushing. Again. Damn, she needed to have some kind of defense against this man. He’d already worked his way in, too far, too fast. Once he finished, she set the glass aside and lifted the syringe.

“This is going to hit you pretty fast, so I’ll say goodnight now.”

“Can I have a kiss?”

He looked so unbelievably sexy, his amber eyes hooded, dark stubble shadowing his cheeks, that Jenna couldn’t resist.

“One kiss.” She sat next to him and leaned down. “Just one, Roman.”

“All I need, Doc.”

She brushed her lips over his—and let out a gasp when his right arm caught her around the waist and he pulled her against his chest.

His mouth opened under hers, his tongue tracing the line of her lips before he pushed his way inside, tangling with her tongue in a slow, aching kiss that sent wave after wave of heat straight to her core. He slid his hand across her back, his fingers curling around her waist. She’d always been surprised by how small it was, especially since the women in her family tended to be square.

She moaned when his hand kept going, over the curve of her hip, and around to cup her ass. The kiss changed, deeper, wilder. It took every ounce of restraint she had left not to straddle him right here, take him inside her and ride him until they both lost control.

Just the image of that left her breathless, and she pulled away, needing distance, needing to not be touching him.

“Jenna—”

“Time for your shot.” She swabbed his arm, slipped the needle in, and pushed the plunger down, letting the antibiotic do its work. “Good night, Roman.”

“You promised.” His voice has already started to slur. “You promised to sleep with me.”

“I did, and I will. I just want to get Leo and Chrissy settled first. I’ll be back, like I said. Now close your eyes.”

He did, and she watched his body finally relax under the influence of the sedative she’d slipped into his water. Guilt poked at her, but she knew he wouldn’t relax on his own. This way, he’d at least get a few hours before he started overexerting himself again.

Once she knew he was asleep, she crept out of the bedroom and shut the door. Next up, two tired children to tuck in.

She walked into the kitchen—and halted, biting back a smile. Poor Chrissy looked like she was going to fall asleep with the spoon in her hand.

“Hey, sweetheart.” Jenna kept her voice gentle, so she didn’t startle the girl. Chrissy turned her head, a smile crossing her face.

“Jenna! The stew smells so yummy, but I’m too tired to eat it.”

“How about a nice slice of bread and butter? You can eat it while I clean you up, then you can fall right into bed.”

“Okay.”

“Can I have that, too, Jenna?”

She smiled at Leo. “You bet.”

Holding out a hand to each of them, she led the two exhausted kids into her spare bedroom, silently thanking Grey for leaving the twin beds here. She sat them both down on one bed.

“I’ll be right back. There are some t-shirts in the dresser if you want to change into something clean.”

Leo nodded, his dark eyes sober. Jenna brushed his cheek, then did the same to Chrissy before she left. God, they had seen too much, been through too much. She hoped their families would help lead them back to the carefree kids she knew they had been before this nightmare day.

She quickly buttered two pieces of bread and hurried back, not wanting to leave them alone too long—and halted in the doorway. Both of them were curled up on one bed, Chrissy snuggled in Leo’s arms, and they were sound asleep.

Jenna set the bread on the nightstand, grabbed a blanket off the other bed, and gently spread it over them. After making sure they didn’t wake, she took off her shoes and trousers, then slipped under the sheet of the second bed, turning to face them. She had promised Roman she would return, but he’d be dead to the world for hours, and she didn’t want to leave these two alone, in case one of them woke up in the night.

The last few hours finally caught up with her, and she drifted off.

***

“Chrissy! Chrissy, where are you?”

The panicked female voice jerked Jenna out of restless sleep. She sat, realizing who it must be, and quickly pulled on her trousers before she moved out of the bedroom.

“Hello. You must be Chrissy’s mom.”

The woman was an adult version of Chrissy—blonde, petite, pretty. She was also dirty, exhausted, and obviously scared. “Is she here? Is my Chrissy here?”

“Mommy?” A sleepy voice turned Jenna around. Chrissy stood just behind her, rubbing her eyes. Jenna knew the moment the little girl saw her. “Mommy!” She bolted out of the doorway.

“Chrissy—oh, Chrissy.” The woman ran forward and swept her up, burying her face in the sleep tangled hair. “My sweet girl. Are you all right?” Her free hand touched every inch, making Chrissy giggle.

“I’m fine, Mommy. Jenna and Uncle Roman found us. And Leo took care of me in the woods. He’s so brave.”

“Yes, he is, my love.” Her tear streaked face lifted, blue eyes meeting Jenna’s. “Thank you, so much. I can never repay what you’ve done.”

“We found them.” A warm body pressed to Jenna’s side, and she wrapped her arm around the boy’s shoulders. “Leo is the one who kept her safe.”

“Thank you, Leo.”

He shrugged, but she felt him tremble against her. “She was scared, Mrs. Cooper. I just—acted on instinct.”

“Like your father. I’m going to take you home now, Chrissy—”

“No.” She wriggled in her mother’s arms. “I want to stay here with Leo, until his daddy comes to get him.”

“Chrissy—”

“He didn’t leave me alone. I’m not leaving him alone, Mommy.”

“All right.” She set Chrissy down—and Jenna got out of the way as Chrissy came flying across the room, aimed for Leo. “Chrissy—”

Leo caught her, letting out a grunt. “It’s okay, Mrs. Cooper. I’ll put her back to bed.”

The kids disappeared, and the second they were out of sight, Mrs. Cooper gripped the back of the armchair.

“Please.” Jenna strode to her, wrapping one arm around her waist. “Come and sit. I’ll get you some water.”

“Thank you. I can’t say that enough.”

“I’m just glad we were there to find them.” Jenna poured some water from the pitcher in the fridge and brought it back to Mrs. Cooper. “Here you are.”

“Sandi.” She held out her free hand.

“Jenna Morgan.”

“The new vet. What a way to be introduced to your new neighbors.”

Jenna let out a shaky laugh. “It has been an eventful day.” She heard a truck roar up, headlights flashing across the front window. Brakes squealed as it halted. “I’m guessing they’re here for Leo.”

“He. Jedidiah Black. Leo’s mom passed away last year.”

“Oh, God. He must be frantic.” Jenna headed for the front door. It flew open as she reached for it. “Mr. Black—”

“Where’s my son?”

His low voice was quiet, but the rage behind it shook her. She took a step back. “He’s in the bedroom near the kitchen.”

The huge man stalked past her, and Jenna gave him plenty of room. He oozed danger.

“Dad!”

“Leo.” He scooped up the boy, his big hands cradling him like the most precious crystal. “You’re all right?”

“Yeah. The man shot Uncle Roman, and Chrissy was so scared I couldn’t let the man hurt her, too. I was afraid, Dad, but I didn’t show it. Not once.”

Jenna held her breath, waiting for him to yell at Leo. One harsh word and she was going to give him a piece of her mind. Instead, he leaned back, and smiled at his son. That smile transformed him.

“I couldn’t be more proud.”

With those words, Leo finally broke down.

Jenna wanted to comfort him, and started moving forward. The look Jedidiah Black gave her stopped her in her tracks. It was possessive, and warned her off. His big hand rubbed Leo’s back as he cried, his low voice murmuring to the boy. Finally, Leo calmed, wiping at his eyes.

“Sorry, Dad.”

“No reason to be sorry. You did a brave thing, and being scared? That only makes it more brave. You want to stay with Chrissy?”

“Yeah.”

“How about we all go home? Have a sleepover, so Dr. Morgan can get some sleep of her own. She’s probably wiped out, after keeping you in line.”

“Dad.” Leo swatted his shoulder, but he was smiling. “Can we, Mrs. Cooper? Have a sleepover? I think Chrissy would like it.”

“I’m sure she would.” Sandi glanced at Jedidiah, and finally nodded. “Your dad’s right. We should get out of Dr. Morgan’s hair. She’s done more than enough already.”

“Can I tell her, Dad?”

“Sure.” He lowered Leo to the floor. “Make it fast. I’d like to get us all home and to bed before it’s time to get up.” He smiled down at his son, watched him race to the bedroom. The smile faded the second Leo was out of sight. “Where’s Roman?”

“In the other bedroom.” Jedidiah stalked across the living room. “I gave him a heavy duty sedative. He’s asleep.”

That stopped him. “How bad?”

“He’ll be fine, once he stops trying to play hero. It looks like a small caliber weapon was used, and he had managed to heal a good bit before he scared the hell out of me by jumping on my porch.”

Jedidiah crossed his arms. He looked like an angry god, come to Earth to wreak vengeance. For the first time, Jenna believed this Paul would get what he deserved. Jedidiah looked like a man ready and willing to carry out an eye for an eye.

“Have him call me when he wakes up from his beauty sleep.”

“I will.”

He startled her by moving to her, and leaning down to gently kiss her on the lips.

“Thank you, for my son. He’s all I have.”

“He’s an amazing boy, Mr. Black. You should be proud.”

“Jedidiah. And I am.”

“Jenna.” This close, she saw the flecks of gold in his dark brown eyes. If he smiled—really smiled—they’d probably glow, warming his hard look. It would take one hell of a brave woman to take him on. His gaze skated past her. “Ready, Leo?”

“Yeah.” He walked over, holding Chrissy’s hand.

“And who is this lovely?” Jedidiah crouched, until he was eye level with her. “This can’t be Chrissy Cooper. She’s just a bit of a thing, hardly out of diapers.”

“It is me, Mr. Black!” She giggled, gazing at him. “I haven’t worn diapers in ages.”

“That’s good. Because I’m clean out.” He winked, and she giggled again, then launched herself at him. He caught her easily, and tucked her in the crook of his arm as he straightened. “Say goodbye to Jenna, Leo.”

He turned to her, those serious eyes meeting hers. “Thank you, Jenna. For everything.” He wrapped his arm around her waist, and she kissed the top of his head, missing him already.

“Come back and visit, anytime. Both of you.” She smiled at Chrissy, who had her head on Jedidiah’s shoulder, her eyes heavy.

Jedidiah nodded, and waved for Sandi to head out first. He turned, and held out his hand. “Let’s go, Leo.”

He let go of Jenna and gripped his father’s hand, tight. She watched them leave, hoping Leo could be a little boy again, that Jedidiah would help him get back there. Under all the gruff, the man genuinely loved his son.

With a tired sigh, she locked the door, headed through her clinic and locked that door. She stopped in the living room, and stared at the disaster that was her kitchen. “The stew.”

She refused to let it go to waste. Cleaning up and scooping the leftovers into several containers took longer than she expected, but she felt better when it was done. She padded across the living room, eased the bedroom door open and slipped inside.

Roman was still sound asleep. Jenna took her trousers off—again—and added her shirt and cami to the growing pile of dirty clothes. She found one of her oversized sleep shirts, pulled it on, quickly braiding her hair before she crawled into bed, careful to keep from jostling him.

Finally, hours after she had planned to, she fell asleep in her own bed.

***

The heat against her back woke Jenna. The window across the room was still dark, so she knew she hadn’t been asleep long.

“Roman?”

“I need to be inside you, Jenna.” His deep voice was ragged, and when he moved closer, his hard erection pressed against her ass. “You have five seconds to leave before I take you, make you mine.” She swallowed, her heart pounding. “If I love you tonight, you will be mine. For good.”

“Roman—your shoulder—”

“Is fine. Look at me, Jenna.”

She met his eyes as he sat, and her gaze dropped to his left shoulder. He’d taken off the bandage, and where there had been a bloody, stitched wound, a small, puckered scar now marked him, pale against his tanned skin.

Shocked, she pushed up to her knees and touched the scar. “That’s impossible,” she whispered.

He closed his eyes as her fingers brushed the newly healed skin. “I’m a shifter. This is part of it—the ability to heal fast.” His words slapped her, a reminder of what he was. A fact that was easy to forget. “I’ve seen the kind of woman you are—strong, brave, compassionate. You care so much for everyone around you. Even those who don’t deserve it.”

“Roman—”

“I have a past, Jenna. One I’m doing my best to make up for. Someone from that past has come back, and hurt innocents. I will stop him, whatever the cost. You need to know that now, before I touch you.” He kept talking before she could even think of what to say to him. “I know your scent, the lavender and vanilla, with an edge of citrus. It haunts me. You haunt me.” He opened his eyes, the amber depths dark with need. “You climbed inside my heart, Jenna Morgan, and I don’t want to let you go.” He caressed her cheek, tucking the stray tendrils of hair that had escaped from her braid behind one ear. “The countdown starts now.”