Chapter 18
Jacque wasn’t sure how much time had passed from the time she collapsed to the time when the pain finally began to ease. She had slipped in and out of fitful sleep brought on by Rachel’s healing power. She couldn’t deny that she was thankful for those moments of oblivion.
As her eyes fluttered open, the soft glow of candlelight filled her vision, along with the face of her very concerned mate.
“How are you feeling?” he asked her, regardless of the fact that he could have just looked inside of her mind himself. She appreciated that he wanted her to be the one to tell him.
“Better,” she admitted. “But tired.”
“You had me worried.”
Jacque managed a weak smile. “That makes two of us.”
They stared at each other for several long minutes before Jacque finally broached the subject she’d so diligently avoided before the crisis had hit. She knew it probably wasn’t the time, but she needed to fix things.
“I’m sorry I didn’t come talk to you about my worries, Fane. I’m sorry that I made a decision that involved both of us, not to mention our pack, and didn’t think about how it would make you feel. I just wanted to take away your pain.”
Fane brushed a finger along her jaw. His eyes roamed over her face hungrily seeming to soak all of her in. “I understand why you did it. I know what it’s like to want to protect you from any and all pain and fear. I want us to be able to be honest with one another without the other feeling like they have to go to some drastic measure to fix things. Sometimes the best thing we can do for each other is just to be there. Just having you to hold, Jacquelyn, is the most soothing thing I could ask for. You are more than enough to help me get through tough times.” He took a slow breath as his warm, strong hand gently encircled her throat resting across her collar bone. “I can face anything in this world with you by my side. All I ask is that you trust that. Trust that we were brought together for a reason at exactly the right moment in time. I don’t think the fact that we were meant for each other is necessarily going to make anything easier, but it does make it all have more purpose.”
“When did you become so wise?” Jacque asked grinning up at him. Her body shivered under his touch and she tried to keep from closing her eyes and basking in it. She realized that the scare from the labor contractions had put things into perspective for both of them.
“When I was blessed enough to have you accept me as your mate. Don’t you remember? Beside every wise man is an even wiser woman.”
Jacque laughed. “Now you’re just trying for brownie points.”
Fane shrugged. “I’ll do whatever it takes to get loving from you.”
“Is that what you need?” Jacque’s voice dropped and warmth spread over her.
Fane’s eyes began to glow. “I want nothing more than to hold you, skin to skin, but Rachel has forbid any form of physical intimacy. She said we needed to make sure the medicine is going to keep your contractions at bay. So you are officially on bed rest.”
“Well, that’s a bummer.” Jacque tapped her chin. “I guess you will just have to entertain me.”
He quirked an eyebrow at her. “Oh? And how am I to do that, Luna?”
Jacque didn’t even blush when she answered. “I think a strip show by my fine specimen of a husband is in order. Even if we can’t physically be together, that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the view.”
Fane threw his head back and laughed as he sat up and pulled his shirt over his head revealing his very toned torso. “If a view is what my female wants, then that is what she will get.”
Jacque looked at his exquisite form taking in her fill. He really was something to look at.
“You’re turn,” Fane told her with a smoldering look that she was sure would melt steel.
Her eyes widened. “You want me to take off my shirt?”
He shook his head. “All of it. Like you said, I can look, just not touch.”
He reached for her but she held up a hand. “Wait one sec, Casanova. Before I bare all for you, are you okay? Like with everything?”
Fane laid a hand on her hip tugging her toward him. “It’s getting better. Seeing you in that much pain, and also seeing what could have been, has helped me let go of a lot of my fears. I’m not saying I’m not still scared of somethings but I think a lot of that is natural. After all, we are young and being a parent is a scary, intimidating thing. But like I said, together we can do this.”
Jacque felt her eyes fill with tears. “We’re going to be okay, right?”
“Beloved, we are so much better than okay.” He tugged at the hem of her shirt and helped her pull it over her head. “And we are about to be even better than that.” He laid down next to her and pulled her body close against his letting his warmth absorb into her. Their chest pressed together and their hearts pounded out a steady rhythm seeming to say with every beat that they were exactly where they were supposed to be―together, complete, whole.
Decebel held Jennifer in his arms as they sat on the floor in front of the burning fire. It was finally getting cool enough to have a fire again, and the warm flames danced sensually across his mate’s skin.
“You think we are all going to be okay?” Jennifer asked as she pressed her face against his bare chest.
“What do you mean?”
“Sally is off doing who knows what with Peri and all those new healers. I mean, what is up with all those chicks suddenly appearing? Healers are a big deal and you know every pack without one is going to be clamoring to get their grubby paws on one. That can’t be good for unity purposes. And then there’s Jacque and Fane and all their crap plus the worry of her losing the baby. And then there’s us.”
“What about us?” Decebel frowned down at her. “I thought we were fine. We had our fight, we made up, with incredible love making I might add, and I’m planning to make sure you stay too tired to cause any more problems.”
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t just say that I cause problems. Because what I know you meant was that I bring you such joy you can barely contain yourself and you struggle with the urge not to run to the top of the mountains singing ‘the hills are alive with the sound of music.' ” Her voice echoed around the room as she sang out the last part.
“Okay so, perhaps, we should be worrying about us. And if I ever do perform such a feminine act please kick me in my man parts.”
Jennifer patted his leg. “Consider it done, baby.”
Decebel ran his hand down her long hair enjoying the way the silk strands felt against his skin. His mind flashed back to earlier and the feel of her hair on his face and chest and her scent surrounding him. She was definitely a handful, but she was his.
“In answer to your question,” he said quietly not wanting to disturb their peaceful moment, “we are all going to be fine. We’ve already made it through some tough times. We just have to stay united not only as mates and partners but as pack as well. Evil will seek to divide us to weaken us, and we at times will even try to sabotage ourselves in our misguided efforts to fix things that are beyond our control, but if we stand beside one another, support one another, and love each other, we will persevere. As for us, you’re stuck with me, babe. Where you go, I go.”
“To hell and back?” Jennifer asked and he heard the teasing in her voice.
But in his answer there was no jesting. He meant it with every cell in his body. “To hell and back as many times as you need me to go.”
She pulled back and looked up at him. “That’s all I need to know.” She leaned up and pressed a kiss to his lips, and Decebel felt all of her worries fade away as she once again gave herself to him. As always, his mate was generous with herself and her affection and Decebel reveled in her attention. He had no doubt that their time of peace would soon be coming to an end. His wolf sensed it and was growing restless. But for now, he would push the worries away and find peace and comfort in his mate’s arms.