The Dom's Patience is Rewarded [Unchained Love 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (7 page)

He gazed at Leticia. She was so beautiful, her dark-brown curls all tangled around her face, her skin golden brown under the blue blanket. He stared at her neck but could see no marks where she’d been bitten. He had a clear memory of biting her though, hoping it didn’t leave a scar. He’d been careful only to pick up skin in his teeth, not too much underlying flesh to damage her. Perhaps he hadn’t bitten her as hard as he’d thought he had in the heat of the moment.
Oh dear. I hope it was enough not to jeopardize our union.
Even though this was just a handfasting, not a formal mating, he hadn’t meant to do anything to endanger their relationship. After all, he planned to stay with her not just for three months, but always.
I was trying to be careful, but I know I did bite her.

Doing his best not to wake her, he slid out of bed and went into the microscopic bathroom. It was about the size of some hotel bathrooms where a person could sit on the facilities and turn the shower taps on and off. He stood in front of the mirror and looked at his neck. He turned his head to and fro, but there were no marks. “I did
not
imagine it.”

“Didn’t imagine what?”

William jumped. He hadn’t realized Oliver was standing in the doorway. The bathroom was too small for them both to be in it at once.

“Biting you both last night and being bitten. But there’re no marks on my neck.”

“Shifters heal fast.”

“That explains why there’re no marks on Leticia’s neck and also why her shoulder has healed so well. But there’re no marks on my neck and I’m not a shifter.”

Oliver just shrugged. “I’m about to make a pot of coffee. Would you like some?”

“Yes please. I’ll be there in a minute to help you make breakfast.”

Oliver had set a loaf of bread on the counter, so William made a pile of toast while Oliver brewed them a pot of coffee. Just as it was ready, Leticia staggered into the room. “Smells good,” she said, sinking into a chair.

William felt love for her pour though him anew. Her legs might be awake, but it was clear the rest of her was not quite up to speed yet. He grinned, placing the toast, butter, and a jar of strawberry preserves in front of her, while Oliver brought over the coffee, plates, and knives.

By the time she finished her first cup of coffee she was smiling, and halfway through the second cup she spread butter on her toast and bit into it. “Yummy, thanks,” she mumbled, her mouth full.

There was silence for a while as they ate, then Leticia asked, “Oliver, are we going to move our clothes and things in here today? I think you said something about that?”

William nodded. He’d thought Oliver had said that, too.

“Yes, I reckon we bring here the things we really need. The current season’s clothing and the stuff we use all the time. When that’s unpacked we can estimate how much space is left and come to an agreement between us.”

“I’ll need to get some cardboard boxes. I could just throw my clothes into my car, but I don’t think there’s going to be closet space for all of us here, so if I pack my things at home they can stay in the boxes here until I need to wear them,” said William.

“JB has cardboard boxes in the storage unit. We’ll meet you after your shift tonight and bring boxes with us. Then we can help you pack,” said Oliver.

“Thanks, that’ll be great.” Oliver did care about him. Was helping him. Wasn’t just pushing him to the side like the minor party in the union. And as well as that, he’d given William not only the privilege of the first dance with Leticia but also her first vaginal fuck. He was being treated better than he’d ever expected to be. Better than he deserved, probably.

“Will we go and get Leticia’s things first? I should be able to help with that before I need to leave for my shift,” said William.

“May as well,” said Oliver.

“I’ll be easy as most of my possessions are still in the storage unit anyway. I’ve been staying in a room and only took up the things I really needed,” Leticia said.

“Are there other things you’d really like to get from the storage unit? This apartment is small, but it’s big enough to have a few things around us,” said William, trying to gauge the size of the room they were in and where things could be stored.

“I’d really like my box of gardening tools. I’ve got a proper kneeling pad and tools that fit my hands. Having them would be good.”

Oliver nodded. “We can certainly get them.”

“What about you, Oliver? Is most of your stuff in the storage unit, too?” asked William, suddenly curious. Had Oliver had his own house? Did he maybe have furniture? It could be nice to sit at a table instead of using the counter as they were this morning.

“My heavy winter clothing is stored, but I don’t need it yet anyway. I lived in the main farmhouse back on the farm and all the furniture stayed behind when we left. I agree it’d be nice to have a proper meal table and some chairs.”

“How did you know what I was thinking?”

“We’re sitting here eating. It’s pretty obvious we’d be thinking about a real dining table,” said Oliver dismissively.

But William couldn’t help feeling it was weird that Oliver had basically just read his mind.

Oliver got a serious look on his face and for a moment William’s spirits died and he began to worry Oliver would say something to push him aside. Then he told himself not to be silly. Oliver had said he’d help him move his things into this apartment.

“There is something else we need to talk about right away. Leticia, seriously, you need to be careful about your safety. I’m not suggesting you don’t go where you want to go or don’t do what you want to do, but I’m telling you, ordering you, to be very aware that your father was talking to the leader of the rogue panthers. Until we know why he was doing that, you can’t, absolutely must
not
be alone with him or alone at all. Stay with the other women, always have someone in the garden with you. Be alert and remember that the danger isn’t over yet. Understand? As much as possible either I or William will be with you. But we both have to work and can’t be at your side twenty-four-seven. Never be alone. Never go anywhere with your father. Promise me,” ordered Oliver.

“I do understand, Oliver. I’m not silly. I don’t know what bee my father has in his bonnet, but I am intensely grateful Carey, Jubilee, and Larry stopped my father kidnapping me. You can trust me to be careful and to stay with the other women when you’re both at work. Larry’s going to assign someone to help me in the garden, and I’m betting it won’t be Dad.”

“I’ll talk to JB today about getting a security system for the windows and door here, too. Then you can be alone in the house if you want to be. But not until JB installs it. Okay?”

William thought for a few moments and said, “I agree with everything you’ve said and what you’re doing, but I don’t believe Larry will let Sam come back here and wander around unattended. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t let Sam back at all.”

“But how will my dad look after himself if he can’t be with his pack?”

“Sweetie, it seems as if he’s changed packs. His new pack is the rogue panthers.” William didn’t like saying that to her, but he knew she needed to hear it. It demonstrated her loving heart that she was still worrying about the man who’d shot her then tried to abduct her, dislocating her shoulder in the attempt. But she needed to be realistic, too. The old man was a liability, not a loving father anymore.

Leticia nodded and bowed her head. William hoped she wasn’t crying. He jumped up and wrapped an arm around her. She was his now. He’d almost forgotten he had the right to touch her.

Oliver nodded at him over her head. He seemed to be saying,
She had to be told even though it hurt her.
William nodded back then thought, Wait a minute.
Here I am imagining he’s reading my mind and I’m reading his. That champagne last night must have been very strong. It’s messed with my brain for sure.

* * * *

William had never been inside the private rooms in the main building at Carnal Connections, only to the communal areas. When the panther clan had moved here for refuge after it became evident the rogue panthers wanted to steal their unmated women, the women had been given rooms in the main building, but the men had shared apartments out on the grounds. On the few occasions he’d gone to someone’s home it had been to an apartment.

Leticia’s room was at the end of the hallway and had a different type of door from all the other rooms. He wondered why for all of about ten seconds before remembering a couple of the men had kicked the original door down when Sam had shot her.

“This won’t take long. I don’t have all that much stuff here,” said Leticia, pulling two suitcases out from under the bed and laying them on top of the blankets.

William pointed to half a dozen cardboard boxes stacked under the window. “Should I take them to our new apartment?”

“Likely JB has a luggage trolley, but really, we may as well just carry them down the stairs and put everything in a wheelbarrow. It’ll be faster and easier. Why don’t you help her pack while I go get the wheelbarrow?” asked Oliver.

“All right.”

Oliver left and William stood at the closet. She really didn’t have very many clothes. They’d easily fit in the two suitcases. Suddenly he longed to handle her things. To hold her sweaters and see if they smelled of her. To touch her lingerie and know that it had rested against her most intimate skin. But maybe she wouldn’t like that. “Would it help if I passed things to you so you could pack them?” he asked.

“Good idea. Do my shoes first, then the jeans.”

One case was full by the time Oliver returned and the two men carried it and the boxes down to the wheelbarrow. William wheeled it to their apartment and unloaded it while Oliver went back to the room to help Leticia.

A shaft of jealousy ripped through William. Would this be his future? Oliver and Leticia doing things together while he was away from them? He’d be working at the hospital and they’d both be here. Even when he was here, too, they’d be off in panther form going for a run while he’d be sitting alone in the apartment.

Would Leticia even notice if he was there or not, or would Oliver fulfill her completely? Was that why she wanted a handfasting not a mating? Because the other women in ménages had told her to try having two men for the great sex, but likely she’d end up settling in the long-term for a panther like herself, not needing him at all once the sexual experimentation was over?

Hurriedly he unloaded the wheelbarrow, stacking the boxes and suitcase against the wall just inside the door, and then he raced back, needing to be with Leticia, wanting to make the most of these few hours before he had to go on shift at the hospital.

* * * *

Leticia’s shoulder was aching by the time her room was all packed up and emptied. She thought she’d hidden the pain until William turned to her and said, “Leticia, you’ve done too much. Your shoulder’s hurting you, isn’t it, sweetie?”

“Just a bit. I’ll sit and watch you two pack up Oliver’s things.”

Oliver turned to William and gave him a piercing look. “Should it still be strapped up? Did she take the support off too soon?”

Now the piercing looks were on her. She remained still, used to her father staring at her like that, as if he was weighing up everything about her. But whereas he never seemed content, William smiled at her.

“No, she’s not holding it incorrectly. All she needs is a couple Tylenol and a rest. But you need to take it easy for the rest of the day, Leticia. No more lifting, okay?”

“I’m good with that plan.”

Once they left their own tiny apartment, William swept her up into his arms and put her in the wheelbarrow then began to push it toward the apartment Oliver shared with some other unmated panthers.

“Won’t that jolt her worse than walking?” asked Oliver.

“I’ll avoid the bumps,” said William.

“There’s no need to fuss. I’m fine, really.”

She thought for a few minutes then remembered something Oliver had said.

“Oliver, you said we should talk about adding a module to the apartment so it’s big enough for us. What sort of things did you have in mind? How will it work?” That should give them something to think about other than her.

“Likely we need to talk to JB about exactly what type of modules are available, but first I thought we should discuss what we want. Carey left the apartment because it was way too small. Which it truly is. Besides, living in the main house is best for them because Larry needs to be close by all the time as business manager. That’s not a nine-to-five kind of job. But it could work as the basis of a house for us. We just add what else we need.”

“Like a bathroom big enough to shower in?” asked William.

“And a kitchen I can cook in,” added Leticia.

“Gotta love a woman who wants to cook,” said William. His voice was full of affection for her. She couldn’t see him because he was pushing the wheelbarrow she was sitting in, but she could almost feel him smiling at her back.

“That’s the kind of thing I meant. What else do you need, Leticia?” asked Oliver.

“I was going to say a basement to store all our boxes in, but that’s going to be too hard, isn’t it? And really, our boxes are fine in the storage barn where they are already. Maybe what I should say is that I’d like to go through my boxes and pull out some things to use. Soon we’ll need to get some of our winter clothing out anyway, so we can do it then.”