J.R. Ward the Black Dagger Brotherhood Novels 1-4 - J. R. Ward [290]
He opened his eyes and saw Mary’s hair on his pillow. And the curve of her neck. And her naked back.
He broke out in a sweat, an erection popping up quick as a heartbeat.
He thought of the way they had come together after the feeding. And then again when they’d returned to their room. He’d reached for her twice more during the day, feeling bad about making the demands because he’d been all over her so much. Still, each time she’d smiled up at him and welcomed him inside, even though she must have been exhausted and probably a little sore.
And he wanted her again right now, but with a pounding need that was different than he’d felt before. This hunger was savage, as if he’d never had her at all or hadn’t seen her for months. As he fought the urge, his hands curled up on themselves, fingers tingling, skin tightening. He was completely strung out, the very bones in him vibrating.
He got out of bed and headed for the shower. By the time he came back, he’d regained some control, but then he saw that Mary had kicked the covers off of herself. She was gloriously naked as she lay on her stomach, her beautiful ass a temptation that ate at him.
“Can I get you something from the kitchen?” he asked hoarsely.
“Sleep,” she murmured, turning over onto her back. Her pink-tipped breasts tightened as the air hit them.
Oh, sweet Jesus…Wait, something was off here. Her face was flushed like she had windburn, and her legs were sawing on top of the mattress.
He went over and put his hand on her forehead. She was hot and dry.
“Mary, I think you have a fever.”
“Low-level. Not unusual.”
Fear put a chill on his craving to take her. “You want me to get you some aspirin?”
“Just need to sleep through it.”
“Do you want me to stay with you?”
She opened her eyes. He hated the dull look in them. “No, this happens. Honestly, I’m all right. I just need to sleep it off.”
Rhage stayed with her awhile longer and then pulled on some black nylon warm-ups and a T-shirt. Before he left, he stared at her. He could barely stand her having a slight fever. What the hell was it going to be like when she got really sick?
Havers. He hadn’t heard back from Havers yet, and the doctor should have had access to her files for long enough. Rhage picked up his cell phone and went out in the hall.
The conversation with the doctor didn’t last long, because there was nothing the male could do for her. As vampires did not get cancer, he hadn’t focused on the disease and neither had any of his colleagues.
Rhage was about to hang up when the other male said, “Forgive me, sire, as I do not wish to pry. But have you…are you aware of how extensive her treatments were?”
“I know there were a lot of them.”
“Do you realize how intense they were, though? If the leukemia has returned, her options may well be limited—”
“Thanks for looking at her records. I appreciate it.” Like he needed confirmation of how serious the situation was?
“Wait…Please know that I am here to help in any way I can. Even though I cannot be of aid with regard to the chemotherapy, we have the drug formularies for a lot of the pain medications and various other things she was on before. I can help ease her and watch over her, even though she will receive her treatments in a human hospital. You must call me.”
“I will. And…thanks, Havers.”
After he hung up, he went to Wrath’s study, but the room was empty so he turned to go downstairs. Maybe Wrath and Beth were grabbing something to eat.
From out of thin air, a wall of leather topped with a head of long black hair materialized in front of him. Wrath’s sunglasses were silver wraparounds today.
“Looking for me?” the king said.
“Hey. Yeah. Mary’s moved in. Permanently.”
“So I heard. Fritz said she brought some stuff with her.”
“Uh-huh. Listen, do you mind if I have a little shindig here tonight? I want Mary to see her friend Bella, and I was thinking the Brotherhood could play nice. You know,