I do not own any part of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. All of that greatness is the work of the amazing J R Ward.
As of 5-22-12 the wonderful GothicBelle has beta'ed this for me. Hopefully this is now easier to read.
I hope everyone enjoys.
Chapter Twenty Three
Jane materialized in the living room of the Pit. It was only 2:00 a.m. and she had already finished up at Safe Place. She wanted to spend a few minutes with V before checking in with her patients here in the compound.
Vishous wasn't at his normal place in front of the Four Toys, so Jane checked the kitchen then made for the bedroom. Both bedroom doors were open letting her know that the house was empty.
'Well,' she thought, 'I'll check on Syhren, then if V's not in the Training Center I'll just head up to the main house.'
Jane ghosted into the Physical Therapy room and found Marissa watching over Syhren.
"Why are you here?" Jane asked.
"Our Queen called me about half an hour ago. Her Majesty was in need of a replacement here at Syhren's bedside. There seems to be some royal business she must tend to in King Wrath's stead," Marissa explained in her usual aristocratic manor. Jane had thought her a bit uppity at first, but soon learned that in Marissa's case appearances were defiantly deceiving.
Jane had quickly learned that Marissa had a kind and generous heart and a brilliant mind. The things that Marissa had done for the vampire race through Safe Place were amazing. Jane was also impressed with her acceptance of Queen Beth after V had told her that Marissa had been Wrath's shellan before he met and bonded with Beth. Marissa had also endeared herself to Jane by readily accepting and supporting Blay after he came out. Her acceptance of Blay's sexuality had surprised Jane and given her hope for V and Butch.
"Where is Wrath?" Jane asked as she started a routine check on Syhren.
"The entire Brotherhood went to the Tombs," Marissa answered.
"What for?"
"It is unknown to us as it is Brotherhood business."
"Well then," Jane responded as a plan started forming in her mind. "I guess that means it's just you and me tonight. That is unless you need to get back to Safe Place?"
Jane moved from her patient over to her make shift desk in the corner. She really had to talk to Wrath about expanding.
"I have finished at Safe Place for tonight and I don't mind staying here and helping. I am better here than upstairs with the young."
Jane found that be an odd comment. She had always thought Butch was the type of guy that would make a great father and just assumed Marissa would be on board. Jane realized that for being housemates, she and Marissa knew very little about each other. And what she knew of Marissa she learned from Vishous. She and Marissa never really talked with each other, everything was always business.
If Jane was going to help their hellerns out, she and Marissa were going to have to respect, trust and support each other.
"Marissa, I always thought you wanted children. You're so good with them at Safe Place," Jane said.
"I love young. I am just worried about my first needing after my mating. Butch and I have not discussed our wishes on the matter." Marissa's honesty touched Jane.
"Oh, I hadn't considered that. V and I had no choice," Jane said.
"Life is not fair at times," Marissa responded.
"For us it's not a problem. It doesn't bother me and V doesn't want to pass his genes on to another generation, so basically we're good," Jane looked over at the other woman.
"That's nice for you then," Marissa paused before going on. "Butch talks so lovingly about Nalla and is great with her. He has been up to meet the new young. I just fear he will be like the other males if I do become pregnant. Pregnancy is the worst fear for a bonded male. Thankfully we still have a few more years."
"Mary said that Nalla's delivery was harder on Z than Bella," Jane said.
Marissa smiled at her, "This is nice Jane."
"Yeah, it is," Jane agreed. "We should take time to talk more often."
Jane went back to her paperwork pleased that her plan had started off so well and surprised at how easy this was going to be.
…
Qhuinn was about to move in for a kiss when he realized he had no idea what time it was or how long it had been since Blay had ate.
"Are you hungry, Baby?" he asked.
"Food would be nice," Blay smiled at him and his heart skipped a beat.
Qhuinn leaned into Blay and lightly pressed their lips together. He pulled back looking Blay in the eyes. "I love you," he whispered bring the house phone to his ear as Blay blushed. He let out a low growl as he waited for the kitchen to answer.
"Hey Fritz. Yeah man. You're the best," he said into the phone. The old doggen was amazing. He had known what was needed without Qhuinn saying a word. "Fritz said he'd have fresh food up in five."
He took the opportunity to steel another little kiss as he hung the phone up. His heart skipped again and he smiled. This was perfect. So fucking perfect.
Qhuinn slipped from the bed and reached for his clothes. Blay was still a little pale and Doc Jane hadn't been back to check him. It was best if Qhuinn put a little distance between them. He thought about how amazing waking up with Blay in his arms had been as he pulled his pants back on.
"You want a clean shirt?" he asked Blay as he rounded the bed.
"If you don't mind," he blushed again.
"You need to stop that shit right now or I won't be held responsible for my actions," Qhuinn grinned eyeing Blay over his shoulder as he went to the closet to grab a shirt. As he crossed the room the shutters started rising. It was night fall already; so much had changed in the last twenty-four hours.
"I can't help it," Blay said. "It's just you. You know."
"Here let's get this on before the doggen show up and you blush again," Qhuinn crossed back to the bed and helped Blay into a dress shirt. He had grabbed a light blue one so that Blay's eyes stood out even more than usual. "When you blush it's all I can do to keep my hands off you. And right now I'm afraid the things I want to do to you go against the Doc's orders for you to rest."
Blay smiled at him as he buttoned the shirt up for the male. "Qhuinn, you don't have to button my shirt. I'm not that bad off."
"Hey, you better enjoy all this pampering while you can," He teased as he stood back up and picked up Blay's pants off the floor. He took them to the bathroom and put them in the hamper.
"Alright, that's it," Blay called to him from the bed. Qhuinn smiled at the laughter is his voice, it was a good sign. "Who are you and what have you done with the real Qhuinn?"
He sat on the side of the bed again. "Ha. Ha. Very funny. I said you better enjoy this now, cause as soon as you're better it'll be right back to your ass nagging mine to clean," he paused. They smiled at each other. He grinned, "Then you'll just do it for me."
This felt so right, so perfect. Qhuinn had the oddest sensation and realized that he was happy. He hadn't felt like this in so long, he had almost forgotten the feeling.
He fussed with Blay's pillows until the knock on the door. He kissed Blay's forehead and got up and opened the door. Two doggen entered followed by Fritz.
Fritz placed a stand between the bed and Qhuinn's chair. The first doggen place his tray there and moved to collect one of the old trays. The other placed her tray in the now empty spot and collected the other old tray. Both slipped quietly from the room.
"Masters, is there anything else I can do for you at the moment?"
"No, Fritz. You've done more than enough," Blay answered.
"Master Qhuinn perhaps I can bring you a set of clean clothes?" He asked.
"Sure, man," Qhuinn smiled at him. "You really do think of everything. You rock."
The old doggen bowed his head. "Thank you, sire. I will leave your things outside the door as not to disturb you anymore. Do call if you have any other needs tonight," he said leaving the two alone again.
…
Blay watched as Qhuinn removed the cover from the food tray and sat it aside. As he inhaled the scents coming from the tray his stomach growled causing him to blush yet again.
'What is with me tonight,' he thought. 'I can't even move without blushing.'
Qhuinn sat on the side of the bed and picked up a plate. He cut a piece out of the stack of pancakes and held it up for him to eat. "Qhuinn, I think I can feed myself," he said reaching for the fork.
"I don't think so," Qhuinn said leaning out of reach. "Just sit back and enjoy," he said touching the food to Blay's lips.
Blay smiled around the bite of pancakes then opened his mouth. He closed his lips over the fork and slowly slid them off. He smiled at the look in Qhuinn's eyes as he ate. Blay had a hard time believing this was happening. That Qhuinn was really here, really doing all this. Hell he had just put dirty clothes in the hamper. Qhuinn held up another bite and they repeated the process. This time Qhuinn licked his lips as he watched. It made Blay feel amazing.
Blay knew this was dangerous, but earlier when he had still been wrapped in Qhuinn arms he had felt so safe and so loved. His heart was telling him to go ahead and jump in, Qhuinn was there to catch him, but his head was telling him whoa boy, hold up, you know this is only temporary. He took another bite and watched Qhuinn. This was everything he wanted. He was positive that it was love he saw in those beautiful mismatched eyes watching him.
'But for how long?' he thought.
He took another bite.
'Will I survive if he leaves?'
He took another bite. Qhuinn continued to smile.
'When did it change from 'when' to 'if'? Damn, there's that hope again.'
He took another bite.
'Should I trust in this? Should I trust him?'
He took another bite. The pancakes were almost gone.
'He would never hurt me on purpose,' Blay knew that with all his heart.
He took another bite.
'But he's hurt me so much already.'
He took the last bite of pancakes.
'And I don't care. It was the past. If this is real, if he is really here to stay, it was all worth it. Right?'
Qhuinn grabbed the other plate from the tray. Eggs, sausage and biscuits. He cut a piece of sausage and held it up. Blay smiled, "You need to eat too."
"There's another tray. I'll eat when you're done. Now eat. I need you healthy again," Qhuinn said.
"You need me healthy?" Blay smirked, shaking his head and took the bite.
"Told you I was a selfish bastard," Qhuinn looked so serious Blay laughed at him.
"That you are, Love," Blay responded and took the bite of egg offered to him.
"Love?" Qhuinn looked at him all funny.
"If you get 'baby', I get 'love'," and that's when Blay knew his heart had won and this was really going to happen. 'To hell with the consequences,' he thought. If the worst happened he had John and Butch to see him through it. He could do this.
"I can live with that," Qhuinn sat the plate down and took both Blay's hand in his. "Does that mean you're ready?" There was so much hope in those blue and green eyes that Blay's breath was taken away.
Blay nodded.
"I'm still afraid," he whispered.
"I'm still here," Qhuinn answered leaning forward.
"I'm scared because I can't live without you."
"You don't have to ever again. I told you, I'm never letting you go again," Qhuinn was dead serious and this time Blay closed the distance between them.
At first the kiss was soft and sweet, and then Qhuinn wrapped one hand behind his head and pulled him closer. Blay opened his mouth and Qhuinn invaded. Blay was lost in the moment. This was his heart's desire. This was his dream come true. Qhuinn tasted even better than he remembered. They were taking it slow, savoring the taste of each other. Blay let out a little moan of pleasure and tried to get closer to Qhuinn. He pressed himself into Qhuinn only to jerk back in pain.
"Shit," Qhuinn growled. "You okay, Baby?"
"Yeah," he said rubbing his hand over the bandage. "I wasn't thinking."
Qhuinn laughed at him, "That's a first."
"Very funny," he said leaning back into the pillows to ease the pain.
"I think we just need to hold off on that shit until Doc Jane clears you," Qhuinn said.
"When did you become the mature one in this relationship?" Blay laughed.
"When your ass tried to die on me," Qhuinn said. He looked like he was in pain. "You can't ever do that to me again."
Blay squeezed his hands, "You know I can't do that. Neither of us can make that promise, not with the lives we lead. I will promise to try my damnedest to make it home safe to you every morning."
"Here you need to finish eating," Qhuinn grabbed the plate again. Avoidance, classic Qhuinn.
"Qhuinn, we need to talk this out."
"Not tonight, when you're better," Qhuinn held up another bite. "Promise. This is just too fresh right now."
Blay took the bite and ate it.
"We will finish this," he promised Qhuinn.