Bound (Legacy Series Book 4) Read online

  We stayed that way for a little bit while Xany buzzed about. Before I fetched Vanessa, I'd taught Xany all about what we'd be doing just in case she needed to take over. Xany took a paper sheet from the drawer and tucked it around Vanessa's lower half. Vanessa seemed to settle in, her eyes on the blank screen that was now powered up.

  "Mal's mad at me," she said.

  "Would you be mad at him if he did that to you?" Xany asked.

  "I think so." She dropped her head back on the table as if Mal's anger didn't make sense to her until that moment.

  "Are you okay with doing the exam? We didn't want to tell you about it in fear that you would think too much. You're doing more thinking than me these days." I kept rambling on at times in effort to keep Vanessa distracted. Part of it was pure habit. She nodded and Xany took over the distracting while I got to the doctorly things. I rolled the stool over to the table. Vanessa watched me until Xany queried.

  "So how do you think you can make it better?"

  "I don't know." She placed one hand on top of the sheet, the other gripped the table edge as if bracing for pain.

  "Don't break my table." I flicked her knuckle as I rolled by which made her smile some and relax her grip. I snapped on a pair of latex gloves and put the bottle of gel between my thighs to warm it.

  "What would make it better if it happened to you?"

  "I don't know." Vanessa watched me fiddle with the machine. "No one's done it ever."

  "That's something you might want to think about. I mean if you want to smooth things over. Do you?" Xany asked.

  "With Mal?" Vanessa nodded at Xany then looked back to me. "Is that going to hurt?"

  "No, baby. It rolls across your belly. We should be able to see, if not then we can look inside. I don't think we'll need to." I reached under the sheet and gave a tug at her jeans that I now noticed she wore rather low. How didn't I notice her belly beginning to swell? Maybe it hadn't until very recently, but still.

  "Yes with Mal. What do you think you should do?" Xany pressed.

  "I don't know," Vanessa repeated. At the same time, she reached under the sheet and unfastened her jeans. I thought she would have faded them away like usual but she didn't.

  "All the way, Ness. Why didn't you make them poof?"

  "I'm tired," she said, and pushed her pants over her hips. I helped her take them off the rest of the way.

  "Okay, ready?" I looked between them. Xany nodded enthusiastically but Vanessa shrunk a little. "Hit the lights, Xee."

  When the lights went out, the bluish glow of the screen illuminated the three of us. Vanessa gripped my hand as soon as I placed the probe near her stomach. I squirted some of the warmed gel on her abdomen then set the bottle down. She watched and continued to hold on to me so I switched hands.

  "It might take me a minute to find her for a good picture so don't get too worried, okay?"

  "I'm too worried," she said.

  "What's to worry about? You got the hard part over with already," Xany jested.

  "I know." I leaned down and kissed the back of her hand. "Watch the screen, okay?" She nodded and I began moving the probe around. As I figured, it took me a few passes to get the positioning right but when I did, the baby's image appeared on the screen. All three of us stared in silence. I took a few pictures and moved the probe slightly to get a better angle, and the tiny profile appeared.

  This is real. I blinked away the tears that welled in my eyes, a few tumbled down my cheeks. I hit a few buttons to zoom in and now her image filled the screen. We continued to stare and then I heard Vanessa sniffle. I turned to watch her and, for the first time, the reality of our situation seemed to hit her. A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, and her body relaxed beneath my hand.

  "She looks just like NeeNee." Xany giggled.

  Both Vanessa and I laughed a bit and shared a brief glance. Her cheeks reddened as a flush came over her and she, too, had tears streaming down her cheeks. Finally, finally, it hit her.

  "She's about twelve weeks," my voice cracked and I resumed taking measurements. I froze the image on the screen then picked up the doppler. I didn't tell Xany or Vanessa what I was doing, instead, I pressed it to her belly and the sound of the baby's heartbeat filled the space between us. Vanessa's eyes widened and she looked at me. "That's her heartbeat."

  "Wow, that's some snazzy beat she's got going on there." Xany leaned in closer.

  Vanessa put her hands over her mouth and began to cry again, but this time, her tears weren't of despair. Her surge of emotions hit me like a monsoon and our mate bond swelled greater than it ever had.

  "What do you think of that, baby?" It was getting difficult to hold my composure. Vanessa nodded through her sobs and pulled me into a hug. I lost the heartbeat as soon as she moved and my arm got tangled in some of the cords. I laughed softly and returned her embrace. Xany draped herself across the table and caught the equipment before it fell. She pranced around the table, sniffling in her own right, and printed out some of the images I recorded.

  "Here ya go." Xany shoved the pictures into Vanessa's hand. She let go of me and looked at them, swiping at a few tears. "Now, NeeNee, what'd I tell you about getting your girlfriend pregnant? Hmm? I thought we talked about the birds and the bees." Xany giggled and tugged my ponytail, her eyes twinkling with mischief. Vanessa chuckled through her tears, leaning back on the table and looking over the photos.

  "I used protection, Mom, I swear." I played along with Xany and smiled a bit. There was no doubt that Xany knew my every emotion, every ounce of fear, every fleck of upset. She played a great role in keeping me present.

  "Sure you did. That's what they all say 'til someone ends up with a bun in the oven," Xany continued to tease.

  "Her penis was too big for the condom and it broke," Vanessa joined in and Xany cracked up. I laughed, but more out of relief than anything else.

  "You must have one hell of a loaded strap-on, NeeNee." Xany parted her hands at least two feet. Vanessa laughed softly and nodded.

  "A what?" I looked between them.

  "You know, a dipstick?" Xany looked at Vanessa like "you've got to be kidding me."

  "Like from a car?"

  "She doesn't. I mean we don't," Vanessa told Xany something in half-sentences that Xany seemed to understand fluently.

  "Really?" Xany shook her head. "I can't believe this."

  "What are you two going on about?" I turned off the ultrasound and cleaned up Vanessa's stomach, taking a moment to rest my hand on the small curve that would soon consume her midsection.

  "You mean you have never played with a rubber winkie?" Xany gawked.

  "Not together," Vanessa said, she placed her hand on top of mine. Beneath my fingertips, the soft black fabric of a full-length skirt appeared. I lifted a brow at her and she smirked.

  "Wait a second." Xany's question finally struck me. "Vanessa, don't tell her this stuff! It's private."

  "Well, why not?" Xany pressed.

  "We hadn't needed…" Vanessa snickered at my outburst, "to use any."

  "I so know what I'm getting you girls for Christmas."

  "Not too big." Vanessa nodded in my direction.

  "Hey!"

  "Double header?"

  "Strap-on."

  "Will you two knock it off. I'm not strapping on anything Xany gives us for Christmas." I huffed at them.

  "Yeah, purple is the way to go or would you prefer a realistic looking one?"

  "Purple." Vanessa nodded and the two of them continued to completely ignore me, but the smirk Vanessa wore told me she was more than aware of me.

  "Oh, Ness, they have this new thing now where you can replicate Mal's if you wanted too."

  "You're in trouble, Vanessa. No scheming with Xany alone." I swatted her arm and she snickered softly.

  "I don't think he'll like that." Vanessa tucked the pictures against her chest and continued to address Xany.

  "That's true, he would want you to use the real thing." Xany snic
kered.

  "Just because I haven't a clue what you two are talking about beyond dildos, doesn't mean you can ignore me you know." I reached over and pinched them both on the arm. Vanessa laughed and leaned her forehead against mine. I smiled and brushed my lips over hers as a soft purr rose from her chest. A sigh of relief escaped me and Xany smiled. That didn't mean she let up on her teasing though.

  "C'mon, Ness. Let's get the computer and look some up." Xany giggled and hopped over to the desk.

  "Okay." Vanessa laughed breathily and let me go after a timid kiss. I stroked her cheek and she slid from the table. She never once let go of the pictures. I printed out a few more and tucked them into my back pocket. Xany knew how to make anyone feel better. Just being in her presence offered a soothing, rocking comfort like a swaying hammock on the beach.

  "They got tons of sites to choose from." Xany squirmed in the chair. "It's like a porno candy store."

  Even if she was corrupting the mind of my mate.

  Chapter Eleven

  I returned to the kitchen after showering and dressing for work. After the last few days, I didn't really want to leave my mates. Mal sat near the fireplace continuing to carve the bone he had prepared and Vanessa rotated between pacing and sitting in various places. Caden relaxed at the kitchen table watching me while I gathered my phone and such. He grabbed my hand just before I tucked my wallet in my scrub top.

  "What's that?" He nodded toward the photos hanging out of the wallet.

  "Vanessa's baby pictures. Want to see?" I took them out and handed them to him. The stoniness he carried for most of the day softened to a sort of goofy look. I laughed softly at his expression just as Xany peeked over my shoulder.

  "Don't you go getting any ideas about babies, dude. I am so not getting fat any time soon. So you can just put that goofy face away," Xany spoke adamantly.

  "Thank Gaia," Mal said, which only added to Caden's laughter.

  "No one invited you into this conversation, bub." Xany huffed.

  "Are you sure about that?" Mal cocked a brow at her.

  "Damn right I am." Xany turned her back on her brother signifying that the discussion was over. I glanced back at Mal and caught a crooked grin on his face.

  "As I was saying, you can gloat over Nee and Nessa's little bundle of fur all you want." Xany waved him off as she fiddled with the pot on the stove.

  "What's his name?" Caden asked, handing the photos back to me.

  "She hasn't got a name yet." I glanced over at Vanessa, who smiled around the thumbnail she chewed.

  "Should be 'One Who Makes Water Flow' since Nessa has done nothin' but cry." Xany snickered and I swatted her arm.

  "Be nice."

  "I was. I swear. I can't tease her too much now since she's preggo."

  Vanessa glanced in Xany's direction, her eyes remained red and puffy but she hadn't cried in the last few hours or so. After another round of pacing, she paused beside the fire, a few steps away from Mal. She hovered there for about a minute then sat down beside him, her long skirt tucked around her crossed legs. Jeans had now disappeared from her wardrobe. It's no surprise to me. The gestation period of werecats is notoriously short. In just a few weeks, she'll be nearly full-term. With the first trimester at normal speed, the latter two only lasted about a month each. I sighed as I gazed at my mates. Mal continued his carving, he didn't move away from Vanessa but he didn't acknowledge her either. Xany set a plate of food down in front of me.

  "Sit down and eat. I swear if I didn't kick you every now and then you'd starve." She gave my shoulder a shove.

  "I think Shawnee should cook for us tomorrow night." Caden grinned at Xany when she piled his plate high with roast turkey. "Thank you, precious. You don't have to serve me."

  "I'm not that hungry," I said but sat anyway, fearing another shove. Vanessa glanced at Mal and scooted an inch closer to him. He remained focused on his work.

  "No way. Nee only knows how to cook cereal." Xany gave Caden a kiss on the cheek. "You're welcome."

  "Oh I bet she can cook other things. With a mother like hers, I'm sure she can brew up a thick stew, beans and squash. Maybe some frybread." Caden lifted a brow at me as he took a bite of his dinner. I cut up a piece of meat and mixed it with mashed potatoes. I wondered if Xany ever got tired of cooking them for me.

  I observed my mates again, Vanessa, now unusually close to Mal, slouched against the hearth. Her posture shrunken compared to his. Mal glanced at her but drew his eyes back to the bone, though I noticed his movements slowed.

  "Can you?" Xany sat beside me with a plate of her own.

  "I can cook a little." I drew my eyes away from them for a moment. "Thank you for always cooking for me."

  "If I didn't we would all be eating some sort of fishy meal every night." Xany scrunched up her nose at the thought.

  "This is true. Vanessa can cook, by the way. Kat taught her as well," I said, turning my eyes back to my mates. Vanessa had now lowered herself enough to place her head on Mal's shoulder; her hands remained at her sides. Mal set his carving in his lap and watched her. It didn't take me long to recognize her submissive posture. I glanced to Caden to see if he'd noticed. Of course, he had. He also looked on.

  "Well then we should make her cook up something Irish like we were gonna make Gavy do." Xany nodded and poked me with her fork.

  "Ouch, what the heck?"

  "You were zoning out on me." She huffed.

  "Was not." I nodded toward the others and now all three of us watched them.

  "What are they doing?" Xany kept on eating as if she were watching a play.

  "I'm beginning to think you forgot all about Changer language, Xee." I laughed a little and poked her with my fork like she did to me.

  "Vanessa's offering an apology," Caden answered.

  Mal and Vanessa sat that way for about five minutes. The bonds inside brushed against each other in cool, comforting waves. I wondered if they were mind talking. Eventually, Mal turned and rested his cheek on Vanessa's head. Apology accepted.

  "I don't know a lick about kitty talk. She's my first." Xany giggled.

  "The body language is pretty similar to wolves." Caden glanced at Xany then to me. "Has she ever submitted to anyone like that before?"

  "Just one."

  "You?" Caden set his fork down and leaned back in his seat.

  "Only me."

  "I bet it was when you two got into it over the donor guy right?" Xany speculated.

  "No." I shook my head. "She does it when we're together."

  "You mean during your sexy time?"

  "You girls talk about sex more than guys do," Caden commented.

  "Yeah." I laughed at her phraseology. It always made things easier to say. "Just then. And only when I'm doing something specific."

  "You mean havin' dessert?"

  "What?" I looked at her oddly.

  "You know going down on her there. Dessert. Like milk." She pointed toward her breasts. "And cookies." And then at her nether region.

  "Xany! We are not having this conversation." I shot up standing and put my dish in the sink, for no other reason than to hide my embarrassment for telling too much.

  "You started it." Caden chuckled.

  "What'd I say?" Xany grinned as if she knew damn well what she said.

  "I've got to get going." I gave Xany a shove on my way past and joined my cuddling mates, crouching in front of them. They remained in the same position all this time. "Caden will take me tonight. I love you both." I leaned forward and kissed Mal then Vanessa.

  "The baby says don't go." Vanessa pouted at me but I laughed and so did Mal.

  "Oh she does, does she?" I lifted a brow at her.

  "Yeah, she says stay home." Vanessa sat up and looked at Mal.

  "She will need to learn to be without her mommy for a few hours a day and now is as good a time to start as any." Mal nodded his affirmation.

  "I doubt Vanessa will go far." I poked her nose and squeezed Mal's knee. "Behave. See y
ou in a few hours."

  "Love you, too," Vanessa said though continued to pout.

  "I wasn't speaking of Vanessa." Mal arched a brow at me. It took me a minute to think about what he said.

  Yes, I mean you.

  I didn't even think. What… I ran my fingers through my hair and looked between the two of them. Vanessa returned to lounging against him.

  You had better start then. He smirked and pulled me into another kiss. Go. Gv-ge-yuhi.

  I caressed their faces at the same time and stood. Caden waited for me by the door.

  "Want to come for the ride, Xee?" He grinned at her. "Or would you rather stare at those two immovable objects by the fire?"

  "You can bend me there, you know." I pulled on Mal's jacket and ducked under Caden's arm. "It's better for the environment."

  "Ah, call me an old fashioned polluter."

  "Sure, not like anything exciting is gonna happen here. Can we do it in the truck on the way home?" Xany perked up.

  "And once again, you have read my mind." Caden grinned and followed me out the door, with Xany bouncing along behind us.

  "Yes!"

  During the entire ride to the hospital, Xany kept trying to braid my hair. No matter how many times I swatted her, she kept at it. Eventually, they dropped me off and I avoided thinking about their trip home.

  "See you tomorrow."

  "Call if anything happens," Caden said, he glanced through the windshield and I could've sworn I saw him nod.

  "I will."

  Beth accosted me as soon as I walked in. She held out a cup of coffee and I took it. "Thanks."

  "About time you got here. I was about to die of boredom. Doctor Fox has no life at all." She sipped her coffee then nodded to the chart on the desk. "Only one admission so far."

  "Good. I'm not in the mood for another double bloodbath."

  "Uh huh. Me either." She propped her feet up on the desk. "So, tell me about this triangle you got going on."