Shifter Magick (29 page)

The doctor took his warning and pulled the instrument loose and quickly covered Kera with
the blanket. “She’s a virgin?” S
he asked with shock apparent in her voice.

“What?” Jason breathed.

Maddox nodded as he looked up to the heavens and gave thanks for
another
miracle today.

“Is it possible that the hymen grows back with each sexual encounter.” The doctor looked at Maddox for answers.

He shook his head and laughed. “That’s ridiculous.”

“I saw it
there plain as day
.” T
he doctor perused.

“Then it means she wasn’t raped.” Maddox said slowly. “Because she was a virgin when she left me five days ago.”

Jason cleared his throat. “I think we’re done.”

Millicent looked flustered and was quick to refuse. “No, I haven’t finished.” She reached up and pressed her fingers to Kera’s neck.

Maddox felt the vibration before he had a chance to react.

Kera’s hand shot up
and grabbed the doctor’s wrist.

Maddox put his hand over hers and smiled. “Are
you awake? Kera?” H
e whispered to try and calm her now racing heart beat. As he looked down at her face he saw her open her eyes. “Hi.”

Her lower lip trembled.

Maddox cupped her cheek.  “Do you trust me?”
H
e whispered to her.

Her eyes flashed with a reflection beneath the emerald green. “
A
lways.” She rasped.

A tear fell down his cheek and landed on her nose. It made her blink in surprise and she became more aware of the other people in the room. She let go of the doctor and grabbed the sheet.

“Get out.” Maddox told them.

His father helped the doctor retrieve her things and leave the room in record time.

Maddox
moved her head from his lap and
lay
down next to her.
In case she didn’t want him to hold her, h
e propped himself up on his elbow and looked down at her.
“I’m sorry.” He told her.

Kera blinked as she looked up at him. “You’re too strong to cry.” She whispered
hoarsely
.

He shook his head as he bit his lip. “Nope.” He smiled sadly. “I’ve never been weaker in my life.”

Her lower lip trembled. “Hold me.” She pleaded with him. Her hand reached out and touched his cheek and he was lost to her.

“I love you Kera.” He whispered to her as he
pulled her close and
held her through the sheet. Her face pressed into his neck, energy pouring into him everywhere their skin touched.
“You’re alive.”

“I didn’t think I was.”
S
he
whispered in a raspy voice. He
felt her lips press against his neck and then she breathed him in. “I love you.”

Her voice was a raspy whisper against his neck. Maddox closed his eyes and pulled her closer to him. The moments passed by in a comfortable silence that he never wanted to end.

Her stomach growled loudly and Kera tensed. Her breath stopped and her heart shuttered in her chest.

“What do you want?” He whispered quickly. “Soup? Sandwich
? L
ive game?”

Her surprised intake of breath
filled his ears, and then she pushed it out on the
edge of a laugh. “Live game?” S
he whispered hoarsely. “I don’t have the energy.”

“I’ll get it for you.” He promised her. “Or soup if that’s what you want.”

“I’ll have the soup.” She mused. Her eyes met his and she looked
okay
.

He was so relieved he almost shed tears again. “Let me call Daniel and have him bring some up. Do you have a preference?”

“Chicken noodle.”

Maddox turned and dialed the kitchen with the phone on his bedside table. He waited for Daniel to pick up. Kera snuggled even closer to him after her turned away. He ordered the soup with
Daniel
.

“
Why?” S
he whispered to him as he turned around.

Maddox gave in and pulled up the sheet and got in with her. He pulled her against him and brought her to where she was laying slightly higher than he was, the position of authority. “Why what?” he asked.

Kera closed her eyes and leaned her forehead on his. “I know why I love you.” She said softly. “You are noble and kind hearted. You are fearless and intelligent. I feel safe and special because your attention has focused on me.”

Maddox frowned. “And you wonder why I love you?” He chastised her gently. “You are the same things you just mentioned but there is one difference between me and you. You are made for me in every way. I found my mate in you and even if you find someone else, there will be none other for me.”

Her eyes closed and tears slipped between the folds.

“If you feel the same way then I’m lucky.” He told her.

Kera nodded.

He pressed his lips to hers and basked in the sensation.

She moved first, creating a
s
low caress of her tongue against his lips.

Maddox ran his hands into her hair and
rested his forearms against her shoulder blades. He squeezed tightly and felt her breasts press against his chest. He opened his mouth and let her delve her
tongue into his mouth. The minty flavor of toothpaste reminded him of the state she was in when he had her in the bathroom half dead and healing from horror’s he didn’t want to think about.

Then he remembered that she was experiencing something she hadn’t before with him and he buckled. He moaned into her mouth and Kera’s thighs squeezed around his.

Though his body responded, Maddox cursed and tried to turn away from her. 

“This isn’t private.” He whispered to her gently.

She nodded her head. “Isn’t like they didn’t see it a few moment’s ago.”

Maddox searched for her eyes.

She met his
eyes
and her emotions shone. “I know the smells. Petroleum jelly, latex, antiseptic and really bad perfume.”

“You’re
okay
though.” He assured her.

She
sighed and
whispered. “I have to go.”

Maddox the shock of her statement wash over him. “What?”

A smile spread over her face. “To the bathroom.” She wrinkled her nose in embarrassed amusemen
t. “And I need something to wear
. I don’t
want
anyone other than you seeing me without closes ever again.” After she spoke, the reality of her statement caught up to her and her expression changed to fear.

Maddox kissed her lips gently and rolled her over to her back. “No one but me.” He told her. He made sure the sheet kept her covered when he got out of bed. He went to his drawers and found her the smallest shirt and pair of sweat pants he could.

It was a struggle
. Kera was very weak
and it took a while for her to put the shirt on while she lay under the covers
.

Maddox
didn’t want to embarrass her or make her remember. Instead, he
tried to keep her mind occupied. “So you met Doctor Millicent Harden.” He held her weight against his side and pulled her to her feet. “She took care of me when I was recovering from the accident.”

Kera concentrated on pulling the sweat pants up over her legs while he kept her balanced. His shirt hung part way to her knees and kept her properly covered. “How close were you?” she asked.

“I couldn’t have died from the wreck alone.” He assured her. “I was two years after my first shift so
I would have had to been…” He cleared his throat, “It would have been hard.” He finished.

Kera smirked. “So she was here to tend to scratches?”

He smiled back and helped her walk to the bathroom connected to his room. He was glad that he hadn’t brought her here right when he got home. He didn’t want her to see the torn clothes or smell anything that would remind her of that place. “I can’t have you thinking I’m a
wuss
.” He joked.

Her laugh was raspy
too
. She turned in the doorway and grabbed the knob.

Maddox nodded and turned away from her. After he severed all contact and moved out of the way, Kera shut the door and his heart shuttered to a stop. He wanted to knock the door open and tell her that it was too soon. He didn’t care what the situation, they would never be apart.

He listened. She was still breathing. Her heart was still beating.

He counted the beats.

“The police haven’t made any progress.” A familiar voice
sounded from the front door.

Maddox heard Kera gasp.

Sam Conway was here.

“Welcome.” Maddox’s father said to hers.

“How did you find her phone?” Her father demanded.

The silence was interrupted by the door shutting and footsteps shuffling. “She left it with Maddox.” Jason said. “But we have more to talk about than the phone. I called you because I knew Laura. She was dear to me and I want to help you in any way I can to ensure that Kera is safe.”

Sam was silent for a long moment. “You’ve found her.”

Kera burst into tears at the pain in her father’s voice.

Maddox knocked on the door. “Kera?” He asked, concerned.

“I’m fine.” She called back in a voice that wasn’t her own. She kept her back to the mirror at all times. The bathroom was like the one in Maddox’s shop; only a shower and toilet rather than tub and all the extra room that came along with it.
After she used the bathroom, s
he did her best to wash off the smell of latex and other thin
gs the doctor had used on her. E
mbarrassment flooded her cheeks as she realized that Maddox had been present for her female exam.

She hated those. She hated hospitals. She didn’t want to live another birthday afraid of what was in store.

Kera realized that something had to change.

There was a knock at the door a few moments later and her heart jumped into overdrive. The space closed in around her. Reacting, Kera pulled open the door and pushed past Maddox. Her legs didn’t work like she needed them to and she collapsed. She closed her eyes and tried to calm down.

Maddox
knelt beside her and ran his fingers through her hair. “It takes a while to recondition your movements.” He told her softly. “You need to save your energy.”

Footsteps were coming up the hall. Without her having to ask, Maddox pulled her into his arms and stood up. He walked over to his bed and sat down with her settled in his lap. The door opened and a man with dark brown hair seasoned with white slowly walked in. He met Kera in the eye and smiled softly like he was afraid she would run.

Maddox tightened his grip on her for comfort and because she suspected he knew she was ready to run. “This is Daniel.”

Kera nodded to the man.

“I brought you a cup of broth.” Daniel told her softly as he handed her over the mug. “Drink it slowly.”

Tears burned her eyes. “Thank you.” She rasped. She took a deep breath and her mouth watered at the smell of the broth. Leaning over, she took a sip and felt the warm liquid make its way to her stomach where the muscles cramped up. Kera forced a smile.

Daniel smiled back, marginally relaxed. “
I’m so glad to meet you Kera. I’ve heard so much about you.”

Maddox placed his hands over hers. “She needs to rest tonight. I don’t want any visitors until she’s ready.”

“He’s my father.” Kera looked down at her now still soup and realized that her arms had been so weak she was shaking just to hold the cup. “Not knowing will be killing him.”

“Only if you’re ready.”

Kera let him help her bring the cup to her lips again and she took a bigger drink. “Why can’t I hear him now?”

Daniel responded. “Jason took him into his office. I think it’s amazing you have a shifting ability.” He moved forward and put his hands up when Maddox growled. “I understand.”

“I’m sorry.” Maddox said. “I can’t help it.”

Kera smiled and leaned back against him. “I’ll surely be ready in an hour or two.” Her eyes began to shut as the last of her energy was used to battle the stomach cramp from the soup.

Maddox took the cup from her hands and set it beside her.

She forced her eyes open and saw the door shutting behind Daniel.

“Sleep Kera.” Maddox’s deep voice soothed her. “There’s no rush.”

She didn’t know how long she had slept but
when she opened her eyes again, Maddox was asleep next to her. Kera ran her hands under his shirt and rested as much skin against his as she could. Her stomach growled and it took her a moment to get up enough energy to move again and sit up.