A Warrior Wedding (The Protectors #7)(5)

Jill’s eyes rose to look at Slade, who was staring at the pregnancy test in his large hand. “Listen, I know I’m not—”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were sick?” Slade’s tone was flat, neither angry nor...actually, it was just flat, no emotion whatsoever, and she didn’t like it.

“I really didn’t think it was anything and it probably isn’t,” Jill began, but could tell he didn’t believe her. She started to fidget on the table when he remained silent. “And...I didn’t want to bother you.” She finally admitted the real reason she hadn’t told him.

“I’m not like your family, Jill.” Finally Slade’s voice held some emotion, angry emotion, but it was emotion.

“I know that,” she replied, no longer sure she believed her words. Why hadn’t she told him right away she was sick? Had she been afraid he would toss her aside because she was being a pain in the ass? She knew that was exactly the problem and by the look on Slade’s face, he knew it too.

“Do you truly believe you’re pregnant?” Slade pointed the test at her. “Because if you are pregnant, there is a dead man walking out there who I need to find.”

Warmth flushed her body at his words and she shook her head. “I haven’t been with anyone but you,” she whispered.

“Then you’re not pregnant.” Slade tossed the test in the garbage can. “I want to know everything, and I mean everything, from the beginning till tonight. If you leave anything out, I will bust your ass. You hear me?” He growled the question at her.

“Yes, I hear you.” Jill nodded. Usually, she would be a little more of a smartass when answering to his attitude, but she just wasn’t up to it. She was ready to find out what in the hell was wrong with her and since Steve, the narc, told on her, she was ready to let it all out.

“Are you okay?” Slade walked up to stand in front of her, his large hand feeling her forehead, then running down her neck, feeling the pulse in her throat.

She nodded, leaning into his hand. “I’m fi...” She started to say, but his narrowed eyes told her he knew she was about to lie. “I’m feeling a little weak.”

“Do you need to feed?” The concern in his voice was palpable.

“I don’t know.” She shrugged one shoulder. “I just fed from you, but I couldn’t keep it down and while real food stays down, it makes me so nauseous that I’d rather go without.”

He tilted her face up to his. “You need to feed.” It was a demand, not a suggestion.

“I can’t keep taking your blood and then vomiting it up.” Jill responded with a frown. “It’s too good to waste.”

A small grin tipped his lips, but didn’t reach his eyes as he turned away from her, looking through a few drawers in the metal cabinets behind him. “I need to take some blood.”

Jill wrapped her arms around her waist with a sour grimace. “How much do you have to take?”

“Three vials.” He turned toward her, his hands filled with everything he needed. He set everything down behind her. Putting his hands on each side of her legs, Slade caged her on the table and leaned in close. “You never look like that when my teeth are sinking into your sweet, soft neck. This is the same thing.”

Jill stared up at him. “It’s so not the same thing, Slade.” She actually blushed. He was the only person who could make her blush.

His sexy lips tilted in a smile as he winked at her. His mouth took hers hard. His hands remained on the table, but hers clutched him to her as if he were her lifeline.

All too soon his lips left hers leaving her breathless.

“You ready?” His dark eyes stared down at her.

“No,” she replied, but nodded.

“I love you.” His deep voice washed over her and still he didn’t move, but stared steadily at her with his intense gaze. “I will not let anything happen to you.”

Swallowing hard, she nodded again. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.” She did feel guilty about not coming to him when it first started, especially since he was being so sweet.

A frown flashed across his face. “We will deal with that issue as soon as we find out what’s going on and you feel better,” he warned her.

Relief crossed her face, but his frown didn’t disappear.

“I won’t forget, Jill.” His tone definitely indicated he wouldn’t forget and it would be dealt with, but usually his punishments were awesomely blissful in the end. She shivered in a good way at the thought.

She kept quiet as he grabbed what he needed to take blood. With hands so large, he was surprisingly gentle as he wrapped the tourniquet around her arm. She watched until he reached for the thing with the needle. Lifting her head, she stared straight ahead. She hated the thing with the needle.

“Make a fist,” he ordered, his voice deep and strong.

She watched his handsome face instead of what he was doing to her arm. Her free hand clawed the table in a death grip waiting for the painful pinch of the needle. She knew her body was tense, but she couldn’t help it. It was either that or cry like a little bitch, and she didn’t want to do that in front of him. She heard plastic ripping and crinkling knowing it was coming. His eyes finally met hers.

“You need to relax.” His intense gaze searched hers then fell to her lips. “I only have to stick you once and I’m very good at what I do. Just a small pinch and it’s over.”