admiral was anything but powerful or exceptionally good at what he did.
***
Arm bandaged tight, two pints of fresh blood in his system, and somewhat pain free for the moment, Michael leaned against the kitchen counter sipping yet more healing enhancing blood. Someone had picked up the wreckage, formerly known as the kitchen table. Guessing by the size of some of the chunks of wood he recalled seeing lying around and how badly Becca had been shaking, Michael owed Ryan a big thank you. With his blood now calm, he had to admit he’d been out of line. Ryan was hurting. Michael knew that. He would never intentionally hurt Becca, they’d grown pretty close over the last few months. As much as the vampire within him felt the need to affirm she was his when another came close, the man who ruled his emotions most of the time knew there was no real threat from the overlarge Marine. The monster did not, he was pure instinct.
His creature stirred. That didn’t mean Ryan didn’t need a reminder to treat Becca as a human and not wholly one of their kind. One of the team, she’d earned their respect. That didn’t make her physically their equal. Nothing would. Maybe during the period she’d been enhanced by his blood infusion had allowed them to forget. That time was clearly passed. And the way she’d struggled to get to her feet earlier after her fall told him she was worse off now than before the massive blood ingestion.
That wasn’t good. If she had to face off against Kenneth to secure her place, any weakness could mean death. Michael couldn’t watch that. He wouldn’t survive it.
Boots on stone drew him from his thoughts long before they reached the kitchen.
“Hey,” he called out.
“Ryan,” Michael saluted with his glass, tipped his head at the room. “Thanks.”
Visibly relaxing, Ryan eased himself against the counter on Michael’s left so he was facing the same scene, surveying his cleanup job. “It gave me something to do.” He sighed. “Listen, Mike, this thing with Gabs,” he began then stopped, rubbing his forehead. “I’m edgy, that’s all.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Michael took a drink and wiped his upper lip with a roll of his lower. “Love will do that to you.” He felt Ryan tense and shrugged. “Look a t m e , I was ready to rip your arms off because of an accident.” Michael let his friend off the hook. He was already struggling. Punishing him further over an “oops” would have just made him an asshole.
An enormous exhale followed by a low chuckle filled the room. “We’re getting old man, look at us sitting around talking about love. Remember when talking about girls was heavier on the X rating? Now we’re like a freakin’ romantic comedy.” He snorted and Michael laughed. “All we’re missing is the ex coming back just as the couple has it all sorted out.” Ryan flashed his teeth, glancing sideways to catch Michael’s frown. “What? You got an ex I don’t know about? I thought you were more of a ‘meeting the needs’ kind of guy before Becca.”
“Black’s bringing Kenneth back.” His eyes were focused on the toes of his shining black boots.
“Shit,” Ryan breathed, stretching the word like a deflating balloon.
“He’s got Gabs bringing him in now.” Twisting, he set his glass on the counter and leaned back, left hand gripping granite behind him. The other tucked away in his pocket, a makeshift sling of sorts.
“Depending how much trouble he gives her it shouldn’t take more than a few days before he’s here.” That Black kept Kenneth’s return from him stung. He thought he’d been fighting to keep Becca safe, fighting to minimize how much Black knew, let Becca take her time to get stronger before he used her up. It meant all of his objections voiced, punishments suffered, tormented moments were for naught. Black was moving forward with his plan regardless, just
***
Arm bandaged tight, two pints of fresh blood in his system, and somewhat pain free for the moment, Michael leaned against the kitchen counter sipping yet more healing enhancing blood. Someone had picked up the wreckage, formerly known as the kitchen table. Guessing by the size of some of the chunks of wood he recalled seeing lying around and how badly Becca had been shaking, Michael owed Ryan a big thank you. With his blood now calm, he had to admit he’d been out of line. Ryan was hurting. Michael knew that. He would never intentionally hurt Becca, they’d grown pretty close over the last few months. As much as the vampire within him felt the need to affirm she was his when another came close, the man who ruled his emotions most of the time knew there was no real threat from the overlarge Marine. The monster did not, he was pure instinct.
His creature stirred. That didn’t mean Ryan didn’t need a reminder to treat Becca as a human and not wholly one of their kind. One of the team, she’d earned their respect. That didn’t make her physically their equal. Nothing would. Maybe during the period she’d been enhanced by his blood infusion had allowed them to forget. That time was clearly passed. And the way she’d struggled to get to her feet earlier after her fall told him she was worse off now than before the massive blood ingestion.
That wasn’t good. If she had to face off against Kenneth to secure her place, any weakness could mean death. Michael couldn’t watch that. He wouldn’t survive it.
Boots on stone drew him from his thoughts long before they reached the kitchen.
“Hey,” he called out.
“Ryan,” Michael saluted with his glass, tipped his head at the room. “Thanks.”
Visibly relaxing, Ryan eased himself against the counter on Michael’s left so he was facing the same scene, surveying his cleanup job. “It gave me something to do.” He sighed. “Listen, Mike, this thing with Gabs,” he began then stopped, rubbing his forehead. “I’m edgy, that’s all.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Michael took a drink and wiped his upper lip with a roll of his lower. “Love will do that to you.” He felt Ryan tense and shrugged. “Look a t m e , I was ready to rip your arms off because of an accident.” Michael let his friend off the hook. He was already struggling. Punishing him further over an “oops” would have just made him an asshole.
An enormous exhale followed by a low chuckle filled the room. “We’re getting old man, look at us sitting around talking about love. Remember when talking about girls was heavier on the X rating? Now we’re like a freakin’ romantic comedy.” He snorted and Michael laughed. “All we’re missing is the ex coming back just as the couple has it all sorted out.” Ryan flashed his teeth, glancing sideways to catch Michael’s frown. “What? You got an ex I don’t know about? I thought you were more of a ‘meeting the needs’ kind of guy before Becca.”
“Black’s bringing Kenneth back.” His eyes were focused on the toes of his shining black boots.
“Shit,” Ryan breathed, stretching the word like a deflating balloon.
“He’s got Gabs bringing him in now.” Twisting, he set his glass on the counter and leaned back, left hand gripping granite behind him. The other tucked away in his pocket, a makeshift sling of sorts.
“Depending how much trouble he gives her it shouldn’t take more than a few days before he’s here.” That Black kept Kenneth’s return from him stung. He thought he’d been fighting to keep Becca safe, fighting to minimize how much Black knew, let Becca take her time to get stronger before he used her up. It meant all of his objections voiced, punishments suffered, tormented moments were for naught. Black was moving forward with his plan regardless, just
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