The Jaguar's Mate (Shifters-Match.com Book 3)

by April Zyon

  “Nothing at all. He’s a sweetheart. I had lost track of him. He should be a freshman, I think, by now. He’s incredibly talented in art and sciences. I know he had issues in English, but help steer him toward art and science and I’m sure that you will find his niche. If he’s acting out, I bet that’s why. So talk to him and get him into creative classes as much as you can.”

  “His mother has him in several of those programs, in and out of school. Unfortunately, he’s still a teenager who thinks he knows more than his parents. I don’t think it’s anything beyond the norm, although I’m definitely thinking military school could be in his future. But enough about that. I’m going to get the nurse and we are going to give you a once-over. Depending on what I find will help us figure out when you can be set loose on the world once more. We’ll also work on your medication levels to help manage the pain better now that you’re awake.” He tucked his pen away and stepped from the room.

  Quinn looked up at Piran and smiled. “Wow, he was seriously in a hurry to get out of here, wasn’t he? Did I do something wrong?” She reached out and recaptured Piran’s hand with hers. “At least you didn’t leave me.”

  “He’s a busy guy from what I’ve heard. The day we came in, you were his fifth but not final surgery of the day.” Leaning over, he kissed her. “You didn’t say anything wrong, either, for the record. Close your eyes and rest while we wait. You need to rest as much as you can whenever you can to get better. The sooner you are out of here, the happier I’ll be.”

  “I don’t like hospitals and never have. I can’t wait to be home with you.”

  “It’s sucked only having your hand to hold on to for the last couple nights.”

  The door opened and in came the doctor with a nurse. “Mr. Raske, if you’d step into the hall, we will get the examination done. Then you can come back in for the rest.”

  Piran gave her a questioning look she knew was him asking if she wanted him to remain or to step out for the few minutes the exam would take. That he was asking was sweet, if silly.

  “I’m perfectly happy having him staying here with me. He’s seen every single inch of my body, so there is no reason why he can’t stay. Besides, I’m sure that he will be able to take some of what you say and remind me of it when the time comes and so on.”

  “All right, let’s get started,” the doctor said. Over the next fifteen minutes she was poked, prodded, had blood drawn, and was generally starting to feel like a slab of beef. The nurse finished settling the gown into place again before leaving with the blood for the lab. “Well, everything looks good. The wound is healing nicely. It’s still mildly inflamed but doesn’t appear to be infected. We’ll keep an eye on it for the next twenty-four hours. I’ve ordered a small adjustment to the meds, and I’d like to see how you do on some simple foods. The key to getting you out of here tomorrow will be no signs of infection, you’re able to keep food down, and can easily go to the bathroom even if it’s with assistance.”

  “Can I have a burger?” When the doctor raised a brow, she said, “Okay, so no burger. How about some yummy, ever-so-perfect Jell-O?”

  “We’ll get you some broth, tea, and a Jell-O. If you can handle that, we’ll go with something a little heftier for dinner. The burger can wait until you’re no longer in the hospital and under my care. I’ll ensure the nurses get it all sorted out. In the meantime, sleep when you can and I will check in on you in the morning to see how your night was.” He shook Piran’s hand and headed for the door.

  “Wow, I didn’t think I would be able to get out of here that soon. Thank you.” She loved the idea that they would be able go home soon. “I will do whatever you tell me to do so that I can get out of here. No offense or anything, Doc, but I really want to go home.”

  “We’ll get you home soon. Do exactly as the nurses tell you, and we’ll go from there. The nurse will remove the catheter this afternoon. Remember, you will be sore when you first get up and moving. Go slow and lean on your mate there. If you have any questions, let the nurses know. If they can’t answer, they’ll track me down wherever I might be in the hospital.” With a last nod to her, Doctor Apaida left the room, shutting the door behind him.

  “He’s oddly efficient in a slightly distracted manner,” Piran said quietly. “I kinda like him, though. And he did save my best girl, so that makes him A-okay in my book.”

  “His son is really awesome as well. The kid’s an artist, so I’m glad that they have him enrolled in some classes for that.” She brought Piran’s hand up to her cheek and gave it a rub. “I’m not fully your mate yet, though, am I? I mean one day I will be but not yet.”

  “You are my mate in every way that counts, Quinn. No, we don’t yet have the full physical bond, but that will come in time. We have the rest of it, and that matters as much if not more than the physical.” He gave her hand a light squeeze, then flicked out a finger to tap her nose while smiling down at her. “You are my mate. Doesn’t matter what anyone else says or thinks. It’s what you and I know that matters.”

  “Good, I’m glad you feel that way, too. I feel the bond with you, and that’s all that matters to me. The physical will come later. Right now, I’ve got you by my side and we are golden. Wish I wasn’t in the hospital, but that’s okay.” There was a pause, then she said, “I just wish that the sheriff would have let your pack take care of him so that no one would ever have to worry about him again.” Yes, she was repeating herself, but he would be living in solitary for the rest of his days and to her that was too good for him. “Any word on Joe yet?” she asked after a moment.

  Piran shook his head. “They’re still looking for him. But no one will be worrying about your father. He’s going to need to be constantly monitored given the damage Travis did. He’ll be enjoying an extremely long visit in the prison’s medical wing under twenty-four-hour watch before eventually graduating to a deep, dark hole. From what the sheriff said before you woke up, the feds are working on making sure he gets zero outside contact except his lawyer, which will be triple verified to ensure it’s actually his lawyer. Apparently, that’s how this whole thing started. One of his cohorts got his girlfriend to impersonate being a legal assistant bringing him paperwork from the lawyer’s office to set everything in motion. Mainly because the whole lawyer-client shit is off the record, the cameras were turned off even with the fake legal assistant, allowing them to pass messages and plan.”

  “I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how the heck he got out, but now it makes sense.”

  “The warden is not a happy man but, given the grief this has caused everyone, I’m not in a place to let him off the hook. He had a responsibility, as did his guards. They failed and should be properly reprimanded. Hopefully, everyone takes something away from this situation and those that should lose their jobs do lose them. If not for them failing to check information, you wouldn’t have been shot.”

  “True enough that. I never want to be shot again, thank you very much. Once is enough for anyone, right?” She didn’t want to talk about it anymore. “So, what do you have planned for us when we get home? And did you get the bed sent out to your customers?”

  “The headboard left without a hitch two days ago. They should be getting it tomorrow, according to the shipping company, but I’m keeping tabs.” Reaching back, he dragged the chair closer and sat down, still keeping her hand in his. “When we get home I’m planning on setting up a nest for you and basically coddling you for a week straight. Maybe a petting or two, definitely some massages, and I thought we could try out a sponge bath just for shits and giggles.”

  “Oh, do I get to give you a sponge bath?” she asked with a smile. “Because if so, I’m so there.”

  “Figured you would like it, and no, the sponge bath is for you. Although once you are fully mobile again I wouldn’t be opposed to being the recipient. Oh, before I forget, Mom said to say hi and feel better soon,” he threw in there quickly. “Apparently, we have lots to eat when we return home and probably wo
n’t need to cook for about a month. Travis has been taking the donations and stuffing the freezer. It’s currently so full he’s had to put the rest in one of his freezers, which is saying something given my big freezer was pretty much empty.”

  “Oh gracious. Wait, was your mom here? And I was out? Oh Lord love a duck. What about the window at your place? Was that fixed? Please say yes. I really don’t want to go home and see that window busted like I’m sure it is.”

  “Yes, yes, and yes,” he said. “You were semi-awake when she visited. You mentioned to her how much you appreciated all she’d done to create the perfect mate for you and how well formed I was. Which was when I muzzled you because you started talking about things my mother never needs to hear. She was amused and said to let you know she’ll be taking you out for dinner when you’re better to talk about all that when you’re not drugged.”

  She felt the heat rising in her cheeks. “Fabulous.” She wanted the world to just open up and swallow her whole. “I will never live this down, will I? I’m never going to have her think of anything other than what she heard.” She was so screwed. Her and her loose freaking damn lips.

  “You’ll be fine. Like I said, I managed to muzzle you before you really got going. But it was close. When you go out with Mom, stick with water or soda, would you?”

  “Yes, I don’t want to have a repeat performance, if you don’t mind. I’m thinking that I want to have at least a little dignity left when I’ve finished my meal with her so that I can actually like my mother-in-law and she can like me. That is what we will be, right? In-laws?”

  “Yes,” he said with a smile. “Family is what it all boils down to. Don’t worry about it. You have a safety net with having just been shot and all. She won’t be hounding either of us, and she won’t be taking you anywhere for a while. Hell, she actually told me to keep you tucked away for a few weeks. There were some other suggestions, but since it was my mother saying them I’ve blocked them out.”

  “Thank you, I’m glad that you have, because I don’t think I want to know what your mom would have suggested, especially if she’s like other moms that are ready for their grown kids to give them grandchildren.”

  Piran leaned in and shook his head. “Oh you poor, sweet little human. You have no idea. Shifter mothers are a little different from human mothers. They tend to be extremely open about sex. All aspects of sex. But you will see when she eventually deems you well enough for your night out with her. She’ll likely have her entire spiel memorized by then on ways you can spice it up in the bedroom.”

  “Oh no. That’s where I will have to cut her off. If things got any spicier in our bedroom, I’m not sure if you would survive.” She winked. “Although I really would like to use those silk ropes I found in your top drawer. You never told me you had a naughty side.” Then again they hadn’t been together long, but even in their previous chats and missed dates he’d never said anything about having a fetish lifestyle, one she couldn’t wait to learn more about.

  “It’s not exactly something you throw out into a conversation. Especially when you have the devil’s own time trying to actually get a meeting with the woman.” Rubbing his thumb to her fingers, he adjusted in the chair until he could put his feet up on her bed’s edge. “Try and rest. Lunch should be here soon, and then you are definitely having a nap. We will talk about anything you want when we get home. Right now it’s getting you well enough to get you the hell out of here. I hate hospitals,” he muttered.

  He looked exhausted. “I’m worried for you, Piran. I need you in tip-top shape so that you can be with me in every way.” He looked as if he was ready to fall over himself. “I’m so sorry that you exhausted yourself waiting on me to wake up, I really am.”

  “I’m fine. A good night’s sleep will put me back in top form. Which I can’t get while I’m worried about you. Now that you’re awake I’ll sleep like the dead tonight.” The door opened then to show a nurse coming in with a tray, interrupting what else he may have said. Piran’s full attention was on the nurse, watching him closely as he got Quinn set up to eat her light meal. Only when the man left did Piran relax again.

  “You should have had someone get you some food. I don’t want to eat alone,” she admitted. “Food, real food. Even if it is Jell-O and broth I don’t care. Go, go and get you a nice big burger or something from the cafeteria. Or if any of your friends are around make them go get it for you so I’m not eating alone. Please?”

  He gave her a look that was half peeved, half exasperated and had a dash of amusement thrown in. Rolling his eyes, he got up and went to the door. Quinn couldn’t hear what he was saying, but he ducked back into the room a second later. “They are running to the cafeteria to grab me something. But you shouldn’t wait. That broth isn’t going to taste any better cold.”

  “Are you sure?” she asked and when he nodded she took the lid off and held the cup in her hand so she could sip at it. Her other hand was a little immobilized because of the surgery. She watched him as he paced. “You are so much like your animal, even in human form. I can’t wait to hear you purring again.”

  Shooting her a grin, he rolled his shoulders. “I promise to shift for you the moment you are tucked into our bed and purr for you. I could go for an ear scratch right now, actually. It’s been too long.”

  “That I definitely would do, give you lots of ear scratches. I miss doing that. I miss everything, each and every single thing that we’ve done together. At least we’ll be going home tomorrow. I really hope they will let me shower today, though, because I’m sure I stink to high heaven.”

  His lips twitched before he pressed them tightly together. Piran didn’t say a single word, but she knew that she was right about the funk she had to be giving off. He must have gotten a hold of himself, because he finally said, “I think we can figure something out. We can cover up anything that needs to be kept dry. You’ll also feel better, too, I’m sure.”

  “Thank God, because yeah, I need a shower.” She started to scoop her Jell-O when she heard the door and knew he was getting his food as well.

  Piran collected the container from whomever had brought it and came to her side again. After settling in the chair, he flipped it open and the smells hit her hard. He had gotten a burger and fries. He held up the container. “Want a fry?”

  “Oh yes, please,” she practically begged him. “I would seriously love to have something more than just broth or Jell-O.” She took the fry from him and sighed as she savored each bite.

  “You can have a couple more, but go easy. I don’t want the doctor freaking at us both. We need to make sure you actually get out of here tomorrow before I go insane.” Picking up the burger, he took a huge bite and let out a hearty moan. “Oh, now that’s what I’m talking about,” he mumbled around the mouthful he had.

  “Don’t worry. I will have broth, Jell-O, and then a fry and on and on like that. Besides, I don’t think that my body can handle too many fries right now.”

  “No, it probably can’t. You’ll have to work back up to them slowly. You’ve been on a liquid diet since you got out of surgery. Which, for the record, is something I never, ever want to experience again. I have never been so damn terrified in my life.”

  “I am more than happy to never walk into another hospital again for as long as I live. We will have any children we have at home with a mid-wife or something because I don’t want to do anything that will put me back in here.”

  He nodded. “Trust me, I avoid these places like the plague. And not only because you can likely get something incurable in one of these places. The pack’s healer can attend to the birth of any kids we have. But you do realize that they don’t tend to dispense with drugs, right? They are normally all-natural and all that shit.”

  “Okay, wait. No, that’s not good.” She shook her head. “No, no, that simply won’t do. I need drugs because I do not like pain at all. So they will have to bend their rules on this. I refuse to come back to the hospital, and therefore the
y will have to give me drugs. Period.”

  “I think you’ll need to fight that battle. They don’t tend to listen to the males all that much. They think we’re making shit up or being overly dramatic. But you put one in a headlock and I’m pretty sure they’ll clue in to things right quick.”

  “Damn skippy.”

  He smiled around his next bite into the burger.

  Quinn winced. “I would love to push that little button for more drugs, but I’m trying not to so that I don’t give them a reason to keep me even longer.”

  “You need to get your mind off the pain. Think about something else that maybe makes you feel better than the drugs could. Like getting in the shower. Having all that hot water sliding over your body, your hair squeaky clean and everything else fresh and clean, too. Then snuggling back into bed to watch a movie with your favorite guy at your side.”

  “Oh yes, the shower. Nice hot water would be perfect. Will you stay in there with me? I haven’t been in the bathroom, so I don’t know if it’s big enough for the both of us to be in there together. I hope so, I really do.” She knew sex was off the table—she didn’t even feel like sex, to be honest—but she wanted him in the bathroom with her and in the shower with her if she possibly could.

  “It’s a hospital shower stall. It’s big enough for you, me, and about half the pack, I’d say. They make them large enough for wheelchairs and assistance. And since I’m not about to let anyone else see your naked self, you’re definitely stuck with me.” Stuffing the last bite of his burger into his mouth, he offered her another fry.

  She took the proffered fry and moaned as she ate it. “This is so good.” She finished off her Jell-O and juice, then sighed and leaned back.

  She was lucky to have him there with her, lucky that he was so easygoing and willing to put up with her and all of her foibles. All in all she was lucky that she had ever put herself out there on that dating site and that he had responded and hadn’t given up on her. Quinn knew that she had hit the proverbial jackpot when it came to Piran and she couldn’t be happier, even if she was in the hospital.