Legend Has It Book I ~{COMPLETE}~

Chapter 15 Discharged

PHOENIX

Genevieve had been mostly out of it for going on three days. The altitude adjustment had hit her hard. This wasn’t how I had planned to introduce her to her new home, but despite my worry she might not adjust, I was grateful for the time alone with her. Other than the occasional nurse who came to check her vitals, I had her to myself and had been able to study her.

I knew the Mate Bond had me biased, but she was perfect to look at. I felt like a pervert ogling her while she was out, but I am an Alpha make, dammit. Her lips were what really had me captivated. It wasn’t the shape or the color, but how they pouted slightly when there was a sharp noise or tried to smile when she was pleased. I could still taste them.

I decided to reach out to Josephine. Altitude sickness could be pretty serious and I only understood it when descending; not ascending. Josephine was the only person I personally knew who had been raised on Earth and ascended to another realm.

A short while later, images began to flash in my head. A human medication for motion sickness, a comfortable bed in a dimly lit room, and me, lovingly serving Genevieve from a silver tray in a French maid costume.

My mate gave a little chuckle, the first sound she had made other than small groans and Shhh since her first day here. Apparently she had seen the images, too.

::Dude!!:: Conrad laughed in my head.

I knew then it either wasn’t possible to contact one without the others, or Josephine, despite her simple ways, had one helluva sense of humor and decided to share with everyone.

I inwardly groaned. There was no way in Hell I was going to wear that costume, but it did give me an idea. Remembering what Genevieve had said to my father, the idea was to get my mate comfortable seeing me at least half undressed.

After summoning the doctor to request the Dramamine, her vitals began to improve. She wasn’t fully recovered, but Dr. Baker agreed to allow Genevieve to be moved to my suite at the packhouse, where he held an office next to the infirmary.

“Getting blood pressure back down can cause a headache of its own, but she should start feeling better,” he advised. “You know how to reach me if she takes a downturn.”

Getting her into my bed had been easier than I thought!

{~>*•*<~}

GENEVIEVE

The pounding in my head was slowly replaced by a dull, persistent ache, but was more tolerable than the constant pounding that made me feel sick all over. Hunger started to creep in and I was given a little broth and some jello—something I was pleasantly surprised to existed here.

I was still in the hospital, but knew I was going to be moved upstairs to Phoenix’s suite. OUR suite, I corrected myself.

The thought occurred that I hadn’t needed to worry about sleeping arrangements. He hadn’t left my side except to relieve his bladder and grab a bite to eat. The 20 minutes or so I was left alone had felt so empty! I knew now I’d be sleeping next to him always. There hadn’t been room for both of us in the narrow hospital bed, but he had slept with his head on the edge by me the last few nights. I would sometimes awaken to feel my hand on his head and though I was too weak, I imagined dragging his head to my chest.

I knew I was partly influenced by my dreams. I didn’t remember all the details of them, but I’m pretty sure it was memories of Isabella and Isaac. Isabella had been absolutely thrilled with Isaac, in all of his forms, at her breast, whether nursing or seducing her.

I acknowledged the Mate Bond as part of the urge, too. As the headache changed and light became less of an enemy, I was able to think about the tender care I’d been receiving from my mate. I didn’t know what battles he’d been through, but I knew he was a fighting Alpha and had probably killed his fair share of enemies. Yet here he was, doting on me. A complete stranger who had slept through most of our time together.

I felt a flutter in my chest and thought of the image of him in a French maid costume. Sexy as hell!!

His hand was lax on mine as he napped. I slid my hand from under his and rested it on his head to softly stroke his hair, just like Juanita had done to me when I was little enough to still be rocked and I just like I had done to the girls when they had slept with me all those years ago.

He stirred awake, lifting his head to look into my eyes as I subconsciously continued to stroke his hair.

“Be careful doing that,” he told me flirtatiously. “It’s a bit of a turn on.”

I knew I blushed, but managed to whisper back in an equal tone, “Oh really?”

His smile reached his eyes. “If you weren’t in this hospital bed, I might show you,” he added a wink.

I was going to boldly tell him not to tease me, but a tap on the door pounded in my head. I winced as a nurse pushed the door open and asked if I was ready to move to a more comfortable spot.

She spoke softly, but her voice wasn’t as pleasant to my ears as my mate’s was. I nodded.

“You’re free to use this bed to move her, Alpha.”

“It’s up to you, girl. I can push you or carry you,” he said to me.

“Carry me, please,” I answered, tickled that another smile broke out on his face.

I was surprised, but also grateful to learn the pack house had an underground tunnel from the hospital to the packhouse and a service elevator to the top floor where our suite was. This route didn’t give me a view of my new home, but my head still ached. There would be plenty of time later for sightseeing.

This was home now.

The “new” headache caused by the drop in my blood pressure may not have made me as nauseated, but the doctor had wisely chosen not to let me eat anything solid before discharge or I might have thrown it up all over Phoenix. I felt guilty for being so weak and found myself muttering, “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t you worry your pretty little head, girl! I wish you didn’t feel so rough, but I’m glad I don’t have to share you with the rest of the pack yet.” His whispered words caused a flutter—I wondered if he called anyone else “girl,” like she was his.

The elevator ride was smooth, but opened up to a brightly lit skywalk with floor to ceiling windows that the sun blared through. Ugh! Light still hurt and I buried my face in his neck, breathing in his scent. He knowingly brought a hand up and placed it on the exposed side of my head to help offer additional blockage of the bastard rays.

“Now I’m the one who’s sorry,” he murmured. “I should’ve thought of getting you an eye mask.”

“It’s ok,” I tried to say, realizing my lips were right on his neck. I felt him twitch a little.

“Careful, girl. That’s a...sensitive spot.”

Somehow, I understood what he meant. I filed that information away to use later.

We were moving down a hallway, much less brightly lit, but I kept my face buried in his neck. I felt like ten tons of hell, but there was nowhere else I’d rather be. Goddess he smelled good. Humans believed in aromatherapy and I hadn’t fully understood that until now. His scent was comforting and I didn’t want him to ever put me down.

He managed somehow to open the door to what I assumed was his room. His scent was thick here. He placed me down gently on an oversized couch.

“I need you to let go so I can get the hospital blanket off of you and adjust your gown.” I hadn’t been aware that I was in a hospital gown until that moment. That meant I was naked underneath.

“To be honest, it needs to be removed. It stinks like a hospital and you could use a bath. Do you feel like taking a bath?”

Oh, goddess, a bath sounded wonderful right now. “Yes, that sounds heavenly.”

“Ok. I don’t want you to let go, but I need my arms free.”

I reluctantly let go.

“I’ll be right back,” he promised. I watched him cross the room and disappear down a hallway.

The bright sun had caused me to see spots, but I knew that this room was all his. His scent was thick here. On the wall opposite from where he’d put me down, was a ginormous bed I suspected was custom made. It was neatly made in a dark blue comforter that complemented the dark gray walls. I heard a faucet turn on and within moments, Phoenix reappeared.

“Let’s get you ready for your bath, girl,” he softly spoke, removing the hospital blanket from me and scooping me back up. I felt his arm against the bare back of my legs, knowing my ass was hanging out of the gown, but I had no intention of fighting him. He’d seen me naked at least once and I was sure it wasn’t going to be the last time.

He had lit candles so the bathroom was only dimly lit, but I could tell it was big enough for a small party. The oversized bathtub was steaming from the water he’d started and a small stool sat by the tub.

Grabbing the front of the gown, he gently tugged at the snaps and discarded it. I could feel the steam from the bath and his hands on me as he lowered me into the tub. I vaguely noticed there were bubbles. Lightly scented apple ones.

I think I whimpered a little when his hands briefly left me, but they quickly returned, this time to my head he had gently rested on an inflated bath pillow. He had a cup in one hand and began to wet my hair. He was a little clumsy and it pleased me that he wasn’t an expert in giving baths.

I felt a little of the tension leave me as he began to wash my hair, gently kneading my scalp as he did so. I allowed myself to be pampered for the first time ever.