Malakai (Stone Society #13) - Faith Gibson Page 0,44
to rest a couple days. I don’t think you should go to your apartment.”
“I’m not. Malakai will take care of me.”
“Josie—”
“Mom, I’m going home with Kai. I know I haven’t told you about him, and that was because I didn’t want you mentioning anything to Dad. He would tell Presley, and I didn’t want to deal with her. It’s going to be bad enough when I give my notice.”
“What? Josie, you can’t quit. Your father and sister won’t be able to find anyone to take care of them the way you do.”
“They’re going to have to. I’ve given them eight years of my life and have received not one word of appreciation. Not one. Maybe when I’m gone, they’ll realize just how well I’ve done my job.”
“Why didn’t you say something?” Jacinta wiped the corner of her eye.
“He’s your husband, and I would never have you feel anything other than love for him. He’s not so bad, but Presley is impossible.”
“I’m so sorry, honey. I wish I had done something different with that girl.”
“You did a fine job raising both of us. She just got all of Dad’s genes.”
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Sabrina walked in with a set of papers. “Are you ready to go home?” she asked Josie.
His mate smiled at him. “Definitely.”
Sabrina left a new pair of scrubs for Josie to wear since her clothes needed washing. Kai wanted to burn them. The smell, even contained in a plastic bag, was strong with sickness and fear. Sabrina allowed Kai to push the wheelchair to the front door. He left Josie to speak privately with her mother while he pulled the Jeep around. When Kai parked in the loading area, he could tell Jacinta was still upset. He used his shifter hearing to eavesdrop.
“Please come home with me. At least for tonight.”
“Mom, I love you, but I’d much rather have my sexy man taking care of me. Besides, I feel fine. I’m going to go home and shut my phone off. When you tell Dad I’m taking my first sick day in eight years, I don’t want Presley calling because she somehow feels I’m doing this to get back at her.”
“So, you want me to be the bearer of bad news?”
“Yes. Dad loves you. He won’t be angry when you explain why I’m taking one day off.”
“Okay, honey. But call me tomorrow, or you know I’ll worry.”
Kai hopped out of the Jeep at that point. “Your chariot awaits,” he said, bowing low.
Josie laughed as she pushed herself out of the wheelchair. “Funny. That’s the same thing Trevor said.”
“Who’s Trevor?” Jacinta asked. Josie’s eyes widened at the slip.
“Oh, he’s one of our friends.” Josie hugged her mom. Looking over Jacinta’s shoulder, Josie rolled her eyes. “Thanks for being here. I promise I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“You better, or I’ll let myself into your apartment.”
Josie didn’t admit to her mom she wouldn’t be there. If Kai had his way, his mate wouldn’t spend one more night in the city.
Three hours later, after packing as much as they could in both vehicles, Kai carried Josie into Sixx’s house and straight to the bedroom. “I’ll get your bags later. Right now, I need you.”
They had been tempted by Josie’s bed, but Kai tamped down the beast when it urged him to fuck Josie while she was packing. He knew if they got naked, they’d never leave. Another three hours later, Kai left a sated Josie curled up on his – their – bed, and carried her bags inside. There was plenty of furniture in the master bedroom. Kai’s clothes didn’t take even half the space, so he unpacked her things while his mate slept on. He shuffled things around in the closet, hanging Josie’s on one side, and placed her shoes in a row underneath. She hadn’t been lying when she told him she had a lot of the sexy pin-up style dresses. Kai admired each one as he hung them up. He even went as far as putting them in the order he wanted to see them on her. Her bathroom at the apartment had been neat with very little on the counter, so he left those items for her to put away as she wished. After making sure the doors were locked and the alarm was set, Kai climbed back in bed, spooning his gorgeous mate with one arm against her stomach.
Kai didn’t sleep. He spent all night wrapped in the scent of sunflowers and coconut. It was