Page 33 of Bitter Heat
Kerry hastily shoved a piece of chocolate into his mouth from a little plate of desserts he’d barely touched. He let the sweetness glide over his tongue and color his words. “He would be happy to care for me, and it would bring him honor if you felt he’d earned the money you send to him.”
Never mind that it was Kerry’s money, sent to fulfill the contract they’d made together when he became Wilbet’s omega. Never mind that as far as he was concerned, carrying their demon son’s spawn and delivering it was more than enough to “earn” that payment and a million years more. He kept his mouth shut and smiled as soon as he’d swallowed another chocolate. “Thank you for letting me stay in Hud’s Basin. My home brings me so much peace. And I know that Dr. Heelies is up to the task of the delivery. As I said, he’s been city-trained.”
They nodded and looked out the window, again turning their heads simultaneously, as though they had a tether between them. A moment of stiff silence followed before Monte looked back to Kerry saying, “It goes without saying that the child will be raised in our house in the city.”
Kerry nodded, clenching his jaw to keep from speaking. He didn’t know why he wanted to protest anyway. Sending the child to live with the Monhundys had always been his plan. He wouldn’t want to see this son every day, to be tortured by the living, breathing reminder of Wilbet. He didn’t want to have the daily burden of hating the child. He wished that he could love it.
“And you will chestfeed him, if you’re capable, for the first two years.”
Kerry nodded again.
“Do we need a separate contract?” Monte asked. “To ensure we all understand our roles?”
Kerry’s fists clenched in the napkin he held in his lap. “That seems unnecessary. We all agree. The child will be raised in the city, but I will give birth to him here…well, at Hud’s Basin.”
They exchanged glances again, hesitation clear between Kerry’s in-laws. They did so loathe to relinquish control. “We’d hate to offend the Heelies by doubting a doctor of their family….” Lukas said again.
“When the time draws near, you’ll alert us,” Monte said, touching Kerry’s arm. “And a few days after the child arrives, you will bring him to us here in town where we’ll meet you with a doctor for a full examination.”
“If you insist.”
“I do.”
Kerry agreed and took a long, cool sip of iced water. He wasn’t too surprised to hear the ice rattling or to see that his hand shook a little as he put the glass back down. “I agree to your stipulations.”
“And if you see any hint of an impending miscarriage, you will alert us right away and accept the doctor we send to tend to you.”
“Yes.”
They again stared at each other over the table.
“Very well then,” Monte said, ducking his glowing red head. “I suppose that is all we can ask of you at this juncture.”
Kerry nearly went limp with relief. He knew they were well within their rights to ask so much more. In fact, they could demand that he leave with them right now and go back to the city to deliver whether he wanted to or not. As far as the law was concerned, he was carrying Wilbet’s property, and while Wilbet was in prison, all his property not awarded to his victims had become the property of his parents. And that included the child in Kerry’s stomach if not exactly Kerry himself.
“You’ve been so kind and understanding,” Kerry said. “I don’t know how to thank you.”
“Thank us by delivering a healthy son. An alpha preferably, though I suppose you can’t control that.” Monte sounded bitter as if he wished he could hold Kerry responsible. “And remember that we’ve given you a lot of leeway, and allowed you many perks and freedoms…” He trailed off, seeming to sense that his words sounded ominous. So, he gave Kerry a sweet smile and a kind pat to his arm. “We’re so excited to become grandparents, and we can’t thank you enough for doing this for us.”
As if he’d had any choice! He’d been forced, and they damn well knew it. Twice he’d petitioned to allow another alpha to service his heats with use of alpha condoms to prevent insemination, and twice they’d refused. They’d wanted a grandchild more than they’d cared about violating his body and soul, and for that he could only hope wolf-god would one day hold them accountable.
Kerry smiled demurely, ate another chocolate, and said nothing.
But for now, they had him in their grasp.
That should havebeen the end of it, but it was not.
As it turned out, Monte and Lukas had brought Dr. Rose, a city doctor in their employ, to examine him in case he denied being pregnant. And, it seemed, despite his confession that he was, indeed, carrying their grandchild, they wanted to confirm the news.
“My uncle is waiting for me in the car,” Kerry said softly.
“We have a room reserved for you here. We’ll have a driver take you back up the mountain tomorrow morning,” Monte said dismissively. “I insist you allow our doctor to examine you, and then you must rest for the afternoon in a decent bed. And, of course, you’ll join us for dinner as well. Don’t you agree, Lukas? We have so much to catch up on.”
Did they? It seemed as though lunch had been hard and awkward enough. How could they truly desire to repeat it? And so soon?
“I prefer to sleep in my own bed.” Kerry touched his stomach and played the only card he had. “It’s better that I sleep well at night. For the baby.”
Monte narrowed his eyes suspiciously but went on as though Kerry had voiced a legitimate concern. “Oh, darling, we’ll send you home in the morning. You’ll be fine for one night.”
