Page 72 of Sinful Mates

Working in the ER showed me the side effects of stress and burning the candle at both ends. Patients consuming copious amounts of energy drinks to study, prepare for legal cases, presentations, getting treated for cramping from dehydration, heart palpitations, heart and blood vessel problems, and extreme anxiety. Heart attacks, strokes, and high blood pressure arising from severe stress.

Saving the world and destroying our enemies wasn’t worth my mate’s health. Period.

Castor’s sleepiness vanished and his eyes lit up with vengeful fire. “I’ll rest when this is over.”

Similar to Slade’s words.I’ll rest when I’m dead.

Fuck that. If Castor wanted to fight me on this, then he could go ahead.

“Who’s the nurse here?” I injected the same heat into my gaze to match his. “The one employed to care for the health of the club?”

My genius mate might know books through and through, but I knew medicine and people just as thoroughly as a textbook.

He sighed, his grip relenting a little. “You’re on hiatus.”

“It doesn’t mean I don’t watch out for my mates. I’m ordering you to rest.”

“All right, Sorceress. But only if you lie with me.” He picked up his mug, conceding defeat.

“Good.” I was getting better at winning some battles with my mates. That, and he was too fatigued to argue with me.

Lulled into silence, we drank the hot drinks and then settled down under the blanket folded next to him. Head rested in the crook of his shoulder, I stroked his belly, pumping my magick into him, coaxing him to sleep. His breathing slowed, the rising of his chest shallowed, and before long, he was out. Content that he rested, I snuggled harder into him. Eventually, his soft breathing lulled me back to sleep.

My other mates must have let us rest because when we woke, his cell said 8:30AM. Zethan’s blanket was folded neatly on the sofa.

“You let me sleep too long, Sorceress.” Castor gently nudged me into a sitting position.

I ran my fingers through my disheveled hair. “You needed it.”

My foggy mind scrambled. Damn the sleeping in. There was something I had to do. Memory slammed into me. Mommy duties. Get Mia dressed, lunch made and packed, drop her off to school.

“Shit. I have to take Mia to school!” Panicked, I fumbled off the lounge and into the kitchen, searching for her.

Everything was quiet. Clean, too. Counter free of toast and cereal crumbs. Tableware packed away in the dishwasher. Tea towel tucked on the oven rail. Spilled orange juice wiped up and the carton replaced in the fridge and not left on the counter as Slade and Zethan had a habit of doing. Fresh coffee brewing. A flower picked for me beside one of two bowls of fresh fruit, yogurt, and granola. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cantaloupe, and kiwi fruit.

Awww, Alaric’s hand there. My romantic mate always left them for me. My heart somersaulted.

Living with my men had been easier than imagined. Castor’s office usually looked like a bomb went off with books everywhere, manuscripts unrolled, and papers scattered everywhere. Same with Slade’s with ledgers everywhere, tobacco bags, used whisky glasses, and plates. I thought they’d be messy, have beer cans and pizza boxes strewn everywhere, clothes loosely tossed in washing baskets, and other mess expected of bachelor pads. Nope. Quite the opposite. Especially with Alaric, the neat freak who cleaned up after us. Military training he schooled Mia with and had her room spotless.

A note rested beneath one of the bowls and I picked it up and read it.

Rest, angel. Everything’s taken care of. I’ve taken Mia to school. Yes, I made her lunch and packed her homework. Yes, she has matching socks. Yes, her hair is brushed and tied up. Yes, she has two pieces of fruit in her lunchbox. No, I’m not parked out the front of her school.

I giggled. Alaric knew me too well. Mia had cute little a habit of losing socks and wearing mismatched ones. She hated brushing her hair and would wear it crumpled to school if allowed. And Nurse A always insisted on everyone eating their fruit and vegetables, much to everyone’s grumbles, especially Mia and Slade’s.

I’ll swing by to pick you up and take you to the shelter.

Love, A xo

Damn my sweet man. Someone earned himself extra kisses and cuddles this morning and a shot of longing went down our link.

Shelter… we were cleaning up the mess the Wolves made. Benny and Pitbull cleaned up the blood and gore but left the broken windows and furniture.

Castor slid up behind me and kissed the back of my head. “I’m taking a shower. Join me if you want to.”

I spun around to catch the end of his shirt. “Oh, no you don’t.” I jabbed a finger at the food, then the raised counter seat. “You’re eating and getting fuel in your body before you conduct any god business. Like hell you’re working on adrenaline and caffeine.”

He growled from low in his throat, clasping my waist, drawing me close to nip my ear. “Who makes the ruleshere, Sorceress?”

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