Strange Love

"Morning, babe. How are you feeling?" Russ asked, happy she was finally awake.

"Russ?" Jos tried to turn toward him, but the pain was too severe. She let out a muffled groan as she grimaced in pain.

Russ lifted his arm from her and rolled over toward the nightstand. He pushed himself into a sitting position. He brought a tablet to her lips. "Here the doctor left some pain meds for you until you could get into the water." He slid his arm carefully under her neck and lifted slightly as he brought the glass of water to her lips. "If you'd like, once this kicks in, I'll help you into the pool or do you think you'll need the ocean?"

"The pool is fine." She said after taking several more drinks of the cool water.

Russ waited until she was finished, then replaced the glass. The corners of his lips curved up into a mischievous smile. He slid down into the bed facing her. "Now that I have you trapped and sex is obviously out of the question, how about we talk a bit?"

Jos frowned, "It's never a good thing when you say we need to talk." She closed her eyes as another surge of pain shot through her lower abdomen.

Russ laughed. "Well I wish I could say it's good news, but I'd be lying. It doesn't seem like much has gone our way since we started this." He bent forward and kissed her lightly. "But it doesn't matter as long as you still want to be with me, I'll do whatever I can to keep us together."

Jos let out a low sigh. "I'm not even sure that's going to be possible after what happened on the beach." Her gaze was trained on the bed post farthest away as tears began to build in her eyes.

Russ leaned closer and carefully cupped her face in his large hand. "It will be difficult, but we can make it work." He let out a heavy sigh. "Just tell me I'm the one you want."

Jos eyes widened. "Of course, you are! Haven't I been saying as much this whole time. What do I have to do to convince you?"

The tears spilt from Jos's eyes as she gazed up into two wide, sincere cyan orbs. "I don't need you to do anything more than trust me and understand what I'm telling you are honest problems we face. Some of them may not be easily bypassed... if bypassed at all."

Russ nodded, "It's been brought to my attention things aren't quite as easy as I originally thought they would be. I can't blame you for not wanting to dive into pains of the past, and I could have educated myself better." He bent and kissed her nose. "All I could ever think of was how much I wanted you, how much I needed you. I honestly thought you were simply scared of relationships and pushing me away for no reason."

Jos shook her head as tears began to fall, "You wouldn't be wrong about that. I don't think the curse will ever let me be truly happy. If I go back to your island with you, there are plenty of people among your pack that will see me as a monster and nothing more."

Russ stroked her check with his index finger as he said, "I don't believe that's true. If you were to give people a chance to get to know you, I guarantee they would every bit as much as we do." He smiled down at her as she lifted her gaze to meet his. "You give the curse too much power over your life, baby. It's time you started living." He bent and kissed her letting his lips linger over hers. "I love you, give my people a chance to fall in love with you as well."

Jos nodded, "I... I... promise if things go well with the courts, I will give them... and us a chance."

His smile widened, "That's all I'm asking for." He leaned forward and kissed her again but pulled back when she didn't respond as usual. His brows tented as he studied her. "What is it? What's wrong?"

Jos quickly shook her head focusing on his hand that rested over one of hers. "It's nothing... I'm just tired..." She said in a half truth.

Russ nodded, "Yeah, I'd say so. Are you ready for me to help you to the pool?"

"Do you need help getting it on?" He asked. Russ arched a brow when she didn't answer. She was wringing her hands, something she only did when her mind was in complete turmoil over something. His eyes narrowed as a thought came to mind. "Jos, you're not just telling me what you think I want to hear right now are you?" He bent over the bed carefully placing his hands on either side of the bed and tried to force her gaze to meet his, but when her eyes only came up as far as his lips he lost focus. His previous arguments were forgotten as he crashed his lips down on hers more aggressively this time.

The door burst open. "So, I was thinking..." Raven stood in the doorway mouth agape as her eyes landed on Russ and Jos. "You have to be shitting me!" She exclaimed drilling her fists into her hips as she stomped over to the now stunned Russ. She grabbed one large ear and pulled him toward the door, dragging him from the room. "Can't leave you alone for a damn second!" She glared at him as she tossed him into the hall. "She hasn't even been awake, what an hour, and you already have your grimy paws all over her! AND she hasn't even healed yet from saving your inconsiderate ass!" Raven slammed the door then jerked it back open. "Second thought, get your ass back in here! I came to talk to you not her!" She pointed to the chair by the fire.

Ry poked his head into the door. "What's going on in here this time?" He asked a plate of muffins and glass of juice set on a tray he was carrying in front of him. "Is it alright if I come in?" His eyes moved from Raven and Russ, who were having a stare down in middle of the bedroom, to Jos's flushed cheeks. His brows went up, and he rushed over to the bed, setting the tray down on the bed before bringing his large hand to her forehead. "You're not running a fever, are you? It could be a sigh of infection." He said as he flipped his hand over and pressed the back of it to her forehead this time.

Raven rolled her eyes. "She's not sick, she's embarrassed... I walked in to catch this lil shit trying to make a move on her ALREADY!"

Russ growled in frustration, "Like I said, it was just a kiss!"

"Didn't look like 'just a kiss' from where I was standing!" Raven barked out coming toe to toe with the large man.

Ry's eyes moved suspiciously from Russ to Jos. "Is this true? Was he trying to push you into... activities... you're not ready for yet?" concern filled Ry's hazel eyes as they searched Jos's expression.

"No guys... Both of you misunderstood... it was just a kiss... I... I..." She stopped fumbling with her fingers and brought both hands to her face to cover the growing embarrassment. "I... I... started it..."

Raven's mouth dropped again. "Jeez Joslyn! BEFORE HEALING?! You could bust your stitches OR WORSE!" She yelled throwing her hands up in the air.

Another head popped into the room, glancing around at the people already gathered. Before Shelly could glance back over her shoulder, the large man who'd followed her from the kitchen was now leaning against the frame of the door.

Arei crossed his arms over his expansive, bare chest. His ankles were crossed as well pulling the fabric of his pajama pants tight. "So much yelling for so early in the morning. What did we miss?" Arei's eyes moved pointedly between only Russ and Jos.

Ry nodded sympathetically down at Jos as a new wave of red flooded her cheeks. He took the tray and set it closer to Jos before turning to answer his brother. "Raven was just over excited about the new travel plans she's worked out." He nodded toward her. "Now that we're all gathered."

She narrowed her eyes at Ry but decided against calling bullshit. "I was talking to Isha last night and she may be able to teleport Russ and Ry to the courts, then they can travel by boat from there. She said the council want's to speak with Russ first anyways." She said.

Arei pushed up from the doorway. "Could you handle that?" He asked Ry. "You can go first then the boy. I can guard him while you're being teleported... seems like it would work." He shrugged.

Ry nodded. "Yes, I already talked to Isha about it this morning. It seems the council is pushing for this option, as it was their idea."

Arei narrowed his eyes. "You think they are up to something suggesting such a direct route to their courts?"

Ry shrugged, glancing to Russ before meeting Arei's curious gaze. "I would be more concerned if they were insisting Jos travel that way, but I can see no harm in the request for only Russ." He turned his attention to Russ as he said. "She'll be here around noon to get us. The whole trip should take no more than five minutes. So, get packed and say your goodbyes." He nodded to Arei. "Since the council hasn't directly asked for Jos to travel there directly and because we want to limit suspicion; Arei, Shelly, Jos, and Raven will arrive in exactly a week. That should give us enough time to work out whatever it is they want with you and be gone."

Russ's eyes bugged, "And be gone??? What do you mean, be gone?" I thought you said the whole point of me doing all this bullshit was to use my power to help her!" He growled angerly.

All eyes turned to Ry. He sighed heavily, "Yes, in the case of a trail that is. As of right now she is only being questioned. If we're lucky there wont be a trail..."

"But in case there is we need every trick we can pull out." Arei finished. "Us showing up separate and a week behind will help ground the belief that the two of you are not romantically involved. It will also give you time to plant yourself in a position of power over your uncle."

Russ arched a brow. "You guys seem like you have the whole thing worked out already... Why even bother sharing your plans in the first place? Why not just drag me around and force what's needed?"

Ry rolled his eyes as Arei shot Russ a harsh glare. "We could have easily enough." Arei bit out. "But as there's no benefit for us either way, we thought we might as well share it with your hardheaded ass, instead."

Russ narrowed his eyes at the mammoth of a man. "I'm sure you haven't thought out some gain for yourself in all this."

Arei snarled, "No I haven't because unlike your pampered ass, as soon as this job is over, I'll be pushed straight into another then another until the end of time." Disgusted colored his next words, "And unlike you I don't shun or cry about my god given duties. I take my responsibilities like a fucking man." He didn't give Russ time to counter his words, instead he turned and left the room.

"Well... that went better than expected..." Raven said blowing out a long sigh. She patted Russ on the shoulder as she went to walk past him. "I honestly figured it would be you losing your shit today..." She shrugged, "Guess it's still early, huh?" She tossed a wave over her shoulder to Jos. "Come take a swim before you two get too much farther into saying your goodbyes."

Jos's cheeks heated again and all she could think about was burying her face in the many pillows lining the headboard right now. She glanced up when an extra-large hand cupped her shoulder, giving it a light squeeze.

"It's pure salt water pumped in from the ocean. It will heal you rapidly." The sharp sculped edges of his cheeks reddened as he continued. "You wont have a lot of time, but if you hurry, you'll be able to... say... a proper goodbye..." He released her shoulder and nodded to Russ as he headed toward the door shutting it gently as he left.