153 Call it love

Jos smiled. "Hey, I didn't expect to hear from you this soon. How was the trip? Do you like the room?" She watched as Arei pushed up from the bed and made his way from the room. He didn't bother glancing back at her as he quietly shut the door. "Um? What was that?"

Russ chuckled into the phone. [I said it was wild. It was almost like teleporting with Rin but only... faster I guess... I can't really explain it. It made Ry sick as hell though.] He laughed even harder. [As for the room, it's nice, I guess. It would be a lot nicer if you were here, though. Are you alone?] He asked as his voice grew huskier.

"Uh, yeah... why?" Jos asked still staring at the door.

[I just sent you a picture.] He said, his voice deepening.

Jos held her phone away and opened the message he'd sent. She drew in a deep breath. "Russ! Why in the world would you send me your... your..."

[Dick? Because I thought you'd like to know the both of us are thinking of you.] Russ answered.

"Um... alright but..." Jos could feel her cheeks redden as she quickly closed out the messenger app and press the phone back to her ear.

[But what, baby? I have roughly two hours before Ry gets to beat the living shit out of me in front of a bunch of 'all powerful' council members. I thought there could be some fun that could be had before then.] He said, the husky lore still in his voice.

"Wh... what fun did you have in mind?" She asked as more heat filled her cheeks.

[I thought maybe, if you were alone, you could help me with that pic I sent you.] He answered.

"How am I supposed to help you with that?" She asked innocently.

[Switched the call over to video.] He instructed; a hint of a smile echoed in his voice.

She did as he instructed, "Alright, now what?"

Russ smiled at her, shutting, and locking the door to his own room. [Go make sure your bedroom door is locked.] He waited for her as she carried the phone with her to lock the door. [Now, baby, go set in that chair by the fireplace.] He waited as she sat down. [Place the phone in the seat of the other chair with the screen facing you.]

Jos arched her brow at him, "Alright, but isn't it going to make it harder for us to talk like that?"

Russ sent her a wicked smile. [No, baby. It will be perfect, just set it there, alright.]

She frowned but did as he said. "Why do I get the feeling you're up to something devilish?" She asked.

He shrugged, [Because I am... Now pull off your pants and sit down.]

She arched a brow again. "I'm not sure if right now is the best time for this... It's not been great here since you left."

Jos rolled her eyes, "I don't doubt that at all, but I really don't think this is the best time for something sexual." She let out a long sigh. "I just want to know you're alright and that you know I love you..."

It was Russ's turn to sigh. [Alright, maybe later then... but I can't guarantee I'll be capable of getting it up in another few hours. Ry said I'll not be able to fully shift here so that means no healing.]

Jos rolled her eyes, "He'll not hurt you that bad if he knows you can't properly heal afterwards. It would make him look bad in front of the council if he did, especially with him pushing to be your bodyguard from here on out."

Russ chuckled, [Well here's to hoping! So, what has you so upset? Surely, it's not just my leaving.]

Jos shook her head, "Not exactly... tensions just really high right now I guess."

He nodded. [I can imagine. Honestly, I'm a little worried myself. Do you want to switch back to the regular phone?] He asked as he set the phone against a pillow and pulled his long hair up into a messy bun.

Jos shook her head as she watched him, "No, I like being able to see you. It's almost as good as you actually being here."

He nodded. [I like it better as well, just wanted to make sure it was what you wanted. I know you've never been big on 'technology'.] He teased.

Jos snorted out a laugh, "Well what do you expect when dating such an old lady?!"

[Um... If only all old ladies were as hot.] He teased as he bit his lower lip enticingly.

She rolled her eyes as she shook her head. "You are too much, you know that?!"

He laughed, [So I've been told. Now, what has you so upset?] He pushed, letting her know her vague answer wouldn't be enough to suffice.

She let out a long sigh and moved the phone up so that the stain on his white tee shirt she wore showed. "The mark hasn't stopped bleeding yet... I'm not sure if I should get in the pool or just simply bandage it and go on. What do you think?"

He shrugged. [Which ever you're comfortable with. I'm not even sure what possessed me to bite you again. Maybe it was just the stress of leaving you behind that had my beast going wild inside... I don't feel like I personally need to mark you any more than that ring.] He smiled and winked at her through the video. [Is that all? Surely a bloody tee isn't your biggest problems of the day.]

She frowned. "It's not..." She fumbled with the hem of the sleeve. "But I really don't want to talk about it right now."

[I can't support you and help you if you won't talk to me, baby.] Russ said gently.

Her frown deepened, "I know but... I'm just not ready to talk about it right now..." She sent him a half-hearted smile. "Maybe tonight? When you call me back to tell me how the meeting with the council went?"

He laughed, [So is this your way of asking me to call you back tonight?]

She nodded. "If it's not too much trouble."

He chuckled, [No, baby. It would be no trouble at all.] He leaned back against the bed bringing the phone up over him. [In fact, I'd love nothing more than to finish all the conversations from this call later tonight.] He winked at her as he held the phone out far enough for her to see him run one large hand down his hard abs and over the bulge of the front of his boxers.

Her cheeks reddened again. "I... I don't know about that part..."

He laughed, [Why not? I mean maybe I can sweet talk Isha into zapping me back there for a few hours, but I somehow doubt it.]

It was Jos's turn to laugh, "You're right, I seriously doubt she'd do that for you even with the promise of Raven." She let out a long sigh. "In other news, Shelly actually ate and seems to be holding it down." Jos quickly turned and knocked on the wooden table beside the chair. "I should probably knock on every wooden surface in here, so I don't jinx her."

Russ laughed, [I can't wait to see you pregnant, even if it does mean morning pukes and weird ass foods.]

Jos frowned again. "What if I can't?" Her hand flew to her mouth. "Forget I asked..." She said quickly.

Russ sighed, [No, I'll not forget it. It's something that's bothering you isn't it? Look at me, baby.] He said as he sat up in the bed and brought the camera close to his face so she could see his features clearly. [If you can't, you can't. It doesn't change the way I feel about you or my determination for a future with you.]

"That's easy to say now when there's no stress on you to have an heir... no one breathing down your neck about having proper Were heirs with a proper wife." She huffed out in irritation.

[Jos, it doesn't matter. I'd ten to one rather be back in Wilmington serving college students over priced coffee and living in our shitty apartment than dealing with any of those assholes.] He said trying to sooth her emotions.

Jos frowned. "I didn't think our apartment was shitty..."

He laughed, "I mean we shared it with two other people and had separate bedrooms, but I'd rather spend the rest of my life having to worry about waking the neighbors and my sister with our sex than be away from you for any measurable amount of time. Hell, if Ry wasn't so convinced my position could help you so much, I wouldn't be here now.] He said as he leaned back against the pillows and headboard.

Jos sighed, "I'm glad he thinks it will help... I personally believe keeping you and Shelly out of this as much as possible would be the best bet."

He shrugged, [We have both been a part of this from the start. We have every bit as much to do with things as you do, especially where those vampires are concerned. Ry and Isha both agreed that if I'm titled then it will put more of an emphasis on their crimes against me and Shelly.]

Jos nodded, "I guess that makes sense. I just wish there was an easier way... I shouldn't have killed them. I should have left it to the courts in the first place, but with everything I'd learned and knowing everything that monster did to Shell... there's no way. Had I not killed him then, I probably would have in front of the whole damn courts the second I'd found out all the things he'd done." A tear slid from her eyes. "If only I'd found out sooner and stopped him sooner... Rin may still be here, and she wouldn't be so... alone in all this..."

[She's not alone, baby. She has us and Rin's parents whenever she's ready to see them again. Besides, who knows with Gin... dead isn't always dead where they are concerned.] Russ said soothingly.

Jos's eyes shot up to meet his on the screen of the phone. "What do you mean by that?"

He shrugged, [I mean his parents told us some pretty incredible stories while we were there. There isn't anything that would surprise me where their powers are concerned.

She frowned, "But don't you think if it was possible for him to somehow come back, he would have by now? It's been nearly four months."

Russ stroked his chin. [Has it been that long?]

Jos nodded, "We've been here two almost three months. I was in Florida for two and an half weeks. If her wedding and Rin's death was within the first week I was gone then, yeah..."

Russ looked thoughtful. [I guess you're right... I can't help but wish there was a way to bring him back to her, I guess...]

Jos let out a long sad sigh and she nodded in agreement. "Has anyone bothered calling and talking to his parents about any of this?"

Russ nodded, [Ry called to let them know Shelly had been found and was safe that night after we got to the hotel, and I called them shortly after we found out she was pregnant. Jamila was pretty upset that Shelly wouldn't speak to her, but she also understood Shell's reasons for staying in wolf form and hasn't pushed for anything further.]

Jos nodded. A light rap interrupted what she was about to say. "Hold on." She said to the phone. "Who's there?" She called thankful the door was still locked.

"You left your food, I thought I'd bring it in for ya. Plus, Shelly was wanting in to see ya." Arei called from the other side of the thick oak door.

She blew out an irritated breath. "I'll be right there." She turned her attention back to the phone. "Promise you'll call me after the hearing... fight... all of it."

Russ nodded. [I promise baby, if you promise to stop worrying so much. Everything will work out, you'll see.] He winked at her again. [Go eat. I love you. I'll talk to you later.]

Jos smiled. "I love you, too." She pressed her lips to the screen of the phone before pulling back to say her final goodbyes. "Talk to you later."

[Um how I wish those lips were really on mine right now.] He licked his lips and blew her a kiss back. [Love ya, see you in a bit.] With that he ended the call.

Jos set her phone down and headed for the door. Her eyes scanned over the massive man at the door. "Did you really come back just to bring me the rest of my breakfast... lunch... brunch?" She asked searching the halls for Shelly and not finding her.

Arei nodded, "That and to finish that conversation."