Free The Black Dagger Brotherhood by J. R. Ward Page A

her mouth shut. “He should be out of the bathroom soon. Can his cast come off?”
    â€œI believe so. Why don’t you tell him to meet me down in the PT suite when he’s ready? I’m working on the medical facility expansion, so I’ll just be puttering around with my tool belt.”
    â€œWill do.”
    There was a long moment with just the buzzing razor and the shower running in the background.
    Doc Jane frowned. “Are you okay, Bella?”
    Forcing a smile, she put both hands up in ward-off mode. “I’m perfectly healthy. I don’t need another examination. Ever.”
    â€œThat I believe.” Jane smiled, then glanced at the bathroom’s doorway. “Listen . . . maybe you should go wash his back, if you know what I mean.”
    â€œI’ll wait.”
    Another silence. “May I make a suggestion that is completely intrusive?”
    â€œHard to imagine you can be more intrusive than you already have,” Bella said with a wink.
    â€œI’m serious.”
    â€œAll right.”
    â€œKeep Nalla’s main crib in the nursery and leave the door mostly closed as she sleeps in there. Get a baby monitor so you can hear her.” Doc Jane swept her eyes around. “This is the room you and your husband share . . . you need to be something more than mommy, and he needs you to himself for a little bit each day. Nalla will be fine and it’s important she get used to sleeping on her own.”
    Bella looked at the crib. The idea of moving it out was oddly and irrationally terrifying. As if she were throwing their daughter to the wolves. Except if she wanted more than a roommate, they needed the kind of space that had nothing to do with square footage.
    â€œThat might be a good idea.”
    â€œI’ve worked with a lot of people who have had babies. Doctors like to procreate. What can I say. After the first one comes along, there’s always an adjustment period. It doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with the marriage, it just means that new boundaries have to be established.”
    â€œThank you . . . really, I appreciate it.”
    Doc Jane nodded. “I’m always here if you need me.”
    When the door shut, Bella went over to the crib and smoothed the multicolored satin ribbons that hung from its rails. As the cool lengths slid through her fingers, she thought of the pledging ceremony and all the love that had been shared. Nalla would always be adored in this house, cared for, protected.
    She had a moment of panic as she released the brakes and started rolling the infant’s bed toward the nursery—but she was going to get over that. Had to. And she would buy a baby monitor right away.
    She parked the crib next to the one that was there, the one Nalla never slept as well in. Even now the young’s forehead was crinkled, and she was pinwheeling her arms and legs, a sure sign she was going to wake up soon.
    â€œShhh, mahmen’s got you.” Bella lifted the young up and put her down in her preferred place. The young snuffled and positively cooed as she snuggled into herself and put her little hand through the slats, grabbing onto Wrath and Beth’s red-and-black bow.
    This was promising. Deep breathing and a full belly meant a nice long sleep.
    At least Nalla didn’t feel as though she’d been kicked to the curb.
    Bella went back into the bedroom. The bath was quiet, and as she put her head through the doorway, she saw the fine humidity left in the air from the shower and caught the lingering scent of cedar shampoo.
    He was gone.
    â€œYou moved the crib?”
    She turned around. Z was standing in the double doors of his closet, his boot-cut leathers on and his black shirt hanging from his hand. His chest, with its marking of the Brotherhood and its nipple rings, gleamed in the light thrown over his shoulders.
    Bella glanced over to where Nalla had always slept. “Well, this is . . . you know,