Doing my best to make myself presentable, I stuffed my clothes into the bag and exited the bathroom. Mariska was hurrying down the hall, carefully balancing a jug of water.
“Mari! Perfect timing.” I grinned at her as she glanced at me with a little panic in her eyes. My smile softened. “She’s going to be okay. The doctors have been really pleased with all her test results so far.”
“I know, but…” She shook her head. “I should have been there. I should have had my phone and saw your messages andbeen with you as soon as you got to the hospital. I was right here.”
“You were making Christmas dreams come true by playing Mrs. Claus.” I almost forgot what had happened with Balthazar, and that gave what I just said a much dirtier meaning. Her blush said as much. “You can’t help your heat. And besides, you’re here now.”
Heat. Feeling too hot, being overly sensitive both physically and emotionally, getting turned on at a thought…
No way. I was not starting my heat.
I was just overly empathizing with my bestie. That had to be it. It had nothing to do with two hunky paramedics.
We reached Miss Eloise’s room before I could think on it anymore, and she weakly motioned to us. “Water, please. Then I need a little nap.”
I dropped my duffle just inside the door, and I rushed over with Mariska to tend to our housemother. It was strange to be taking care of Miss Eloise like this as she was the one who usually fussed over us, but my bestie and I made a great team.
We stayed until the end of visiting hours when we tucked Miss Eloise into bed, and she shooed us out. Good thing, too, because I was feeling the ache again, and a cold shower was exactly what was next on my agenda.
Lucian helped me carry out the extras they’d brought and all the stuff Jason and Ozzi had gotten me. He never questioned where the other food came from with his attention focused on Mariska. I swear it felt like she might jump on him in the truck on the way back to Primrose House. She kept saying she was spending the night at home, but I didn’t for a second believe it.
We unloaded the truck and brought it up to the house. I unlocked the door and switched on the outdoor Christmas lights. Once the food was inside, I turned to Lucian. “Thank you somuch for everything. I’d give you a hug, but I’m scared Mari will tackle me to the floor if I touch you.”
I stepped inside and kicked off my boots. The ache between my legs had progressed to something much more demanding. What was going on? If this was my heat, and I wasn’t convinced it was, Mariska’s didn’t progress this quickly. Each Omega was different, but I’d been in a hospital for two days. Nothing arousing about that.
“You’re welcome.” Lucian chuckled, not even looking away from my bestie. “Mariska knows I have no interest in any Omega other than her. She should also know that anything she wants or needs, she just has to ask. Do you have everything you need for tonight?”
I scooped up as many boxes as I could carry and brought them into the kitchen to give Mariska some alone time with Lucian. The tension between them was crackling, like chestnuts roasting over a merry fire. She was ready to pop!
Fanning myself, I was close to popping as well. Damn. I needed a distraction until I could get a moment alone.
Artemis! I’d let the dog out to do her business.
But she hadn’t come to the door when we arrived. I went upstairs and checked in Mariska’s suite. No Artemis.
Artemis was an amazing dog. She was Mariska’s shadow. But if left alone for so long, and Mariska was somewhere else, could she have escaped and tried to find her?
Shit!
I ran down the stairs. “Mari! Where’s Artemis?”
Skidding to a halt at the still open front door, I gasped at seeing my bestie practically climbing her Alpha. “Wow.”
Mariska stepped back, trying to catch her breath. “Uh… Shit. She’s at the farm. I should probably go get her—”
Lucian spoke at the same time as her. “I can take care of her. Or, yeah, I can drive you there to get her. You both couldcome and spend the night.” He glanced at me. There was a silent plea asking me not to separate him from Mariska. “We have plenty of room.”
Yet my bestie shook her head. “If you don’t mind taking care of her tonight, I would really be grateful. I need to be here for Lyla.”
“No, you don’t, girl.” From what I saw, she needed something else entirely. “I see you there lusting after your cute elf. Go on and take care of your heat. I don’t want to have to listen to you moaning all night, taking a million cold showers, and asking to borrow my vibrator.”
“Lyla!” Mariska covered my face with both hands.
I leaned against the doorframe, trying to be all casual. I would love to have my bestie home with me tonight, but she had needs only her Alphas could take care of. “Go. I’ll be fine. I have all this food and a ton of fruitcake to package up in the kitchen. Plus Miss Eloise asked me to check on Hazel and her daughter next door to see if they needed any help, and I’m taking over for her at the Big Sisters event. So I’ll be plenty busy. You go to the farm and…” Time to distract her from me. “Oooh, do you have the whole pack with you in bed? I always wondered how that worked.”
She whimpered. “I don’t want to leave you alone.”
“You need to take care of yourself. You’re doing no one any favors by ignoring your heat.” I gave her a hug and nudged her toward Lucian. “Go. That way you can give me all the naughty details later.”
