That was until I got an elbow to the ribs, and Kip was flying out of the bed. The comforter flew into the air, sending a jolt of cold air right on my naked skin. The blanket landed over my head, so I was cloaked in darkness while I tried to swim my way out.
“Kip?”
I scooched forward and landed ass first on the floor with the blanket still over my head. Once I finally got it off me, I stood, blinking rapidly to adjust to the light of the room.
Before I was even awake enough to know what was happening, I honed in on the slam of the bathroom door, blinking groggily while I tried to make sense of what was happening. The blanket was in a heap on the floor, and I stood alone in the room, naked as the day I was born.
The sound of Kip’s vomiting reached my ears.
Oh.
Perhaps that was the delicious scent I’d enjoyed so much just moments ago. Not the vomiting, no, but the reason for the vomiting. Kip’s scent had changed subtly over the night, and I had a sneaking suspicion as to why.
I knocked on the door. “Kip? Is there anything I can do?”
“No,” he gasped out between breaths. “Maybe some water.” The unsettling sound of his retching filled the void between us.
I went to the kitchenette and grabbed a bottle of water. I opened the bathroom door gently and set the bottle next to him. He was leaning against the shower door now, sweat beading on his forehead.
I got a warm washcloth and handed it to him. He wiped his face down and took a long drink of water. I couldn’t help but smile.
He laughed. “What? Why are you looking at me like that? Can you open the window? It reeks in here, and I need some fresh air. I think I had too many sugar cookies.”
The evening prior we had ventured out to get dessert after we’d had dinner at the lodge. The holiday festivities were in full swing, and everywhere we turned we were handed delicious desserts. The week had been filled with various holiday activities, paired nicely with lots of downtime in the cabin, getting to know one another.
I shook my head. “No, mate. It wasn’t the cookies. You know what this means, don’t you?”
He was quiet for a moment, his head tilted slightly. “Don’t you think it’s too soon?”
I shrugged. “Bears have quick gestation, love. It’s been a week and a half since we mated.”
“It’s been a week and two days. You think I happened that quickly?”
I grinned. “I sure hope so.”
He tossed the towel at me. “Don’t act like you have some magical spunk. Westley’s mate got pregnant right away too, on their little vacation adventure. My family must have good genes.”
“I can’t argue with that. How do you feel about having a baby?” We had talked about it throughout the week. I knew we both wanted kids. But wanting them someday and expecting one right now were two very different things.
“Great, minus the vomiting,” he said. “I want kids.”
“Me too,” I said. “Especially with you. A little cub running around would be magical. He can have that awkward teenage phase that you had, with limbs that were too long and feet that were too big.”
Kip rolled his eyes. “Thanks for reminding me. As if you never went through an awkward teenage phase.”
I shook my head. “Not that I recall. I was this perfect starting the day I hit puberty.”
Kip tilted his head like he was thinking. “Honestly, I don’t recall you going through an awkward phase either. Probably because I was too young to remember, old man.”
“Oh yes, because the three years’ difference between us is just ancient.”
“It really is.”
“One thing is for sure, any child of ours is going to be tall AF.”
Kip laughed. “You’re not wrong.”
I helped Kip to his feet. I took a moment to hold him close to me. I went to kiss him, but he put a hand over my mouth. “Ew. No. I just threw up.”
