“Hey, you,” I spoke as softly as I could as I slid back into the bed andreachedfor him. “I’m here. Just had to pee. You okay?”
Jeremy gave a jerky nod, but his body was still shaking and I wasn’t sure that it was going to help to try and send him back to sleep.
“Why don’t we get up?” I suggested, squeezing him lightly. “No offense, but it looks like you’ve missed a meal or two recently.” Jeremy didn’t smile, instead nodding sadly. “Hey, none of that,” I insisted. “I have a full larder and we’re going to fatten you up in no time!”
Jeremy still didn’t speak, instead biting down on his lip as he moved to the edge of the mattress. He wasn’t at all the spitfire that I remembered from before and it was starting to worry me.
“Jem? Can you speak?”
He nodded, his eyes widening when I snorted. “Um, prove it?”
That brought a tiny smile as he realized what he’d done. “Yes, sir.”
“That’s better,” I stood up and stretched before crossing to my duffel for a change of clothes. “I hate to say it, but I think you’re stuck in that dress for the moment. Even pregnant, there’s no way my pants are going to fit you, but I’ll try to get something tomorrow.”
“That’s okay,” Jeremy said softly, his eyes still trained on the floor. “What do you want me to do?”
I held my hand out to him, my heart hopping a little when he took it without question and followed me to the main living room. I flipped on the switch for the gas fireplace and Jeremy smiled again when the flames jumped to life with a loudwhoosh.
“You sit here,” I ordered, urging him into the overstuffed chair he’d sat in earlier and covering him with a fluffy blanket. “I’m going to see about some food.” I glanced out the window and realized it was nearly daybreak. Somehow, we’d screwed up our sleep schedule.
Oh, well.
I started puttering around in the kitchen, putting a pot of coffee on to brew and then suddenly it occurred to me that I’d fed Jeremy, but he hadn’t had any water in hours.
Not good.
Grabbing a glass from the cupboard, I started to fill it from the tap before catching a glimpse of snowflakes beginning to swirl outside the window. Cold water on a cold day? I dumped the glass and reached for a mug instead, adding a dollop of honey from the jar on the counter, I popped it into the microwave and turned it on to warm.
Sixty seconds later, I stirred it and set it on the table by Jeremy’s chair.
“Warm water with honey,” I explained in response to his questioning look. “You, ah, should stay hydrated, if we’re going to boost you up to full speed.”
“Thank you.” Jeremy lifted the glass and took a drink, favoring me with a small smile. “It’s good, thanks.”
“Of course.” I watched a drop of water cling to his lip for several seconds before I realized Jeremy was watching me oddly. Right, because I was being a creeper. “Well, I’m going to go get those burgers started.”
Jeremy nodded, confusion clouding his eyes at my bizarre behavior.
So, naturally, I did what any self-respecting Alpha would do.
I ran.
ChapterSix
Jeremy
I alternated staring at the fire and looking out the window at the snow, sipping my warm honey water until Kade bustled back into the room balancing two plates, one in each hand, with at least half a dozen condiment bottles held to his chest by one forearm.
“You know I could have come to the kitchen?” I reminded him, taking the bottles as they bobbled when he tried to lower my plate to the small table beside me.
Kade shrugged. “Sure, but you looked pretty comfortable, so why make you?” Plucking the mustard from my hand, he squirted a healthy dollop on his open burger and offered it back to me.
“I’m good,” I assured him with a laugh, looking down at the five assorted bottles I still held. “Is that all you need?”
“Yep.”
I reached over to set them on my rapidly filling table and picked up my burger. It was huge, thick and juicy with a glob of melted cheese and a veritable stack of crispy bacon on a rustic bun. It looked amazing.
