His throat worked as he swallowed. Nik climbed to his feet, drawing her up with him, He set his intense stare over her as if scanning to see she was all right. Then the verbal deluge broke free.
“Are you okay? You’ve lost weight. That’s not good. You need to eat more. C’mon—” He scooped her up and carried her to the dressing room, gently setting her on the wooden chest as if a wrong move—one puff of air—would cause her untold damage.
A few hours ago, when her world, her future was written in so much pain and barrenness when she’d thought she’d lost him forever, she’d desperately longed for this—his over-protective ways—and so, she let him be himself in this wonderful moment.
It soothed her heart. Because she’d rather have this than ever be without him.
She watched as he hauled out sweats and dragged them on, followed by a gray t-shirt, and sneakers. Frowning, he glanced at her, where she sat naked on the chest.
Shadow arched an eyebrow, but it was wasted on him since he was back digging, in her side of the closet this time. He straightened, holding a flowing, sleeveless turquoise top, then he looked through her clothes again, lifting out a pair of black leggings. “These should be comfortable, right?”
A smile tugged her mouth. “Nik…” She rose, taking the clothes he held. “Our baby is safe and won’t come to any harm with the clothes I wear, promise.”
His eyebrows tipped together, then he nodded. “Okay, but I want you to be comfortable.”
“I am, for now, except for morning sickness—”
“You’re sick?” he demanded. “I’m calling the Oracle—” He pulled open a drawer and grabbed a new cell.
“Nik, stop.” Laughing, Shadow grasped his corded forearm, her heart turning to mush. After the bleakness of the last five months, his love and concern were like finding an oasis. “It’s expected with the changes my body’s going through.” She gently rubbed her sensitive breasts.
Reluctantly, he set his cell down again.
Shadow put on underwear and changed into the clothes he chose as he stood there, hands parked on his lean hips, watching her. She slipped on sandals, then crossed back to him and looped her hands around his waist, just to hold him.
His arms tightened gently around her. His lips brushed her hair.
“What is that?” He eased her aside and crossed to the bureau and the stack of paper lanterns. He picked one up, studying the accordion style.
“It’s a lantern,” she said softly. “I lit one for you every night. You called me Starshine, and I hoped wherever you were, you’d see this and remember me.”
His gaze lifted, and it shocked her to see the stark anguish on his face. “Gaia took away my memories of you because my despair was impeding my regeneration.”
A trembling smile curved her mouth. “I’m just grateful you’re here with me again.”
He dropped the lantern and drew her to him.
She relaxed his embrace. “Do the warriors know you are here?”
He smoothed back her hair from her face. “No. You were the one I wanted to see first.”
“You going to call them?” She couldn’t wait for everyone to find out her miracle.
He frowned. “It’s close to dawn. They’ll be back soon, so yeah.”
“Okay, in the meantime, I’ll go tend to Pithius.”
His eyebrows drew together in concern. “Shadow—”
She put her fingers on his lips. “He helped me in the last months when I couldn’t do anything for myself. I need to do this for him.”
“Dammit.” Nik raked back his long hair in frustration, the silky strands falling back down his gorgeous face. “He’s still a hellhound. They have no loyalties.”
“I don’t know about that. I only know he saved me. He’d been there for me when I needed to feed. And he was a comfort to me when I was falling apart.”
“Hell.” Nik rubbed his jaw, appearing torn. “Okay. Let’s go get this done.”
God, she loved him so damn much. He always put his own concerns aside for her.
