When the nausea finally subsided after what felt like hours, Kraven flushed the toilet. I slumped over with fatigue, breathing hard into the bowl, my forehead resting against the cool edge of the seat.
“Hey,” he murmured.
My throat burned, and after clearing it, I mumbled, “I’m fine.” I squeezed my eyes shut. “I don’t need…” My voice betrayed me. “I don’t need you hovering.”
“I’m not hovering.”
“Then what are you doing?”
“I’m taking care of you.”
His words hit differently than expected. Blame it on the hormones, but at that moment, his statement truly held some weight with me.
Although I didn’t want them to, I began to realize I didn’t have a choice in the matter. I wasn’t used to this kind of attention. I didn’t get sick, ever. I guess this wasn’t really being ill. It was me being pregnant, and this was just part of the package.
Up until then, my symptoms were mild. Maybe this was when they started to get worse. I had no idea what to expect from pregnancy. I should probably try to read up on it or something.
I let out a shaky breath. “I didn’t ask you to do that either.”
“You didn’t have to. I want to be here for you.” A glass of water appeared in front of my face. “Drink slowly,” he ordered.
I hesitated, then took it. He didn’t say anything when I leaned back against him, still shaky and drinking. His chest was sturdy, though it was his familiar scent that was comforting.
“Come on,” he coaxed. “Let’s get you off the ground.”
“I’m fine here.” The truth was, I wanted to stay pressed up against him.
“You’re not.”
“I said?—”
“I heard you, but it’s still not true.”
I exhaled an annoyed breath, but I didn’t have it in me to argue. It was when I tried to stand that it felt impossible, and he was fully aware I’d need his help. Except he didn’t grab me. He just held his hand out for me.
Waiting.
He wanted me to make the choice. I stared at it for a second before I reluctantly took it. His grip was firm and steady. He wasn’t pulling me, just supporting.
As soon as I stood, I tilted sideways and swayed. It was all it took for him to wrap his arm around my waist and the other behind my knees, carrying me into his arms.
“I got you.” And he did.
This embrace was unlike anything we’d experienced, and I didn’t know what to do with it. The top of my head was tucked under his chin, and for the first time since Julius got arrested, I felt safe. His welcoming hold felt like home to me as he carried me up the stairs.
One thing was for sure. I was exhausted and emotionally spent, and our unexpected situation wasn’t making it any easier on me.
I barely noticed when he laid me on his bed. It was only then that I realized he had brought me into his bedroom.
“Kraven—”
“It’s normal.”
I glanced up at him once he was standing above me. “What is?”
“Nausea. It can hit like that.”
I stared at him. “And you just know that?”
