“Okay, guys, let’s get out of here and let Zeke have a moment with Rez,” he says, getting up and giving me a wink.
“I’ll be back with some steaks for ya both and a shake that youwilldrink this time,” he says smiling.
“Aye aye, captain.” I salute. Now, time to see if Rez will forgive me.
Rez
My stomach clenches as I watch everyone take off, leaving just me and Zeke alone. It was one thing while he was asleep for me to be this creepy perv, but now he’s awake and it’s just us, and I don’t know how to proceed. Zeke moves himself out of my lap and rolls to his side to look up at me. Seeing the strain he’s putting on his neck, I slide down so I’m parallel to him and mimic his position.
“Rez, I’m sorry. We should have come clean and told you what our fathers asked us to do. I should have told you.” He lets out a sigh and purses his lips. “I never meant to hurt you. What I felt or what we shared had nothing to do with what the Council wanted. I don’t care about making anyone happy or fitting in with their rules. What I told you was real.”
Hearing those words brings tears to my eyes. It was one of the reasons why I felt so hurt. I thought everything that happened the first week was all planned out for the Council’s sick pleasure. It made me sick to be so sure what I felt, what I went through, was all fake and someone was sitting back and laughing at my pain.
He grabs my hand. “There’s something I need to tell you. I’ve felt this from the moment you fell into my lap,” he whispers as his green eyes pierce mine. My heart skips a beat, and he gives my hand a small squeeze as he licks his lips. “I love you more than I thought possible for someone to feel. You are my life and reason for being, Rez. I don’t expect you to say it back. I—I just had to tell you while the chance was here.”
Did Zeke just admit that he loves me?Holy hell. I must admit I’m shocked he said it, though I’m also relieved that someone returns my feelings.
“Knock, knock!” JP calls, poking his head in the open door. “Am I interrupting?”
“Nope,” Zeke answers, shooting him a smile as he sits up.
“Good, because dinner is served,” JP announces, waltzing in with a platter of food.
Saved by JP!
I let out a slow breath as JP sets down the tray in the middle of the bed and we all gather around to eat. I might have admitted to myself that I loved Zeke back in the hospital after my time with Lilith, but I’m not ready to tell him quite yet.
“I take it you’re trying to get my strength back,” Zeke jokes when he takes his plate. It’s piled full of meat, pasta, and some fruit.
“That’s not all, you have to drink your shake too. You haven’t had one in over a week, so you need it,” he insists, handing him a tall glass with a straw.
Finding us in a more intimate situation, I decide to finally ask some questions that I have.
“What makes your shakes so special?” I ask nonchalantly as I cut up my steak. They both share a worried look before Zeke drinks his shake, taking the easy way out and leaving JP to answer my question.
“Well, one night, before bed, Zeke was venting about how some people just stood around and watched him drink from donors. I tried making a joke about them standing there like frozen popsicles and he said they sure as hell didn’t taste like them,” he explains as he reaches for an orange and starts peeling. “So, that got me thinking. Could I make something taste good but still give him the nutrients that he needs? It took me a little bit, but I perfected his Chocolate Blood Shake.” He winks and pops an orange slice into his mouth.
I blink a few times as I let his answer sink in before I look over at Zeke with a goofy smile. “I take it he’s right? He’s perfected the shake?” I ask and giggle when Zeke nods, smiling around his straw. He looks like a little toddler having his favorite drink during snack time. I think it’s so sweet how JP takes care of Zeke. It’s nice to know that he doesn’t just do that for Moni and me but for others that he cares about as well.
Dinner is filled with JP and I explaining to Zeke what he’s been missing at school. I explain how the Rebels have Lynx but I’ve been visiting him in my ‘dreamscape’ because of our connection. And now Lynx is a ‘real boy.’ Moni indeed has a Mate, and JP’s contribution to that conversation is rolling his eyes and keeping his mouth shut.
I guess beggers can’t be choosers.
I even admit to both JP and Zeke that I’ve been with Ryker. JP mumbles that it was only a matter of time, but they were both surprised that Ryker had been starving the past week and he had officially claimed me in front of the harpies.
“I wish I could have been a fly on the wall to see their reaction to that. Serafin has been trying to get her claws into Ryker for years,” Zeke admits, and I smile as the memory surfaces.
“Since we’re on the subject of sex, there is something I need to admit to you guys,” Zeke hedges. “When I first raised the Deathweaver, I used it to spy and I know you guys got together.”
Heat rushes to my cheeks as I remember where he could have spied us from, my bedroom. “Well, if I knew we had an audience, I might have put on a better show,” I admit, giving him a wink.
“Oh, you definitely put on a show. I didn’t know you were that flexible,” he laughs, and I lightly punch him in the shoulder, still taking care not to hurt a healing man.
JP shares the news of winning three out of the five categories of the cooking contest that Zeke missed and breaks the news that Ms. Teal is part of the Rebels. When Zeke asked how Moni was taking it, JP and I both shared a look and started laughing. Moni just said she called it, that sheknewthere was something off with that woman.
I explain how the Kents are teaching Combat Class and all it’s doing is allowing my ass to get beat up. Zeke offers to tutor me for the class, but the glint in his eyes tells me he has a different type of physical activity in mind.
God, I’ve missed him.
