Bookstore princess

Chapter 25

James

I take over the kitchen while my little mate sits down at my insistence. I like to make her breakfast, because then I know she's eating a full meal. I'd hate for her to lose the curves I've come to love so much. She's clearly still feverish, and though I know if I try to stop her from going to work it's going to end in an argument, I think I'm going to play it smart and let Jacob and Jenny stop her.
"What's your fever at this morning?" I ask her casually as I cut up some strawberries into little hearts for her at the counter.
"Just a hundred and one, same as yesterday" she sighs and crosses her arms across the table and rests her chin on them. She's clearly not feeling well. "Did you get enough sleep?" she asks me softly.
"Enough to get through the day. I have some more work to do tonight, and Steve should be back tomorrow sometime," I smile and look at her for a moment. "And that means I'm all yours tomorrow. We can stay in bed all day, or we can go to the diner and for a drive if you are feeling better" I tell her, thinking I'd like to show her where we are going to live in the future. She's going to make a fine Luna one day. I plan to tell her the truth about me tomorrow, but I can tell she's got a lot on her mind from the way her eyes are watching me so closely.
"Baby doll?" I ask her.
"Yes?" she asks, perking up a bit, her long brown hair slowly coming out of the bun she put it in.
"What's on your mind?" I ask her, seeing the wistful look on her face before I ask. Her nose scrunches up as she tries to think of her next words carefully. My heart is in my throat. Is today the day she's going to tell me to go back to my hotel room? I wish I could read her mind. Until we are bonded as mates, I can't mind link her, and again that's if she lets me change her.
"I was just thinking, and tell me if I'm crazy. But maybe instead of staying at a hotel you could stay here. You can bring Fang of course" she says all at once, and she sucks in a breath, as though she's surprised the words came out at all. I break out into a smile. I wanted this more than anything and here she is, giving me exactly what I hoped for.
"Well, I don't like sleeping without you" I say carefully. "And you're a lot prettier than my brother to wake up to" I smirk and she gives a shy smile. "Are you sure you're ready for that step?" I ask, hoping to everything above that she will say yes.
"I think so. I just... feel safer with you here" she says hesitantly. I know she feels it in the bond. She doesn't want me away from her, anymore than I want to be.
"It's settled. I'll go get my things from my hotel room and bring them here" I go to her and kiss her softly on the lips. "I don't have much. Just a couple of suitcases" I kiss her again, because I can't help it. She immediately kisses me back, and I feel like I'm on cloud nine.
"I'll clean up the closet" she giggles. "Jacob and Jenny are going to think I'm crazy" she rubs her nose against my own.
"I know I'm crazy about you" I say in rebuttal quickly. "Why don't we just move at our own pace, hmm?" I ask her and she nods.
"At our own pace" she agrees.
"Now this..." I lean in and brush my lips against hers again. "That's mine. And this..." I presented a plate of strawberries I had finished shortly before I came over. "Is yours" I grin. She giggles in delight and pops a strawberry in her mouth and slowly chews. I hurry over to the counter and grab the bowl of chocolate dip for her and bring it over. She immediately dips a strawberry and hums happily as she takes a bite. She has a little bit of chocolate on her lip and I lean in and lick it off. I have a thrill run through me, and Fang is clambering to get to the surface.
"Thank you" she breathes, her pupils dilating as she gazes at my lips as though she's anticipating another kiss.
"If you keep looking at me that way baby doll, we are going to have a problem. I won't be able to go downstairs, and you won't be able to move for days" I promise. Because indeed, that was a promise. I go back to making breakfast, making her plenty of maple and brown sugar oatmeal with just a little bit of milk, and a large glass of orange juice. I bring it to her and set it down in front of her before I go ahead and make the same for myself. She waits for me to sit down and we both eat. Now that I'm temporarily moving in, I'm nervous about telling her my secret. She's perfect in every way imaginable. I think I'll wait to get my stuff before I tell her. I want to make sure she accepts all of me as I am. She finishes all of her breakfast, but she's pale.
"Are you sure you want to go downstairs and work today?" I ask her hesitantly. "You know already that Jacob and Jenny are going to send you back up here again" I remind her. She puffs out her cheeks and nods.
"Yeah, I know" she says softly. "I'll go down and get my iced tea, but I'll stay upstairs" she concedes. Possibly a little too easily. "I can work on my book," she murmurs to herself.
"No, no working at all. Stay on the couch, or stay in bed but please rest" I ask her. "I'll even go downstairs and get your drink and bring it back up" I offer.
"Okay, thank you" she nods. "But I get to clean up" she gives me a steely glare. I know there's more fight in her yet so I put up my hands.
"I'll go take a shower, and then I'll head downstairs. I have enough clothes for another day anyways" I say as I stand up. I give her another soft kiss on the lips and leave the dishes for her while I run upstairs.