Page 10

F aye

I wince as I try to sit up in bed, and Eli is there in an instant, helping me with a firm hand on my back.

Maverick shifts my pillows behind my back so they can support me, and I lean back, releasing a breath.

I’d expected it to be hard to sit up, but that was worse than I thought.

I can’t believe how foreign my body still feels.

“How are you doing?” Ezra asks.

All my men are around me, staring at me, the same way they've been doing for the past two days. It’s like they think if they take their eyes off of me for a second, I just might break all over again.

“I’m okay.” And before I can stop myself, I say, “Just a little hungry.”

All five of them are suddenly at alert. Cayson asks, “Are you in the mood for something specific? Or do you just want them to bring a selection of items?”

I blush. “I’m not in the mood for anything specific.”

Eli goes to his bedroom door and shouts for a servant. Someone is instantly there, and he informs them that we’ll be having lunch in his room. The servant scurries off like the hounds of hell are nipping at her ankles.

“They’ll take care of it,” Eli says, coming back in and sitting on the bed at my side.

I shake my head. “You know I can be hungry for a little while. I won’t wither up and die.”

Eli lifts a pale brow. “No, you can’t be hungry for a little while.”

Xander speaks up from the edge of the bed, where he’s been watching everything quietly. “It’s our job to take care of you.”

I smile, even though they’re being overprotective.

I’m definitely injured, but the healers have made it clear I’ll be okay.

I should even be able to shift in a week or two, without risking my body healing wrongly.

Shifters don’t shift to heal large injuries like mine, so I’ll know I’m well fixed up when they finally let me do it.

But a week or two feels really long with my men suffocating me.

It’d be nice if they could calm down just a little.

“Do you want one of the magazines Addilyn sent you?” Maverick asks.

“That’d be nice,” I say, because anything would be better than them all just staring at me.

He comes and brings a magazine over, handing it to me, before sitting near the foot of the bed. All eyes are still on me when I flip away from the pretty woman on the cover and start turning the pages of the magazine. Instantly, I find a quiz.

“What kind of ice cream are you in bed?” I say out loud.

Everyone comes and sits around the bed, smiling.

“You want to play?” Maverick asks.

I lift a brow. “Why not?” Then I flip to the first question. “What do you have in you? Chocolate? Candy? Nuts? Or fruits?”

“Definitely nuts,” Cayson says, pointing to his crotch.

All the others eagerly agree.

My face feels hot. “Okay, mentally checking off nuts.”

“If you like to be drizzled on, what do you prefer? Chocolate? Whipped Cream? Or Strawberries?”

There’s silence as they stare at me, and I have no idea why things are suddenly so awkward.

Ezra clears his throat. “I think men typically… do the drizzling, don’t they?”

Cayson starts moving his hands around, like he’s visually trying to picture the way it works. “I guess the closest would be whipped cream?”

“No, man,” Maverick says, shaking his head. “I don’t want your whipped cream on me.”

I blush, suddenly realizing what they’re saying. “Okay, let’s skip that one.”

“How big do you prefer your ice cream scoops? Big? Medium? Or small?”

Cayson leans closer and pretends to cup my breasts. “Big,” he murmurs, while I smack at his hands in horror.

“Definitely big,” Xander says, gaze locked on my breasts.

“Oh my gosh,” I groan, then go to the next question. “Do you like to put your ice cream in a large space, like a cup, a medium space, like a cake cone, or a small space, like a sugar cone?”

They’re all staring at me again. This time at my crotch.

“Small spaces are best,” Maverick whispers.

“Yeah?” Eli asks, looking intrigued.

“Very small,” Cayson says, laughing.

I put the magazine over my face. “Okay, let’s go to a different page.”

“Whatever you want, Jelly Bean,” Ezra says, laughter in his voice.

I flip through the magazine until I come to another fun page. “What emoji are you in the sack?”

“Eggplant!” Cayson shouts.

“Eggplant and sweat drops,” Maverick says, smirking at Cayson.

“Same thing,” Cayson challenges.

“You just wish you would’ve thought about it,” Maverick says, then sticks his tongue out.

I glance at Xander. He looks down at his shoes. “I have no idea.”

“Maybe lips?” I suggest gently.

He looks back up at me and smiles. “Lips would be good.”

“Probably the tongue emoji,” Eli says, looking thoughtful.

“Why?” I ask.

“You’ll see.” He winks at me.

Embarrassed, I look at Ezra. His expression is thoughtful. “A simple winky face for me. I think.”

I laugh, then wince as my stomach hurts in protest.

All of them tense. Eli asks, “Are you hurting? Do I need to get the healer?”

Shaking my head, I attempt a smile. “I’m okay.”

They look like they’re going to get the healer anyway, but then the servants arrive with food.

Ever since I’ve been here, they’ve been piling plates high for each of us, making it easier for us all to eat scattered around the room.

Each of us is handed a plate, including me, and I stare down at all the yummy treats, grateful for the food.

Beef wellington, lobster risotto, short rib ragu, garlic bread, and shrimp in a white sauce.

I know before I eat it that it’ll be good.

But we all eat together in silence. Shifters enjoying our favorite pastime… eating. I don’t manage to eat a ton before I’m full, but I’ve enjoyed every bite.

“Are you done already?” Eli asks, looking with concern at my mostly full plate.

“You need to get strong,” Xander says, seeming unhappy.

“I’m okay. Just full,” I tell them with a laugh. “Remember, I’m a lot smaller than you. I don’t need as much food as you do.”

None of them seem happy with my answer, but they let it go.

Everyone finishes. The servants come back for our plates, and I yawn.

“Are you tired?” Eli asks.

I don’t want them to overreact, but I nod.

They’re instantly on their feet, helping me to get settled laying in the bed, fixing my pillows and blankets, then tucking me in.

“I don’t need to sleep,” I tell them, followed by another yawn.

Eli combs his fingers through my hair. “Still, maybe just close your eyes and try to sleep.”

I close my eyes. “But I’m not sleepy.”

“We know,” Ezra whispers, then kisses the top of my head. “Just relax.” Then he returns to his spot.

And as silly as all of it is, I find myself drifting back to sleep. My body needs more time to rest and heal.