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CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

DRAKE

I ’d slept like shit because I missed Swan in my arms. But it didn’t matter. I’d wait a million years for her. She’d texted me when she woke that morning. Recalling it had me smiling. I reckoned she’d missed me as much as I had her. Even though she didn’t say it, I could tell.

I’d just walked in my door and was headed for a shower before I called my woman when my phone rang instead. “Hey, Birdy,” I answered.

“Hi,” she said, sounding croaky, and then sneezed.

“No offence, darlin’, but you don’t sound good.”

She coughed and snorted. “I don’t feel it. Just got worse as the day went on.”

“Birdy, you need to rest. Want me to swing by with some things? Wait, didn’t your parents say they were headin’ to the compound tonight?”

“I don’t want you sick, and they are. But that’s okay.” She sniffed and coughed.

“I ain’t afraid of some germs. I’ll be fine.”

“Honestly, I’m just going to go home and to bed.”

“Yeah, but make sure you take some meds, eat, and drink.” She probably wouldn’t. She needed someone at home. Was Nick even there?

“Too tired,” she whined. She shouldn’t even be driving.

“You good to get home?”

“Yeah.”

“Call me when you get there.”

“I will.” As soon as she hung up, I rushed through a shower and got dressed. I grabbed my keys to my car and went downstairs. I’d been home early, which meant the store was still open. I opened the current chat I had with Swan’s brother about random shit and asked him if he was home.

Nah, with Mum and Dad at the compound. Why?

Tell your parents Swan ain’t feeling well. I’m going to grab her to rest at my place.

You got it.

As I walked across the floor, my phone rang. “Brother,” I answered to Griz.

“She at home?”

“Not yet. Headin’ there now. I’m gonna go to pick her up.”

“We can go home to make sure she’s taken care of.”

No. She was mine to care for. “I’d prefer if you let me handle it. If she doesn’t want to come back to my place, I’ll stay at yours in the spare room.” I wasn’t asking, really, and I had a feeling Griz knew that when he grumbled low.

“ Fine . Take care of her.”

“Always will. Later,” I said and hung up. My phone rang again. “Birdy, you home?”

“Yeah. I’m heading to bed.”

“Leave the back door unlocked. I’m comin’ over.”

“Drake, I don’t?—”

“Wanna help you, darlin’. You gonna let me take care of my woman?”

There was silence, and then softly she said, “Okay.”

Grinning, I told her, “See you soon.”

Coyote caught me on the way out the front doors as he was coming in. “Hey, where you rushin’ off to?”

“Swan ain’t feelin’ good. Gonna go pick her up.”

“Need me to do anythin’?”

“Nah, I’m good, brother.”

He tipped his chin up. “Glad you got the one you wanted.”

I grinned. “Me too.”

* * *

Walking through the back door, I locked it after me and made my way further into the house. I expected to find Swan in her bed, but she was curled up on the couch. At least she’d managed to change into some sleep gear.

She glanced from the television to me with tired red eyes. “Hey.” She even managed a smile.

“Birdy, I thought you’d be in bed.”

She sat up slowly and shook her head. “I wanted to wait for you.”

Christ . My chest compressed. She was always a sweetheart.

I walked over and crouched in front of her, resting my hands on her thighs. “What do you say to comin’ back to my place to rest? Wanna take care of you there if you’re down with that. If you’re more comfortable here, I’ll stay. Already talked to your dad and told him I’d crash in the spare room. Again, it’s up to you.”

“Yes,” she said and then blinked sluggishly down at me.

My lips twitched. Too fucking cute.

“Yes, what, Birdy?”

“Your place, please.” She grew flustered and looked down at my hands.

I squeezed her thighs gently and stood. I brushed a finger over her damp forehead and then pressed the back of my hand there. My gut twisted. “You’re burning up, Birdy. I’m gonna quickly pack you a bag, and we’ll get out of here.” I bent, kissed her temple, and rushed up the stairs to her room. Her bag that she’d taken away was still out, so I used it for her sleepwear, underwear, which I didn’t linger on, and some tees, leggings, and tracksuit pants. I went into the bathroom for her toiletry bag, which was still on the sink with items in it. If her toothbrush wasn’t there, I had a spare at my place.

Back in the bedroom, I placed the smaller bag in the bigger one and took out my phone. I placed an Uber order of groceries, which should arrive around the same time we did.

Downstairs with her bag over my shoulder, I went to the couch and caught her swallowing with a wince.

“Your throat hurtin’, babe?”

She nodded.

“Okay, I’ve got stuff at my place. Let’s get you there.” I helped her up, and with my arm around her waist, I led her to the front door. It was warm outside, and with the fever she had, I didn’t want to put anything over the sleepwear she wore. “Grab your purse.” She did, and the box of tissues there too. I wanted to laugh as she hugged them to her chest protectively, but my woman was sick. I needed to take care of her.

As soon as I had Swan in the car, I placed her bag on the back seat and heard her blow her nose.

When I got in, she rolled her head to me and blinked tiredly. She was really stuffed up, and I bet her body ached too.

“Rest while we get there,” I told her.

She hummed and closed her eyes.

After arriving at my place, I saw the delivery driver get out of his vehicle a few spots down just as Coyote walked out the front door of his shop.

“What are you still doin’ here?” I called as I climbed out and gently shut the door since Swan was sound asleep in the car still.

“Wanted to check the last stock supply I got. Seemed light.” He nodded towards the Uber driver. “I’ll grab that stuff while you get your woman in.”

“Thanks.” I walked around the car to Swan’s door and opened it. Crouching, I rested a hand to her thigh and shook it slightly. “Birdy?” A grin overtook me when she groaned and mumbled something but stayed sleeping. I tried again. “Swan, we’re here. Come on.”

“Go away,” she said.

“Can’t do that, Birdy. Gotta get you inside and in my bed.”

She snapped awake. “Drake?”

“Yeah, babe.” I chuckled. Reaching over, I undid her seat belt. “Let’s get inside.” I assisted her from the car and into the building. “Brother, grab her bag from the back seat and lock it up.” When Coyote nodded, I threw him the keys and pulled Swan close with my arm around her waist.

My woman was as slow as a snail, and I knew the building was big, so the walk for Swan in her state would be long. Which was why I picked her up in my arms and carried her.

“Too heavy,” she complained.

“Never,” I told her.

She sighed, resting her head to my shoulder.

Fuck, it felt good to have her in my arms. To be the one able to take care of her.

She was mine.

To hold. To love. And I’d make sure she was always protected.

Even from a damned cold.

I adjusted her a little to be able to unlock and open my door. I took her down the dimly lit hall, walking by the offices at the front of the second floor and in through the double doors, which were already open, to my living, dining, and kitchen.

Reaching up, I turned on the light and dimmed the switch when Swan flinched. Thank fuck I had the option to do that.

I didn’t linger in that area, though. I took Swan straight to my bedroom and somehow managed to get the blankets pulled back on the bed before I placed her down. She curled onto her side, moaning and sniffling, and drifted off. I peeled off her shoes and removed her purse and the tissue box she still clutched to her chest to rest them on the bedside table. I covered her with the blanket, brushed her hair off her cheek, and stood back.

She looked good in my bed. Where she belonged.

But I couldn’t get ahead of myself.

She’d move in one day, or we’d buy a place together where we would have our own family.

Jesus . Now I was really getting ahead of myself.

Making my way back into the kitchen, I grabbed a bottle of water and took out the medicine container I had in one of the cupboards. I looked up, hearing my brother’s approach just as he walked through the door with his hands full of bags. He dumped them on my counter and dropped my keys there too.

“How’s she feelin’?” He started unpacking the things I ordered.

“Fever, sore throat, body aches, I’m sure.” I got the meds. “Gonna give her some stuff before she sleeps too deep.”

“Want me to get Mum to cook somethin’ and send it over? Or I can grab somethin’ from Channa’s bakery.”

I snorted. “Brother, you gotta stop relyin’ on the women. I’ll make her some soup and a toastie while she’s asleep.”

Coyote glared. “I cook.”

“Yeah, sure.”

“I fuckin’ do. I grill shit.”

Chuckling, I nodded. “Grill.”

“Shut up. Need anythin’ else?”

“All good. Appreciate the help.”

Coyote grinned.

“What?” I asked.

“Nice to see my baby bro all grown up and in love.”

Now it was my turn to glare and tell him, “Shut up.”

His grin grew, and I shot him the middle finger. He laughed on his way out.

“Later,” I called.

He sent me a wave over his shoulder.

With the bottle of water and the meds, I walked back into my bedroom and stumbled. Swan had the covers thrown off, and she was currently trying to remove her sleep top.

“Birdy?”

“Hot. It’s too hot,” she whined and let out a frustrated groan.

“Hang on. Let me help.” I strode over and put down the things I held. I grabbed out a tank top from my drawer and helped slip her top from her to put the tank on.

With the wide and long armholes, it should help cool her a little.

She sighed and went to lie down again. “Hold up, Birdy. Have a drink for me, darlin’. Got some meds for you too.”

“It hurts.” She touched her throat.

“I know. This’ll help.” I quickly grabbed the bottle and undid the lid; she glanced down at the mattress. “Don’t even think about it. Have these first.” I held out the tablets and water.

She took them, wincing.

“One more sip of water, please.”

She glowered at me.

“For me, Birdy.”

She did. Even as a grump, she was still my sweet little birdy.

“Thank you,” she muttered before lying back down.

Standing, I bent down and kissed her cheek. “You sleep. I’m just in the kitchen. Call if you need anythin’, Birdy.”

“Hmm.”

After another kiss, where she tried to swipe me away, grumbling about germs, I left with a smile.

Goddamn, it felt good to have her in my place. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to let her leave once she felt better. Was it too soon for her to move in? I’d already been in love with her for years, so for me, I was at that stage, but she wasn’t.

At least I didn’t think she was.

Maybe I could hint at it and see how she’d react.

Fucking hell . There I went getting ahead of myself again.

For now, I needed to cook my woman some vegetable soup.

Mum taught me a lot in the kitchen. She made sure Ruby and I could cook, and we’d been more interested in it than our older siblings.

My phone rang. I pulled it from my pocket and snorted at the name flashing on the screen.

“Hey, I was just thinking about you and how your cooking lessons are comin’ in handy.”

“I’m glad. What are you making Swan?” Mum asked.

“How’d you know she was here?”

“Besides Deanna and Griz, Cody rang and told me. Do you need any help?”

“I’ve got it covered, Ma.”

“All right…. I’m very proud of you, Drake.”

I dropped my head and closed my eyes. “I know. But I’m just doin’ what needs to be done.”

“Because she’s your one?”

“Because she’s mine.”

“Did I tell you how happy I am for you?”

Smirking, I opened my eyes. “You’re just sayin’ that ’cause you and Hellmouth will eventually be mothers-in-law.”

She scoffed. “I would never.” I stayed silent. “Okay, but that’s not the only reason I’m happy. Even in those hours I was around you and Swan, I could see how content you are. You look at her like your dad looks at me. Like she’s your world.”

“She is, Ma.”

“You know she’ll always hold another in her world too?”

“I do, and I’d still pick her out of anyone else. I may not have all her heart, but I know what she’ll give me will be enough, because I see no one else but her.”

Mum made a sound, and I knew she was holding back her tears. “Love you, my boy.”

“Love you, Ma. Now I gotta get cookin’.”

“All right. Call if you two need anything.”

“You got it.”