He grinned. “I know.”
* * *
Vivi lay back on her bed with a groan.
“You okay, baby girl?” Aleki asked, walking out of the bathroom. He was dressed in just a pair of boxers.
“Don’t tell Wolfe, but I think I should have stopped after the first cupcake.” Instead she’d had a second one. Not to mention all the icing
she’d sampled while they were decorating the cupcakes.
Aleki grimaced. “Shit, I’m sorry, baby.” Walking over he sat facing her on the bed. Leaning in, he lightly rubbed her tummy.
“It’s not your fault.”
“Yeah, it is. I should have stopped you after that first one. I forget not everyone has my sugar tolerance.” He winked at her. Then his face sobered. “I don’t like that you’re not feeling well. What can I get for you? Some tea with lemon could work.”
“I don’t want to make a fuss.”
He frowned then tapped her nose. “I don’t want to hear that, understand? You’re not making a fuss. You’re not feeling well and letting me help. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. To be there for you. To support you, protect you, take care of you.”
“I want to do the same,” she whispered.
Leaning in, he kissed her gently. Her stomach rumbled and he drew back with his eyebrows raised. “Whoa, that thing is angry.”
She moaned, embarrassed but a smile also tipped her lips up.
“Do you need to poop?”
Oh. Lord. Help. Her.
“No, I don’t need to poop.” Well, she didn’t think so.
He just shrugged. “All right, let’s get you into something comfy. What do you want to sleep in?”
“One of your shirts?” she asked shyly.
His gaze heated. “I think we can manage that. I’ll go get you one and make you some tea.”
She used the bathroom while he was gone. As she was pulling the bed back, he walked in with one of his T-shirts and a cup of hot tea.
“Put some lemon in it so that should help.” He helped her undress, pulling on his T-shirt. It was huge on her, but she felt an immediate sense of home. Of happiness.
Sitting up in bed, she sipped at her tea as he threw her old clothes in the hamper then turned off the main light leaving the lamp and nightlight on.
Then when everything was done, he climbed into bed next to her. They lay on their sides, facing each other.
He fingered her locket. “Can’t believe you wore it all this time.”
“It made me feel close to the three of you. I always carried you with me. Can I have a hug? I need my teddy bear.”
“Teddy bear?” he said with mock-outrage. But he opened his arms to her and she snuggled into his chest. “I think I’m more of a tiger or a panther.”
“Hmm, no, you’re definitely a teddy bear.”
“Oh yeah, and what are Wolfe and Caleb then? A princess and a fairy? Actually, yeah, I can see that.”
“No, Papa,” she said as he ran a hand up and down her back. She yawned, exhausted after all that sugar. At least her tummy was no longer making all those noises. “Wolfie is obviously a wolf.”