Page 58 of Wanted

“Poor thing,” Ms. Elsie continues as she peers up at me. “She ate well this morning, but she gets tired easily. As if her time is coming.”

I swallow and turn my head away from Ms. Elsie as well. It’s been a week since I arrived home with Emery. I’ve noticed the change as well. She gets hungry often, more than usual, according to her. And she frequently needs to take afternoon naps. Both are early signs that one’s first shift is inevitable.

I suspect she’s in denial about what’s coming. Especially since we’re still waiting on the test results from Dr. Drake. Emery had wanted to return to New York to check on Ashley, but I convinced her to stay with us at least until we get the results back from Dr. Drake

“You aren’t having lunch with us?” Ms. Elsie asks as she grabs my arm, stopping my leaving.

I hadn’t even realized I started for the door as I thought about Emery. “I need to speak with her.”

Ms. Elsie’s smile widens along with that mischievous twinkle in her eyes. “Wait, I’ve made extra.” She retrieves a couple of bowls with lids on them from the counter. “There’s extra rice, and sausage with peppers for you and some roasted potatoes for Emery. She enjoyed the ones I made last night.”

Pride fills her grin.

I don’t know why, but I lean down and press a kiss to Ms. Elsie’s cheek. She laughs and shews me out of the door. It takes me less than ten minutes to reach home.

As soon as I enter, I sniff the air. My wolf growls inside of my chest from Emery’s scent. An unidentified feeling stirs in my abdomen. That’s been happening more and more lately whenever I know she’s close.

After placing the food on the counter, I head to the bedroom to find Emery lying in bed. I stand over her, watching the light rise and fall of her chest.

One…two…three…four

“Oh.” Emery suddenly startles awake.

It’s only then I realize not only have I stooped beside the bed to watch her sleep, but I started counting her eyelashes. I don’t fucking notice people’s eyelashes. But Emery’s are long and full. Long enough that they brush the tops of her cheeks when her eyes are closed.

“You’re back,” she says, bringing me back to the present.

I nod as I rise to stand. “The job didn’t take as long as I thought.” I went out earlier to check on one of our local construction sites to make sure all was in order.

“I also spoke with Dr. Drake. He thinks he’ll have the blood test results ready in a few days,” I tell her. I don’t tell Emery that Dr. Drake mentioned finding some abnormalities that hecouldn’t explain in her blood, which is the reason the results are taking so long.

“Ms. Elsie sent more food, if you’re hungry,” I tell her as I step away from the bed. Even though I move away, I can’t take my eyes off of her. Most of her body is covered by the light gray blanket, but her top half is only covered in a white, spaghetti strap T-shirt.

All I can think of is how perfect she looks in my bed.

“She’s so sweet,” Emery says with a smile. “I should’ve stayed to help everyone prepare lunch. I feel like all I’ve been doing is eating and sleeping. It’s almost like I’m preg?—”

Our eyes lock.

She doesn’t finish the last word, but she doesn’t need to for my mind to start conjuring up images of her belly swollen. That makes my wolf rise to his feet, whining like a fucking simp.

I clear my throat and run my hand through my hair. A stream of dust suddenly falls from my braided ponytail. I remember how dusty it was at the construction site.

“I’m going to go clean up,” I tell Emery, both because I need to and because standing here with her in my bed is leading me to want to keep her there. It’s bad enough I’ve spent every night with her wrapped in my arms.

I turn away from Emery to start for the front door, but just as I make it halfway down the hallway, a tug on my arm stops me.

I turn to face Emery to see her giving me a curious look.

“I thought you were going to clean up?” She gestures toward the bathroom.

My Adam’s apple bobs up and down as I swallow. While I have a shower and decent size bathroom, I prefer to clean up in the river just outside of our commune’s boundary.

“I need to wash my hair. I usually do that in the river.”

Emery bites her lower lip, looking too damn sexy, I have to stifle my groan. Yeah, I definitely need to get out of here. Not for the first time, I’m realizing just how small my home is.

“Can I come?”