Page 46 of Bear with Me
Despite my boss's plans, my bear would have rather hibernated at home. He avoided shifting from January until April or May. Begging to go outside on a March morning when the windchill would make my balls shrivel in an instant was unheard of.
I draped my fuzzy robe over the back of the couch and half-shifted so my feet wouldn't stick to the frosty porch. I dropped to all fours in the deep snow just off the edge of the porch and rolled in it, shimmying my back against the frozen ground to itch between my shoulder blades. When I'd had enough, I rolled back to my feet and shook, sending shards of snow flying everywhere.
"Window. Sniff."My bear directed me toward my bedroom window, where Blake lay sleeping only a few feet away.
I inhaled deeply, and the frozen air stung my nostrils. I smelled the snow, the pine logs, and Blake, except Blake's scent had subtle hints of something more.
"Family,"my bear insisted."Help."
I would help Blake with anything he needed. He was my mate, and our little family was growing inside him.
Before he woke for the day, I got dressed and made a run to the grocery store for ginger tea, saltines, and a case of ginger ale. I added the sweet and simple vanilla cookies he liked so much to my cart along with graham crackers without honey.
I walked into the kitchen with the items as Blake came out of the bedroom. "Happy birthday!"
He grinned, and then a shadow crossed his face. "Thank you." He tugged his robe tighter around his waist. "I might have to skip class this morning. Are you all right?" He walked over to me and touched the back of his hand to my forehead.
"Shifter genetics, remember? I can't catch human diseases, but you're not sick."
"The fuck I'm not. I just threw up an entire glass of water, and my head is pounding. Happy fucking birthday to me. It's like my parents are getting revenge on me."
"Oh, Blake, no." I pressed my lips to his forehead and pulled him into a hug. His breath smelled minty fresh. "If anything, they're giving you a sign everything will be okay."
"What?" He frowned. "What do you mean?"
"You should probably sit down."
"Okay?" He leaned his head on my shoulder, and I walked him to the kitchen nook, helping him sit on the nearest bench.
"Remember how I said suppressors don't work for my family?"
He laughed. "Your brothers' wonder sperm. I remember."
"And it's been a few months since your heat."
He dropped both hands to his abdomen and blanched. "Fuck. It's not over."
"Hold on." I ran to the counter and pulled a can of ginger ale from the packaging, almost slicing the can with my claws in my haste. "Drink this."
He cracked the top open and took a sip. "That might make it worse. It's too sweet."
"I can make you some ginger tea, but first …"
"You think I'm pregnant." He nodded. "It has crossed my mind."
I sat down across from him. "I know it." I touched my index finger to the side of my nose.
He frowned at me and took another sip. "I can't be pregnant. I'm gaining a little winter weight, is all. I live with a bear shifter."
"You are pregnant," I assured him.
He dropped a hand to rub his belly again. "How soon?"
"Early September is my guess. Our clan has a birthing assistant. I'll give her a call."
"We're having a baby?" His voice was soft, and his lips curled into a slight grin.
"Is that all right?"
