A small smile tugged at her lips as her eyes moved around the room. The colors, the curtains, the little things that made a house feel like a home were all pieces of her, and Sloan had never once complained. Not even when she changed her mind or when she moved something three times before deciding she liked it better where it had started. He’d just watched her with that look of his, like he didn’t understand why throw pillows mattered but would burn down the world for her right to have all of them.
God, she loved that man.
The thought hit her hard, soft and painful all at once. This room, this house, this life they were building was supposed to be their peace.
But now everything felt different.
She glanced toward the empty side of the bed, wishing he was there, even though he didn’t sleep and she knew he wasn’t far. Still, she felt so alone without him.
As if she had summoned him out of thin air, Sloan opened the door and walked in. His eyes found hers quickly. “Did they help?” he asked, nodding toward the crackers and water.
“Yes.” She smiled with a small nod. “Thank you.”
Becky’s eyes roamed over him before she could stop herself. He wore a pair of gray sweatpants, no shirt, and no shoes. He looked sexy as hell, and uh-oh... her hormones went into overdrive.
During her previous pregnancy, food cravings hadn’t been the only cravings she’d had.
Forcing her eyes off his body and back up to his, she swallowed. Damn, she was horny, and wasn’t that just fucked up in this situation?
Then again, maybe it wasn’t just hormones.
Before all this, before the sickness, the fear, and the secrets she’d kept trying to carry alone, she and Sloan had never had a problem touching each other. Their sex life had been very active, thank you very much. But lately, they were lucky to find themselves in the same room long enough to have a real conversation. She had been hiding how bad she felt, and Sloan had been buried under Warrior business, and somewhere in the middle of all that, they had lost the ease of reaching for each other.
She missed him. Not just his body, though her eyes were having a real hard time pretending they didn’t miss that too. She missed his hands on her. Missed the way he pulled her close without asking, like touching her was as natural to him as breathing was to her. Missed the way he looked at her when she knew exactly what was on his mind and loved every dirty second of it. But more than that, she missed feeling normal with him.
Sloan’s eyes narrowed slightly, and heat crawled up Becky’s neck.
Oh, hell. He knew she wanted him.
Of course he knew. Sloan didn’t miss much when it came to her especially now, and apparently that included her staring at him like he'd taste better than the damn cracker she was trying to choke down.
“What?” she snapped, because embarrassment and fear were a horrible combination.
“Nothing,” Sloan replied, a knowing smirk played across his lips.
“Don’t nothing me.” She glanced away, gripping the cracker a little tighter. “I know that look.”
For a second, he didn’t say anything, and when she dared to glance back, the look on his face stole what little breath she had left. There was heat there, yes, but there was also something deeper.
“You want me,” he said, his voice husky as his eyes darkened.
Becky’s throat tightened.
“Yes,” she whispered. “I do, but it feels wrong. Like I shouldn't because of what?—"
Sloan closed the distance between them before she could finish, his hand coming up to cup the side of her face. “Don’t.”
The single word wasn’t harsh, but it held enough power to stop her.
Becky swallowed hard, her eyes searching his. “Don’t what?”
“Don’t make yourself feel guilty for wanting your mate.” His thumb brushed slowly along her cheek, his eyes never leaving hers.
Her breath hitched, and she looked away, but he didn’t let her hide for long. His touch stayed gentle, but firm enough to bring her eyes back to his.
“There is nothing wrong with wanting me, Becky.” His voice dropped lower, rougher. “Nothing.”
“But everything feels wrong,” she whispered. “My body. My thoughts. One minute I’m scared out of my mind, and the next I’m staring at you like…” She shook her head, embarrassed all over again.
