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“Did you hear that?” I asked quietly. “I caught. We’re going to be parents!”

Vaughn leaned down and rubbed his nose against mine. “I absolutely heard, little mate. I tried to tell you that my beast was going to do everything he could to make certain you were. I’m sorry he hurt you though.” Vaughn kissed my nose before he sat upright.

“I know you didn’t do it on purpose,” I said as I reached for his hand. “You’re not going to stop things with me, are you? This isn’t going to change us, is it?”

“To answer your first question, no. To answer your second, somewhat.” Vaughn leaned down and kissed me again. “I still plan on being as intimate with you as you want, but I’ll use more restraint in the future. I never wish to cause you harm, and I’m upset with myself for the harm that has already been caused, even if it was unintentional.”

I sighed. “I understand. But still. You were just doing what I asked,” I said, trying to make him feel better about it all. “And who is to say that it’s something you did? What if it was absolutely something that I did? I could have moved wrong. Don’t assume it’s something you did.”

“Cutie, I appreciate you trying to make me feel better, but if we’re being honest, it most likely happened because of something I did. You weren’t exactly overly aware of what was happening beyond wanting things faster, harder, and in all the new positions.”

I thought about that. What new positions? Vaughn must have realized I was trying to figure that out because suddenly, they were flashing through my brain. Oh. Those. Yeah, those were certainly new positions. “Huh.” I looked at Vaughn. “Are we going to do those again? Outside of my heat?”

Vaughn grinned. “Some, I’m certain. But possibly not all. I honestly would be concerned for you during a select few. In fact, I’m almost certain that was how you became injured.”

I knew I was flexible, but after seeing some of the things we did while I was in heat, I realized that I was incredibly flexible. Obviously to the point that I’d almost dislocated my hip. Vaughn kissed my forehead and then stood. I was going to ask that he come back to bed and spend some time with me, but I quickly realized he wasn’t going far. There was a table in front of one of the windows, and he’d placed one of the trays from the other night there.

I grinned when he brought the tray over. I started to sit up, but that caused Vaughn to rush over. “Don’t. I’ll help you. I do not wish for you to hurt yourself.”

I relaxed and waited. “I didn’t mean to the first time, and I’m truly sorry.”

“Nobody intended for you to get hurt. But let’s make certain that you don’t again if at all possible.” I nodded, and then Vaughn helped me sit up, and it was definitely easier. Not that I couldn’t sit up. I could. But he was so strong, and I honestly enjoyed his help. “I don’t have much here on the tray because you were asleep. Just some coffee, juice, and buttered toast I was going to snack on while waiting on you to wake.” Vaughn handed me the glass of juice, and I grinned. I already knew it was orange juice. One of my favorites.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

I took a small sip and then a larger drink. It felt wonderfully cool on my throat, but I suddenly discovered that my throat was a bit scratchy, and it burned a bit. Ah, yes. The joys of not drinking nearly enough and screaming during intense orgasms.

“Would you prefer something else? I truly hadn’t realized you were awake yet until I was already mostly up the stairs.”

I shook my head. “I didn’t mean to take your juice. And I can provide something much more substantial if you’d like. You said this was a snack. But you must be hungry. I know I am.” Now that the burning pain was gone, I was incredibly hungry. “How about a steak? I know you like them. I’ve seen it in some memories. And a lot of people eat steak after a heat.”

Vaughn laughed a little. “I’ll go cook you a steak if that’s what you wish.”

I sighed. “No, silly. I’ll use magic.” I did just then, and on the tray that Vaughn had set on the bed beside my knees was now a thick, juicy, perfectly medium rare steak. I liked mine just a bit more done, but I knew Vaughn liked his quite pink.

“You are supposed to be letting me dote on you.”

I nodded as I picked up a fork and knife and cut off a piece of steak. “Yep. You are. You’ve checked on me, you’ve put me back to bed, you called the doctor to look at me because you recognized my pain wasn’t normal, and you’ve given me your juice.” I held up the bite, and Vaughn took it. He closed his eyes as he started chewing, but they opened again quickly.

“You should eat your steak.”

I shook my head. “It’s for you,” I told him. I held up the tray, and although I was tired and even my energy felt heavy, I used magic to move the small table that was by the window so that Vaughn could sit at it. I used just enough more to magick my own breakfast. It was a steak as well, just a bit more done. I wanted a sweet potato, so I went with that. Lots of fruit and a small pastry. That looked like an amazing breakfast to me. I caught Vaughn looking over at me and grinned. That ended up turning into a giggle when he reached over and swiped a chunk of melon. “I didn’t know what else you would want.”

“Everything on your plate looks amazing. I wouldn’t be upset with any of it.”

That was all it took for me to mirror my plate for Vaughn. “I know you wanted to take care of me, and you have. I promise that I will let you take everything down to the kitchen once we’re finished eating.”

“I appreciate that. Would you allow me to draw you a bath once we’re finished eating? I think it would be good for you to have a relaxing soak.”

“I’d like that,” I said, smiling. We fell into silence for a few minutes while eating our first large meal in several days. “Can I ask something?”

“Of course.”

“Are you happy about the baby?” It was a dumb question because I knew he was.

“Of course I am. Why would you think otherwise?”