coat and rolled up his sleeves. Then, he went back into the bedroom to his patient.
“Will you hold me?” she sniffled
“It would be my greatest pleasure,” he said as he climbed into the bed. Lying down beside her, he pulled her gently into his arms.
Cara rested against him as he stroked her silky hair. He liked gazing into her soft doe eyes. This was his mate. He was finally here with her.
Just then the teakettle started to whistle. Raven got up to fix her tea. He came back in with a cup of Earl Grey, placing it on the nightstand. Cara was already having problems keeping her eyes open.
“Go to sleep love. You need to rest,” he said.
“Please don’t leave . . .”
“Never, tehila. I will be right here when you wake up.”
He left her sleeping peacefully and went into the kitchen. After fixing a cup of tea for himself, he went back and relaxed in the wingback chair covered in pink roses. He liked Cara’s decorating style. Everything was done in soft pinks and whites. It was homey and comfortable.
He was proud of her accomplishments, and he was even prouder, knowing this lovely woman was his mate. He happily watched over her, while dozing in her chair. When he felt Derek’s mind-touch, he got up quietly and opened the door.
“Sorry, Bro, I would have warned you if I’d known. She seemed okay last night when Joe came on duty. Maybe just a little tired.”
Derek handed over the bag from the drugstore and the soup.
“It’s okay, Derek. These things happen. Will you catch the limo driver when he comes up and get my suitcase? Cara is sleeping, and I don’t want her to wake up.”
“Sure. I’ll watch for him.”
Raven put the soup and juice in the refrigerator. He would heat up the soup when Cara woke up. The medicine waited on the counter. He went back in the bedroom to find Cara snoring slightly. She would be mortified if she knew.
He chuckled and decided to watch some TV while she slept. He turned the small set on, but not wanting to disturb her, he turned it way down. Finally, he put on a music station after nothing on the weather channel or news caught his eye. Enjoying this quiet time, he dozed in the chair. These simple homey chores made him feel complete and satisfied.
Raven liked watching over Cara. It didn’t matter that things didn’t work out according to his vision. He was here with her, and that’s all that mattered.
Derek’s mind-touch surprised Raven when he saw how much time had passed. He got up to open the door.
“Here’s the suitcase. She’s good for you. You’ve only been here a couple of hours and already you look better.”
“I didn’t know I looked bad before,” Raven said.
“Not bad, exactly. Tired, overworked.”
Raven heard Cara stirring in the bedroom. He smiled at his brother.
“Oh, yeah,” Derek said. “You’ve got it bad.”
As Derek chuckled, Raven closed the door in his face. He knew Derek would walk back into Shadow. He and Joe would take turns standing guard.
Cara was looking sleepy as Raven walked back into her room.
“I thought I heard voices.”
“Just a delivery from the airport,” Raven said, putting his suitcase down. “I thought I might need some casual clothes.”
Raven had already taken his shoes and tie off. He actually looked a little rumpled. Cara couldn’t remember when she had seen him less than perfect. She felt a sudden surge of desire. She must be feeling better.
“Will you hold me some more?”
“Are you sure I can’t get something for you first? Soup? Juice?” Raven asked.
“Oh,” Cara said a little disappointed. “Maybe some juice?”
“Be back in just a minute.”
Cara felt grateful that Raven wanted to care for her. But it would be nice if instead of being so gallant, he would just come back to bed. She wanted him to want her, even when she looked as bad as she did with no makeup and a stuffy nose.
Raven came in with medicine and juice in one hand and a mug of egg-drop soup in the other. Egg-drop soup was one of Cara’s comfort foods. She always ordered some when she was sick. The fact that Raven knew and provided showed her what a caring man he really was. It brought tears to her already puffy eyes.
He watched over her, getting more juice when she ran out and then clearing the dishes when she was done. Finally, he came back to bed and held her close,