more like a gift than a burden. He knew what he needed to do.
Chapter Fourteen
Harper had to admit, as he lay on what must have been the most comfortable couch in the world, that this was a lot better than weathering his heat in a freezing, dark, dank apartment. He was already starting to feel less tired and anxious and more excited about how this week would go. Also, he was really, really hungry.
The apartment door opened, and heavy footsteps moved into the kitchen before heading his way.
“Hey. Everything okay?”
He nodded, glancing past William in the direction of the kitchen. He should get up, make himself some food…
“What do you feel like? Sweet or savory?”
“I can… I can…”
“I’ve got it.” William crouched down next to him. “Unless you’re yearning for something complicated. My cooking skills are still pretty basic.”
“Something sweet.” He knew the boost to his blood sugar would go a long way to helping him feel more like himself.
“I got chocolate fudge cake from the bakery.”
Suddenly, there was nothing in the world he wanted more at that moment than a bite of chocolate cake.
“Yes, please.”
The needy whimper that escaped his lips sounded pathetic to his ears, but William only smiled indulgently.
“Cake it is. What about something to drink? Tea? Hot chocolate? Chocolate milk?”
Harper considered the options, and then blinked. Had he heard right? “Chocolate milk?”
“One of the ultimate comfort foods, isn’t it?”
Harper giggled. “For kids, maybe.”
“Hey, if you don’t want it, more for me. It’ll go great with the cake.”
He was right. It would go great with fudge cake. Only Harper would have to admit that he wanted it. Instead, he said, “Just regular milk for me.”
“Suit yourself.”
William wasn’t gone long, returning with two plates and two glasses.
“Budge over,” he said, taking a seat next to Harper.
He handed him a plate, and then the glass of regular milk. Harper murmured a quiet thanks, glancing longingly at the chocolate milk William was holding. It looked good.
The alpha snorted. “Here, give me that.”
He swapped their glasses.
“But…”
“You look like a scolded puppy. Can’t have that, can we?” William teased.
Harper set his glass aside and grabbed the fork on his plate. The cake looked amazing; moist and chocolaty. The fork cut through it smoothly, and he lifted a piece to his lips, catching the heady aroma. The moment it hit his tongue, he moaned.
After a long moment of savoring the taste, he swallowed and spoke.
“This is, hands down, the nicest cake I’ve ever had.”
“Good thing I bought the whole cake then, and not just a few slices.”
Harper felt his eyes go wide. “Oh hell, you’re spoiling me. No heat will ever compare after this.”
He wasn’t expecting William’s rich, warm laugh.
“So worth it,” the alpha said. “Eat up.”
Harper tried to keep his sinful noises to a minimum as he ate every crumb of cake and all but licked the fudge frosting from his plate.
“More?” William offered.
“Maybe later.”
He eagerly seized his glass of chocolate milk, relishing every last drop. Then he sat back, sighing with contentment. His eyes drifted closed, and he let himself relax. This was okay. Better than okay.
“Bath or shower?”
William’s quiet voice found its way to his ears.
“Hmm?”
“I’m sure you’d like to get cleaned up.”
He would. The lack of hot water in his apartment meant he’d been reluctant to suffer a cold shower, especially with no heating to warm him up after. But what William was offering was much more pleasant.
“Bath, please.”
“I’ll go run the water. You stay put.”
“I can—”
“But you don’t have to. That’s the point.”
William whisked away their plates, and Harper stretched out across the couch, loosening the blankets around him. The chill that had settled into his bones over the past few days had dissipated, leaving him warm and happy. He was content to doze, hearing the distant sound of William moving around the apartment.
“Bath’s ready.”
William’s quiet voice reached him, and Harper stretched and yawned.
“I’m up.”
He didn’t move from his comfortable position on the couch.
“No, you’re not,” William teased. He sat down on the edge of the couch. “Need a helping hand?”
“I can manage.”
William’s warm hand slipped into his, silently telling him that he didn’t need to do this alone.
“But I won’t say no to help, or I might never want to leave this couch.”
He let the alpha tug him to his feet and guide him to the bathroom.
His shared bathroom in the apartment was old, smelled faintly of mildew no matter how hard he scrubbed, and had the smallest shower that he could barely turn around in. The