Page 46 of Kidnapping Their Third

Pike woke up with a new appreciation for anyone who’d ever had to deal with a hangover. As a bear shifter, it took a lot to get him drunk, and he’d never bothered drinking enough hard alcohol to get the job done. He’d heard his coworkers complain enough to know that his aching head, dry mouth, sore throat, and roiling stomach were all common symptoms.

Except he wasn’t suffering from a hangover—it was part of his aura being stripped off! Hopefully, he’d never have to experience anything so painful again.

Sitting up with a moan he looked around, surprised to find that he was in Cora’s bed and not the kitchen floor. How long had he been out? He only had long enough to notice Cora sound asleep next to him before a figure sat on the bed on his other side.

“Drink!” The demand was followed by a glass being pressed to his lips. Water splashed on his face before he could take the glass from Kimble’s insistent hand. He downed all of it in a few swallows. The water made his mouth and throat feel better but didn’t do any favors for his stomach.

The moment the glass was empty, Kimble snatched it back and got up, probably to refill it.

“Crackers,” Pike croaked, closing his eyes and rubbing his face with both hands.

“Crack—” Kimble said, then grumbled and tried again. “Crack-crack… cracker. Crackers. Drink and eat. Yes.”

He mumbled those words as he left, and Pike could hear him in the kitchen. Pike blamed how bad he felt as the reason he didn’t realize that Kimble was talking until the vampire was back and holding a large plate piled high with crackers in one hand and the refilled glass of water in the other.

“Eat, eat, eat, and drink. More food, food.”

Pike ignored the plate and glass as he dropped his hands to his lap and stared into Kimble's eyes. “You can talk now?”

“Talk,” Kimble said with a frown. “Try. Try-try-trying.”

Kimble’s new speech pattern wasn’t a stutter, it was more like a skipping sound bite. Pike didn’t mind, Kimble had said more new words in the last few minutes than he had in months!

Discomfort forgotten, Pike beamed at Kimble. “You’re doing great!”

To his surprise, Kimble didn’t return the smile. If anything, his frown grew more severe.

“No good,” he declared. “Very no-no-no good.”

Pike didn’t understand. “You’re wrong. This is very good.” Pike took the plate and glass from him. After setting them on the nightstand, he drew Kimble into his arms. The vampire collapsed against him with a sigh. Pike held him close and put his mouth near his ear.

“I’m so proud of you!” he whispered. “These new words make me very happy.”

Kimble made an unhappy sound but didn’t try to pull away. He might be frustrated with the slow progress, but Pike was overjoyed. Earlier that night, Pike thought he was going to lose Kimble and now he looked healed, healthy, and was even showing signs of coming back to himself.

“Best. Day. Ever,” Pike said, with a happy sigh.

A moan from Cora broke the happy mood. Both men pulled away from the hug to look over at her. She was propped up on one elbow, her pale face scrunched up in pain, and looking up at them through squinted eyes.

“Fuck,” she mumbled in a hoarse voice. “Did I drink or am I sick?”

“There wasn’t any alcohol involved, but you are sick in a way,” Pike said and grabbed the glass of water as Kimble rushed over to help sit her up. He took great pains to fluff several pillows before easing her back against the bed’s headboard.

Pike waited until the vampire was done before offering the glass of water to Cora. She accepted it with a grateful expression and drank half of it before handing it back.

“I think my head’s going to explode,” she moaned, letting her head fall back against a pillow. “I need some Tylenol. What time is it anyway?”

“I think it’s about three in the morning,” Pike said. “Do you keep your medications in the bathroom?”

Cora didn’t open her eyes when she answered. “Yeah, left-hand drawer.”

Kimble had taken up a similar position with Cora as he’d had with Pike earlier, sitting on the edge of the bed with the plate of crackers. As Pike watched, he pressed one to Cora’s mouth.

She tried to bat his hand away. “Stop it. I’m not hungry.”

“Eat,” Kimble insisted and tried again. “Please. Cora needs food.”

Cora had a similar reaction as Pike to Kimble’s expanded vocabulary. She didn’t sit up, but her eyes opened wide, and she grabbed Kimble’s hand to move it away from her mouth.

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