Page 21 of Shifter Marked and Claimed

“I don’t know why that surprises you. I told you I’d see you today.”

“I know. I just didn’t think you meant it.”

“Well, you’ll learn I never say things I don’t mean. Are you hungry?”

“Uh, yeah, I am.”

I wasn’t prepared for how happy that made me, because I knew I could take care of her, even if only in a small way.

“I brought lunch. Want to join me?”

“Okay,” she said hesitantly as if she wasn’t sure what to do or expect.

She sat down next to me, and the small width of the stairs meant our knees touched. There was such a sense of calm that small touch gave me that I just stared at her in wonder.

“What?”

“Nothing,” I said.

I reached into the bag and pulled out a sub sandwich to hand her. Next, I produced two containers of pasta salad, some grapes, raw carrots, and two small bags of chips. I had to hunt for the forks and napkins I knew I had remembered to pack. Finally, I offered her a choice of water, soda, or tea to drink.

“Tea.”

I made a mental note of what she liked with a little smile quirking my lips. Tea was my favorite too and just in case she chose it, I had packed two bottles.

She bit into her sandwich and moaned. I stared at her with my own sub frozen halfway to my mouth as I gulped hard.

“Sorry. I was hungrier than I thought, and this is delicious. Where did you get it from?”

I felt ridiculously happy that she liked it.

“I made it this morning.”

“You made this?”

“Yup.” I gave her a sheepish grin.

“Micah, this is the best thing I’ve had since I got here. This is amazing.”

“Wait until you try my famous pasta salad.”

Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she set the sandwich down and dove into the pasta.

Even though I was more prepared for it this time, the little whimpers of appreciation as she ate made me uncomfortably hard. My mind transported to places it shouldn’t as I wondered just what sort of noises she’d make in bed.

“So, busy morning?” I stupidly said just trying to change the subject to anything that didn’t make me think of Lucy naked.

“Vada had an accident at school so I had to run in a change of clothes. I brought two just in case it happens again.”

“Potty training?”

“Yes. She’s so close, but she’s still only two and this was rare for her.”

“Two is still early. It’s not uncommon for kids to not be able to hold it at her age, and even older. A lot of the time during the day they just get so busy and into whatever they are doing that they ignore the signs until it’s too late. She’ll get there.”

She nudged me with her elbow. “Thanks Doc. I needed to hear that today. And thanks for lunch. I probably would have just grabbed an apple.”

I shook my head. “Nope, no apples for you. Throw them all away right now.”

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