Page 135 of As The Shifter World Turns

“Let me get you a referral and your prescription for those pre-natals. And Ivor, try to reduce your stress. I have a feeling today was the culmination of a lot on your shoulders and sadly I can’t write a prescription for that.”

He walked out and as the door shut, I blurted out, “Mate me. Let me help take the stress and—” The blood pressure cuff started to fill, the noise startling me. “And I’ll do everything I can to make things right. I promise.”

The doctor came rushing in. “What the hell just happened?”

We both looked at him confused.

“Your blood pressure was just so high it sent out an alert to the nursing station.”

“I asked him something personal. I’ll stop,” I promised. If me asking him to be my mate had a doctor cursing, I needed to leave that one alone.

“You will. What exactly did you ask him? Do I need to be concerned for his safety?”

“No. He’s… I asked him to mate me,” I said in a low voice. “I won’t ask again.”

“You alphas.” He shook his head. “Don’t pressure him. And Ivor don’t cave to his pressure. None of that is how healthy relationships are born.”

“Don’t worry, he doesn’t.”

“I really don’t.”

Ivor sat a little taller. “Can I go home now?”

“The nurse will be in shortly with your intake papers.” He explained everything once again and left.

When someone came in five minutes later, we were excited that shortly meant shortly. Only it didn’t. It was the woman coming for the co-pay and when she said the amount Ivor spoke the most amazing words I’d ever heard.

“Thank you, Ryder.” He accepted my help and let me pay. It wasn’t something most people would relish, but I did. It meant on some level, he’d let me provide. Was it everything I hoped for? Absolutely not. But it was a step.

It was dawn when we finally had him checked out and were heading back to Sunshine Manor.

“I have an idea and no is a perfectly acceptable answer. I don’t want to stress or pressure you.” I drove out of the hospital parking lot.

“Okay.”

“What if you move in with me—I’ll sleep on the couch. I can drive you to and from work and take care of things like laundry and stuff to keep you from having to work after you come home. That way you can save all of your paychecks and when our baby is born you’ll have a lot more options.”

Did I want him to be staying with me as in living together as a couple? Heck yeah. But if it wasn’t like that, he’d still have enough to afford a down payment and such when he found a new place.

“I… really that would help with my biggest stress.” That stress being money. “Yes. But roommates. That is it. Nothing else.”

“Roommates.” The word burned in the back of my throat, but if that was what Ivor needed, that was what he was going to get.

53

COMING HOME

Ivor

Everyone at Sunshine Manor had lined up to welcome me home. I half expected them to bow as though I was royalty. Even Seb muttered, “Glad you and the baby are okay,” as he got in his car and drove off. The tension rippling off Ryder diminished once Seb left. I could smell Kellan on the guy. Not that they were a couple—at least I didn’t think so, that wasn’t the vibe I got—but he’d been around that asswipe, and if I scented Kellan on his jacket, so did Ryder.

Daire took my papers and medication and helped me onto the porch. I wasn’t broken, at least not on the outside, but he was being a good friend so I took his arm. Even Patch was pleased to see me as Archer must have brought him over when he came, but there was no sign of Micah and Elune. I’d probably burst into tears if I saw the baby thinking of the little one I carried inside me.

“What’s your decision?” Daire asked. “Do I take you to your room in 1A or up to 2A?”

I glanced at Ryder. We’d been having this will I or won’t I discussion since I’d been in the hospital. “2A, please.”

Neil had a gooey expression on his face and he was silently squeeing, I could tell. “We’re doing this for the baby. But we’re not together,” I said for everyone’s benefit.

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