CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE - Mariska #2
Balthazar chuckled as he flipped a thick and cheesy grilled sandwich in a pan on the gas stove. “Mom met Artemis and just loves her. Sugarplum and Twinkle adopted her as a little sister too. Mom makes ceramics and sells a lot of those bowls this time of year. She couldn’t resist.”
“Remind me to tell her thank you next time I see her.” It was sweet of Liz to do so, but I hoped they wouldn’t spoil Artemis too much. We wouldn’t be here for long.
I took a seat on the opposite side of the island than Balthazar. While my heat pangs had eased, they weren’t fully gone, and proximity increased my urges. I’d spent enough time in bed with the pack. I had things to do that I couldn’t ignore.
Yet in front of the stove, Balthazar looked absolutely scrumptious.
He wore a form fitting plaid flannel shirt that barely contained his muscled arms. His jeans hugged his ass in all the right ways, and the package in front…
Mmm. I knew exactly what that felt like, and my hands itched to take hold of that monster again.
To distract myself, I took out my cell and checked my recent texts from Miss Eloise, Lyla, and Emberlee.
“Lyla wants us to get some Culver’s for her when we pick her up.
And while Miss Eloise says she doesn’t need anything, I want to pick up some of her favorite healthy and easy to swallow foods.
There’s a particular apple sauce from a local store that she loves.
They also make apple butter if she can swallow some toast.”
“Whatever you want to do, babe.” Balthazar flipped the grilled sandwich onto a plate and cut it diagonally.
He brought it over and placed it in front of me with a pleased grin.
“My famous bacon grilled cheese sandwich. Three cheeses, thick juicy bacon, tomato slices, and avocado. All the food groups in one meal.”
“It looks incredible. Thank you.” I’d never had more than a simple grilled cheese, but this was restaurant style good. Steaming cheese oozed out of the sides and onto the plate. I debated how I was going to pick it up without getting messy, but there didn’t seem to be a way to do it.
Balthazar watched as I picked up one half and opened my mouth as wide as it could go to bite into the sandwich. There was more than just what he described. Some sort of spices he’d added that gave it a smokey flavor. I closed my eyes and groaned. “So good.”
“Would you like a drink? Lemonade, a soda, or eggnog?” He purred the words, and when I opened my eyes, he was staring at me as if I was his lunch.
I smiled as I felt a blush warm my cheeks. “Water is fine, thanks. I want us to get going right after this because a winter storm is due to roll in tonight.”
He nodded and fetched a bottle of water for me. “Yeah. That arctic wind which has been smacking us is carrying a big snow on its tail. Already the drifts are pretty big outside.”
Glancing out the windows at the backyard, it was hard to judge, but since I didn’t stay with Lyla last night, I wanted to be there today.
I stood from the stool I sat on and took a big chug of water to wash the cheese from my mouth.
“Let’s take our sandwiches with us and get going now.
I don’t want to miss visiting Miss Eloise today, and Lyla needs her injection of butter burgers. ”
“Lyla and her butter burgers.” Balthazar chuckled and used a couple of paper towels to wrap up my sandwich and then his. “Text the guys and let them know we’re leaving.”
Nodding, I grabbed some more waters for the ride and made sure Artemis had everything she needed.
I then texted Lucian and Jasper that we were headed to town.
They both responded quickly with Lucian adding a heart at the end of ‘drive safely’ and Jasper sent a blowing kiss emoji saying he would warm up the bed for me.
To have this every day. These three men watching over me, flirting with me, bringing me to orgasmic heights I never thought possible.
I had brief moments with them where it felt like it had always been this way.
It felt so natural. But I was also keenly aware that this was only temporary.
Once my heat was over, this whole thing was done.
And it hurt to think it would be. I never expected it to feel like I was stabbed in the heart, and that was only the thought of it ending.
It might go on a little longer if I stayed for Miss Eloise.
That excited me more than it should. If I stayed to help take care of my housemother, I would lose the position waiting for me in California.
I couldn’t go back to Blue Skies, so I’d have to find a job elsewhere, and there was nothing else in Wisconsin in my specific field.
As we loaded into Balthazar’s truck, I told myself I had to decide and decide very soon.
The company who hired me deserved that respect if I decided not to go.
I convinced myself that seeing Miss Eloise today would determine what I would do.
If she was doing well, I’d go. If she needed me to stay to help her as she healed, then I’d do that.
But first step first, get to the hospital and see how she was for myself.