Undeniable Craving Read Online Free Page B

silence
stretched between them, Jaimie decided now was as good a time as any to ask
Gage the questions that had plagued her since she’d woken up and realized he
wasn’t a figment of her drugged mind. She kept it direct and straight to the
point.
    “What’s a mate
brand, and what worked that would allow me to live? And why did you say you’re
mine?”

Chapter Three
     
    Gage sat in the
chair next to the bed. His mate didn’t hold back any punches. She went right in
for the kill. He didn’t know how best to answer her questions. He hadn’t
prepared himself for that kind of discussion to be started so soon. He’d
thought to gradually ease into it after they’d talked for a while.
    Actually, he
hadn’t known what to expect when he’d arrived at the hospital. He’d hardly
slept during the night, his mind swirling with worry that claiming Jaimie
hadn’t healed her. When Gage had found some sleep, he’d ended up having a
nightmare about his mate dying and leaving him behind.
    Once he’d seen
Jaimie sitting up in bed and awake, looking a hundred percent better than she
had the day before, Gage had just about sagged in relief. The gamble he’d taken
had paid out. Biting her had given her body the weapon it needed to kick
cancer’s butt.
    “So are you
going to answer me?” Jaimie asked.
    Gage smiled.
“I’m trying to think of a way to explain all that without you either not
believing me or screaming loud enough to bring hospital security.”
    “I don’t think
you have to worry about me screaming down the place. For one, I’m not a
screamer, and for another, I haven’t regained enough energy to do it. So why
don’t you get it over with?”
    He couldn’t hold
back a chuckle. “Are you always so to the point?”
    “Afraid so.”
    “Nothing wrong
with that.”
    He studied
Jaimie closer. Her cheeks held some color, which enhanced her beauty. He was
more than pleased that he could no longer smell the sickness in her scent. The
cancer was gone. He didn’t need a doctor to order tests to tell him that.
    “I definitely
think you’re stalling,” Jaimie said.
    “Maybe a little.
Why don’t you tell me about your sickness?”
    “There’s not
that much. Over a year and a half ago I was diagnosed with cancer. They thought
they’d caught it early enough. I went through chemo. I lost my hair and
everything. After that, I went into remission. A year later the cancer was
back, and had metastasized to other areas of my body. It was aggressive enough
and had spread so much another round of chemo was out of the question. As of
yesterday, I’d been well on my way to dying.” She met his gaze. “Your turn.”
    Gage was saved
from answering with the arrival of a nurse, carrying a tray with a bowl of
something on it. She pulled over a rolling table that fit over the bed and lowered
it to the correct height for Jaimie before she placed what she held on it.
    “I talked to the
doctor,” the nurse said. “He said you could have some broth. He’s finishing up
with another patient and then will come to see you.”
    Jaimie nodded.
“Thanks.”
    After the nurse
left, Jaimie lifted the paper lid off the bowl and dipped the spoon that
accompanied it into the broth. She blew on the steaming liquid before she put
it into her mouth. She sighed once she swallowed.
    “Good?” Gage
asked.
    “Yes. Really
good, actually.” Jaimie had another mouthful. “You can talk while I eat this,
you know.”
    Gage shook his
head and smiled. He was going to have to tell Jaimie. He had a feeling she
wouldn’t let it go. Maybe bringing Cyrus and Shyla along would have been a good
idea, after all. They’d offered to come with him to the hospital when they’d
talked to him before he’d left the hotel. Unsure of what he’d find, he’d said
no.
    Jaimie blew on
another spoonful of broth. “I thought at first I imagined it, but I’m pretty
sure you bit me.”
    He leaned
forward and rested his forearms on his thighs. “Okay. Here it goes.