the plates then claimed his own seat.
Aries waited for Conn to take up his fork before touching hers. She was surprised when he lifted his plate slightly off the table and bowed his head, “Grandfather, we thank you for the honor of your gifts, and pray you continue to bless us with your protection and guidance.”
Aries quickly lifted her plate and set it down, following Conn’s lead before she offered a muttered, “Amen?”
Conn winked at her as he took up his fork. “ A ’ hau .”
They ate in silence for several minutes. Aries devoured her pe rfectly cooked steak that seeped warm juice. Her baked potato with sour cream didn’t last much longer, and she was halfway through her salad with ranch dressing and crunchy croutons before she stopped to t ake a healthy drink of her soda and noticed that Conn hadn’t touched his food.
Her startled eyes shifted from his full plate to her nearly empty plate, “Oh God!” Her hand gripped her stomach and she dropped her fork, “Did you drug me again?”
Conn erupted into laughter, “No!” He was trying to sound reassuring but it was hard to believe when he was laughing so hard. Finally, he sobered. “No, Aries it’s not contaminated in any way.”
Pulling her brows together, her eyes dropped to his plate. “Then why aren’t you eating?”
Conn shoved the plate away from him as he slowly stood crossing to lean against the fridge. “Beats the hell outta me.”
“But,” Aries turned to eye him in confusion, “you must be hungry. Mr. StoneCrow said you haven’t eaten since before you found me.” She quickly did the math in her head, “It’s been at least three days.”
Conn sighed, shoving a hand roughly into his hair, “I know. It must be the flu or som e bug I picked up in the jungle.” It was a lie and he knew it. Walker’s were immune to illness. “ I just have no desire to eat.”
“You don’t look sick.”
Conn shook his head, “No, I don’t feel it either but something’s off.”
Aries turned back and stood to pu sh his plate back to his place at the table, “Well, maybe if you tried a few bites it’ll trigger your appetite.”
Conn moved to lean a hip against the kitchen counter and smiled at her apparent concern, “I tried it while I was cooking. Made me sick.”
“I could make you some soup , if you’ve got some. ”
Conn stared at her for long moments before finally shaking his head.
“Come on , it’s been three days. There must be something you’re dying to have.” Aries turned to watch as his eyes slid from her face down her throat to rest on her chest. Her cheeks flamed as she turned back to the table and lifted a hand to her chest to ensure everything was where it was supposed to be. Shit! One of her nipples had popped free of its insufficient confines and mortification seared her as sh e knew with certainty that it’ s what Conn had been eyeing .
Aries shrugged feigning nonchalance tucking herself back in before taking another drink of her Coke and pretending not to notice the hunge r she’d seen in his eyes that hadn’t been a yearning for food.
“Well luckily for you ther e happens to be an overbearing d octor on the estate that is just dying to run some tests. I suggest you take my place and let her draw your blood and find out what’s wrong.”
“I’ve got a better idea.” Conn shove d off the counter, “I’m going to see how much hot water you left me.” He was heading for the hallway, “I suggest you finish your dinner.” He stopped where he could still see her, “And Aries?”
She turned to stare at him.
“If you leave this suite while I’m showering , I will track you down . And I promise you, you will regret making me chase you again.” He didn’t say anything else, he didn’t need to. He disappeared down the hall and as Aries was finishing her salad she heard the shower blast to life .
***
In the bathroom Conn quickly
Aries waited for Conn to take up his fork before touching hers. She was surprised when he lifted his plate slightly off the table and bowed his head, “Grandfather, we thank you for the honor of your gifts, and pray you continue to bless us with your protection and guidance.”
Aries quickly lifted her plate and set it down, following Conn’s lead before she offered a muttered, “Amen?”
Conn winked at her as he took up his fork. “ A ’ hau .”
They ate in silence for several minutes. Aries devoured her pe rfectly cooked steak that seeped warm juice. Her baked potato with sour cream didn’t last much longer, and she was halfway through her salad with ranch dressing and crunchy croutons before she stopped to t ake a healthy drink of her soda and noticed that Conn hadn’t touched his food.
Her startled eyes shifted from his full plate to her nearly empty plate, “Oh God!” Her hand gripped her stomach and she dropped her fork, “Did you drug me again?”
Conn erupted into laughter, “No!” He was trying to sound reassuring but it was hard to believe when he was laughing so hard. Finally, he sobered. “No, Aries it’s not contaminated in any way.”
Pulling her brows together, her eyes dropped to his plate. “Then why aren’t you eating?”
Conn shoved the plate away from him as he slowly stood crossing to lean against the fridge. “Beats the hell outta me.”
“But,” Aries turned to eye him in confusion, “you must be hungry. Mr. StoneCrow said you haven’t eaten since before you found me.” She quickly did the math in her head, “It’s been at least three days.”
Conn sighed, shoving a hand roughly into his hair, “I know. It must be the flu or som e bug I picked up in the jungle.” It was a lie and he knew it. Walker’s were immune to illness. “ I just have no desire to eat.”
“You don’t look sick.”
Conn shook his head, “No, I don’t feel it either but something’s off.”
Aries turned back and stood to pu sh his plate back to his place at the table, “Well, maybe if you tried a few bites it’ll trigger your appetite.”
Conn moved to lean a hip against the kitchen counter and smiled at her apparent concern, “I tried it while I was cooking. Made me sick.”
“I could make you some soup , if you’ve got some. ”
Conn stared at her for long moments before finally shaking his head.
“Come on , it’s been three days. There must be something you’re dying to have.” Aries turned to watch as his eyes slid from her face down her throat to rest on her chest. Her cheeks flamed as she turned back to the table and lifted a hand to her chest to ensure everything was where it was supposed to be. Shit! One of her nipples had popped free of its insufficient confines and mortification seared her as sh e knew with certainty that it’ s what Conn had been eyeing .
Aries shrugged feigning nonchalance tucking herself back in before taking another drink of her Coke and pretending not to notice the hunge r she’d seen in his eyes that hadn’t been a yearning for food.
“Well luckily for you ther e happens to be an overbearing d octor on the estate that is just dying to run some tests. I suggest you take my place and let her draw your blood and find out what’s wrong.”
“I’ve got a better idea.” Conn shove d off the counter, “I’m going to see how much hot water you left me.” He was heading for the hallway, “I suggest you finish your dinner.” He stopped where he could still see her, “And Aries?”
She turned to stare at him.
“If you leave this suite while I’m showering , I will track you down . And I promise you, you will regret making me chase you again.” He didn’t say anything else, he didn’t need to. He disappeared down the hall and as Aries was finishing her salad she heard the shower blast to life .
***
In the bathroom Conn quickly
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