Devon Morgan [Seven Brothers for McBride 5] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) Read Online Free PDF Page B

a smile crossed McBride’s face. “I’d be happy to. As long as you crawl in there with me.”
    Caleb looked sorely tempted by the offer, but in the end he sighed and put his hands on his hips. “Back you go, and you go solo.”
    “Make me.”
    “Don’t try my patience, McBride. I can’t run everything and make you stay put, too.”
    “Run everything? Since when the hell are you in charge of my farm?” McBride rose to his full height even though doing so cost him dearly. Posturing was surely the death of most gentrymen.
    “I got put in charge when you took a turn for the worse.”
    “Well, I’m all better now.” But he wasn’t, and he knew it, but he’d be damned twice over if he’d let his men see him being weak.
    “You’re not.” Caleb’s voice was soft and sad. It was suddenly clear to McBride that he hadn’t usurped his power for fun. Caleb honestly didn’t want to have to be in charge of everything, but he also felt he had no choice. “Please get back into bed and let me take care of you.”
    As tempting as it was, McBride simply couldn’t lay idle while everyone else was working. When he told Caleb, he frowned and shook his head.
    “You aren’t any good to us if you’re falling down in agony.”
    “Whatever was bothering me has—” Another bolt of pain swelled up in his head until he thought his skull would simply explode. A part of him was wishing it would because then he’d be out of his misery.
    Caleb was there, guiding him down until he was sitting on the edge of his bed. His big hands were gentle, his words nonsensical and soothing.
    “So that’s how to get you into my room. I just have to feign illness.” McBride gripped Caleb’s shoulders but not with lust. He was terrified if he let go he was going to flop back like a half-full bag of tallos buds.
    “If this is you faking an illness, I’d hate to see the real thing.” Caleb started to pull up the covers, but McBride pushed them away.
    “I can’t sleep in all these clothes.”
    “You seemed to be fine with it before.”
    “Maybe I was, but if I’m going to spend all day in here, I’m going to do so while being as comfortable as possible.” McBride struggled to sit up until Caleb put one hand at his back, stabilizing him. With his help, McBride got his shirt unbuttoned and off. Then they got to work on his pants. Rather than ogle him and push him for sexual favors like he had been for months, Caleb seemed detached and almost clinical in his movements. Disappointed, McBride looked down, and though he wasn’t feeling perfectly well, he didn’t think he’d changed so much as to be suddenly unattractive. “So is Jonas still alive?”
    “He is.” Caleb pulled the covers up, and this time McBride let him. “I gave you my word.”
    “Right. Sorry. I forgot.” Actually, McBride hadn’t believed him, but he did now. He couldn’t recall a single time Caleb had promised him something only to go back on it later. Sadly, that meant that once McBride was better, he was going to leave if McBride didn’t get rid of Jonas. “I’m sorry I threatened you with bloodbonding to him.”
    “I know you are.” Caleb placed his hand against McBride’s forehead.
    “You’re not angry?”
    “I was, but you weren’t yourself.” Caleb frowned as he pulled his hand away. “You’re burning up.”
    “I’m so thirsty.”
    “I’m going to get you food, and then one of my brothers will come up so you can feed.”
    “No.”
    “No?”
    “I’ll eat what you bring, but you’re the only one I want to feed from.”
    “No.” Caleb was up before McBride could grab him and hold him. Not that he had much strength to do so. “You need to feed from someone other than me.”
    “I won’t.” McBride crossed his arms. He was weak and utterly at the mercy of others, but he was going to put his foot down on the few things he had control over. Who he drank from and when he drank were just about the only things he had left to