“What do you mean?” I looked around the room and tried to take in as much as I could in seconds, but I knew I’d get a chance to learn more about my mate by talking to him. “You suggested talking. You mentioned a comfortable sofa. Here we are.”
“I did both of those things, yes. And I have only myself to blame for our current position, as you took my suggestionliterally. That isn’t what I was referring to though. Your aura changed color again, and I’m still trying to learn what it means.”
“I’ve been around very few warlocks, and none have ever mentioned auras before. I understand we all have them. Does that mean you see everyone’s auras when you look at people? Instead of seeing people, they all…glow?”
Maxwell chuckled. “It can. I don’t have to seek out someone’s aura though. I was looking for yours because we’re not yet mated. Once we are, I’ll have our bond to know what you’re feeling. For now, I’m curious about what you were suddenly thinking about because your aura went from a red hue to blueish.”
I nodded slowly. “I’m not sure what all of the colors mean, and I’ve honestly never given my aura much thought. But I was thinking about my family because I really needed to get my desire in check. They usually help do that.”
Maxwell stared at me for a bit before he started laughing. He nodded while doing so and then placed his hand on my thigh. It only took a moment for him to start shaking his head and then stop laughing. “I do apologize. I’m the same way though. If I were to think about my parents, I would certainly lose all ability to get in the mood. Is there a reason why you don’t wish for that though? Have I done something wrong?”
I sighed. “No. I very much want to, but you said let’s talk. Therefore, we talk. I’m also trying to not rush things, because yeah, I would be really happy to just go into your bedroom and get it on. But we both know what that will lead to, and I do agree that we should probably cover some of the basics before we get to that point.”
“All right. Well, you know my age. I’m three hundred forty-four. I’m an only child. My parents are Winston and Lukyan. I was born in Bristol, where I spent the majority of my life, actually.”
“You have two dads, then,” I said. I didn’t care, obviously. I was going to be paired with a sire. It didn’t bother me, and since I knew what the faint line on my lower stomach meant, I had been dreaming about finding my sexy alpha mate. It had never occurred to me that I would have a sire for a mate instead.
“I do. Lukyan is my omega dad. He’s a snow leopard shifter.”
My eyes widened. “Seriously?”
Maxwell chuckled. “Yes. My father happened to be on a trip in search of his One. He was pulled toward Russia, and then one day, while at a market in a small village, he said there was Papochka. Even with them both being paranormals, them being together wasn’t safe in Papochka’s village. It didn’t take much for Father to convince him to leave with him. They returned to England and settled in Bristol with my birth coven.”
I sighed. “That sounds so romantic. Please tell me it was.”
“It was. They are still very much in love.”
“They’re still alive?”
Maxwell nodded. “They are old, and I say that with the utmost love. My dads are great, but they like a simple life.”
“Are they still there? In Bristol, I mean?”
Maxwell shook his head. “No. They moved to Ibiza a few decades ago. They’re completely retired and just enjoy one another’s company. They travel a lot and visit all of the tropical places they want.”
I couldn’t stop smiling. “That’s so amazing. Seriously. I love that for them.”
“Do you want to travel?”
I shrugged. “I have some. I imagine that I’ve not traveled nearly as much as you. I think that it would be wonderful to travel with you, but you’re my mate, and I know doing anything with you would be wonderful.” My smile fell a little when I realized that the chances of us traveling were probably low.“How will that work though? If we’re the doctors for the council? How can we both be gone at the same time?”
Maxwell gently rubbed my knee. “It’s simple. We pick a weekend and have a little weekend away. Obviously, it would be best if it wasn’t when there were babies due soon. But my phone works anywhere, and I have the ability to pop back in with a moment’s notice.”
“I guess I didn’t think about that. I’ve always had to drive or fly. I’m pretty good with both, but I do prefer to drive over flying.”
“And traveling the magical way?”
I shook my head. “I’d not done that until Rainier brought me here. I was all packed up, had my moving truck loaded, my SUV on the trailer, and I was driving westward. I didn’t make it far before I had to stop because of the snowstorm.”
“We had the fringes of that a few days ago,” Maxwell said absently. “I’d like to take you to meet my parents eventually. Or they could come here. But Ibiza is beautiful. Bristol is quite different, but there are a lot of things to see not only there, but in England in general.”
I sighed. “I’ll go anywhere with you,” I said before I leaned my head against the back of the sofa. “I’m happy to run away for a weekend whenever we can. Or we can stay here. I’m pretty easygoing.”
“We’ll plan something soon.”
I grinned. That sounded nice. After a moment of silence, I sighed. “So, my parents are great. They really are. But my ma has an issue with boundaries. She’s great. Dad’s great, but she doesn’t know when to let go. She wants all of us to live on the same street and give her a million grandchildren.”
“Are your siblings mated?”
