“Terrus will be thrilled that you appreciate his handiwork. You know, come to think of it, he might have even made it himself, instead of misting it into being.”
“I don’t know him, but I’m fairly certain he did it with his own hands. You can see tiny little brush strokes in the illustrations. He’s very talented,” Angelle said.
“You should tell him that. It will mean a lot to him. And if you’re going to read much longer, you should move close to the hurricane lamp so you don’t hurt your eyes.”
Angelle nodded, but instead of moving closer to the lamp to read, she chose a place on the shelf and spent a few minutes rearranging the books around it so that it would be very carefully supported by them. “There,” she said, finally satisfied.
Boon smiled, watching her take care of the first treasure he’d given her.
“Ready to call it a night?” he asked.
She nodded before she even turned toward him. When she actually did turn and look at him, she made a realization she hadn’t made before. He was wearing a pair of faded gray shorts. They had obviously been worn and washed many more times than could be counted, and the waist stretched in such a way that they hung loosely at his hips. Angelle’s gaze locked on the waist band and twin groves that led up his torso from beneath the shorts, creating a ‘V’ and opened up into a muscular stomach which led to a wide chest with equally muscular shoulders, neck and arms. The soft grayish undertone of his skin was almost mesmerizing. He looked to be made of stone. She wanted to reach out and touch him to see if he was as cool to the touch as it appeared he might be. She didn’t look into his eyes, instead allowing her gaze to sweep back down his body to his legs and feet, which were just as muscular and impressive as the rest of him. Even his feet appeared to be strong and well balanced.
Boon stood perfectly still, allowing her to look her fill.
When she finally caught herself and realized what she was doing, her eyes widened and flashed up to his. His eyes were a slightly darker gray than blue. He had long lashes, a straight, regal nose, and full lips. His hair fell to just below his shoulders, straight and heavy, and dark silver, with lighter streaks running through it. The horns rising up away from his skull were not aselaborate as his father’s from what she remembered, but were still impressive. She could just barely see the very tip top of one of his wings peeking up over the edge of his left shoulder. She’d not seen them before, but had known they were there. From the little bit she could make out, they were a darker gray, much darker than any other part of him.
Instead of making a remark about her perusal of his body, he just barely smiled at her softly. He lifted his arm, his hand extended toward her, palm up. “Let me take you to bed.”
He saw a visceral reaction in her expression, but instead of being offended, or even frightened, she very deliberately placed her hand in his and in effect, agreed to whatever he had in mind by handing over control to him.
Boon led her to their bedroom and stopped just outside. He turned toward her, then allowed himself the liberty of simply standing there, taking her in, memorizing every nuance of her face, every curve of her body. When at last he felt he’d looked his fill, for the night at least, he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles, then her fingertips. “Sleep well, Angelle.” He turned and walked away, leaving her standing in the doorway of what was supposed to be their bedroom.
Angelle stood where she was, not quite sure what had just happened. She didn’t speak. She didn’t follow. She didn’t move.
Boon looked back just before he went into the bedroom next to their master bedroom. “You alright?”
“Um, I guess,” she said, her tone sounding more like a question than a statement.
He smiled at her. “If you need me, call for me. I’ll hear you and come at once. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Okay.”
Boon went into the bedroom he’d chosen for the night and pushed the door almost closed, stopping just before it clicked into place.
Angelle still stood in the doorway of her bedroom, her eyes now focused on the closed door of the bedroom next to hers. Her head canted just a bit as she tried to figure out what had just happened. Instead of Boon taking her to bed, he’d walked her to their bedroom and then left her to sleep alone. Still a little confused, she went into her bedroom and climbed in bed. She pulled the covers up high and tucked them up and over her chin as she turned onto her side, ‘turtling’ into the covers as she made herself a nice, warm, ‘nest’ to snuggle into for the night. She lay there with images of Boon replaying in her memory. He was different from any other male she’d ever known. He was self-confident, but then most paranormals were — at least the ones she’d always known. But he was self-confident in a different way. Though she sensed that he was an Alpha, he was perfectly at ease being alone, and even seemed to gain more confidence from it. He didn’t need approval from others — not a clan, not family, not anyone, nor their submission or recognition of who and what he was. He didn’t even need a place to live apparently, since he’d not bothered with one until the aspect of her coming to Whispers forced him to reconsider his living situation, or the lack thereof. He knew exactly who he was and liked himself. And he seemed to like her, too. She knew he wanted her, said he loved her, but that was because she was his mate. Liking her had nothing to do with the mating instinct, but it was so very nice that he liked her, too. She lay there in her little cocoon of warmth and thought of the way he’d taken her to bed… to her bed, then left her to get some rest. Left her to have the opportunity to figure out exactly what and when she wanted changes in her life. He was confident enough with all of the components of who they were, and who they’d become that he was in no rush. He was allowing her time to come to him on her own terms. She closed her eyes and immediately the vision of him standing before her, allowing her to study his appearance popped into her mind as though it wasburned into her retinas. A smile curved her lips — there was no one as beautiful as Boon as far as she was concerned — and with his image in her mind, she fell into a deep, restful sleep.
Chapter 13
“Okay, I think I’ve got everything,” Avaleigh said, digging through the large purse hanging from the strap resting on her shoulder.
“Love, we’re not in the city, or even close to it. You won’t need everything in your purse,” Daniel said.
“I might. You don’t know what I’ve got in here,” Avaleigh said with a grin. She was known for always having anything anyone needed in her purse. Didn’t matter if it was spare change, a Tylenol or a bandaid, or the phone number to a taxi company or a local towing company.
“The only thing I can imagine you might need today is some sunscreen, or maybe something for bug bites. Maybe a spare pair of socks if it rains later,” Daniel said.
Avaleigh smirked at him as she opened her purse again and rearranged things for a few seconds. “Got it, got it and got it!” she said, producing a small spray bottle of sunscreen, a bottle of Absorbine Jr., which while actually meant for sore muscles actually did wonders for bug bites, and a rolled up clean pair of socks.
Daniel laughed and hugged her close. “I should have known.”
“You’d think so,” Avaleigh said with a laugh.
Carrik stumbled into the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee. He pulled out a chair at their kitchen table to drop into. “I have to admit, out of all the conveniences we’ve spoiled ourselves with, the automatic coffee pot is one that I am most thankful for. Give me a minute to gulp down this coffee and I’d be happy to walk you over to Boon and Angelle’s house,” he said as he sucked in several mouthfuls. “Oh, goodness, that’s good.”
“Nothing like the first sip, is there?” Daniel asked.
“There’s really not,” Carrik agreed, taking another sip.
