“That’s a good idea. Wait here. Let me take care of him, then I’ll help you get in the bath.”
“That’s okay, I can manage.”
Boon leaned over her, so he was eye level with her where she sat, leaning to one side. He took her face in both hands and kissed her lips. “Wait for me, please. I want to help you.”
Angelle melted at his obvious worry for her. “Okay.”
He grabbed his jeans from where he’d thrown them the night before and pulled them on as he left the bedroom, headed toward their front door. He hurried to get there, then unlocked the door and yanked it open. “What?!” he demanded.
“Waaaakkkke ahp!” Carnage yelled, irritatedly.
“My mate and I are sleeping in! What do you need?” Boon snapped.
“Mom say eeet’” Carnage said, shoving the basket at Boon and stepping into the house past Boon as he pushed him out of his way.
“I didn’t say come in,” Boon said, following his father into the kitchen, still clutching the basket his father had just given him.
“Coffeee,” Carnage said.
“We aren’t up. We haven’t made any.”
“My doo eet,” Carnage said, flashing a grin at Boon.
“Papa…” Boon started.
But Carnage wasn’t listening. He’d noticed a scent that was unfamiliar. Carnage’s nostrils flared as he scented his son from the other side of the kitchen island. Carnage realized what it was, but couldn’t help teasing Boon, because he was still after all, Carnage. He raised his face into the air, noisily sniffing. He turned his face first to the left, then to the right. Sniffing the air more obnoxiously than before as he pretended to follow the scent around the kitchen island to where Boon stood, watching him, his lips pressed together, completely unimpressed.
Carnage waved his hand up and down, indicating Boon’s entire body, then he waved his hand in front of his nose. “Pshew!”
“Pshew. What do you mean pshew?” Boon demanded.
“Nooo smell Booon. Smell,” Carnage hesitated, his eyes sliding left and right as though he was considering what it was he was smelling, “’Gel. ‘Arnge smell ‘Gel.”
“Of course you smell Angelle. She’s my mate. We’ve bonded. What you smell is our scents together, like it will always be from now on.”
Carnage started snickering, nodding his head.
“But you know that. You’re just giving me a hard time.”
Carnage laughed, nodding his head emphatically. He grabbed Boon and hugged him roughly, pounding him on the back. “Lub Booon. Lub ‘Gel. Hahpee Boon, ‘Gel.”
“Thank you, but I really need you to go. We’re just now waking up.”
“Noo,” Carnage said, turning his back on Boon and grabbing the coffee pot off the back of the stove. He dumped out the coffee from the day before, and started rinsing it out, setting up to make fresh coffee.
“What do you mean, no? We’re just getting out of bed. We need some privacy.”
“Dahn com feesh. My waait.”
“Go!” Carnage said, using his hands to shoo Boon out of the room. “My staay coffeee,” Carnage said.
“Do not leave this kitchen!” Boon ordered, setting the basket of biscuits on the countertop.
Carnage snapped to attention, saluting his son with an arm slapped across his chest.
Boon shook his head as he started back to his bedroom. He tapped lightly on the bedroom door as he opened it. “It’s me,” he announced. “Apparently our fathers are going fishing this morning and they decided to meet here. Mine’s here first and won’t leave.”
“Great,” Angelle said, having decided to lie back on the bed rather than remain sitting.
