Silence hung heavy between us while I curled beneath the covers that I recognized smelled like both of us. Rohak physically tore his gaze from my body with a shake of his head and clench of his eyes. I spent the time prodding at my mind, trying to find a reason why we appeared to be so connected.
There, faint but present, was a golden filigree that connected Rohak and me to each other. I touched it gently and watched as Rohak’s eyes widened before sending his own touch along the Bond. The string thrummed and hummed as if it liked our attention.
“We can hear each other’s thoughts,” I stated.
“It appears that way,” Rohak sighed, sitting heavily on the bed by my feet. He was more disheveled than I’d ever seen him, the stress of the battle affecting him more than he would say. While it was clear he’d bathed at some point, there were purple circles under his eyes, and his normally dark skin was a few shades lighter. Rohak’s hair stuck up in every direction, as if he’d run his hands through it continually.
What was most concerning, though, was the onslaught of pain I’d felt when I first awoke.
If he can concealthatso well . . . what else is he hiding?
“We can also feel each other’s emotions,” he added wryly.
I chewed my lip in thought, brushing a stray curl off my forehead.
“How?”
“You Bonded me, Faylinn,” he said dryly, gesturing to the Bond Mark. I unwrapped my arm sporting the Bond tattoo from beneath the sheet, making sure to keep the other securely fastened around my chest.
I examined it closely, noting the hue and pattern, frowning a bit at the difference between our mark and the other Life Bonds I’d administered.
“You need your journal,” Rohak said with a nod, clearly reading my need to write, record, and compare.
We will have to set some ground rules about that.
He rose without a word, the bed bouncing slightly with the loss of his weight, and strode to a corner of the room that held a solitary chair laden with dirty and nearly destroyed clothes. On top of the pile was my utility belt, the journal I’d meticulously kept for years tucked safely in the largest pouch. Rohak procured it with little fanfare before reaching for the adjacent pocket and selecting one of my charcoal pencils.
Somehow, he knew I’d want to sketch our mark in my book before adding notes and observations. Clearly, Rohak had been paying attention.
What else has he noticed?
I quickly checked to make sure my emotions were securely tamped down, not wanting him to feel the flood of affection just yet. I still wasn’t sure if he evenwantedthis Bond, despite the fact that he seemed relatively accepting right now.
Thanking him quietly, I reached for my journal and pencil with both hands, realizing too late that the sheet would fall away to expose my breasts once more.
Rohak released a pained grunt as he slammed his eyes shut before retreating to the door.
“I will . . . give you a minute to examine the mark in peace and allow you privacy to bathe, if you so desire. The water is warm and fresh, I refilled it after cleaning myself. There are linens as well as soap and shampoo for you. I don’t have the cream for your curls, so I apologize for that. I hope you don’t mind that I set out a spare set of my blacks for you—they’re resting on the sink counter.” My eyebrows rose higher the longer Rohak spoke. Everything was said with a clinical detachment, but I could feel inklings down the Bond that showed that this was far more than what he made it to be.
Care.
Understanding.
Compassion.
Want.
My cheeks warmed as I thought about Rohak searching for my curl cream. Mystomach took that moment to growl loudly in the silent space, and I stared down at it with a look of abject horror.
“I’ll use this time to get us some food? We can eat in my sitting room and discuss . . . whatever this is,” Rohak said hesitantly, gesturing between us.
I nodded my head silently, trying to project the sheer gratitude I felt.
Rohak’s face remained impassive as ever before nodding to me once and striding from the room. The door clicked softly behind him, leaving me alone in his bedroom.
The last time I was in here, I’d Bonded Rohak to Gisei before . . . helping arouse Rohak so he could complete the Bond.
My skin flushed at the memory, my cheeks heating at the phantom feeling of his cock in my palm, and I swore I felt a bolt of lust that was somehow both mine andnotmine before it retreated just as quickly.
