"What?"Rourke shouldn't be amused, but this was fun.
"He...eh...saw you."
"As far as I know, I've never been invisible."
"Touch me."
Was it a request or a continuation of the last sentence?"Your wish is my command, but--"
"He saw you touch me."Ezra gestured at the hand he still held on his belly.Didn'twitches touch?They had to, they multiplied, and he didn't think anyone got magically pregnant.Though, if anyone could do it, it would be witches.
"You're my mate."
"Yes, and I'm sure they can get over you having touched a man that way once, but he--"
Rourke barked a laugh.He shouldn't since Ezra sounded serious, but there had been many men in his bed through the years.He had to know.Right?
When Ezra only stared at him, he closed the distance between them and brushed his lips over his.The piercing was a little weird, but he could get used to it.
Ezra pushed at him, but Rourke pressed him down on the mattress instead of letting him go.He hovered over him but didn't put any weight on him, and if he had struggled for real, Rourke would've let him go.
"Hey."Rourke cupped his cheek to make sure he was looking at him."They're more worried about you being a witch than you being a man.They're more worried about us mating without knowing each other than you being a witch."Maybe.He wasn't sure it was true, but had he fallen in love with a witch, he was sure the pack would've accepted it.Now he'd tethered his life to a stranger from an enemy group."They're more worried about me having tied myself, and therefore the pack, to someone we know nothing about.It was a price I was willing to pay for peace.I was sure we could co-exist, we might not like each other, but as adult people, we could work out some sort of understanding.It would be for the pack's benefit.I would secure their future."
Ezra's eyes were so wide, Rourke suspected they'd dry out soon.
"After last night's events, I suspect the plan failed."
* * * *
Chapter 10
Ezra was baking lacy oatmeal cookies in Rourke's kitchen.Geri had come back with vanilla extract, and he'd stolen the other ingredients from the kitchen by the dining hall.His magic was humming.Lacy oatmeal cookies were his go-to thing.For some reason, he connected to them in a way he didn't with anything else.His magic always intertwined with what he cooked or baked, but lacy oatmeal cookies bonded with his soul.
The power didn't buzz like it had before he and Ulric had gotten started on the wards, but it was there, mingling with the ingredients.
He'd replayed Rourke's kiss a million times.After he'd told Ezra about his plan to ensure peace through the mating, he'd rolled off him, and they'd gone to breakfast.Ezra had been in a daze.Rourke had kissed him.Geri had seen him touch Ezra, but Rourke wasn't worried.
When Geri had knocked on the door to give him the vanilla extract, Ezra had been unable to meet his gaze.They might accept Rourke since he was their leader, but now Geri had seen how Ezra allowed Rourke to touch him.
Did he think Rourke did more than simply touch him?The mating act along with the bite was one thing.It had to be done, and Shixyll had forced Rourke's hand.He'd expected a wife.When he got Ezra instead, there was nothing he could do about it, and the pack most likely didn't blame Rourke for it.
His hands shook as he scooped the oat mixture onto the baking sheets.The cuts on his hands still stung, but he only touched the dough with spoons, so there was little risk they'd reopen.No one wanted blood in their cookies.
The timer sounded, and he took the first sheet out of the oven before pushing in the next.
His muscles relaxed when the scent filled the room, and he moved the cookies onto a tray before clicking out more of the mixture on the still-warm sheet.
He repeated the process several times, his body humming in contentment for the first time in days.His motions were easy, the feeling in his chest light, and his hands tingled from the magic.
He felt good.
When he ran out of dough, he stared into the empty bowl.No.He wanted more.Needed more.This was the first time he'd been himself in ages.It was almost like being back in the safety of his hut.No one came there unless they were to order him to do something.He went to the main building to cook for the clan, and when he was done, he went back to his hut, away from everything and everyone.
Maybe he could make more cookies?He hadn't planned on letting anyone know he was baking, though he couldn't hide it from Rourke.Fear gripped him.Would he despise him for it?Strong witches didn't bake.On the other hand, he'd most likely already figured out Ezra was a useless witch.
He could do another batch, and when everyone was busy doing whatever itwas they were doing, he could sneak the cookies into the kitchen.Everything without a name was free to eat, so he'd put them there, and people could eat.If they wanted to.They didn't need to know he was the one who'd baked.
Did he dare steal another egg?He eyed the door.He'd already taken two, and to get another one, he needed to go to the kitchen again.
