"Yup. Although these days, she's more of a midwife than anything." He grinned. "Basically my whole family either goes to her or my grandfather to find out if they're pregnant or not."
That topic lit a flame of jealousy in my heart. I always wanted to be a father, to nurture and care for a child the way my dads did for me. But my ill-placed paranoia and constant sword training basically insured I would never find a mate. I was always too busy defending myself to be vulnerable enough to let a partner in.
"I see," I murmured.
Cloud regarded me for a moment, trying to puzzle out my thoughts. "Is everything okay?"
I nodded. Then I stopped. Why was I hiding the truth from Cloud? I already trusted him physically. Why was I hesitating with my emotional trust?
"I never answered your question," I said without looking at him.
"Huh?"
"When you asked me earlier if I had a mate. I didn't answer you."
Cloud tensed. He waited for my answer with bated breath.
"No. I don't," I said.
He visibly relaxed. Did he like that I was single?
DidIlike that he liked that?
My thoughts were spiralling out of control. I couldn't rein them in. It was odd. I was usually so pragmatic and good at keeping my feelings in line. Sure, I trusted my instincts as much as any wild shifter, but thinking through situations and making good decisions was important too.
Right now, I wasn't thinking.
And I sure as hell wasn't about to make a good decision.
My eyes flicked back up to meet his. That golden glow was irresistible. It pulled me in like a magnet and I was unable to stop it.
Unable, or unwilling?
It didn't matter. This sudden and intense urge blazing in my chest refused to be ignored. I stared at Cloud's full, plush lips. I'd never wanted to kiss anybody so badly.
So I stopped resisting.
I closed the space between us and pressed my mouth against Cloud's.
For a second Cloud was rigid, as if frozen by the shock. But he melted into it soon enough. He parted his lips slightly, pressing against mine in a playful push and pull. I breathed in his air; I tasted his tongue.
And against all doubts and ingrained paranoia screaming at me that this was wrong, it was wonderful.
I ran my fingers through his hair. His body was warm under my hands. No wonder I'd cuddled up to him last night. My subconscious instincts knew better than I did at the time.
When we parted, I was breathless. My cheeks must've been the same colour as the blood from Mistral's wounds.
A new fire burned in Cloud's eyes. Fierce and protective, with the same warmth and tenderness that I'd grown used to.
"Well, that was unexpected," Cloud breathed.
"Yeah."
What did that feel like for him? Did he like it as much as I did?
Just as I opened my mouth to ask him, a knock sounded at the door. Barely a moment passed before a darkly playful voice called out, "Hello? Anyone home?"
A serious air descended upon Cloud. His jaw set as he stood up, ready to confront whoever was there.
