“Not exactly sleeping,” I say. “They cluster together inside when it gets cold to keep the queen warm. They eat the honey they stored and wait it out.” I shrug a little. “It’s quieter, but they’re still working. Focused on surviving instead of growing.”
I watch her eyes track the movement, the way her attention sticks to their rhythm. “They look calm,” she says.
“They are,” I reply. “As long as you don’t mess with them. They don’t waste energy on people who aren’t threatening. Everything they do has a reason.”
Tansy nods slowly as she tilts her head back, looking at the ceiling.
Condensation beads along the glass panes above us, sunlight diffused into a soft glow that makes everything inside feel slower while the bees buzz softly, steady and calm.
My gaze moves over my omega, taking in her beauty in this light.
She’s wearing a lavender dress that falls right to her knees. The fabric skims her hips and cinches gently at her waist, giving a glimpse of her lovely shape. The neckline dips enough to show a hint of cleavage.
Her dark red hair spills over one shoulder, the contrast sharp and beautiful against the pale purple. Sunlight catches the curls and turns them coppery at the edges.
I find myself staring longer than I mean to, struck all over again by how stunning she is.How the fuck did we get so lucky?
The soft hum shifts around me, pulling my attention back to the present. One of the bees has broken from its lazy path and drifted toward Tansy. It settles on her shoulder, right near the seam of her pretty dress.
She doesn’t notice.
I walk toward her, careful not to move too fast as I lift a hand toward her. “Hey,” I say gently. “Don’t panic. There’s a bee on you.”
Tansy freezes, then does exactly what I asked. She doesn’t flinch or swat. She slowly lowers her chin, eyes crossing as she tries to see her own shoulder.
“Where?” she asks quietly.
“Right there,” I say. I reach out and coax the bee onto my finger, slow and easy so it doesn’t feel threatened. Then I carry it back to the hive and let it crawl off near the entrance, completely unbothered. “Good job,” I add as I come back. “Most people freak out.”
She shrugs like it’s nothing. “I’ve never been scared of bees. We had fat bumblebees at Danvers. They used to bump into us and cling to my hair when I was outside.”
I huff a soft laugh before I can stop myself. “Sounds like you’re a natural bee charmer.”
That finally does it. She finally smiles. It’s small but real, and something in my chest eases at the sight of it.
Reaching up, I brush a loose strand of hair away from the side of her face. My fingers slide along her temple, and I let my hand settle there, cupping her cheek. She’s so warm under my palm, solid and real.
“I don’t know all the specifics with your family,” I say quietly. “But I know enough to see how wound up this makes you.” I hold her gaze. “You don’t have to do this, Tansy. If you want to leave right now, we can. No explanations. We’ll leave, and Cass can handle them.”
Her breath catches a little. She leans into my hand, cheek pressing more firmly into my palm. Then she turns her head and presses a soft kiss into the center of my hand, right against my skin.
“Thank you,” she whispers, before letting out a long sigh. “But I’d rather get it over with.”
I nod, thumb brushing once along her jaw before I let my hand fall away. “Okay,” I say. “But if at any time you want to go, give me a look.”
Tansy’s smile grows, and she nods.
And I can’t help it. I lean in and kiss her.
It’s a slow kiss, my mouth warm against hers, feeling her beneath me.
Tansy relaxes into it almost immediately, her shoulders easing, her breath evening out as if this is exactly what she needed.
When I finally lean back, her eyes are soft, and her cheeks are flushed pink, that shy smile already pulling at her mouth. It’s the kind of smile that makes my chest puff out with pride. I rest my forehead lightly against hers for a moment, steady and close, before straightening and letting her have her space again.
“You ready?” I ask, and she immediately answers.
“Yup.” She straightens her back and nods firmly. “Let’s get this over with.”
