A ghost of a smile touched his lips, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “It would be easier,” he said quietly. “Someone like him.”
And there it was—the real issue beneath the jealousy. Not just that Mark was attractive or that we had been friendly, but that Mark represented a simpler path. A human man. A normal life.
“Easier isn’t better,” I told him, moving even closer. “Easier isn’t what I want.”
His eyes searched mine, looking for reassurance. “You could have a normal life with someone like him. No complications. No hiding.”
The timer on my phone chimed, reminding me to check the brownies. I silenced it without looking away from him.
“I don’t want normal,” I said softly. “I want you.”
Something in his expression shifted, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. He reached out tentatively, his large hand coming to rest lightly on my waist.
“I apologize,” he said, his voice rumbling in that way that sent pleasant vibrations through me. “I’m not accustomed to… this. To feeling…”
“Jealous?” I supplied, a small smile playing on my lips.
He looked uncomfortable with the word but nodded. “It’s not a pleasant sensation.”
“It’s pretty normal, actually,” I assured him. “Human or minotaur.”
He drew me closer, his warmth enveloping me. “There’s nothing comparable about us, Clara. His life would be so much simpler for you.”
I placed my hands on his chest, feeling the steady, powerful beat of his heart beneath my palms. “I told you. I don’t want something simple. I want real. I want this.”
His expression softened, the last of his guardedness melting away. “This is very real to me,” he admitted. “Perhaps too real. Too important.”
My heart skipped at the earnestness in his voice. “Too important for what?”
“For me to risk losing,” he said simply.
The raw honesty in those words took my breath away. I stood on tiptoe, bringing my face closer to his. “You’re not going to lose me to Mark or anyone else,” I whispered. “I’m exactly where I want to be.”
He bent down to meet me, his lips finding mine in a kiss that was both gentle and fiercely possessive. I melted against him, my arms sliding up to encircle his neck, my fingers finding purchase in the thick fur there.
When we finally broke apart, his eyes were warm again, the storm clouds cleared. “I should let you finish your baking,” he murmured.
“Probably,” I agreed, making no move to step away. “The brownies might burn.”
He chuckled, a deep, resonant sound that I felt as much as heard. “We wouldn’t want that. Especially since they’re for tomorrow night.”
“About that,” I said, tracing a pattern on his chest. “We’re still on, right? Dinner at your place?”
“Of course.” He looked surprised I would even question it. “I’ve already started planning the menu.”
“Good.” I reluctantly stepped back to check on the brownies, pulling them from the oven with a satisfied nod. “Perfect timing.”
As I set them on a rack to cool, Rion moved behind me, his presence large and comforting. “I should apologize again,” he said quietly. “For my behavior. It was… unbecoming.”
I turned to face him, leaning back against the counter. “It was human,” I told him with a small smile. “Or, well, you know what I mean. It was normal.”
“I’m not accustomed to feeling…” he hesitated, searching for the right word.
“Insecure?” I suggested gently.
He nodded, though I could tell the admission cost him. “I’m aware of my… differences. The complications they create.”
I reached up to touch his face, my fingers trailing along the strong line of his jaw. “Your differences are what make you extraordinary, Rion. They’re not something I endure—they’re something I treasure.”
