Tex sighed.“You’re right.”
He followed Nymon out of the kitchen and into the living room.The house wasn’t big, so it only took them a few moments.Once they were there, though, Nymon found that he didn’t want to sit down.He had too much energy, and he felt like he might start screaming if he had to sit down.
“I’ve been thinking about our situation,” he said.He’d been thinking about nothing else for the entire evening.Even Kael had noticed that he was distracted, which was probably why he’d been so worried.Hopefully, he’d believed Nymon when he’d said it was a headache.
“You haven’t had a lot of time,” Tex said.
“I don’t think Ineeda lot of time.There’s only one decision to make, isn’t there?If you and I want to be together, I’m going to have to leave this place.”
Tex grimaced.“Pretty much.I hate to ask that of you, and I understand that we barely know each other.I don’t expect you to agree right away, but it would be good if you could at least think about it.”
Nymon cocked his head.“I did.That’s what I just told you, isn’t it?I’ve been thinking about this, and I know I’ll have to leave.That’s fine with me.”
Tex looked around.“You’d be willing to leave all of this just to be with me?”
“And to see the world.Don’t get me wrong, I love this place, and in a way, it’ll always be home, but I know there’s more out there, and I want to explore that.I want to see different sunrises and sunsets.I want to meet people I would never meet if I stayed here for the rest of my life.I want to taste food I can’t even imagine exists right now.I want to explore everything life is about instead of hiding away in Starhaven.”He took a step forward.“I want to do all of that with my mate.”
“It’s a lot to ask from you.You need to be sure because there’s no coming back.I’ll understand if you want to wait.I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to be careful and take your time to think.In fact, most people would expect you to do just that.”
Nymon shook his head.“I’ve spent my whole life being careful and doing what’s expected.Just once, I want to do something reckless.”And there was no better moment than this.Nymon was done with being careful.He was Tex’s mate.They belonged together, and Nymon wasn’t planning on fighting their bond.
“Nymon—”
“Don’t.”He closed the space between them in three steps.“Don’t think.Don’t plan.”They’d have time to do that later.“Just be here with me.”
When Nymon kissed Tex, it felt like coming home.Tex wrapped his arms around Nymon’s waist, pulling him closer, and Nymon let himself be moved.The bond between them sang, making itself known even to Nymon, who shouldn’t be able to feel it.
Nymon was where he belonged.
* * * *
ASOFT LIGHT MADE TEXopen his eyes.Vines were creeping from the potted plants on the windowsill, unfurling toward them.Flowers bloomed quicker than should be possible, petals spreading wide and glowing slightly in the darkened room.A hanging basket near the door suddenly erupted with white flowers that filled the air with a sweet fragrance Tex had never smelled before.
Nymon broke the kiss, his cheeks flushing.“I’m sorry.I—it hasn’t done that since I was a teenager.I thought I had better control.Ishouldhave better control.”
Tex stared at the flowers now covering half the wall and at the way the plants seemed to reach for Nymon the same way they had earlier that day.His mate’s magic was partially controlled by emotion, so in a way, this reaction was telling Tex how he was feeling.
It was the most beautiful thing Tex had ever seen.
“Don’t apologize,” Tex murmured before pulling Nymon back into another kiss.
The demon made a startled sound before melting into it.Tex kept his eyes open, delighted to see more vines sprout and wind up the doorframe.A succulent on a small table suddenly shot up several inches, its leaves unfurling.The air grew thick with the scent of all the different flowers blooming.
When they broke apart again, Nymon was breathing hard.“You did that on purpose.”
“Maybe.”Tex couldn’t stop touching him.He slid his hands up Nymon’s sides, feeling the warmth of him through his shirt.He wanted more.“This magic is incredible.You’reincredible.”
“It’s embarrassing.I’m supposed to control my magic, not”—he gestured at the plants around them—“let it do this.”
“It’s honest.”Tex caught Nymon’s chin, making him look up.“Your magic is showing how you feel.There’s nothing embarrassing about that, especially because I think it’s connected to our bond.You might not be able to feel it the way I do, but it’s there.”
Nymon’s breath hitched.He reached up to press his hands on Tex’s chest, his fingers curling into his shirt.“I can feel it.What are we doing?”
Just a few hours ago, they were barely more than acquaintances.They were mates, but they didn’t know each other.That didn’t mean they didn’t both want more than this.“I don’t know.”Tex pressed their foreheads together, feeling the mate bond thrumming between them so strongly he could barely think.“But I can’t stay away from you.”
“Then don’t.”Nymon’s voice dropped.“Come to bed with me.”
Maybe it was too soon.Maybe they should wait.
