I relaxed immediately.
"Glad to see you outside of my house again, Darke," Callum drawled.
"If there's anything else you fuckers are hiding from me, you should tell me now to save us all the trouble of me breaking in again," Grayson drawled back.
"Any remaining secrets are Merrily's to tell." Callum pulled Kat a little closer, his hand already resting lightly on her hip.
"Ready?" she asked Darius.
"Nah. I changed my mind. I don't want to work in a coffee shop."
"We already posted the announcement that you're changing your ways and devoting your life to coffee. You're going. Come on," Kat waved him toward the door.
Darius sighed. "You're all pains in my ass."
"At least we haven't let you die yet," Callum remarked. "Let's go."
Darius saluted me and Grayson. "Stay as long as you want. I can sleep at one of my other places if you want to keep this one."
"I have to get back home in a few hours, but thanks," Grayson said.
Kat winked at me and mouthed,"Have fun,"before she and the guys strode out.
The front door closed and locked behind them.
I let out a long breath. "That was way too close."
"You're fucking drenched, Mer. You loved it."
A little thrill raced over my shoulders. "Maybe a little."
Grayson ground his palm slowly over my clit, and I bit back a groan.
With one motion, he rolled me on top of him. My lips parted as his cock filled me deeper and harder.
He tugged my shirt over my head and tossed it to the floor, then grabbed my hips. He rocked them once, then again, hitting my g-spot just right. I came hard, and fast.
“Seal the bond with me,” he said, while I sat panting, impaled on his throbbing erection. He hadn’t gotten off with me. Not yet.
"You know it’s scary for me, right? Sealing a bond? Making this permanent?"
"You know it terrifies me that you didn't tell me what we were, right?" he countered. "I could’ve lost my fucking soulmate without even realizing it. I deserved to know."
My throat swelled.
The confession was almost painful, but I finally forced the words out. "You did."
"Why didn't you tell me? No bullshit. No half-truths. No hiding. Not anymore."
"Fated mates have power over each other. I've seen what it can cost a fae, having a mate. I knew if you were aware, you'd either force yourself into my life or find someone else to mate with to free yourself from the connection. I wasn't willing to accept either option."
"What can it cost you?"
"I don't talk about that."
"It seems like there are a lot of things you don't talk about, Merrily. Your secrecy hasn't worked out for either of us. I don't think it's going to start working now."
The words felt like a blow... but he wasn't wrong.
