I pray I’m making the right decision as I close the gap between us, push up on my tiptoes, and press my lips against his.
FIVE
Logan
For the firsttime in years, my cabin doesn’t feel quiet.It feels… alive.A new energy infuses the place, and I love it.
Vivian moves around the living room while I stand at the stove, and every small sound she makes pulls my attention like a magnet.The soft creak of the couch when she sits down.The gentle tap of her fingers against the coffee table.The quiet hum she lets out as she gets comfortable.
My bear notices everything too.He’s a caged animal inside me, prowling back and forth.Now that she’s kissed us, now that she knows what we are, he says there’s nothing stopping us from claiming her.
She needs more time to adjust, I tell him.
He snorts.She’s adjusted.She said she’s attracted to us.
As if I could forget.
I know, but she’s been through a lot.I want to make sure she’s comfortable before we claim her fully,I tell him as I flip the chicken in the pan.
I’ve cooked for myself in this kitchen thousands of times, but cooking for Vivian feels different.I’m not just feeding myself.I’m doing something important.Taking care of my mate, fulfilling her needs.
Vivian leans against the counter nearby, watching me.Her dark hair falls over one shoulder, and those light blue eyes track my movements carefully.
“Do you cook a lot?”she asks.
“Every day.”
She glances around the cabin again.“You do everything yourself, don’t you?”
“Pretty much.I’ve been on my own for a while.”
Her eyes soften.“No family?”
“No, not anymore.”
“I’m sorry, Logan.”
I shrug, adding salt and pepper to the chicken.“Thanks.It’s been a while.”
She shakes her head.“That doesn’t make it any less hard.”
“What about you?”I’m dying to know more about her.I need to know everything.
“It was always just me and my parents.”She hesitates for a second.“I told you they’re members of the cult.They joined a year ago.”
“And that’s how you wound up there,” I state, pushing down the anger.
“I went to visit them.I thought it was just that, but they’d promised me to their leader, Michael,” she spits, her nose wrinkling in disgust.
My bear grumbles.He’s happy she’s not pining after some other man, but he doesn’t like that she was promised to anyone but us.
“You’re not his,” I say roughly.
“I know.”
I relax at her words.
The rice cooker dings, and I turn the burner off on the stove.I get to work making us each a plate and setting two places at the counter.
