“Well… Someone is having a good morning.”
“I’ll say.”
At first, I think I’m starting to hallucinate from the head spins or that Maverick is perhaps fucking me into another universe. But when Maverickalsopauses suddenly, grip tightening on the backs of my hands, I find myself craning my neck to look at the doorway.
Nothing.
Empty.
Not a single soul or celestial entity in the room.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Maverick growls, annoyed.
“What?” I ask in complete bewilderment, hoping he has some answers or reasonable explanation.
Maybe Iamstill asleep and dreaming. That’s really the only explanation for the weird detour my morning power-up mission has taken.
“Yeah…what?” comes the familiar voice again, the question full of amusement and playful sarcasm. And this time I know I’m not fucking hallucinating or distracted.
Horror shoots through me, eyes widening as I mimic a statue. It can only mean one thing.
“Well, I wasn’t expecting this. That’s for sure,” Lex laughs dryly. “But please, feel free to continue. Don’t mind us.”
US?!
“She’s freaking out, isn’t she?” Cade asks, still amused and clearly entertained by this latest development.
“She’s not the only one,” Maverick snaps back. And if I hadn’t already connected the dots, the absence of physical sound in the room from the man still buried inside me would be the absolute confirmation.
I tense up in realization, the action earning me a groan from Maverick as my body also clamps down around his length. “How the fuck are you both mind linking me—no,us—right now?! And why?!”
“Hey,” Cade says defensively. “Don’t blame me. I was enjoying my sleep when I was blissfully awoken by your screams.”
Maverick snorts victoriously behind me. I free one of my hands from under his, flailing it blindly backwards in his direction as best as I can. I manage to make gentle contact against the odds and awkward angle, but my grievance toward his ego is short-lived when Lex’s voice floats through again.
“I assume this is aperkto the mate bond, especially now since all bonds have been completed.”
“No, no, no, no, no…” I repeat out loud, horrified. “This can’t be happening.”
Cade bursts out laughing. “Well, look at it this way—this will be surprisingly helpful for when we leave later. An instant connection between the four packs atanytime.”
“I’m not some fucking flesh telepathic telephone,” I snap back, though I have to admit, he’s right.
If this shared mate bond has somehow given us all the ability to mind link, including them, not only will it help for when they travel back to their respective territories and we’re separated, but we’ll be able to have an advantage when dealing with Orson and the Seventh Circle Pack.
But…did we have to do this RIGHT NOW?!
Cade just laughs again while Lex hums in response. “Pillow princess over there might have still been sleeping but I wasn’t. Mind link or not, there’s nothing quiet about you, Red.”
“Excellent,” Maverick mutters smugly, earning another pathetic whack from me.
“Blame him,” I grumble. “I was also asleep.”
There’s a short pause before, “Maverick’s a screamer? Huh–—I did not expect that. You sound a little high pitched, Mav.”
I can practically feel Cade’s cocky smile, and I instantly tense up in preparation for Maverick’s incoming explosive response.
To my surprise, and equal horror, Maverick just huffs, slowly pulling back. Disappointment starts to fill me as my body, clearly not bothered by this revelation and annoyed that he’s abandoning his position, complains and tenses up in protest. The huff is replaced by a throaty growl as I clamp down and squeeze his length, subconsciously in a poor attempt to lock him into place.
