I had taken Declan for granted when he showed up as a bright spot in every day. I could admit that I was selfish. His indomitable nature recharged me, despite my freak-out in the pantry. But this whole affair had me so curious about all the things I had never asked. The homecoming, the testing looks everyone gave him. I wanted to know what lay beyond the sunshine he beamed to all of us.
“Thanks for this,” I said.
Sleeves rolled up, hands covered in flour, I forgot whether I was talking about his forearms or the cake he was teaching me.
“It’s a tradition for kids to make this one, soI’m sure you can pick it up without my help. Not that I mind. In your kitchen is always exactly where I want to be.”
My face heated at the mild suggestiveness of his words. Sometimes my brain was a complete slut. Declan’s amused smile didn’t make it any better.
“Teaching kids to bake is a tradition I can get behind. I didn’t know what to expect from Nightfell, but it’s surprisingly lovely.” I wouldn’t exactly say progressive. “And they seem to love you here. I can’t imagine why you ever left.”
He mixed in the water next. “I’m glad you like it. This place sticks to your bones in a good and bad way. But Nightfell needed me to see what the rest of the Harrowlands held.”
I tried to get comfortable and then not to object when he slid a cushion under my wide ass like it was part of the recipe. “What did you find when you traveled out there?”
I couldn’t imagine voluntarily leaving my home for good. The move to Evie’s Keep had been traumatic enough. If it hadn't come with custard toast and a happily ever after, I don’t think I would have made it.
Declan huffed out a breath. “That everywhere I went, there I was. It was good to see more, learn more, do more, but I only answered those questions about myself - myself. It didn’t really matter where I did that. And this place turned out to be no better or worse than any other territory I visited.”
That wasn’t true when the last position he ended upin held him captive, but I took his point. There was no slowing down once I left our village and Evie let me cook for her. I put just as much pressure on myself in her kitchen as I had in my bakery.
“Did you find what Nightfell needed?” I asked.
“I think it needed me. Old places are strange like that. Only when you miss them does their magic return.”
“Nightfell does seem like it comes with expectations. Or am I reading it wrong?”
His hunted expression flashed for only a second as he poured the cake mixture into a pan. “What do you mean?”
“Everyone looks at you in a certain way.” Any further description defied me, but it itched my thoughts.
Now his grin was way too wide. He shoved the cake into the oven rather hard. “There were expectations everywhere. The Brothers expected me to be a good guard dog and nothing more.”
Evie told me the Brothers of Zophiel had offered him as a sacrifice to the Queen of Flesh. And that was terrible, but I noticed he used it to not answer the question. It took a moment for my brain to catch up, because it was so far-fetched I couldn’t quite believe it, but I thought Declan was keeping something from me.
“If you use a bit of your magic, we can try some before the rest of them get back.”
I wandered over to the oven, rested enough to find a little energy. Using Anise’s lessons, I focusedon each ingredient to bake them to perfection in half the time. Pulling apart the pieces was getting much easier.
Declan took it out of the oven and I pronounced it done when a knife went through it cleanly. He cut a big wedge, a bit of drool leaking out of the corner of his mouth. Still, he held it out to me first.
I waved my hands. “Pass. I don't want to try it. I've had hundreds of cakes, thousands.”
He wafted the cake under my nose. “But you haven't had this one.”
“It does smell delicious,” I said, a bit of my own drool sliding out of my mouth.
“Then stop being stubborn and enjoy yourself.”
He popped a hand right on my boob. My mouth dropped open in surprise-o-rage and a slice of heaven slid into it.
My brain couldn't process Declan's broad palm covering my now sensitive nipple or the confection melting in my mouth. There wasn't much available for him to grab. Perhaps he was aiming for my ribcage. But, nope, he brushed a thumb directly over my nipple a few times before he dropped his hand. I staggered back. Finally tasting the cake without my brain scrambling, by the six heavens, it was fantastic. Unfortunately, his hand on my chest was even sweeter.
How I felt anything through one of my bad days was beyond me. But I started to realize the sparks of lust Declan inexplicably ignited burned hotter because of ourfriendship. His caring now layered with something I was starting to crave more than that cake.
That he didn’t spill whatever was going on here didn’t hurt that much. He wasn’t obligated to share all his secrets with me. We weren’t in an actual relationship, even with the bond. Though I thought we were in a real friendship. I wasn’t sure when I started wanting more, but as he slipped another piece of cake into my mouth, I realized I was always going to be hungry.
Chapter 15
