It’s stupid o’clock in the morning.
How the fuck are they so damn perky?
He threw them a filthy look and went to the surprisingly decent bathroom area to take care of business. “If they are still acting stupid when I get back, I’m going to toss them in the lake and be done with it.”
By the time he returned to the crannóg, the first cups were being passed around. He took the mug Viper handed him and went to sit on a stone bench next to the door. He took a sip and winced at the black, gritty, and barely drinkable coffee, but decided, because it came with peace and quiet, he wouldn’t complain or bitch about it.
Viper sat beside him on the bench with a cup in his hand. He pressed close, their thighs brushing. It wasn’t overt or a declaration, but that simple lean-in and the shared heat, the casual claim, spoke volumes to him.
Kaze pointed at them both. “Soooooo, do we get to hear about the kiss that nearly set the damn lake on fire, or are you two pretending it didn’t happen?”
Ward silently prayed he wouldn’t flush, but knew he failed when he felt the heat rushing into his cheeks.
Viper gave him a wink and muttered, “Later, after I survive this coffee and don’t commit homicide.”
They’d barely managed two sips of the coffee before Kaze’s mouth ran wild again. “Damn.” He flopped onto a flat stone like a man ready for gossip and mayhem. “If I’d known mate marks came with snuggles and endorphins, I’d have hunted down a soul-bond years ago.”
Ward nearly choked on his drink. “You’re insufferable.” How in the name of anything holy they put up with his mouth running riot was beyond him.
“I’m delightful,” Kaze corrected with a wink. “You, my newly minted heart-bonded friend, are radiating post-kiss afterglow like a freaking sunrise. It’s downright rude to the rest of us.”
Reaper didn’t look up from the mug he was staring into. “Give it a week. One of them’s gonna trip over the other’s sword—metaphorically or otherwise. I’m voting for literal. Extra points if there’s blood.”
Does he mean sword as in killing sword or sword, sword?
Zero’s tone didn’t waver. “I give it three days before they’re making googly eyes and dry-humping behind some sacred oak, and they’ll get us all in shit for desecrating a sacred place.”
“You’re all assholes.” There was no heat behind Viper’s words. He didn’t even glance up as he refilled Ward’s cup with the strong, horrible brew he’d apparently decided was life-saving. “Also, stop talking about sacred oaks while I’m trying to drink.”
“I thought sacred oaks were where all the fun stuff happened,” Kaze mused.
“That’s mistletoe,” Zero deadpanned. “Get your pagan smut right.”
Trace wandered over, dropped a kiss on the top of Juice’s head, and handed him a loaf of something bread. He raised a brow. “Are you done harassing the new bondeds, or do I need to start issuing timeouts?”
“Can we vote on who gets the first one?” Kaze asked.
“No,” Ward said. He smirked at Kaze. “You’ve earned the first go round, in my opinion.”
Viper bumped his shoulder lightly. “You good?”
Ward met his eyes, and the noise around them softened. It was strange how everything else fell away when Viper looked at him like that. Steady, present, and unapologetically demanding his attention. The words caught in his throat. It was way too soon for what was building between them. But his nod must’ve been enough, because Viper nodded back and resumed sipping his coffee.
It’s all his fault anyway.
He’s the one who kissed me breathless and left me reeling.
But that scruff on his face and those muscles… yum.
When can we do it again?
He wanted to touch him, to brush the tips of his fingers over the mate mark. Something real to remind himself that this wasn’t a dream.
“You alright?” Juice dropped onto the bench beside him. He handed him two hunks of bread. “You look like someone gave you a puppy and a panic attack at the same time.”
Ward bit into the bread, chewed, and swallowed. “I don’t even know how to attempt to answer that question.”
“That makes two of you,” Juice said softly. “But you’re doing better than most. Better than I did. But I didn’t have my Grá Croí hovering over me like you do yours. I can’t imagine how intense that must be.”
