Page 65 of Bond of Passion

Chapter 22

The quaint green and white farm-style kitchen was the heart of Tavin’s house. He wasn’t much of a cook, but he didn’t have to be. Humans made tasty meals available pre-packaged in grocery stores, and there were very few things they made that weren’t better than ninety percent of the shit you had to eat in Sheoul.

But the top-of-the-line gas stove and gourmet chef’s pot rack above the island wasn’t what made the kitchen so special. No, that honor fell to the breakfast nook overlooking the cliffs and ocean through a sliding glass door. The spectacular view made the cozy space comforting during nice weather and thrilling when it was bad. But no matter what, looking out at the countryside made all Tavin’s problems seem distant.

Usually.

Right now, his problems were too close for comfort, beginning in his destroyed living room and ending in his bedroom. The last few days had been a blur of pain, lust, regret, and confusion.

And now he was mated to a female he barely knew but already, inexplicably, loved. It didn’t make sense. It was probably the bond injecting those feelings, but that didn’t change the fact that his heart already longed for her. His dick was right there with it, but it didn’t want to wait for long talks and walks on the beach and romantic dates.

It couldn’t care less about her favorite movie or her reasons for becoming a nurse or who she thought was the best James Bond.

It wanted to join her in the shower.

Whatever. He needed caffeine before he could delve further into any of this shit.

As he filled the coffee maker with water, a light knock sounded on the door, followed by Lore’s voice calling out, “Hey, Tav? It’s Lore. You here?”

“In the kitchen.” Tavin made a mental note to activate the Harrowgate wards. And to improve them. It would have been nice to have a warning before walking into a trap that would’ve been fatal if not for Deja.

Lore came in wearing leathers and armed for the next apocalypse, a weapons harness strapped across his chest and his belt laden with blades, grenades, and boomerangs. Tavin would bet the guy had knives and darts tucked inside his combat boots too. Maybe some strapped to his skin. With a grunt, he dropped two bags onto the counter.

“One is for Deja. Her roommates sent clothes and makeup and girl stuff. The other is meds. Another spinal injection and a sexual suppressant.” He cringed at the last two words. “E said you’ve taken so much already that it won’t have the full range of effect, but it’s better than nothing in an emergency.”

Tavin looked at the two bags, one pink and glittery with a rainbow across it and the other plain and black. “Which one is which?”

Lore patted the sparkly pink bag. “This one is Deja’s…” He flipped Tavin the bird. “You dick.”

Laughing, Tavin shoved the coffee pot into the maker. “Want a cup when it’s done?”

“Thanks, no. I’m…holy fucking shit, dude!” Lore was around the center island ten times faster than a human his size could have been, his gaze locked onto the new mate ring Tavin knew was around his neck, even though he hadn’t actually seen it yet. “You’re bonded? To who? How? Why?”

“Long story.”

Avoidance mode kicked in, and Tavin grabbed the pink bag and hauled it to the bedroom. The shower wasn’t running, but Deja was still in the bathroom, the door closed.

“Deja? Your roomies sent some clothes and stuff. I’ll leave it on the bed.”

She didn’t answer, but he heard her on the phone laughing with someone he assumed was one of her friends. Leaving the bag, he returned to the kitchen, where Lore was pulling up a chair at the island. Tavin dicked around getting a formal coffee station all set up. Mainly because it gave him something to do with his hands while Lore gave him what was sure to be a grilling.

“Tell me the story.” Lore kicked a booted foot up onto the chair next to him.

“Fuck you.” Milk. He needed to set out milk.

“Even if I could, you’re too hairy for me. C’mon. Spill. I’m assuming Deja is sporting your dermoire. How’d it happen? It’s gotta be a hell of a story because, no offense, bro, but you’ve known her what? A week?”

Not even. Sugar. Did Lore take sugar?

“Tav!”

Tavin got out brown and white sugars before deciding there was no point in deflecting. The story would get out soon enough.

“I think this was Sleeva’s doing.” He sighed. “Not on purpose. A side effect of her sex magic or some shit.”

“Wait.” Lore leaned forward, his eyes narrowed. “Eidolon said Sleeva didn’t do her thing.”

“She didn’t,” Tavin said. “Not with me. She passed her healing vibes to Deja, and when Deja and I did it…”