Page 81 of Bonded By Tea and Tarot

“I wonder what it came from.” She strokes it between her fingertips, so gentle. “Maybe an owl or a hawk?” When her questioning eyes rise to meet mine, I shrug.

“No idea, but I’ll carry that for you too.”

“Okay,” she says, then bites her lip. The tiniest twinge of anxiety seeps down her side of the bond.

“I’ll be careful with it, pretty omega,” I murmur, pulling her into me and dropping a kiss on the crown of her head. She gives me a shy smile, then hands it over. Satisfaction thrums through my veins as I tuck it carefully into the opposite breast pocket from the rock.

We continue along the path, mostly peaceful silence between us, and I hold her hand the whole time—except when I’m collecting trinkets for her. A fallen flower here, a perfectly round pebble there. Her smile grows each time, as does happiness and ease on her side of the bond.

When I spot a stick that’s fallen from above and got caught on a lower branch of a maple tree, I stop to carefully detangle it, then slide it in my back pocket. The look she gives me is one of delighted befuddlement.

“What’s that for?” Her bright blue eyes glimmer as she twists her head to look at the stick.

“Just a little project I had in mind before your heat hit,” I say, trying to contain my excitement. I forgot about that idea until I saw the stick, and now I’m even more excited to gift it to her.

“Oh,” she says, a slight frown pulling at her pink lips. She looks away, eyes dropping to her feet. “Sorry if I messed things up for all of you.”

“Nah,” I say, keeping my tone light. “We wouldn’t have missed that for the world.” I snag her hand, loving how dainty it is and that I can envelope it in mine. “We all want to be there for you, I’m glad you let us.”

Her cheeks flush a delightful pale pink and contentment softens her side of the bond. I meet it with my own, showering her with encouragement and satisfaction.

“Thank you,” she murmurs.

I simply squeeze her hand in mine, and we continue wandering until we’re ready to return. I don’t ask to stay the night, sensing that she needs some space to think things through. Sure enough, she gives me a regretful sort of smile at the door, and I take the hint to go.

“See you tomorrow, pretty omega,” I tell her, then pull her into a kiss. I push all of my admiration and desire for her down the bond, and she gasps into my mouth. I take the opportunity to sweep my tongue in, stroking it along hers until she melts into me. Only then do I pull back.

I take one step away, then reach into my pocket for the stones, and then the other for the feather. Her blue eyes sparkle as she takes them from me, and then she turns and disappears into her house.

Chapter Forty-Three

Hayden

Do betas like sweets? Does Aury like sweets, is a better question. I have no idea. I also don’t know what types of food he likes, so I decide to pull out the makings for mac and cheese. Everyone likes cheese, right?

Maybe I should double check. I tug my phone from my pocket, but before I can unlock it, there’s a knock on the door. I swing it open to see my current obsession—well, one of my current obsessions—standing there looking like a thirst trap.

He’s wearing a light blue button down, a slim but loose fit that gives him an ethereal, weightless sort of beauty. Three buttons are undone, and the tantalizing glimpse of a silver chain resting against his chest has my mouth watering. My eyes trail down and I get caught on his forearms. The sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, and his gorgeous light brown skin is glowing in the evening sun. The light glints off his black rings and then his watch when he slips one hand into his pocket. Loose linen pants in a soft beige, and casual brown slip-on loafers complete the look.

When I eventually peruse back up his body, he has one eyebrow raised and a quirky grin on his face.

“Can I come in?”

I give him an unimpressed look and he laughs, eliciting a chuckle from me as well. I step back and hold the door open, gesturing for him to enter. “Please.”

“Oh, I like that word from your pretty mouth,” he teases as he steps by me.

It’s all I can do not to slam the naughty beta against the wall and show him who’s in charge here. But I don’t want to take things too fast, so I let the snark slide this time.

“Do you like mac and cheese?”

“Love it,” he says, toeing off his shoes. “Does anyone not like mac and cheese?”

“I had the same thought. Glad I don’t have to kick you out before you’ve even taken your shoes off.”

“You wouldn’t!” He presses a hand to his chest, all drama, and stares at me with wide brown eyes.

I shake my head, pinching my lips together. He’s in a mood this evening, and I kind of love it.