Page 72 of Crossing Between
I nodded against his chest, too drained to form words. With an ease that still amazed me, his tentacles lifted me as he stood from the bed. He carried me to the ensuite bathroom, cradling me against his chest as if I weighed nothing at all.
The bathtub filled quickly, steam rising from its surface as Elias carefully lowered us both into the warm water. I sighed in contentment as the heat soothed my pleasantly sore muscles.
With the same kindness he'd shown earlier, Elias proceeded to wash me, his hands and tentacles gentle as they glided over my skin. He massaged shampoo into my hair, rinsed it with such care that not a drop fell into my eyes. It was the most tender thing anyone had ever done for me.
When we were both clean, he helped me from the tub and dried me with the same attentive care, wrapping me in a fluffy towel before seeing to himself. We returned to the bedroom, where he had somehow managed to change the sheets while Iwas distracted.
We slid beneath the clean linens, my body automatically curling into his. His tentacles had mostly receded now, though one still wrapped loosely around my waist, a possessive touch that I found comforting rather than constraining.
In the peaceful quiet that followed, surrounded by his warmth and the lingering glow of our shared magic, I finally found the courage to voice the thought that had been growing in my heart.
"Elias?" My voice was soft in the darkness.
"Hmm?" His response was drowsy, content.
I took a deep breath, gathering my courage. "I think I'm falling in love with you." Before he could respond, I continued in a rush, "And not just you. Varon and Kenji too. Is that crazy? Am I crazy for feeling this way about all three of you?"
Chapter 40: Zoey
I woke up to sunlight streaming through the curtains and Elias's warmth pressed against my back. For a moment, I just lay there, savoring the feeling of his arm draped over my waist and his steady breathing against my neck. Last night had been incredible and that didn't even begin to cover it.
My stomach growled, interrupting my blissful recollection. Elias stirred behind me, his arm tightening slightly around my waist.
"Good morning, kærasta," his voice deep and raspy with sleep.
I rolled over to face him, unable to stop the smile spreading across my face. "Morning." I leaned in for a kiss, morning breath be damned.
"Hungry?" He smiled when we pulled apart.
"Starving," I admitted. "Last night was quite the workout."
A hint of pink colored his cheeks, which I found absolutely adorable on someone as normally stoic as Elias. "Oh, itwas."
We didn't rush getting dressed. I borrowed one of his t-shirts, which hung almost to my knees, and paired it with my underwear from yesterday. Elias pulled on sweatpantsand a fitted t-shirt that showed off every delicious muscle in his torso. The domesticity of it all, getting ready together, stealing kisses between putting on clothes, made my heart swell.
As we made our way downstairs, the smell of bacon and pancakes filled the air, making my stomach growl even louder. We entered the kitchen to find Kenji at the stove, flipping pancakes with expert precision while Varon leaned against the counter nearby, sipping from a mug of what I assumed was coffee.
The scene was so cozy, it made my chest ache. Kenji wore an apron over his clothes that read "Kiss the Cook" in bright red letters and there was a small stack of slightly charred bacon on a plate beside him.
"Good morning, lovebirds," Kenji's voice was cheerful and he didn't turn around. "Hope you worked up an appetite last night. I heard some interesting noises."
I felt my face heat up, but before I could respond, Varon rolled his eyes. "Leave them be, Kenji. Not everyone is as shameless as you."
Kenji just laughed, finally turning to face us. His eyes widened slightly as they roved over me, then Elias, his gaze lingering on the places where we had probably left marks on each other. Rather than looking jealous or upset, a brilliant smile spread across his face.
"The thread is strong now between all of us," now his voice was filled with genuine joy.
I blinked, looking between the three men. Varon and Elias looked confused.
"Thread?" Varon raised an eyebrow.
Kenji set down his spatula and turned fully toward us, his expression animated. "The red thread of fate. In Japanese mythology, it's an invisible red string around thosedestined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstances. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break."
I moved to the plate of bacon, picking up a slightly burned piece and taking a bite. Despite being a bit crispy, it was delicious.
"So you think we're all connected by this thread?" Varon looked at him warily.
"I know we are," Kenji replied with absolute certainty. "I've been seeing it in my visions for years, but last night, something shifted. Something strengthened."
