Page 60 of Ren: Warlord Brides
“Explain how you improved the taste,” he said.
“Oh, you poor thing. Is this the first time you’ve encountered flavor?”
“This is not the flavor on the package.” The instant noodles were sea creature-flavored, whatever that meant. Ren liked the illustration of the sea creatures and found the taste not disagreeable.
Emry leaned over the table, her pale hair falling over her shoulders like moonlight. “Admit that I’m a badass, and I’ll tell you the secret. I’ll make you more.”
Ren looked at his bowl, now alarmingly empty. “This is extortion.”
“Badass extortion.” She slurped loudly from a spoonful of her own bowl. “Come on, chefs have a reputation. We’re temperamental, shouty, and play with knives. We’re badass. Don’t make me lose my street cred.”
“The noodles were particularly badass, and I would enjoy having more.”
With eyes narrowed, Emry grabbed the bowl, even as his tail waved with amusement. “I’m onto you, Ivon Ren, thinking you found a loophole, but I’ll allow it. Just this once.”
* * *
Later still,Ren shifted his possessions in the wardrobe and dresser to make room for his mate. They had days yet before meeting the rest of the team—days he wanted to spend exploring each other—but he would not pressure her into moving into his cabin. He wanted the space to be inviting.
The cabin could also use a deep cleaning. Endless repairs and tasks distracted him from the tufts of Mittens’ fur that gathered in the corners. The bed linens required changing to fresh sheets. His possessions had migrated from their proper place and cluttered nearly every surface.
This was not the comfortable nest he wanted to share with his mate. He had work to do.
He gathered Mittens’ toys and placed them in a basket: bells, balls, faux rodents and birds that chirped when squeezed. Stimulating a feline’s predatory senses was important for continued health and well-being, he had read. He shoved his dirty garments into a cleansing unit and added Emmarae’s clothing to make a full load. As he shook out her garments, a necklace clattered to the floor.
He held the bauble aloft. The black stone absorbed the light. He recalled how it looked against his mate’s pale neck: dark and oppressive.
A useless ornament.
He threw the necklace to the floor and smashed it under his boot.
The stone shattered.
Blowing away the pulverized dust, he examined the ruined necklace.
There.
From the guts of the worthless stone, he withdrew a chip.
Chapter 14
Emry
She noticed the pattern. How could she not? It wasn’t something she set out to accomplish purposely, but they avoided all talk of the future.
It loomed between them, the future. Immediate issues—what film to watch, what to eat, Gemma’s rescue mission—were fair game. Anything beyond Gemma’s safe return was a no man’s land of forbidden conversation.
And that was fine? Probably. Look, Gemma was her priority. Sure, snuggling on the couch and watching movies was great, but they weren’t dating.
Oh no… were they dating?
The urge to ask Ren what he expected from their relationship and where he thought it would go overwhelmed her, so she made cookies. Lots and lots of cookies.
“This one is good,” Ren said, shoving an entire peanut butter cookie in his mouth.
“You said that about the last one.” Oatmeal cookies, to be precise, with a light glaze frosting.
“It was also good. I look forward to your next concoction.”
