Page 61 of Sweethearts and Savages
“Uh, not much?”
Stacey looked like she was about to give me the birds and the bees talk, which was bound to be hilarious. “Well, shifters create bonds with other beings by sharing blood and saliva during intercourse. In, uh, the heat of the situation, it seems that perhaps Enit has created a mating bond with Kell. The fact he has been gone for so many months is causing her body to waste away.” She sighed. “The physiological effects are obviously more complex than that but you get the idea.”
“She’s dying… for the D?”
Enit snorted, and that snort turned into a belly laugh, which then turned a little strained. We all looked at her like she was losing it. Hell, maybe she was.
I pulled her into my arms again, squeezing her shoulders tightly. “Soon, this won’t even matter. It’ll just be a bad dream.”
She let out a hiccuping little sigh. “How do you figure?”
“Because Kell Arborson will come to his senses, then come back to beg for your forgiveness.” Bohdie huffed and I grinned against the top of her head. “Then probably get eaten by a lion, but you know what? Worth it.” I looked over her head at the other two. “What's the plan?”
Bohdie reached out and put his hand on Enit’s lower back, always touching her. Must have been nice to be raised in a community where touch was acknowledged as being as important as food and shelter. Only touch I’d received growing up had been at the other end of a belt. “We were hoping you’d know where he was, so we can go get him and bring him back. There are ways to break the bond.”
Enit tensed in my arms, and I gave her another squeeze. “And if breaking the bond isn’t an option?”
I was really poking the bear—er, lion—but I didn’t get where I was today by being a pussy. And that was said with the utmost respect to vaginas. And cats.
Bohdie’s eyes fell to Enit. “Then we start working out how we’re going to live with the situation, I guess. Do you know where he is or not?”
I shook my head. “No idea.” I felt Enit sag against me. “But with a computer, I could definitely find him. No person is trailless. If he’s so much as bought a beer, I’ll be able to find him.”
Stacey frowned at me. “You’re banned from technology.”
“A rule is just a suggestion until you break it.”
She tilted her head at me. “That makes absolutely no sense.”
Bohdie’s jaw tensed. “You can borrow mine.”
I grinned, my fingers aching to touch the keyboard again. May chaos reign supreme.
I all but skipped back to their apartment, scooping Enit up into a piggyback ride, making her laugh. She had a pretty laugh, light and airy and only mildly touched by pain. I pirouetted just to hear the sound again.
“Cedric, stop for a moment. I have to get to the lab and I’d like to kiss my girlfriend,” Stacey said, stepping closer.
I slid Enit off my back, and stepped away. “I will never say no to a bit of girl on girl action,” I teased, just to see Stacey’s warning look. It was kind of adorable, like your kindergarten teacher and a naughty nurse all rolled into one. It was a pity she only swung one way. She kissed Enit tenderly, and then raised an eyebrow at the both of us. “I will see you all later.”
We walked into Stacey’s house, which looked exactly how you would expect it might look. Clean white lines, a lack of clutter. Antique medical equipment and modern art were the only decor. She really was an interesting person. But elements of both Enit and Bohdie had made their way in too. A vase of bright yellow daisies. A pair of running shoes by the door and a gaming console connected to the TV.
Bohdie kissed the top of Enit’s head. “I’ll just run upstairs and grab my laptop.”
He was gone, leaving me alone with Enit. As much as I appreciated all the physical affection, I would miss being truly alone if I’d been raised supernatural. My upbringing had been the exact opposite. All my time was alone.
“Do you want a drink? I could make popcorn and we can watch a movie?”
I gave her a soft smile, because that’s the only kind that was worthy of Enit Baxter. “Sure, that sounds great.” She went to move away, and I grabbed her fingers. “Come and sit with me first.”
She nodded and I led her over to the surprisingly plush couch. Settling in, I patted the space beside me. She sat down close, and I leaned into her. “How are you feeling about the whole mate thing?”
She chewed on her lip and shrugged. “Deep down, I kinda knew. There was this… ache, I guess. It was either a mate bond or I was pregnant, and I can’t begin to tell you how glad I am it wasn’t option number two.”
I blew out a breath. Kids were cute, but kinda gross. “Hell yeah.”
“What about you? Are you settling in okay? Are you sure there’s nobody back home who’d be missing you?” she asked once more like I’d finally remember that someone actually loved me or something.
I resisted the urge to pull her onto my lap. Looking at her big, innocent eyes, it was hard to remember that she wasn’t human. She just had this innocence that you didn’t associate with monsters.
