Page 54 of The Barbaric Fae's Soul

Well, then.

“Okay, I won’t touch other men,” I agreed.

If all of the rules were like that—about our relationship, setting boundaries as to what would make us both feel the best about our connection, I could handle rules.

I hesitated to voice the one I wanted to make, though.

“It’s your turn, Thorns.”

I heaved a sigh. “This is going to sound really insecure.”

His lips curved upward a little. “And mine didn’t?”

A soft laugh escaped me. “Alright. I just… I don’t want you to be alone with Naomi. Obviously I’m not going to ask you not to talk to her or anything, but if you’re alone with her, it’ll make me feel like something’s going on between you two again.”

He frowned at me. “That’s not insecure at all. We were mated, as shitty a time as it was, so that’s a reasonable boundary.”

I let out a breath of relief.

“I’d like us to live here together.” He gestured to the building. “Not because my home is currently drenched, even though it is. But because I feel far more certain that I have a chance at convincing you to fall in love with me while we’re sharing a home.”

I lifted an eyebrow.

“You wanted insecurities. There’s another one.” He winked at me, and my lips curved upward in a grudging smile.

“I was already planning on living here together.” It was my turn, and since we were already delving into awkward topics… “You have to share a bed with me, if we’re doing that. I liked sleeping together, the way we did in your tent.”

“Done.” He didn’t so much as bat an eye, not that it surprised me. “I’d like to know before you risk your life again, like you did when you went to find North or hopped on Presley’s back.”

I scowled. “I did what someone needed to do, and no one else could.” I gestured toward the forest around us. “If we’re making rules like that, you’re not allowed to chase me if I walk away from you because I need time to think.”

“Like hell I’m not.” He leaned toward me, and I fought the urge to lean in closer. Instead, I made myself lean back. “You want me to go a week without kissing you, or tasting you, or touching you, because you don’t believe my feelings are genuine. That physical contact makes me feel secure in this—in us. I’ve agreed because your comfort and trust matter to me, but while I’m already forcing myself to leave distance between us, it’s unfair to expect me to let you walk away every time you feel uncertain.”

I glared at him. “It’ll take a week just for the bond to vanish, Aev. It’ll be at least another week after that until we know whether or not you really want me—maybe longer. And there’s a damn good chance you won’t want me. So why should we bother doing any of this?”

“Because our bond brings me to life,” he growled at me. “And because it makes you feel safe.”

My mouth was open, ready to lay harsh words down, but those words stopped in my throat when what he’d said clicked.

It makes you feel safe.

He was right, wasn’t he?

Nothing ever made me feel safe. Not walls, not promises. Definitely not love, relationships, or anything related to them.

And yet, our connection had done exactly that.

It had made me feel safe.

And for me, safety was massive. Crazily massive.

I rubbed at my eyes with one of my hands. “You’re right. I’m sorry; talking about risking my life kind of pissed me off, but I understand why you asked what you did. It’s just that I don’t really want to risk myself, you know? I’ve only done it because someone had to, and I was the best option. And I know you disagree, but I have to do what I feel like is right. I’m not always going to be able to check in with you before that stuff happens.”

He grimaced, but nodded. “I understand. It frustrates me too, but it is what it is. We don’t really need rules—I just need some way to know that what we have between us means something to you, too.”

Oh.

My throat swelled. “Our friendship means a lot to me. I haven’t really had time to wrap my head around letting us be more, but I’m getting there. Or at least trying to, anyway.”

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