“I’ll merge when I feel like it. Stop trying to get your way.”
He laughed then kissed her, putting a complete stop to her arguing. Yeah, she had to have finally merged since she let out a long, appreciate sigh. She and Hope both had the skill, and it connected them to their mates in a very personal way.
“Right, that’s enough, you two.” Silas knocked Davio’s shoulder as he headed to the crockery cupboard. “I’m hungry, and those donuts smell too good not to eat.”
“I’ll help you.” Hope held out her hands and he passed her the lunch plates.
The glasses in hand, Silas led the way out to the dining room. Davio and Faith followed with the cutlery.
“Is your kitchen always this busy?” Guy caught his mother’s ring dangling at my neck and stroked it.
“Pretty much. I like having you here in it.” Really liked it. Smiling, I passed him another bowl. “You get to prepare the smooth yellow icing.”
He passed the bowl back, rested against my back and snuggled. “I’ve missed this feeling of home.”
“You don’t want to make the icing?”
“I want to watch you make it.” Nuzzling my neck, he purred.
With his rumble heating my skin and tingling my toes, I got to work on the icing. “How difficult is it without your father?”
“Two years has been far too long.” He reached past me and stole the first donut I’d iced. He smacked his lips together then murmured, “Ahh, good. Real good.”
“Try a long donut.” I squirted in the cream and added a dollop of jam and passed it across.
“Even better,” he mumbled around a mouthful.
I cupped his jaw. “The silver in your eyes is lighting up.”
“At least your hands aren’t.”
“No, I seem to have gained some control over my emotions, even while you’re this close. Hopefully it’ll hold. Faith will soon let me know if it doesn’t.” I ruffled his black hair, removing the dusting of flour still on the ends.
“I’m glad she’s here to watch over you.”
“We look out for each other. We always have.”
He eyed the door the others had left by. “Since you’ve got plenty of aid on hand, and you appear stable, I should go.”
“Can’t you stay a little longer? Please?” I didn’t want him to go, not even into the next room.
“Loveria and Carver are here. They seem okay with me still hanging around, but I doubt it’ll last long.” He undid the ties of his apron and pulled it over his head. “Thank you for loaning me this.”
“I want you to stay.” I couldn’t stop my needy request. “I mean, don’t feel you have to rush off.” Yeah, that wasn’t going to cut it either.
“I’d like to stay, which is another reason why I should go.” He pressed the apron into my hands.
“You’re worried about our bond building?”
“Aren’t you?”
“I should be.” I just couldn’t consider that when he was this close, though.
“We have to take care, Silvie. Any time we spend together should be kept to a minimum.”
“Ooo-kay.” I could hardly argue that fact. “It was nice having you here.”
“It was nice learning how to make the most delicious donuts ever.” He fingered a lock of my hair then lowered his hand to his side. “It’s hard not to touch you.”
“Same.” I wanted to touch him, so badly.
“Tomorrow evening, my mate.” He bent his head in a short bow
So proper, and so fast, he flashed away.
Gone.
My mated one had left me again.
I swirled a hand through the air where he’d been, my heart as heavy as a stone. This moment hurt. Not good.
“Is lunch ready yet?” Faith bounced into the room. “The masses are hungry.”
“They’re all done. I’ve got dinner to prepare for Zayn’s family next.” I slid the dish to her, my appetite gone. “Take these in for me, okay?”
“Sure.” She nudged my shoulder with hers. “So Guy left?”
“Yeah.” I slumped onto the countertop and stroked his mother’s ring. “I think I’m in trouble.”
“What did you do?”
“I have feelings for him.”
“You don’t like having them?”
“What do you think? He’s the last enchanter in his line and Wincrest expects him to marry another warrior woman. We’ve released each other, and there’s no going back.”
She rubbed my back. “That sucks.”
“Big time.” I dropped my chin into my upturned palms, wishing things could be different. They never would be. “Did you know he lost his mother when he was young? This is her ring.”
“He gave you his mother’s ring? No way.”
“It was her last wish, that he pass it along to his mated one.” I eased myself upward. “Don’t tell anyone else, okay? It’s kind of private.”
“You got it.” She gave me a hug, squeezing me tight. “Will you be all right?”