touch

“Gran wants you to taste one of these and let her know if you’d consider a partnership with a bored home-baker,” I said setting the platter of muffins on the counter.

Mona groaned in anticipation while unwrapping a muffin. Since I knew how it tasted, I grinned watching her eyes roll back dramatically. “Yep,” she agreed. “We’ll see how well they sell. If not, I’ll just gain weight having this stuff here. How much per muffin?” We discussed the price for a moment and I left feeling giddy on Gran’s behalf.

“You’re giggling,” Morik commented on the way home.

“I’m so happy for Gran. This is a perfect way for her to contribute. Maybe they can start saving some money away so it won’t be so hard when I…” I stopped myself stunned by my thoughts. So it wouldn’t be so hard when I had babies. But I wouldn’t need to worry about that.

Deep down, I found that hidden part of me that denied the possibility of Morik and squashed it with my thumb.

The sudden burning sensation along my spine took me by surprise, and I hissed in pain. As soon as it started, it disappeared.

Morik pulled the car into the garage, watching me while he did it, which made me cringe. He did his blink thing to move us into the bedroom as soon as he turned the key, cutting the engine.

“What happened?” Concern laced his voice.

“I don’t know. When I kissed you that first time at Bea’s house, a mark kind of burned my back,” I admitted and saw his brows draw down in a troubled frown. “I forgot about it.” I unbuttoned my pants and turned away from him. “It just happened again in the car.”

Tugging down the waist of the jeans low enough so he could see the start of the mark, I bent forward slightly and lifted my shirt a little. He moved close, running a finger over the black and silver twisted lines decorating my skin.

And that’s the sight that greeted my mother when she opened the door... me bent over in front of Morik with my pants loose. And Morik inches behind me running his hand down my back. If I had to guess, I would also add black eyes to the picture.

“Out!” she screeched at Morik. Wisely, he disappeared, leaving me to deal with my extremely livid mother.

“Well, there goes my source of a possible explanation for this…” I turned and gave her the same view while she still sputtered trying to piece together a coherent thought.

She gasped. “What is that?”

“Dunno. Morik might know though. It’s why I was showing him… in the privacy of my own room. Didn’t want to freak anyone out unnecessarily.”

“How long has it been there?”

“A few days,” I hedged.

“Why didn’t you tell me about it right away?” She tentatively touched it with cool fingertips. I straightened and pulled my shirt back over it.

The distraction of Ahgred and Brian in the woods and then Christmas wiped it from my mind. But that’s not what I told her.

“Why didn’t you tell me a year ago that you were dating?”

She remained silent as I buttoned my pants. Tears gathered in her eyes.

“So it’s really not okay,” she stated in a subdued tone.

I sighed. “Mom, Stephen’s fine. You getting married is great. You keeping secrets from me for a year while preaching to me the virtues of honesty is not okay. Ever.”

“I’m sorry. I thought it would be too much pressure on you if you knew that…” she trailed off.

“That you are all looking forward to having a life again? Maybe. Or maybe I would have realized that much sooner how important this choice is for the rest of you.” Swiping a hand over my face, I added, “If we don’t have plans for today, I’ll stay at Morik’s for the rest of the day.”

She nodded and left the room, closing the door softly behind her.

“Morik?” I whispered. He reappeared in the same spot. “If you can hear me call you, how did you not hear my mom coming?”

His cheeks reddened. A first. “I was a bit distracted.”

Understandably. I hadn't heard her either. "What does it mean? The mark.”

“It signifies a link we're forming,” he said it absently, looking at me, but not seeing me. “Once complete, it binds you to my plane of existence and your own. Time will not affect you. Through you, I will have unlimited access to this plane and the people.”

"Is this part of choosing you?"