Page 81 of His Curse
Ridiculously Unnecessary
LARK
“Operation Big Dog.” I giggle for the hundredth time since the other day. “You have to admit, it’s kinda funny.”
Colton rolls his eyes as he drops his duffle onto the table behind us. “He’s an asshat.”
“So you’ve said. Multiple times.”
“Because it’s true.”
“And yet, you love him still.” I smile softly because that’s true too.
But my mate just grunts and begins unloading the small armory he brought with us out to the gun range.
Such a male, my Colton.
An alpha male—thealpha at that, so expressing his feelings to or about anyone other than me is going to be a challenge. I won’t push, though, there isn’t really a need for it, but I want my mate to understand that he and I are one hundred percent good. Our bond is strong, if not stronger than either of us ever hoped it would be, and there is not one single thing that will ever change that. Something I think we proved with the way we’ve been in love for over one-hundred-and-thirty-years despite the distance and time that was between us.
Hell, if anything, all of Colton’s feelings are only going to make our bond more solid, so why he can’t even admit something so simple is a little silly, if you ask me.
“Which I didn’t.” My mate glances at me as he finishes unpacking before immediately starting to check each weapon. “But I appreciate your acceptance of who I am and the fucked up company I keep.”
With an exasperated—albeit playful—sigh, I move closer, wiggle my way in front of Colton then wrap my arms around his neck and smile up at him. “It’s not about acceptance,Mahasani.”
“No?” A brow arches as he sets down the gun in his hands and rests them on my hips. “If it’s not acceptance, then what exactly is it about, Birdie?”
Gah, that nickname. It does all the things to me every single time he says it.
“Love, plain and simple. My love for you, your love for me, and the love we have for the rest of the clan that seems to love us back. It’s unconditional across the board and that’s why it has nothing to do with acceptance.”
“I see.”
“Do not.”
“No, really. It all makes so much sense now,” he says with so much sarcasm I should be annoyed, but I’m not.
“You are such a liar, Colton Paddock.” I giggle as he brushes his lips against mine with a grin.
His hands slip around to my ass where he squeezes hard, Colton’s smile growing when I pull him a little closer. “Never to you, Lark. I don’t make it a habit of lying to anyone, but I can promise right now that I will never ever lie to you.”
“I know.” I smirk as my mate kisses me almost as hard as he’s squeezing my butt. “Sarcasm doesn’t count anyway.”
With a husky laugh and a firm slap to my ass cheek, Colt puts a little space between us and resumes his task. “True, but you’ll find most of the males in our clan are honest to a fault and that shit causes more riffs between mated pairs than anything I’ve ever seen. That and Zan, anyway.”
“And, we’ve come full circle.”
“How so?”
“You love your demon even though he is a total shit starter and named the nextphaseof our super secret scheme Operation Big Dog.” I fold my arms against my chest as I lean a hip against the table.
My mate groans. “That is the stupidest shit I have ever heard.”
“You’re nearly two hundred years old, Colton. Ifthatis the stupidest shit you’ve ever heard, then I think you’re pretty fucking lucky.”
“It’s dumb.”
“It’s funny.”
