“Just remember, baby doll. You’re a bundle of secrets too, and truthfully, it’s nothing bad.” Annex runs his hand over my hip. “You know I came to town to honor a favor to your friend Greer’s mates. What I failed to mention was that once I was here, they asked me to keep an eye out for you. They wanted to make sure you weren’t lonely, and I assumed they didn’t want you hanging around too much and ruining their honeymoon fucking.”
“You pursued a friendship with me because of a favor?” My jaw falls, and I try not to let it hurt my feelings, but it really does.
Annex grabs my hand, pulling it to rest over his heart. He’s still in the button-down, but it hangs open. “Examine the bond and test if I’m lying when I say that from the moment I laid eyes on you, every moment I spent with you was for purely selfish reasons. Being with you wasn’t payment for a favor. It was solely because you intrigued me. I liked spending time with you. Am I lying?”
I shake my head.
He’s not, and that’s a huge relief.
“I still don’t like that it took you this long to tell me,” I admit.
“I should have,” he agrees, patting my hand. “But we should probably talk about you coming clean to the angel. Pot, meet kettle and all that.”
I grimace. “You’re right. I just wanted to have the opportunity to get to know each other. I think I felt like if I could prove to him who I really am, he wouldn’t try to kill me when I finally revealed the truth. But that’s stupid, isn’t it?”
“Ehh.” He shrugs. “I can see where you’re coming from, but that logic will only hold for so long. It’s easy to have an opinion from the outside looking in, but I know your emotions toward Zephyr are complicated.”
I twist on Annex’s lap until our chests are close together and stretch a hand up, cradling his jaw. “They are, but my feelings about you aren’t. I care so much about you. You make me really happy.”
“So you forgive me?”
“I do, and we have one final step to ensure our bonding is complete.” Tilting his jaw down, I push my lips to his. The kiss is slow and sensual, and feeling his emotions radiating in the connection is surreal. I catch his lower lip between my teeth and plunge my canines into the tender flesh.
I was surprised he didn’t go for the lip. It’s a favorite bonding location for demons, but as long as he’s happy with where he put his claiming bite, I am too.
I retract my teeth, licking over the bite to clean and seal the wound. It was mostly a formality since my soul accepted the connection when he bit me, but everything in me says Annex needed to see me claim him.
Pulling back, I study his handsome face. “You’re all mine.” The thought sends a shiver down my spine.
“Aww, baby doll. I am. That just means you’re mine too.”
The whole Zephyr thing is a disaster waiting to unfold. He doesn’t join us in my bed after Annex and I make it home.
I’m a nervous mess the entire time I dress for work the next morning. At least I’m no longer starving, but concern about how Zeph will react to my bonding Annex sits heavy in my chest.
I still force myself to knock on his door. Sneaking out would be gross. Although I am clad in a cardigan to cover Annex’s bite, which is probably sneaky in its own right. It’s not like Zeph won’t be able to smell the change in my scent, but I have a whole little speech worked out in my mind.
“Good morning,” the archangel says, opening the door and stepping into the hallway.
He looks way too sexy with his hair pulled up into a bun at the back of his head. The white shirt he’s wearing stretches to capacity over his strong chest.
He eyes me from head to toe. “That’s a cute dress.”
The smug smile that crosses his face gives me the irrational urge to tackle him. There’s no time for that when I’m going to be late for work. If I could siphon us over, I’d be right on time, but adjusting to the life of a witch is complicated.
I’ve developed a whole newfound respect for my mother. And shit. I’m a terrible daughter. I forgot to send her a picture of me and Annex.
“Thank you. Good morning. Come on, I can’t be late.” I link my hand in his and drag him down the stairs.
I have no idea what’s wrong with me, but I’ve been hot the last few days. It’s gotten so bad that even the thin sweater over the equally thin sundress is starting to make me sweat. I need to step outside where the air will cool me off.
“Are you feeling okay?” Zephyr asks as we reach the bottom of the stairs. “I know you had a late night.”
“Yeah, I’m good,” I assure him as he holds the front door open. I step out onto the porch and frown at the driveway. “Whose car is that?”
Zeph clears his throat, closing the door behind him. “Ahh, yes, my gift arrived this morning. The weather is changing, and it’s not right that you should have to walk in the elements when Annex is unavailable.”
My brain finally clicks. “Are you saying you bought me a car? I don’t even know how to drive.” I’m pretty sure I told him that once before, so maybe I’m completely misreading the situation.
