Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39596 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39596 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
“Suspected right away when we touched. My horns tingled. Only happens with a mate.”
His lips twitched. “So…the gifts. That wizard told me you were courting me. Is that what it was? You trying to woo me and call it demon tradition?”
Callan grunted. “It is tradition. Courting gifts. First is supposed to be something you love. Second is the book.”
“And the third?”
“Something of mine that now belongs to you. I chose the hoodie to see you in my clothes. Mix our scents.” He growled and cupped Lonnie’s ass. “So hot seeing you in it. I slept on it for three days so it would smell like me.”
Lonnie’s grin was nothing but pure delight. “That gift made me feel like a real boyfriend because it did smell like you when I put it on. I love all the gifts. This whole time, I’ve had a demon courting me, and I didn’t know it. Callan, you are the gift. The very best one.” He wrapped his arms around Callan’s neck, hugging him close. “I can’t believe how lucky I am. To be a soulmate, an actual real soulmate, is like a dream come true. And to have one who likes me just as I am and doesn’t try to change me makes it even better.”
“You’re perfect.”
He sat back, frowning. “But I’m not. I’ll annoy you, there’s no doubt. Sometimes, I annoy myself. And I’ve noticed how neat you are in the bedroom you’ve been using. I’m not, nor will I ever be, neat.”
“Don’t care about that,” Callan said softly as he reached up to cup Lonnie’s cheeks. “Should have said you’re perfect for me. You are. Liked you the moment I met you. You weren’t scared. That doesn’t happen often. People are usually scared of me.”
“I was too excited over you being a demon to be scared. But as I’ve told you, you aren’t that scary.”
“I’m scary,” Callan quipped back, smiling because he remembered how he’d felt the first time Lonnie said that. Offended. He didn’t feel that way now. He was happy his mate wasn’t scared of him. He cleared his throat. “So, do you want to complete the bond with me?”
One brown eyebrow went up along with the corners of his mouth. “Does that involve sex?”
A bark of laughter broke out. “Partly. We’ve been bonding this entire time, but Xavier has a spell. Makes it permanent. It would mean we’ll be together for life.”
“And that life will be a long, long time?”
“Yes.”
“Then bring it on, Callan, because no amount of time we’re together would ever be too much.” He stopped speaking and frowned. “But what do I tell my sister? She doesn’t know about your preternatural world. I asked her several times, and she laughed at my imagination.” He made air quotes while he said the last word. “She’ll see me not aging.”
“We’ll tell her the truth. Trust her with this. I don’t want you to have to lose her.” Callan liked Gabby a lot, and just from the little time he’d spent with these two together, he understood they were too close to separate.
He should probably tell Lonnie he would eventually have to leave his job after a certain number of years, too. Possibly move. Staying in one place for too many years brought about scrutiny most preternaturals couldn’t afford. And Callan had already lived in this area for ten years, though he didn’t know his neighbors and could just change houses since most of his friends were like him. And his brothers were here—had actually moved to Seattle to be closer to him after he’d taken the job at Protective Solutions. But it would be different for Lonnie. People at his work would start paying too much attention.
He focused on Lonnie to see his frown had deepened. “What’s wrong?”
“I’ll have to watch her grow old and will eventually lose her.”
“Or not,” he said softly, stroking his fingertips over that frown. “We don’t have to do the spell that will stop you from aging.”
“And we break up?”
Callan’s nostrils flared. “No. I’m with you as long as you are alive.”
Lonnie tilted his head. “But then I’m asking you to watch me grow old and eventually die.”
Callan didn’t say anything. Just the thought threatened to rip his heart out.
“I couldn’t do that to you. Tell me something, do you want to have a mate? Four hundred years is a long time to not have one.”
“It’s what I’ve always wanted. Was thrilled when my horns tingled. And to know that it’s you?” He paused, his mind skipping over all the words that always seemed to tangle when they reached his mouth. This was important, so he spoke slowly and clearly. “You are everything I’ve always wanted, Lonnie. I’m so happy with you as a mate. Happier than I have ever been. And to know that we’ll have a lifetime together fills me with nothing but joy.”