“I know, but some conversations are harder than others.”
That brings her to a stop as she frowns up at me. “This sounds serious.”
I nod. “It is, but it’s not bad—at least I don’t think it’s bad. I’m just not sure how to start the conversation.”
“Usually, just saying what the issue is helps.” She pops her hip and places her hand on it as she gives me an unimpressed look. Even in her scrubs, she’s gorgeous. “Knock it off, Crew, and get out of your head. It’s just me.”
Yup. Just the woman I’m madly in love with.
She sighs when I remain silent. “How about we grab our lunches and bring them to the courtyard? It’ll be empty at this time of night since most people are sleeping. Aren’t you curious about what Davis packed us today?”
That brings a smile to my face. Davis has packed us a lunch every day we have to work since we rarely get to see them before work. It’s really sweet, and he hasn’t packed the same thing twice.
Mind you, he’s only packed our lunch ten days so far, but I find even that impressive. I’m not sure I can think of ten meals that can be eaten cold off the top of my head—or at least ten more than what Davis has already made us.
“Of course I am, and that sounds wonderful.”
Kiara’s smile is tense before she drags me to the breakroom so we can grab our food. We use the stairwell since it’s much faster than the elevator. We’ll use it when we return to the fourth floor. It’s good for us—even if we bitch and complain the entire time.
As expected, the courtyard is empty, and we have our pick of tables. There’s a bit of a chill in the air, but it isn’t too bad. Summer in the mountains is a weird experience. Hot days and cool nights aren’t what I’m used to—at least not during the summer.
Neither of us speaks as we open our lunch boxes to find steak fajita wraps with grapes and cheese.
Yummmmm.
We eat in silence for a few minutes before Kiara sets her wrap aside. “Okay, Crew. Out with it.”
“I want to bond with you during my next heat.”
Kiara blinks at me for a moment before laughing. “Is that all? Goodness, Crew. I thought something was wrong. I was planning to talk to you about that when we got closer to your heat. I want to bond with you, too.”
Consider my mind blown.
“Really? Finally?” I’m afraid I misheard her. “Why?”
She shakes her head, still laughing. “Really? Your first response is to ask me why? I understand why it was hard for you to bring it up with me since I’ve already turned you down so many times, and I’m sorry for that. I wasn’t ready then.”
“But you are now?”
“I am.” She pauses. “Weare. My biggest fear was bonding with you before you found your scent match, and then you leaving me for them. Or dragging me along like some clinger on.”
“I wouldn’t?—”
She holds up her hand, cutting me off. “I know you wouldn’t, but that didn’t make my fear any less real. It might have been an irrational fear, but it was always there in the back of my mind. Now, I know better.”
I grin. “Because I met them and offered to reject them?”
“Well, yes.” She shakes her head. “I want to be your mate, Crew. I’ve always wanted to be your mate—never doubt that. I was just scared. You and me? We’re forever.”
“Hell, yes, we are!” I lean over to kiss her, sobering up slightly when I pull back. “But that’s not all.”
She nods slowly. “You want to bond with the three of them too?”
“I really do. They’re everything I didn’t know we needed. Or maybe I knew and didn’t want to admit it. But seriously, Kiara. They’re perfect for us.”
“They really are, aren’t they?”
I nod. “But if you want my next heat to be about our bond, I’m okay with asking them to wait.”