Chapter Six
Ridge was both relieved and hesitant by the time he drove his car back into town.
He and Kael had been dancing around the issues between them since they’d left the demon town, and they hadn’t come to any kind of understanding.
They hadn’t even properly talked about whatever was happening between them.
He hoped they would. After what had happened at the diner a few days ago, though, Kael had seemed determined to focus on the job he’d been assigned.
They’d visited a second town, and like with Poppy, Kael had been charming and had hopefully shown demons that opening up their towns wouldn’t cause them to be flooded with humans and shifters.
Ridge didn’t care much about that right now, though.
He only cared about Kael, who was sitting in the passenger seat, silent the way he had been for most of the trip.
Ridge had questions. He wanted answers, but he also wasn’t sure he should ask yet. It was obvious that Kael was uncomfortable, and Ridge hated that. His mate should be comfortable with him. That was kind of the point of them being mates.
But the trip was behind them now. They would have to meet with Gregory over the next few days, but tonight, they were free.
They didn’t have anywhere to be. Ridge was supposed to drive Kael home to his apartment and leave him there, but he wasn’t sure he could do that.
He wasn’t sure he should, either. They’d been avoiding the elephant between them for way too long, and maybe it was time to face it and finally decide where things stood.
Ridge was afraid of what Kael’s words and reactions would be, but hiding his head in the sand wouldn’t help.
At least if they talked, they’d both know for sure where things stood, and they could make their decisions based on that.
Ridge kept his focus on the road, even though there was nothing he wanted more than to turn and look at his mate.
“What do you think about coming over to my apartment instead of going home?” he asked, hoping he wasn’t making a mistake.
“I really think we need to talk, and I think you feel the same way.”
Kael snorted softly, but he didn’t sound offended or sarcastic when he answered. “What makes you think I want that?”
“I don’t know for sure, but I would like to know where we stand. The only way to know for sure is to talk.”
“You’re right. Is your apartment the best place to do so?”
“Maybe not. I just don’t want you to feel awkward in your own home.” And a public place would be too awkward. He could find somewhere else if that was what Kael wanted, though.
“Your apartment is perfectly fine. Let’s go.”
Ridge glanced at his mate. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. You’re right, we need to talk. I’ve been hiding from this for too long. I shouldn’t have, but I’m glad you allowed me to do so.”
“Did it help you?”
“I don’t know.”
That was the only answer Ridge would get for now, and he was fine with that.
He didn’t know if giving Kael space and time had helped.
He hoped so, but he’d seen what happened when he pushed too much.
When he’d asked Kael if he wanted to bond, Kael had retreated into himself, and things had been awkward ever since.
Ridge didn’t like that. He didn’t need to bond with Kael.
He never needed to, if Kael wasn’t okay with that.
He just wanted them to be together, and while he knew that it would always feel like something was missing if they didn’t bond, he was willing to accept that.
As long as he had Kael in his life, he thought everything would be okay.
But that was why they needed to talk. They had to be clear about what they wanted and what was possible between them.
Maybe Kael just needed more time. Maybe he’d decided that he never wanted to bond.
Maybe he never wanted to see Ridge again after today.
There was only one way for Ridge to find out, and that was to talk to his mate.
Since Kael seemed willing to do so today, Ridge wasn’t going to let the opportunity pass.
He drove them to his apartment building.
The place wasn’t much, but then, he didn’t usually spend a lot of time here.
Maybe that was going to change. He would have to talk to Gregory, but he was sure that if he asked for help, the man would be more than happy to give him what he needed.
He wasn’t ready to leave his job, but he wanted to be able to spend more time at home.
He and Kael had just found each other. They needed time together.
That wasn’t going to happen if Ridge kept being sent on missions, but maybe he could reduce the number of assignments he accepted.
He was being paid well for what he did. Until now, he’d accepted as many missions as he could because he hadn’t had anything else to focus on, but fate had decided that giving him his mate was a good idea, and who was he to argue?
“The place isn’t much,” he said as he pulled into his designated spot. “But I don’t spend a lot of time here.”
“You’re always working,” Kael said, looking up at the building.
It wasn’t big, just four floors, but it was well maintained and had a certain charm to it.
It was clear that the other people who lived here put a lot more effort into their homes than Ridge ever had, though.
He could see his balcony from here, completely empty, while the neighbors had plants, chairs, and tables on theirs.
It made him wonder what his home would look like if he and Kael ever moved in together. Was that something Kael might want?
Ridge had learned his lesson. He wasn’t going to ask. He was curious, but he would let Kael set the pace.
When they stepped out of the car, Kael looked like he was about to make a run for it.
His eyes were wide, glancing around, and he clearly wasn’t fully ready for this.
He didn’t look like he was about to say anything about it, though, which made Ridge frown.
If his mate wouldn’t tell him he was uncomfortable, it was Ridge’s job to do something about it.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m starving,” he said, hoping it sounded natural.
“How about we get something to eat first?”
Kael looked relieved, which made Ridge feel better. He might not have any idea what he was doing when it came to a relationship with his mate, but he was doing his best, and he thought it was working. Hopefully, Kael felt the same way.
“I think I’d like that,” Kael said.
Ridge gestured toward the end of the street. “Is pizza okay?”
“Pizza is perfect.”
They slowly walked down the sidewalk. Ridge was trying to think of something to say, though their real conversation should probably wait until they were alone.
Of course, they always seemed to find a way to avoid being alone and talking about their bond, but that would end today.
Ridge was sure of that. It didn’t matter if they had to wait an hour or two longer.
Kael was here, by his side. He wasn’t running.
He wasn’t ignoring Ridge. He wasn’t denying that they were meant for each other.
He just wanted some time, and Ridge would give him all the time in the world if that was what he needed.
He understood the fear, and even felt it himself, at least in part.
Maybe he should tell Kael that. Maybe knowing he wasn’t the only one terrified by their bond would help.
Even if it didn’t, it would feel right to tell him.
Kael was his mate. Ridge should tell him how he felt.
He should be honest with his mate, the way he hoped his mate would be honest with him.
But for now, the first step was pizza, maybe some conversation about the work they’d done over the past few days, and rest. Hopefully, everything else would come more easily once they had full stomachs and had relaxed a little.
Ridge hoped that over the past few days, he’d shown Kael the kind of person he was. He hoped he’d shown him that he would be a good mate. If he hadn’t, he would have to work harder to make sure Kael knew it. One way or another, the two of them would work things out. They had to.
Fate had chosen them to belong together, after all.
* * * *
KAEL WAS GRATEFUL FOR the extra time, even though he knew he shouldn’t need it.
He’d made this situation complicated, but it really wasn’t, was it?
He and Ridge were mates, or rather, he was Ridge’s mate, but those were semantics.
The only thing that mattered was that somewhere, someone had decided that Kael would be the perfect person for Ridge to spend the rest of his life with, and Ridge wasn’t going to let that go.
Did Kael want him to let it go? No. He couldn’t say he was in love with Ridge, but he could see how easy it would be to fall for the man. They’d spent the past week together, working and sharing living spaces. Even though he’d been wary of Ridge initially, he wasn’t anymore.
He couldn’t say he felt entirely comfortable with the situation, but he realized it was mostly because of himself and not because of Ridge.
It had nothing to do with Ridge himself.
Kael just didn’t know what to do with the bond between them or what to say, and that was what made it awkward.
Once they got to know each other better, he was sure everything would feel smoother, and what would help most was having a conversation where they were both honest with each other.
That was what they should’ve done the day they’d had sex.
Instead of being awkward with each other that evening, then focusing entirely on work the following days, they should have sat down and talked things out.
Kael should’ve told Ridge that he wasn’t against bonding with him, but that he needed more time. Hopefully, Ridge would have understood.
Hopefully, he still would.