Chapter 9
Altair
“And this is yours,” Hane said, opening our cabin as the others went into theirs. I reluctantly slid down from Tino’s back and let him help me inside. He thanked Hane for us, knowing I was too weak to think about manners at the moment.
It was a small but homely cabin, filled with wooden furniture and a stone fireplace. I liked it already. It almost resembled…
“This reminds me of our dream home,” Tino said, proving we still thought alike.
“I was just thinking the same,” I grinned, letting him escort me over to the sofa where the food waited. “Though your drawings had more windows.”
“I did love drawing windows.” He smiled, and it was like all the horror of these past few days—or was it hours? —simply vanished.
“The food smells amazing,” he said, guiding me down safely before filling my plate with everything I loved. We had ten plates with different vegetables and meats, plus some bread. How he could remember what I loved wasn’t a surprise, since I remembered everything about him too.
“Here,” he said, placing the full plate in front of me. “They even made what looks like lemonade.” His thigh pressed against mine as he filled our glasses with ice and the light pink liquid.
I knew we had so much to talk about, but right now, I was just soaking in his company and the tasty food. We could deal with our past and future when we were full. My stomach growled and it hit me then that I hadn’t eaten since before we found Tino.
“I still need to wrap my mind around everything,” I admitted as I chewed on a perfectly cooked potato.
Things had happened so fast and now here I was, eating next to Tino like we used to when we were kids.
Like the time we spent apart hadn’t even happened.
I wished it hadn’t and that he’d been beside me since then.
Maybe then I wouldn’t have lost such a big part of myself, but I knew Tino would heal me again.
Somehow, he would piece me back together into the man I was supposed to be. And I would do the same to him.
He looked at me, his face so full of emotion my breath hitched.
“I feel the same way. I thought I had lost you forever. I sat in that cabin and thought what was the point anyway, you know? How was I supposed to survive in a strange world and somehow live?” he shook his head.
“I haven’t lived since the day I left you.
Now, though. Now I’m starting to live again.
And it’s both a relief, but also terrifying. ”
“Why?” I dared ask as I picked up some meat this time.
“Because I won’t be able to survive losing you a second time.”
Damn. Tears began forming yet again. I had a feeling I would have many more to shed over the next couple of days.
“I won’t survive it either,” I replied, taking his hand in mine. I could easily eat with one hand. Forever even, if that meant touching Tino.
“So, that settles it then.” He sat, tightening his grip on my hand. “We won’t ever leave each other’s side for the rest of our lives.”
I laughed. “Just like that, eh?”
He laughed too. “Yeah, just like that.”
We continued eating in silence after that, with the occasional small glance at one another, like we both still needed proof we were together again.
Tino stood and offered me his hand. “Ready for a bath?” I took his hand and gingerly hopped closer so I could lean against his side.
“Does it still hurt?” He frowned.
I shook my head. “Niam took the pain away when you found me, but I still need to be careful so I don’t prolong the healing.”
“I still can’t wrap my mind around how powerful the others are.
If it weren’t for Xarius, I wouldn’t have trusted these mages,” he said as we entered the small bathroom.
I’d thought we would have a bathhouse or something, since that seemed normal for cabins, but I wasn’t going to object to having the privacy of a bath in our own cabin.
“Just wait until you see what the others can do,” I said, thinking about all the honey Wilston had helped me get using his ability. Some of the mages had taken it with us to the kitchen cabin so at least it wouldn’t be wasted back where we left the RV.
“Can’t wait,” he smiled, touching the water in the tub before adding some soap into it. “It’s still hot. Let’s get you in first.”
It hadn’t occurred to me until then that we would see each other naked. We’d bathed together as kids but it had stopped when we turned thirteen. I couldn’t stop the blush from forming on my cheeks and, of course, Tino noticed.
“Hey,” he said, taking my chin in his warm hand. “I’m yours, Tair. You don’t have to be nervous. It’s me.”
He was right. I nodded, determined not to chicken out.
I’d waited forever to see all of him, fantasized about it even.
He helped me out of my clothes while I kept a firm hold on the tub.
First, he removed my shirt and then started on my shoes.
My pants fell off easily and then my underwear joined the rest on the floor.
“Fuck,” he muttered, caressing one of my ass cheeks. “How are you so beautiful?” I blushed again, feeling more exposed than I’d ever been before as his heated gaze trailed over my skin.
“Please get undressed,” I muttered, done being the only naked person in here. He flashed me a grin and it stole all the air from my lungs. His dimple was showing. I hadn’t seen that dimple in too many years. He only had one, the other side not lacking charm, though.
He helped me down into the warm water and I moaned as all my sore muscles were instantly soothed. The energy to ogle Tino as he shed his clothes was slowly fading, but once I got a peek of his abs, I somehow gained energy back into my worn-out body. How could he be this perfect?
“See something you like?” he teased, standing naked and proud, allowing me to have my fill before he joined me in the tub.
I nodded, not really in the mood to speak. I couldn’t risk using my fading energy on something so unimportant. I had better things to do with said energy. Like taking in the dark hairs surrounding his semi hard cock that seemed to grow harder the longer I kept eye contact with it.
“Okay, I’m starting to freeze so show time is over,” he declared and hurried into the tub. It was big enough for us both, which meant it took up most of the space in the bathroom.
As soon as he’d sat down, he carefully grabbed me and turned me so my back rested against his front. I let out a sigh of relief, feeling so comforted and safe in his arms.
“We should probably talk about when we should do the bonding ritual,” Tino reminded me. I still couldn’t believe we were meant to be together like that. Soulmatched. I was glad he couldn’t see the huge smile that spread across my face. I was finally getting to claim him as mine.
“Are you… smiling?” The humor in his voice was evident and I realized he’d turned his face to gauge my reaction to his question. Because of course he had.
“Maybe,” I replied, remembering this was Tino.
My Tino. I shouldn’t keep my true self hidden around him.
I never had before. But it still felt different.
For one, we were adults now, and secondly, his hard dick was poking into my back.
None of those things had happened back then, and thank the gods for that.
“I love seeing your smile. I’ve missed it.” How could he still be this cute? So honest and just… perfect. “So, the bonding,” he said, steering us back to the important topic.
“I guess tomorrow? I really need some sleep and according to the others, we’ll be bone tired for the first couple of weeks. Plus, our familiars will show up and need attention too.”
“Hmm, you’re right. No matter how tempting you are to claim, we should do it when you aren’t in danger of falling asleep on me.” He kissed the top of my head and laughed when I elbowed him lovingly in the side.