Chapter Three
Seb
Seb parked his hire car outside Clara’s apartment building, his mind replaying the argument he’d had with his friends earlier that day.
They’d urged him to be cautious around Clara, to hold back on sharing too much information with her.
It stung, especially considering how he had been there for Carter and Max when they met their mates.
He understood the circumstances were different, with suspicion concerning the mole in the forefront of people’s minds, but he just knew that it couldn’t be his mate. Not Clara.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped out of the car and walked up to Clara’s apartment. The moment she opened the door, a warm smile spread across her face, and all his reservations melted away. The air between them crackled with their connection, a magnetic pull that drew him in.
“Hey,” Seb greeted her, his voice carrying a mix of warmth and a hint of nervous excitement.
“Seb,” Clara responded warmly. “Come in.”
She stood aside to let him enter and Seb walked in, instinctively leaning down to place a kiss on her forehead as he passed. It surprised him how easy it was to be affectionate with her.
Doesn’t surprise me, his bear rumbled in his mind.
Seb rolled his eyes at his animal’s inner dialogue.
“How are the injuries?” Clara asked.
Seb grinned and lifted up his shirt to reveal the dark pink scar that was gradually fading with each passing hour. “Nearly healed. The leg was worse, and the skin still feels a bit tight there, but it should be back to normal in another day or so.”
“I’m glad. And your friends?”
“They were fine,” Seb said. “A few minor injuries, but nothing serious. You met them this morning, Toby and Logan.”
Clara nodded. “I suspected as much.”
The faint aroma of cooking filled the air, a homely and inviting scent that immediately put him at ease.
Clara led the way into the kitchen, and Seb couldn’t help but notice the way she moved around the space with ease, the rhythm of her actions painting the picture of someone who found comfort in the act of cooking.
The kitchen was warm, filled with the rich scents of herbs and spices, creating an intimate ambiance.
“What are you cooking?” he asked, leaning against the counter, his eyes tracking her movements.
“Just some traditional Spanish paella,” Clara replied, stirring the pan gently. “I hope you like seafood.”
“I love it,” Seb said with a grin. “Need a hand?”
“Sure, you can chop these Chorizo sausages,” she said, handing him a knife and a cutting board with a suspicious glance. He accepted them with a smile and got to work. Clara watched what he was doing and pursed her lips.
He chuckled at her surprised expression. “I can handle a knife just fine. I grew up in a big family in Washington State. With five siblings, kitchen duties were a shared responsibility.”
“Five? Wow, that sounds lively. I was an only child. I split my time between Spain and the US. My mother is Spanish, so I got all the chores myself. Although I also got best of both worlds in terms of culture and food,” Clara shared, her voice tinged with nostalgia as she stirred the contents of the large pot on the stove.
Seb sliced the sausages carefully, all the time stealing glances at his mate. “That sounds amazing. Must have been quite an experience growing up in two different cultures.”
“It was,” she agreed, a distant look in her eyes. “It taught me a lot about adaptability. But being an only child could get lonely sometimes. That’s why I admire the chaos of big families like yours.”
Seb smiled, a warm feeling spreading through him as he spoke about his upbringing. “It was chaos, alright. But I loved it. We all did. Holidays were the best – loud, messy, but full of love.”
“Sounds wonderful.”
Their conversation flowed seamlessly as they continued to cook. Every now and then, their hands would ‘accidentally’ brush against each other, sending jolts of electricity through Seb’s body. He noticed the way Clara’s eyes lingered on him, a softness in them that made his heart skip a beat.
As she reached up to grab a spice from a high shelf, Seb instinctively stepped closer to help, their bodies pressing together for just a heartbeat.
His breath caught in his throat as his eyes caught hers.
She smiled, then grabbed the spice from under his reaching fingertips and whirled away with a mischievous grin.
Seb laughed. She was competitive, like him, and he loved it—loved everything—about her.
As he watched her, he groped for something to say that wasn’t an outright declaration of his love, what with this only being the third time they’d met.
“The food smells great,” Seb said. “And I’m impressed. Paella isn’t the easiest dish to make.”
She laughed, a sound that made Seb’s heart feel lighter. “Well, let’s hope I do it justice. My mother taught me, so I had a good teacher.”
As they talked and cooked, the kitchen filled with the rich aromas of saffron, paprika, and simmering seafood. Seb found himself drawn to Clara’s passion and skill, the way she talked about her family and her heritage with such fondness.
They sat down to eat, the table set simply yet elegantly.
The paella was delicious, each bite a blend of flavors that spoke of Clara’s heritage and skill.
Their conversation continued, punctuated by laughter and shared stories, each revelation bringing them closer together.
Seb talked more about his family, the camping trips they took, and the pranks they played on each other.
Clara listened intently, her eyes sparkling with amusement and interest.
“Sounds like you were quite the handful,” she teased, taking another bite of the paella.
Seb chuckled. “You have no idea. I was the youngest, so I got away with murder, but coming from a big family did teach me the value of teamwork and looking out for each other, qualities I never realized I’d need working for the CIA, but they turned out to been essential.”
Clara nodded, her expression turning thoughtful. “I can imagine. In my case, being an only child made me independent, but I sometimes regret I never got to have that kind of close-knit bond with siblings.”
Their dinner progressed in a comfortable rhythm, the layers of their initial caution gradually peeling away. The ‘accidental’ touches became more frequent, a silent language of attraction and connection.
After dinner, as they cleared the table together, their hands touched again, this time lingering. Seb looked into Clara’s eyes, seeing the same unspoken questions reflected in them. The air around them felt charged, the line between professional caution and personal desire blurring.
“This was... it was really nice,” Seb said, his voice low. “Thank you for inviting me.”
Clara’s returning smile was soft and genuine. “I’m glad you came. It’s been good getting to know you a little more, Seb.”
“Likewise.”
They stood there for a moment, caught in a bubble of mutual understanding and growing affection.
Seb knew there were still secrets between them, unanswered questions about their mission and each other.
He was still curious about why some of Clara’s work was confidential, but he was sure that if he needed to know, it would be revealed eventually.
And if he didn’t, then he’d be content with not knowing, with trusting her.
Even his bear had been blissfully quiet in his mind, the animal content and comfortable in the company of its mate.
It no longer believed her to be lying. Seb counted that as a win, and another step towards them cementing the mate bond.
“Have you got room for dessert?” Clara asked.
Seb let out a hearty chuckle. “Now you’re speaking my language.”
An amused smile split her lips. “Sweet tooth?”
“The sweetest.”
Seb followed her into the kitchen and started loading the empty plates and utensils into the dishwasher.
“If you’re looking for a way to score brownie points, you just found one,” she joked.
Seb chuckled in reply. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
She pulled a large glass bowl out of the refrigerator filled with the most delicious looking chocolate mousse then placed it on the countertop proudly. Seb leaned down to smell it then let out a groan of pleasure.
“It tastes as good as it looks,” Clara said. “Here.”
She grabbed a dessert spoon from a drawer then filled it with the fluffy goodness and lifted it to Seb’s mouth. He opened his lips eagerly then closed them around the spoon, letting out another low groan as the sweet, indulgent taste registered.
Clara’s gaze stayed rooted to his mouth and she unconsciously licked her lips. The growl that left Seb’s mouth that time had nothing to do with the dessert and everything to do with the sudden burst of desire that he felt for his mate.
His mind raced, his body responding to the surge of desire. He looked into Clara’s eyes, searching for any sign that she felt the same way. Her pupils dilated, a subtle flicker of heat passing between them. It was all the encouragement Seb needed.
He took a step closer, their bodies now almost touching. Seb could hear his heart pounding in his chest as he reached out, cupping Clara’s face in his hands.
At first, their lips met in a soft kiss, that tested the waters, but it didn’t take long for the kiss to deepen, their passion igniting like a wildfire. Clara’s fingers tangled in Seb’s hair, pulling him closer, as their tongues danced together in a frenzy of desire.
Time seemed to stand still as they lost themselves in each other. The world outside faded away, leaving only the two of them in their own private universe of sensation and longing. Every touch, every caress sent shivers down Seb’s spine, igniting a burning hunger within him.
The kitchen became a backdrop to their growing need. The hum of the dishwasher was drowned out by their shared moans and sighs. Seb’s bear roared inside him, reveling in the connection they were forming.