Chapter 2
Chapter
Two
Cernunnos was waiting for me on the couch when I walked through my door. A gorgeous specimen of male, sometimes it hurt me to look at him because he was just so pretty.
A slow smile slid over his face when I set my purse down and turned to face him. “Three days off?” he asked hopefully.
“Three days,” I agreed as I kicked off my shoes and shrugged off my cardigan.
The days were growing much cooler here now, and the wind outside was sharp and frigid.
Some time ago, I lost my resistance to cold and hot temperatures, and since it wasn’t ever hot here, I had to start wearing cardigans or light jackets all year round.
Cernunnos knew this and had switched on the fireplace for me, turning the room into a warm and cozy space. The god patted the couch next to him. I happily curled up into the blazing heat of his body and lay my head on his chest.
“You smell like Ethan,” he observed.
No annoyance or jealousy, only curiosity.
Another thing I liked about him. We both walked into this thing with our eyes wide open.
He knew how I felt about Ethan, but he also trusted me enough to come home to him.
We both agreed we would be exclusive for as long as doing so served us both, and if we caught feelings (or extra feelings, in my case), we would be honest with one another.
“I put my two weeks in today. He didn’t like that.”
Cernunnos grunted. “You finally tired of him running you ragged and wish to reclaim your time?”
I tilted my head and grinned up at him. Sometimes he sounded so old. “Something like that. And he’s doing it on purpose.”
“Mmm. Yes, he is.” Cernunnos kissed the top of my head and turned sideways, tugging me with him with one arm until I was lying on top of him. “That’s better.”
I dropped a soft kiss on his lips. “This really isn’t a sleeping position,” I mused.
Cernunnos grinned, his multi-colored eyes swirling. “Oh no,” he said quietly. “Whatever shall we do?”
An hour later, he pushed a steaming cup of Earl Grey across the table. “For the lady.”
I grinned and took a small sip. He’d learned exactly how I liked my tea. Say what you would about the gods, but they were trainable. Or at least this one was. He sat on the opposite side of the table with a cup of coffee. I plopped my foot on his thigh.
“Spending the night?” I asked.
“Not tonight.” His brow furrowed. “Trouble is brewing in my forest, and I must get to the bottom of whatever is wrong. Hopefully by tomorrow, things will be back to normal, and I will return to you.”
“Anything I can help with?”
His face softened. “No, beautiful Moira. This is between my forest and me. But I thank you for the offer.”
“How about tacos before you go?”
His face lit up. “Truly?”
I laughed. “Yes. I bought extra meat and fixings a couple of days ago. There are plenty to go around.”
The god had a weakness for anything crunchy you could fill with food, but especially when meat was included.
Tacos and empanadas were his current favorites, though it proved difficult to find a good, true empanada place here in the PNW.
I started making them from scratch for him, and he couldn’t get enough.
“Do you have that cue seasoning?”
I smiled behind my mug. “Cumin?”
“Yes! I love the cumin. With the red stuff.”
“Chili powder.”
Cernunnos’s eyes sparkled. “I would like to grow those spices so you never run out.”
I reached over and took his hand. “I can buy them in bulk for cheap.”
“Yes, but plants are more sustainable and fresher. Do you know the current lifecycle of spices and herbs you buy in the stores?”
Lord love a duck. I should have just found the seeds and let him go to town. “I can only assume it’s long and meandering,” I said slowly, unable to keep the look of dread off my face.
Cernunnos laughed. “Forgive me. I can sometimes be preachy. My apologies.”
I shook my head. “No. I forget sometimes how small actions can add up. Evie constantly has to remind me to put my recycling out.”
“As long as you are conscious of such things and do your best, you are doing better than many in your population.”
“And I have you around to remind me when I’m a slacker.” I set my tea down and got up to rummage through my cabinets for a pan. “Let’s get you properly fueled before you go home.”
Cernunnos watched me for a long moment, his gaze lingering on my face before dragging down my throat and lower. My cheeks turned crimson before I snorted and turned away.
He did that sometimes, stared at me so intensely I got uncomfortable. Not because he frightened me. I turned away because his scrutiny made me feel cherished, and I wasn’t sure how to handle that. He made me feel like I mattered, a feeling unlike anything I’d ever experienced. Cernunnos saw me.
I only hoped I did the same for him.
“Moira.”
I went to the fridge and grabbed onions, garlic, cilantro, and a few other things.
“Want to help me chop?” I asked.
Cernunnos rose and stalked toward me. He took all the veggies out of my hand and set them on the counter, backing me up into the kitchen island. His warm body pressed against mine.
“I will help you do anything you desire,” he murmured. He tilted my chin up with his index finger. “Why do you hide from me?”
I swallowed hard and tried to look down, but he held me firm.
“Moira.”
I sighed. “No one looks at me like you do. I feel…unmoored when I see how you watch me. Like I am unworthy.”
A furrow appeared between his brows. “You are the most unique and stunning thing I’ve met in my long life. If there is anyone unworthy in this kitchen, it is I.”
I laughed. “And then you say things like that and make it worse.”
He held me firm when I tried to turn away and bent to press a scorching kiss to my lips. My knees almost buckled when he hauled me onto the counter against my muffled protests.
“This is where we make food!”
“And that’s why you humans make disinfectant spray,” he murmured against my neck as his fingers deftly untied my joggers.
“You’re an animal,” I said breathlessly.
Cernunnos’s hands slid down my body. “Let me show you why I watch you so.”
An hour later, after a very thorough cleaning of my kitchen island and the replacement of the first round of veggies, Cernunnos and I, far more rumpled than we’d been when we started, made tacos.
The rhythmic sound of chopping and the hiss and pop of the ground beef as it cooked, on top of the mind-blowing sex I’d just had, made me feel more relaxed than I had in ages.
I watched his tan hands work the knife deftly, his muscles flexing as he chopped.
Cernunnos, as odd as we were together, was good for me.
Good in a way I thought I’d never have.
“Now you’re watching me,” he murmured, never looking away from the onion.
“Just thinking,” I said.
“Good or bad?”
“Good.”
A faint smile tugged the side of his lips up. “Good. Otherwise, I might have to clear off this counter one more time.”
“Cad,” I said fondly. If only every woman could have such an attentive, immortal lover, the world might be far different.
He waved the knife at me. “Make sure you put plenty of the cue stuff in that mix.”
I came up behind him, sliding my arms up his chest, and kissed his shoulder. “All the cumin just for you,” I murmured.
We stood that way for a moment before I released him and stirred the ground beef.
“We haven’t done our check-in this week,” Cernunnos said.
Yet another reason I was pissed off at Ethan. Cernunnos was the only one who noticed my rapid weight loss and wondered if it might be due to the blood supply I was consuming, as well as how little I actually consumed. He devised an experiment using his blood and fed me on a set schedule.
Much to my chagrin, I had bloomed. All the weight I’d lost came back. My face had filled out. My energy exploded. I had more strength and stamina than ever. My hair was shiny, my eyes bright. My magic came easier.
He’d been right. About all of it. And now we were experimenting with exactly how long I could go without a top-up.
We were at three and a half weeks, and I saw no signs of my energy slowing down.
When I explained that to Cernunnos, he nodded thoughtfully.
I eyed him. “Everything okay?”
“Do you think Ethan would allow you to bite him?”
The spatula I held clattered to the ground. I stared at him in shock. “Excuse me?”
Cernunnos set his knife down and held up his hands. “I’m asking in the name of science.” His lips twisted. “Or magic, I suppose.”
“A couple of hours ago, I kicked Ethan in the stomach and cursed him up a blue streak. Pretty sure me asking him for a blood donation would get me laughed out of his house.”
Cernunnos shook his head. “Doubtful, but I understand.”
My heart thumped wildly in my chest. “I don’t think you do. Why in the world would you ask something like that?”
He sighed. “Because I’ve only fed you my blood.
You had concerns, rightful ones, about how my blood might affect you in the long run.
In over three weeks, you’ve shown no signs of flagging energy or weight loss.
But I’ve been readily available for a top-up.
I might not always be there to feed you, so I’d like to start looking at alternate sources. ”
I stared at him for a long moment, feeling hurt beyond belief.
“No,” Cernunnos said, his eyes widening. “Do not look at me like that.”
“Are—are you breaking up with me?”
“What?” His jaw dropped. “No! I’m only saying I’d like to experiment with other sources of fuel.”
“So you suggest Ethan?” I rinsed the spatula off and put it back into the pan. “Of all people? Sharing blood can be an intimate act, and we have a weird history. Even if I could, I’m not sure I’d want to.”
“He’s a Lord, Moira. And you’re closest with him. His blood is bound to be more potent than a normal shifter. He’s the best choice.”
“I’d rather ask Caelan,” I grumbled.
Cernunnos stared at me with surprise. “Seriously?”
“Absolutely. We have no history other than with Evie. He’s turned out surprisingly okay, minus all the crap in the past, and he might actually be willing because he still feels like shit over what he did to Evie.”
As I watched Cernunnos, I got a bad feeling. “I’m happy to ask Caelan,” I said slowly.
“Ethan is closer, and I know he’d be willing to do it.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Spill it,” I growled.
His innocent look did not fool me for one second. As much as I liked Cernunnos, I was not the kind of woman who had the wool pulled over her eyes.
The god sighed. “Fine. I suspect there’s something in his blood that’s not full shifter.”
“And you want me to be the guinea pig?” I couldn’t help the stab of hurt I felt.
“No.” He shook his head. “I really do think we should find another source. My curiosity comes second.”
I turned off the stove and pushed the pan of cooked beef to the back. “I’ll find another source on my own,” I said quietly. “Until then, this conversation is over.”
Cernunnos stepped forward, but I took a step back. “No. It’s fine,” I said, pasting a smile on my face when we both knew I didn’t feel like smiling. “Everything is done, so let’s get you some food packed, and you can be on your way.”
Cernunnos’s face fell. “I know you don’t like eating alone.”
“Sometimes I can be alone even when I’m in the room with someone.”
There was nothing to say after that. I packed him a dozen tacos in a container I wouldn’t mind losing and sent him on his way.
After that, I sat on the couch for a long time and stared out the window, my mind blank and my body numb.