Chapter 26
TWENTY-SIX
VIVIENNE
We slept together that night, wrapped in each other’s arms. It was the first time I’d ever slept with a man in my bed, but it felt so natural to be wrapped in Kor’s arms I didn’t mind at all.
In fact, I loved the feeling of his body against mine.
He was so big and warm, and he made me feel so safe and loved. It was wonderful.
I woke up feeling like something had changed permanently in my life. That may sound stupid—how could a single night with Kor when we hadn’t even actually had sex, change my life? But it did—I felt connected to him in a way I had never felt connected to anyone else.
I certainly never felt this way for Carter. Probably because I knew he didn’t really love me or even like me very much. My late husband only wanted to use my body for his own convenience—I was nothing more than a womb with legs for him.
I was a little worried that Kor might not feel the same way. I woke up first and spent some time watching him sleep. He had long lashes for a man, and they lay like fans over his high cheekbones.
He’s too young for you—you can’t have him, whispered a little voice in my head. You’re a Moon Widow—you’ll never be together.
I knew it was all true, but I didn’t want to think about it. I pushed those thoughts aside and waited until Kor’s eyes opened and he looked up at me.
As soon as he focused on my face, his expression opened into a sleepy smile.
“Well, good morning, beautiful,” he murmured.
I couldn’t help smiling back.
“Good morning. How are you feeling?”
“Great, now that I see you.” He reached up and cupped my cheek. “Love waking up to you.”
I could feel my cheeks heating with a happy blush.
“I like waking up to you, too,” I admitted. “What would you like for breakfast?”
“Uh-uh.” He shook his head, and a serious look came over his face.
My heart sank—he didn’t want breakfast. He didn’t want to stay here with me at all. He was going to leave.
“Oh, you…you don’t want breakfast?” I asked, my voice dropping to a whisper.
“No, I just don’t want you making it. You made supper last night. It’s my turn to cook.”
My heart leaped up again and I felt the need to let out a sign of relief. My face must have shown the range of emotions I was feeling because Kor frowned and studied me closely.
“Hey, what’s wrong? What did you think I was going to say?”
“I thought maybe…maybe you wanted to leave,” I admitted.
Kor stared at me for a moment as though I had suddenly started speaking another language. Then he shook his head.
“Why would I ever want to leave, now that I’ve found you?”
For a moment, I couldn’t speak. I could only stare at him as warmth spread through my chest. Nobody had ever said anything like that to me before.
Kor seemed to realize how intense what he’d just said sounded. He ran a hand through his tousled hair and gave a sheepish laugh.
“I mean, I know that sounds crazy,” he said. “We barely know each other. It’s just…” He shrugged one broad shoulder. “It feels so right with you, you know?”
I swallowed hard and nodded.
“Yes,” I whispered. “That’s exactly how it feels.”
His warm brown eyes met mine.
“You feel it too?”
“I do.” I took a deep breath. “I don’t understand it, Kor. None of this makes sense. But when I’m with you, I feel happier than I’ve been in years. And when I think about you leaving…” My voice faltered. “I guess I just don’t want this to end.”
A slow smile spread across his face.
“Well, that’s good.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want it to end either.”
Something inside me seemed to loosen then. Some tight knot of fear I hadn’t even realized I was carrying began to unravel.
Kor leaned forward and kissed my forehead.
“Now that we’ve established neither of us is going anywhere, can we move on to more important matters?”
I frowned.
“More important matters? Like what?”
“Breakfast.”
I laughed.
“Breakfast?”
“Absolutely.” He nodded solemnly. “A man can’t survive on love alone.”
“You can’t?”
“Nope. A man needs waffles.”
“Specifically waffles?” I asked, delighted at his playfulness. Carter had never been playful. He’d never been anything but cranky and disapproving.
“Specifically waffles,” Kor agreed. “Though pancakes are also acceptable in emergencies.”
I laughed again.
“I’ve never had a pancake emergency.”
“You’re lucky—a pancake emergency can turn into a very sticky situation. Because of all the syrup, you know,” he said, totally deadpan.
I swatted at his arm.
“Kor!”
“I know, I know—sorry for the Dad joke.” But the laughter in his warm brown eyes told me he wasn’t sorry at all.
“Well, since we don’t have a pancake emergency, I vote for waffles this morning,” I said.
His eyes lit up.
“Excellent choice, sweetheart. I just happen to be the foremost waffle chef in this entire area.”
“Meaning the area including the house?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.
He grinned and nodded.
“Exactly.”
I laughed and swatted at his arm again. I loved his sense of humor—I loved being with a man who made me laugh instead of making me cry. It was such a new feeling, and I couldn’t get enough of it—or of Kor.
A little while later we were downstairs in the kitchen together. Morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows, turning the granite countertops gold. I found myself smiling as I gathered ingredients while Kor rummaged through cabinets looking for the waffle iron.
“Found it!” he announced triumphantly, holding it over his head like a trophy.
“You know, most people would have looked in the pantry first,” I pointed out.
“Where’s the fun in that?” he asked.
“The fun is not emptying every cabinet in the kitchen.” I shook my head as I put the blender back where it belonged.
He shrugged.
“I was conducting a thorough investigation.”
“You were making a mess,” I said with mock severity.
“I prefer the term strategic exploration.”
I rolled my eyes.
“You sound like a little boy.”
“Excuse me, I’m a very large boy.”
That made me laugh so hard I had to put down the mixing bowl I’d been holding so I didn’t spill it.
Kor grinned at me.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“That laugh.” His expression softened. “I like hearing it.”
I felt myself blush and looked down at the batter.
“Come on now, don’t say sweet things to me when I’m trying to concentrate.”
“Sorry,” he murmured.
“You’re not sorry.” I pointed the whisk at him and nearly dripped batter on the floor.
“No,” he admitted with a naughty grin. “I’m really not. I like making you blush…and making you laugh…and making you moan.”
That made me blush even harder as I remembered the way he’d made me moan the night before. My whole body felt alive this morning—as though his touch had woken me up somehow.
By the time the batter was mixed, Kor had the iron heated and ready to go.
“You know,” he said thoughtfully, “This is the first time I’ve ever made waffles with a beautiful woman.”
I rolled my eyes.
“You’ve dated before.”
“Sure. But I’ve never made waffles with anyone I dated.”
“That’s oddly specific,” I remarked.
He shrugged.
“It’s an important milestone in any relationship.”
“Is it? Waffles are a relationship milestone?”
“Of course. Everyone knows that,” he said.
I narrowed my eyes.
“I think you made that up.”
“Maybe.” He grinned at me—that warm, sunny grin that was pure sunshine. I felt warm all over when he looked at me like that. I loved cooking with him—loved our silly banter. He felt like more than a lover—he felt like a friend. And the Goddess knew, I hadn’t had many of those in my lifetime.
The waffles turned out perfectly golden and crisp. While they cooked, Kor sliced strawberries and simmered them with sugar until they became a thick, syrupy sauce.
When he finally set a plate in front of me, I stared at it in amazement.
The waffles were golden and steaming. The strawberry sauce glistened ruby-red in the morning sunlight. And he’d even found a can of whipped cream in the fridge that was still good to top each waffle with a light and airy cloud.
“Kor,” I said. “This looks incredible.”
“Taste it before you compliment,” he said. “It’s been a while since I made waffles—they might be awful.”
“I doubt that,” I said, laughing.
I cut off a bite and popped it into my mouth—my eyes nearly rolled back in my head at the heavenly taste. The waffle was light and buttery and the strawberries were sweet and bright. The whipped cream added just the right amount of creaminess.
“Oh my Goddess,” I breathed.
His whole face lit up.
“Good?”
“Good?” I took another bite. “Korwyn Jamison, if this Alpha Pack Leader thing doesn’t work out, you could open a restaurant.”
He laughed.
“Best compliment I’ve gotten all week.”
“Well, it’s true.” I pointed my fork at him. “You’re dangerously talented.”
“Dangerously? How?” he wanted to know.
“Any male who looks like you and cooks like this and does…the kinds of things you did to me last night is a threat to all womankind.”
My cheeks got red as I said it, but I was smiling too—blushing with happiness at all the pleasure he’d given me in the short amount of time he’d been in my life.
His grin widened.
“Good thing I only have eyes for one woman then.”
My fork paused halfway to my mouth and for a moment neither of us spoke.
Then Kor smiled softly.
“Eat your waffles, sweetheart.”
And somehow, that simple endearment made my heart feel so full I thought it might burst.