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Her whole family were coming to visit in an hour or so—something she and Raya had arranged last night. As he’d predicted, neither Quinley’s sister nor her mate whatsoever blamed anyone for their kidnapping other than the Vercetti Pack. In fact, her relatives considered the Olympus shifters “their heroes.”
“I haven’t told them yet that we’re fully imprinted,” she said. “I want them to have the surprise.”
He personally didn’t think they’d be all that surprised. None of his pride mates were—and yes, they’d all heard about it. They’d apparently all anticipated that the imprinting process would happen fast for him and Quinley. His parents were on cloud nine.
He brushed a kiss over her forehead. “I like feeling you through our bond. I particularly like feeling you come.”
She hummed, linking her fingers behind his nape. “It sure does enhance the sex stuff. But when I’m having a casual conversation with your mom and suddenly feel a buzz of arousal spurt down our bond? That gets awkward. She wants to know why I look all flushed. And you oh so innocently sit there acting clueless.”
He felt his lips tip up. “Would you prefer I tell my mother I’m imagining doing seriously wicked things to you?”
“No, it would just be best if you didn’t have such imaginings unless we’re alone.”
“I’m not that well-behaved.”
“Don’t I know it,” she mumbled.
His softening cock slipping out of her, he kissed her little pout. “Told you we wouldn’t be one of those couples who has to wait a long time before they fully imprint.”
One unimpressed brow inched up. “You’re really going to gloat?”
“Yup.”
“No one likes a smug bastard.”
“I got a lot of reasons to be smug, baby,” he said, drifting his fingers through her hair. “It’s been that way since I first found you.”
Her face went all soft. “Dude, you can be super sweet sometimes.”
“Seems stupid for me to hold in the words when you know how I feel.” Their bond was as emotionally invasive as expected, but he found he didn’t mind. It meant she’d never have any doubts about what he felt for her, and it meant he could keep a mental eye on her emotional wellbeing.
She planted a kiss on his throat. “Me and my cat are pretty smug, too, if I’m honest. We can’t imagine that anyone would have suited us better than you.”
His father had once said the same of his mother, but Isaiah hadn’t seen how that could really be possible. Now, he got it. Strong connections could form with or without a true mate bond. It was about the couple, about how they fit, not if they were predestined.
Quinley felt like she was meant for him. What he felt for her was just that deep and true, and he couldn’t envision himself ever feeling that way for anybody else. She meant more to him than he’d ever imagined that anyone could.
“Sorry to ruin the moment, but I’m about to start leaking, so…”
He chuckled. “Then I’d better get you in the shower and clean you up, hadn’t I?”
“It would be best.”
He peeled off her tee, scooped her up, and carried her into the shower stall.
“Are you going to sulk all night?” Quinley asked, raising her voice to be heard over the chatter bouncing off the Tavern walls.
Slanting her a frown, Alex asserted, “I’m not sulking.”
“Brooding, then.”
“I’m not brooding either.”
“Of course you’re not,” Bree cut in from beside his chair, gently patting his shoulder. She sliced her gaze to Quinley and mouthed, “He’s totally brooding.”
“I heard that, Bree,” he said without even looking at her.
Quinley silently chuckled. She hadn’t thought he was serious about having another hamburger eat-off at the New Year’s Eve party, but at one point the music had cut off and Valentina had bid the contestants to come forward.
