When Bloom made me taste the dessert, I managed to choke it down.
She, Harper, and Elise all gagged and spat theirs in the trash can, then elected to makechocolate soufflébefore starting over, because it was supposedly going to be easier.
I wished them luck, pulled Bloom into the hallway so I could have her lips on mine for a minute, and headed out.
“Don’t die,” she called after me.
“Don’t puke when you taste yoursoufflé,” I called back.
She flipped me off, but she grinned when she did.
The day continued.
They were still cooking theirsoufflé when I came by after the eighth fight. I had time to taste it before I left—it was great, but needed cherries.
They were doing handstands up against a wall with both of my enforcers while theircrème brûlée redo cooled in some water after the ninth. Apparently, they’d decided to take Elise’s advice and chill it this time.
“Why are you doing random things?” I asked, sitting on the edge of the bed with an ice pack against my head.
“We’re just trying to enjoy your prison,” Harper tossed back. “Come join us!”
“He can’t, he’s icing his head. Probably gave himself a tiny concussion head-butting some jerk,” Bloom said from beside her. Both of them were still upside down. “Right, Mav?”
That was, in fact, what had happened.
I dropped my ice pack on the bed and went over to Bloom, throwing a quick handstand without bothering to use the wall.
“Showoff,” my mate complained, though she was smiling.
“Did you get bored and take gymnastics or something?” Harper asked.
“Pretty much.”
Harper sighed. “Immortality sounds amazing.”
“Humanity sounds terrible.”
Bloom kicked my leg, and managed to lose her balance in the process. She fell sideways, and I couldn’t get back on my feet fast enough to catch her before she crashed into Harper, who crashed into Ryker, who crashed into Elise.
I lifted Bloom to her feet and dusted her off. “Good as new.”
“Why yes, we’re okay down here,” Harper drawled.
Bloom smiled. I noticed something that must’ve been a little dried sugar beneath one of her eyes, and brushed it away.
The women’s timer went off, and they all went into the kitchen.
Ryker’s mind met mine.“Are you cool with me hanging out with Harper?”
“As long as you don’t hurt her or my mate.”
“Neither of us is looking for anything serious. We talked about it.”
“Then knock yourself out.”
He nodded at me.
Another one of my enforcers showed up with food. I loaded up again before heading out.
