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Uriel froze. So did Bruiser.

“Was that... her first word?” Uriel said faintly. “She tried to say ‘damn it’?”

“Da ee!” Cassie said again.

Bruiser pressed his face against Uriel’s shoulder, and snickered.

“Fuck,” Uriel said. “Damn—Crap. Is there a safe swear word?!”

Bruiser laughed harder. “What about ‘pumpernickel stone muffin’?”

“That doesn’t even make sense.”

“Which makes it the best swear word.”

“Ugh,” Uriel said.

“Ugh!” Cassie said.

“This is the best thing ever,” Bruiser said against Uriel’s shoulder. He was still shaking from laughing so hard.

“Damn you, pumpernickel,” Uriel said.

“Da oo,” Cassie said.

Uriel sighed deeply. “My life is spinning out of control. Actually, maybe it spun out of control the moment I met you.”

“It’s looking good, from where I am. And I’m still building you a nest. Just tell me where.”

Uriel chewed his lip. That sounded like a commitment he wasn’t ready for.

Before Bruiser could ask for an answer, his phone pinged. He reached over to grab it, opening a message. “Says our delivery will be here soon. You might want to drop the sound barrier for a bit, maybe pull back the shield spell.”

“Fine.” Uriel didn’t like lowering his defenses, but he could compromise for half an hour. He pushed magic out of his hands so it touched the spells, dispersing the sound barrier and tweaking the shield. “Done.”

“Damn. You’re good,” Bruiser purred.

Uriel huffed. “What happened to the pumpernickel swear words?”

“You’re so focaccia good,” Bruiser said.

“That’s... breader than nothing.”

Bruiser laughed, low and rumbling. It made something click into place in Uriel’s chest.

“Incoming,” Bruiser said.

It took a while before Uriel caught the rumble of an engine. Someone came up to the cabin’s door, and there was a beep. Something thumped. Then the footsteps trailed away, and the car rumbled off. Bruiser’s phone dinged again.

“Right, time to check out the new lacy things,” Bruiser said.

“I want to see you in that butterfly butt-floss. You need to wear it for a few hours. Really floss between your cheeks.”

Bruiser coughed. “Only if you wear yours for a few hours.”

Uriel chewed his lip. If he could focus on Bruiser’s awkwardness instead of his own... “Deal.”

Then he grew nervous. He didn’t seem to be in heat anymore.