Page 51 of Hummingbird and Kraken

“Yep. I’ve done gallery shows in New York, but I’m still an artist when I’m teaching art classes to kids or sketching at home.”

Geir hadn’t known that. Why hadn’t Declan told him before? It just increased his worries from before that he didn’t have enough to offer.

“I like that attitude.” The woman smiled at Declan. He always had everyone under his spell.

“Yeah,” Declan agreed. “It’s all about the attitude. And speaking of attitude, you might want to avoid the homophobic assholes running this shop in the future.”

The woman wrinkled her nose. “I’m so sorry. Did they say something nasty to you?”

“O.M.G. The guy actually spit on the floor. I can’t imagine they think any better of women.”

“I won’t be back here, then,” the woman agreed, “and I’ll tell my friends. How are you holding up?”

“Oh, just fine, now. Between you and my man here,” he patted Geir’s chest, making him feel surprisingly proud, “I think it all turned out pretty well. If you tell enough people, maybe they’ll lose half their business. How’s your day been?”

Geir stood in the doorway while the two of them chattered. It was apparent for the first time to Geir how much Declan needed people in his life. Not just an old, boring kraken. He needed strangers. Friends. Life. Energy.

No wonder he’d talked so much about going into the city or spending more time with the People. The thought of it made Geir want to hold Declan tight and drag him back into his cave. But that wouldn’t give his hummingbird what he needed.

“Oh, and we’re right next to the lake, right down the highway about thirty miles,” Declan explained to the woman in response to some question Geir had missed. “Or maybe it’s a bay? I think it’s a bay and we just call it the lake. But it’s lovely for swimming. I swim every day.”

Why was Declan telling her all of this? Geir had spent most of his life hiding his location. For centuries, he had been plagued by Hunters. Now it was scientists who wanted to take shifters apart and see how they worked.

Ro’s warnings suddenly felt much more immediate. Could whoever left the wolfsbane be a danger to Declan?

Declan was entirely too trusting.

Geir heard a car idling outside and practically pulled Declan out the door with a mumbled, “let’s go.”

“Bye!” Declan called over his shoulder. “Pleasure to meet you!”

“See you around!” the woman called.

In the parking lot, Geir brushed past the mechanic without a word. He handed Declan into the car, then leaned in to fasten his seatbelt. If he couldn’t hold him, at least he could make him as safe as possible.

Declan chuckled. “You’re such a Daddy.”

Huh. Maybe he was. Even if he still didn’t understand it. Not all of Declan’s mysteries needed to be understood, though, as long as he could make Declan happy.

Declan swung the door shut and rolled down the window. “Where to now?”

“You wanted groceries, right? Follow me right down this road and turn left at the light.” He wanted to get out of there as fast as possible.

Declan gave him a jaunty salute, then waited and followed closely behind him.

They parked side-by-side on the edge of the parking lot. As soon as Geir stepped out of his truck, he had both arms full of an exuberant Declan. When he tightened his grip, Declan wrapped his legs around him, too.

“Geir, you were awesome!” Declan peppered his face with kisses. “I wasn’t scared for even a second. And getting that charger… that was truly inspired. Thank you. Just… thank you.”

Then Declan was kissing him, all lips and tongue and sweetness.

Geir turned, pressing Declan’s back into the door of the truck so that he could hold him properly. He needed to be close. He needed to check that every inch of him was alright. And he needed a lot more kisses.

Finally, Declan broke away, gasping. “If we keep doing that, we won’t be able to go into the supermarket.”

Geir grunted. He didn’t care. They should just go home now.

“Uh-uh, you won’t convince me with that argument. I want pasta sauce. And chicken. And oh-my-god, chocolate. We need chocolate. Like baking cocoa and chocolate chips and ice cream. Or will the ice cream melt? Maybe not ice cream. Unless we pack it with frozen veggies? Can we get ice cream?”