Page 17 of Bone Collector’s Mate

I nodded and waved them inside. “That’s what he does. He’s my lawn mower.”

Benji giggled at that. When Rook passed me, I accidentally, not so accidentally brushed my hand across his ass. He gasped and turned, wide-eyed and redder than before.

“I made French toast. I was going to bring it over and leave it on the porch.”

Rook bit his bottom lip. I had to keep myself in check. Our mating was so new. So fresh. The bond thin as a spiderweb but just as strong already. “That was thoughtful of you, Noir. We had some apples earlier. This one is an early riser. His wolf is attuned to the sun.”

We sat at the table, and I didn’t let them lift a finger other than to eat. My mate asked if there was tea, and thankfully I’d bought some for myself.

I brewed a pot of tea. Served him and his pup breakfast. Brought them butter and syrup and forgot to eat myself until Rook put his hand over mine and asked me to sit. I was making him nervous.

Me? He was making me an absolute wreck.

Once the food was gone and the plates were washed, we sat down in my sparse living room and Benji asked about a TV.

“I don’t have one. I don’t really like it. I like music instead.”

“We don’t watch a lot of TV either. It’s bad for him and strains his eyes anyway. We listen to Whisper Grove Groove.”

The local radio station. “I do too. Everyday.”

“Hey, Benji,” Rook said, breaking the pup’s attention away from the window. He was a curious one. Maybe I could show him how to make wind chimes, but not out of bones. “Come over here.”

Benji plopped on the couch and folded his arms in his lap. The fella had an old soul. There was wisdom in his eyes. With his glasses and suspenders, he resembled a ninety-year-old man just shorter and less wrinkly. Cutest pup I’d ever seen.

“I have something to tell you.”

The pup nodded.

“Yesterday, I ran into Noir in the woods, and my wolf told me something special about him.”

“What is it? Is it about his skull? About his horns? I like those.”

Oh, so he had seen me. It was clear his glasses were imperative, but somehow he’d seen the real me.

And not run.

Or screamed.

Or passed out.

“It’s not about that. Noir is my fated mate. Do you remember we talked about fated mates?”

Benji looked at me. “Your wolf sniffed him and knew he was the one you would love forever and ever?”

Rook raised his gaze and nailed me with it. Profound words from a tiny mouth. When he spoke next, my mate’s stare never left me. “That’s right. Your fated mate is your person for the rest of your life. You love them forever and ever.”

“Okay.” Benji shrugged. “He’s nice and he helped me and he made good French toast.”

High criteria.

“That’s right. So, we might kiss or hug in front of you. Would that make you uncomfortable?”

The pup scrunched his nose. “No. My teacher’s husband brings her to school in the mornings and kisses her on the mouth before she gets out of the car. The whole class sees it.”

I couldn’t help it. I let out a bit of a chuckle. The sheer honesty of children surprised me. “That was cute. I’m sorry.”

Rook laughed along with me. “That was pretty damned cute, Benji. Okay. But if you have any other feelings about it, just let us know.”

“Okay. Can I go out and play now?”

And that was that.

“Sure. Stay on the front porch though.”

“Okay.” He bounced out of the room, but before leaving, turned to us. “Papa, you said a bad word.”

Rook shook his head. “I did. I’m sorry.”

“That’s okay. All forgiven.”