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“You deserved it,” I bite at him. I turn to Ash. “I’m sorry. I can’t control it.”
“Fuck.” Oakley roars with laughter. “Is it wrong that I wanna get you mad in bed. We could have some fucking fun with that!”
“Shut up,” I glower at him, pink cheeked and more turned on than I’d care to admit.
“Sit down.” I sigh. There’s enough food for all of us and I’d hate to waste it. The twins don’t hesitate to slide into their seats, probably afraid I might change my mind if they hang around too long.
We tuck in, wordlessly, and as everyone gets food into their system it seems like the tension melts away. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still mad as hell at the twins, but my anger is no longer flaring along my skin like electrical pulses.
“Why are you all here?” I ask eventually when everyone’s finished eating. Ash has cleared the table and rejoined us, and Jasper is curled up at my feet.
“This is going to sound so weird.” Rowan groans, running his strong hands through his dark hair. “Who’s going to explain it?”
Silent conversations, told by eyes and brow wiggles, fly around the table while I just sit there looking clueless.
“What do you know about shifter relationships, Jas?” Ash asks, watching me carefully. I sigh, because I don’t know a lot and I wasn’t prepared for some kind of test this morning.
“Assume nothing.”
“Okay, well let me explain. First, not all shifters have mates, okay? But those who do? One look into the person’s eyes and the shifter knows. It’s not uncommon for some breeds of shifters to share the same mate, often because there are more males than females in the species.”
I shrug, because that does make sense to me. And I also understand that Ash is breaking it to me gently that whatever this is between us, it isn’t going to last. I’m a fill-in until his fated comes along. There’s a pang of disappointment in my gut, but I ignore it and smile, pretending I’m okay with that. One date does not make a relationship, no matter how cute the dimples are.
“And you know about fae and their fates mates,” Rowan adds gently.
“You mentioned it in passing last night, yes. You seem to think you and your brother will have the same mate. Is that normal?”
“It’s not unusual,” he replies cagily. For a brief, lust-filled moment last night, I thought they were implying that I might be their fated mate, but I can see clearly now that it’s not the case. Imagine Linden and I trying to have any kind of relationship that doesn’t involve snarks and barbs.
“And you?” I ask turning to the sinfully sexy incubus sitting beside me. I’m waiting for him to give me his out too. I will not be upset that yesterday I had four hot guys wanting to date me and today I’m getting group dumped.
“We don’t make connections easily.”
I ignore the sharpest twist in my stomach so far.
“But I feel you.”
“What does that mean?” I ask, willing myself not to get my hopes up.
“I don’t know. But since the moment I saw you, I felt a connection.” Linden sniggers. Oakley levels him with a glare so sharp it makes me shudder.
“Fuck off, fairy,” he growls. “Yes it sounds lame but I can’t explain it any other way. Since we danced, and more so since we kissed, I've been able to feel your emotions. If they’re strong enough, I can feel them even when you’re not around.”
I think about last night, how he seemed to instinctively know something was wrong, and sex-teasing aside, he was there for me.
“So what are you saying?”
“I want to carry on dating you, sweetheart, don’t look so worried.” Oakley chuckles and I die a little that I was so transparent.
“I think we’re linked somehow—maybe a bit like these guys are talking about,” he finishes
Could I be bonded to or fated to be with an incubus? The idea seems unreal, but happiness bubbles inside of me. I think about that deep purple coil I ‘saw’ connecting me to Oakley and nod.
“Jasmine, I think you’re missing something here,” Ash tries to tell me.
“It’s okay, I get it.” I shrug. “You’re not breaking up with me—are you?—but you’re telling me that this is casual until you find the person out there who’s meant to be yours.” I almost manage to keep the bitterness out of my voice. Almost. Until I get to the word ‘yours’. Fuck, why am I even behaving like this? It’s been two days since we met, my feelings—I mean reactions—are not normal.
“No, babe,” Ash smiles softly. “I’m saying you’re it for me. I knew the second I saw you across the street and I sneaked into your shop to check it out. I’m taking you out tonight to prove it to you.”
