Chapter 25: Bond Growing Stronger

-Rhys-

After our walk, we went inside again, and I made sure Nova ate some food. She still cooked, but I had to remind her to eat, or she would have continued to walk. It was clear she enjoyed being outside, and I had to remember to take her out on more walks. Hopefully, it would make her trust me more and want to spend time with me, because I definitely wanted to spend my time with her. I could barely focus on work when I was around her. I just loved every second I had her near. Was this how Rogan and Marcus felt? Were they just as desperate for their mates? I could only imagine they were. The bond was a powerful thing.

“What?”

“What?” I asked, so caught up in my own head.

“You’re looking at me.”

“Am I?” I asked.

“You’re actually staring,” she said. “Do I have something on my face?”

I chuckled and saw a small smile spread on her lips. She was damn sweet. I could barely keep my hands to myself. I hoped she would allow me even closer soon.

“Nothing on your face,” I said.

“Then what is it?” she asked.

“Can’t I look at my mate?” I asked.

“Well, you’re staring, so no.”

I chuckled again. She already seemed more comfortable around me, and that was good, but I knew we had a long way to go. We had walls we needed to break down and we had to unlearn, both of us, everything we had been taught. She believed I was evil, and I believed she was.

“I am just admiring my little mate,” I told her.

Nova blushed sweetly, and it made me smile.

“But you’re not eating,” she said.

I had completely forgotten to eat because I was watching her. I was turning into a lovesick fool, and I did not mind at all.

“You are just so beautiful,” I said.

She blushed even more, and I loved the sight of it.

“Stop it!” she said and gently pushed me.

“Why?” I asked, and turned my whole body to her, moving a little closer.

We sat side by side by the kitchen island, and it was clear she felt a little crowded, but also a little intrigued.

“Why should I?” I asked.

“Because … because …”

“Because what?” I asked.

“You’re crowding me,” she said as she leaned to the side.

I ignored what she said and just continued to move a little closer.

“Tell me why I shouldn’t call my mate beautiful?” I asked.

“It makes me uncomfortable.”

“Why?”

“Well … it just does.”

“Maybe because no one has said it before?” I asked. “Or has someone made you believe you are not beautiful?”

“I …”

She seemed to hesitate, and it made me think it was a little bit of both. I hated my little mate hadn’t been worshipped like she deserved. She was amazing, and I just couldn’t get enough of her.

“I am … not used to it,” she admitted.

“Well, you have to get used to it now.”

“Why?”

“Because I will keep saying it,” I told her.

“Rhys …”

She reached out, as I came a little closer, and placed her hand on my chest. We both sucked in a breath. This morning we had taken a huge step forward, and it was clear the bond was flourishing. It meant when we touched it became even more powerful, and we would instantly get turned on, wanting the other. Goddess, this bond was not something to mess with. While I knew, as it grew stronger, we would just want each other more and be able to read the other without having to ask what was wrong, it also meant if one of us got hurt or died, it would most likely hurt the other or kill them too.

“*Nova* …” I whispered her name, as I stared at her sweet pink lips.

She couldn’t help but run her tongue along the bottom of it, and before I could even think the thought through, I removed the distance between us and kissed her. She instantly wrapped her arms around my neck, and I pulled her into my lap, getting her to straddle me. Oh shit, it felt so good, and when she moved those hips of hers, grinding herself against me, I was close to just taking her here in the kitchen … sadly, it was a very public place and soon we were interrupted.

“Well, well …”

We pulled away, and I saw Marcus at the door, looking between us and smiling.

“Don’t you know the rules? No sex where we eat,” he teased us.

Nova tried moving away from me, but I held onto her tightly. She turned to me and glared at me, but I just smiled.

“We still got our clothes on … for now,” I said while looking at her.

She looked at me shocked and blushed a bright red. She was clearly not even used to talking so openly about sex. She really wasn’t like other rogues. She seemed careful and almost small. Rogues had huge egos, but not Nova. She was incredible.

“Well, don’t mind me, I am just getting some water,” Marcus said and walked over to the fridge.

*Let me go! *

Nova told me to let her go without a sound, but I just smiled at her and shook my head.

“He will be out of here soon,” I said.

Marcus just chuckled, as he got himself some water, and then closed the fridge, before telling us to have fun. I pulled Nova even closer, as he finally left.

“Oh Goddess, Rhys! That was embarrassing!” she said.

I just smiled.

“Nothing to be embarrassed about,” I said. “You’re my mate. There is nothing wrong with me touching you in front of others. You should see how crazy the others can get with their mates. You don’t think I have accidentally walked in on them once or twice before?”

“That doesn’t help!” she said.

“Why not?”

“I … I am not used to this.”

“You will be,” I said and reached up with one of my hands and cupped her cheek. “Don’t worry.”

“I am not like you.”

“I don’t want you to be,” I told her.

She looked at me almost a little shocked.

“I want you to be *you*,” I said.

“But I … I don’t fit in here.”

“You do,” I told her. “I see it.”

Her eyes grew big, and she just looked even cuter.

“You wouldn’t be mine if you didn’t,” I told her.

“You really want me here?”

“I want you to be *mine*.”

“Despite what I am?” she asked.

“Haven’t I made it obvious yet? It doesn’t matter to me.”

“You can’t change a rogue,” she said.

“Says who?”

“Eh … well … we are … evil. To the bone,” she said.

“Tell me something evil you have done,” I said.

“It’s more like what I haven’t done,” she whispered.

“What do you mean?”

“I never stopped anyone from doing what they wanted,” she said.

I sighed and understood what she meant. She might not have committed any crimes, but she didn’t try and stop the pack she belonged to from doing what they did. I had already thought about this, but it didn’t change anything for me. I still wanted her.

“You can change that,” I said.

“Rhys …”

“It doesn’t have to be now, but think about it. I want you, Nova, and that is not going to change,” I told her.