Page 11 of Beautiful Soul

“Have a seat, sweetling. Breakfast will be ready in a minute,” Kingsley said without turning from the stove.

How had he known she was in the room? She did not think she had made any noise, but maybe she had. Maybe she had missed him glancing her way as she looked around the room.

She moved slowly to the counter that delineated the kitchen area. Several tall, comfortable-looking barstools sat under a high counter. Two places were laid at one end of the counter. She sat, leaving the one on the end for Kingsley.

A moment later, a mug full of coffee was set before her. It contained a dollop of cream, making it the muddy color she loved. Sniffing it, she detected a hint of vanilla as well.

She looked up into Kingsley’s eyes, captivated. “How did you know how I like my coffee?”

He smirked and gave a one-shouldered shrug. “It’s how I like mine so I thought you might like it as well. There’s also a spoonful of sugar in there.”

Lena picked up the cup and took a sip. “Mmmm,” she hummed. “It’s delicious. And just the way I like it. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Hope you like your scrambled eggs with cheese and bacon. It’s one of the few meals I can make that turns out fairly tasty,” Kingsley said.

He split the contents of the fry pan between the two plates on the counter beside the stove. After setting the pan on the sink and filling it with water, he carried the plates to the table.

“Do you need ketchup or salsa or anything?”

Lena studied the plate. A pile of fluffy eggs with bits of bacon and cheese mixed throughout, along with what looked like a blueberry muffin and two slices of crispy bacon.

“No, this is perfect. Thank you,” Lena said as she grabbed her fork.

She moaned after the first bite and turned to look at her host. “It’s delicious. What spices did you use?”

“I’m glad you like it,” he said. He did not answer her question, but instead turned his attention to his own breakfast.

They ate in silence, and Lena was not surprised when she cleaned her plate. Once she finished, she carried her plate and silverware to the sink. Without considering her actions, she began rinsing the dishes before loading them into the dishwasher.

“You don’t have to do that,” Kingsley said as he brought his dishes to the sink.

“You cooked, I clean,” she said simply, taking his plate and holding it under the water.

****

“Have you ever had anything happen that you couldn’t explain?” Kingsley tried to keep his question casual as he filled their mugs with coffee, then added a spoonful of sugar and three drops of vanilla before topping them off with a dollop of cream. He knew the question came out of left field, but the more time he spent with Lena Wellings, the more certain he became that she was not just another bland.

Not only did she have unacknowledged and untapped powers, Kingsley remained eighty percent certain she was his.

His match.

His mate.

The other half of his soul.

All he had to do now was prove that she was not just another human, help her claim and learn to use her powers, and convince her they were meant to be together.

Sure. No problem.

The energy she put off had changed since she had entered the café, but he didn’t know if it was because of the good night’s sleep she’d enjoyed in his arms, or the fact that they had had the best sex ever. Either way, something had been triggered in her. He just hoped he could figure out what had been sparked before it drew the wrong sort of people to her. People who would use and abuse her power instead of teaching her how to manage it for the betterment of the world.

He watched as Lena finished wiping down the counters. She laid the cloth out to dry before turning to him. Picking up her mug, she looked thoughtful as she took a sip. Still mulling over his question?

“Other than meeting a stranger for tea and sleeping with him without knowing much more than his name?”

“Yes, though I have to say I’m very thankful you did,” Kingsley said with a smile.

He watched as Lena stared across the room. She appeared to be deep in thought, though he wasn’t certain if she was remembering something, or trying to figure out a way to leave without insulting him.

---