Page 32 of Daddy Frost

The cabinetry had glass-fronted upper doors and solid lower cabinets adorned with ornate brass handles, making it look like a classic design, yet it felt more like a well-loved, rustically charming kitchen.

As he looked around at all the modern appliances, he spotted Kalen in front of a professional-grade stove. The guy looked in his element as he tossed a handful of something that smelled like smoked sausage into a sizzling pan.

The smell was enough to make Delta’s nose happy as he deeply inhaled. Kalen had taken off his leather vest and now wore only a black T-shirt, which showcased all his glorious muscles.

Delta wasn’t sure what made him salivate more, the smell of the food or the sight of Sexy Man as he moved around even more fluidly than Roman.

The guy was definitely in his element.

“Just one taste,” Elvine begged, and that was when Delta noticed a very short and skinny guy next to her. The guy was roughly five inches taller, but standing next to Kalen made them appear even smaller. The top of Elvine’s head only reached Kalen’s biceps.

“I already gave your three bites, hon. If I allow you to keep nibbling, there won’t be any food left for my mate.”

Again with that word. As soon as he and Kalen were alone—if they managed that feat with so many people living here—he would ask the guy to explain what it meant.

“Do you know why he’s so sad?”

Delta watched as she leaned back into the dark-haired man’s arms. Now he knew why there were seven sets of eyes. Elvine was with two guys. The way the guy looked at her was nothing short of worship. Then he curled his arms around her, and Delta saw a ton of scars on them.

“As much as I appreciate your concern, what have I told you about keeping your nose out of other people’s business?” Kalen asked.

She sighed dramatically. “To mind my own flywax.”

That made Delta grin. She was definitely peculiar, but he liked her.

The dark-haired guy snapped his head around. He gazed at Delta with a guarded and curious expression.

“Food will be ready in the next ten minutes or less,” Kalen said, and Delta knew the guy was talking to him. He stepped further into the kitchen, his gaze locked on Kalen’s strong, broad back while the dark-haired man continued to watch him.

“Honey bunny, this is Kalen’s mate. His name is Delta. I like that name.” She gave Delta a huge smile. “Daddy Frost, this is my other mate, Arion.” The guy splayed a hand over her belly, but his eyes never left Delta, as if Delta might be some kind of threat to her.

The only threat in this kitchen was Elvine trying to tackle-hug him again. Jax was the largest of the threesome, a wolf shifter, yet Delta’s self-preservation said this mate held a silent warning of death.

He eyed Arion just as intriguingly as the guy eyed him.

“Hi,” Delta finally said. Someone had to say it first. They couldn’t just stand there having a staring contest.

“He’s not a threat,” Kalen said. The steam in the pot rose heavily upward as he put noodles into the boiling water. Delta wasn’t sure who Kalen was talking to, him or Arion. “So I’m going to politely ask you to stop eyeing him so closely.”

Again, who was Kalen talking to?

A slow, hesitant smile curved Arion’s lips. “Hi.”

Crisis averted. Delta walked over to the stove but made sure to keep Kalen between him and the couple. “You didn’t have to go through all this.”

Arion grabbed Elvine’s hand and gently tugged her toward the doorway. “Let’s give them some privacy.”

“But he’s Kalen’s mate! Don’t they look so adorable together?” Elvine shot Delta a beaming smile and said sweetly, “Take good care of Papa Frost.”

Why did Delta have the distinct impression that was a threat?

“It’s not a big deal.” Kalen picked up a piece of the smoked sausage then turned and held it to Delta’s mouth. “I cook like this all the time, muffin.”

No one had ever handfed him before, and Delta felt a bit awkward as he parted his lips and accepted the piece of meat. He had also never seen anyone appear so pleased either. Flavor exploded in his mouth, and at his expression, the spark in Kalen’s diamond-blue eyes was breathtaking. Delta had smoked sausage plenty of times in his life but nothing this savory.

“You have got to tell me how you cooked that,” he said after he swallowed.

“I take it you like it?” Kalen grinned then softly chuckled. “Glad you approve.”

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