Page 65 of The Alpha

She blushed a deep red. The nickname was intimate. Too intimate for her. She wasn’t… anything. Maybe to someone like him, it was a pet name. Literally. “You haven’t answered my question.”

He poured her a cup of coffee, handed it to her, then motioned to the cream and sugar on the tray.

She helped herself to the cream, poured some into her cup, the reached for the sugar. He watched her every move. “Um, where are we, if you don’t mind my asking?”

“My private quarters.” He poured his own coffee, added some cream, then picked up a spoon and gave his cup a stir. She watched him, fascinated. She’d seen him crack the wall of his cell, then his door. He had fangs, and went nuts every time any of their captors touched her. As much as he could after they pumped him full of sedatives, that is.

“Wh-where is that?” Pari asked next.

He sat on a cushion and sipped his coffee. “Someplace far, far away from the place we were being held.”

Her shoulders slumped in relief. “That’s good to know.”

“It is, Kitten.” He smiled, and the corner of his eyes crinkled. She didn’t even mind the nickname he seemed to have chosen for her.

“Are you… hungry?” she hedged.

“Famished, but I would see you eat first. What would you like?” He looked over the two covered trays and pulled the lid off one. “Breakfast food!” He waggled his eyebrows. “Human, breakfast food.”

She peeked at the plates of ham, potatoes, and scrambled eggs. Her mouth watered. “Oh, that looks good.”

“Very well.” He grabbed a nearby plate and began to spoon eggs and potatoes onto it. He stabbed a slice of ham, added it to the plate, then handed it to her. “Eat, Kahtala Miah.”

Pari took the plate. “I… have a name.”

He smiled. “Tell me.”

Her cheeks heated. For some reason, she wanted him to like her name. “Pari. My full name is Pari Mae Lindir. But my uncles sometimes call me Pariwink.”

His smile grew. “Pariwink. I like it. It’s… adorable.”

She frowned. “Adorable?”

“I mean that in the best way, my kitten. My… Pariwink.” He smiled again. “Pari Mae… Pari.” He cocked his head again. “They all suit you, Kitten. My lovely little heart.”

An odd sense of peace came over her. “Why do you call me that? Your heart?”

His eyes filled with such longing; she almost couldn’t stand it. She knew that look. She’d worn it herself. “You are my heart, my Pari. Kahtala Miah.”

“And you… are Bondrah Miah?”

His eyes closed and he straightened, chest puffed out, as if the words affected him in some way. Just like when they were imprisoned. When he opened his eyes, they were much bluer. “Yes, I am your Bondrah.”

She gave him a tiny smile. “What does that mean?”

He looked into her eyes as the blue of his faded to a bluish gray. “In time you will know the answer in your heart. It is best,yourecognize what it means.”

“But… why?”

“Trust me, Pariwink, it is best you learn the answer yourself. But know that it means you have my protection. I’ll let nothing harm you, I’ll care for you, and see that you are happy.”

Her jaw went slack. “Why? Why would you do any of those things for me?” Her chest twinged. What was she? Nothing, no one. He had no reason to…

“Eat, Pariwink,” he said softly. “Your food is getting cold.” His eyes grew bluer, and she sensed a gentle nudge in her heart and knew she had to eat.

Pari looked at her food. It smelled wonderful. “Okay.” She took a long sip of coffee, then picked up a fork. The eggs were the best she’d ever had, the potatoes and ham to die for.

He uncovered the other tray. There was a plate with croissants, muffins, and donuts. She grabbed one of the plain donuts and noticed he was once again watching her every move. She put the donut on her plate and blushed. She hoped she wasn’t making a pig of herself. “You never told me your name.” She looked up, met his gaze. “Halden and Raina called you something else. Not Bondrah.”

---