Page 24 of The Silent Mate

Something warm and foreign swelled up inside of me.

I dipped my chin in a nod, praying that my eyes conveyed what my voice could not.Yes, I’d like to get to know you, too.

Relief flooded her crystalline gaze, and her smile widened. “Okay. You sit down, and I’ll get the spaghetti. Are you hungry?”

I heeded her instructions, lowering to the nearest seat and nodding my answer. In fact, I was famished.

“One heaping serving, coming right up,” she answered, her feet fluttering toward the stovetop, where a large pan of spaghetti simmered on the lowest heat setting.

I watched her move throughout my kitchen like she’d been doing it her whole life, diving between drawers to retrieve silverware and potholders. An overwhelming sense ofrightnessfilled me, and I couldn’t help but lean back in my chair to admire my little mate.Moon Goddess,was she reallymine?

Soon enough, a full plate of pasta and red sauce stared back at me, though I waited until Aria sat down to begin shoveling the home cooked meal into my mouth. I was so engrossed in the first few bites that I didn’t notice Aria scribbling on the notepad across from me.

She slid the paper in my direction, a single line written in her bubbly handwriting.

Are you ready for question one? I won’t hold back…

My eyes flickered back up to her, but she already watched me with mischief dancing in her gaze. I finished chewing my latest bite of pasta and shifted in my seat, suddenly unnerved by the prospect of what she might ask me. I nodded, though worry festered in my mind at the thought of disclosing my horrifying past on yellow notebook paper in a matter of minutes.

Aria wasted no time in scribbling down her question, and my heart lurched into my throat when she extended the notepad toward me again.

What is your favorite color?

My answer: Green.

My favorite color? I blinked, then looked across the table at her with a cocked brow. Sothiswas her definition of ‘I won’t hold back?’

She giggled, and every fiber in my body sang.

My scar tissue pulled as my lips curled into a smirk, and I exchanged my fork for the pen and paper. My handwriting couldn’t hold a flame to Aria’s neat script, but it sufficed. The answer to her question was a simple one, though it had recently changed.

Blue. Like the sky.

And your eyes.I kept those damning words to myself and slid the notepad back to her.

Aria’s face lit up when she read my answer, but she returned the notepad back to me. “Your turn to ask the question,” she explained, opting to take a few bites of spaghetti while I had control of the conversation.

I paused and stared down at the empty lines. I didn’t know what sort of questions to ask. I wanted to know everything about my little dove, but I decided to stick to the basics.

What are your favorite things to do?

My answer: Reading.

Sliding the notepad back to her, I didn’t eat while I waited on her response, too enthralled by the sight of her baby blues scanning the lines. By the way her tongue split her lips as she started to concentrate on her reply. The way her fingers effortlessly guided the pen across page. She seemed to be writing a damn paragraph, not a short reply.

I protest! I believe you said “favorite thingS,” which is plural. You only gave ONE favorite thing. Nonetheless, I like to cook, watch bad reality television, and work as a healer.

What do you like to read?

The vibrancy of her written word jumped off the page, and I could practicallyhearthe words in her honey sweet voice. Heat crept up my neck at her teasing protest, and I knew she wanted more information about my favorite things to do in my spare time. Unfortunately, I didn’t have an answer.

I spent most of my time by Roman’s side or doing his bidding. My younger brother kept me busy in my roles as general, enforcer, executioner, defender… Whatever spare time Iwasafforded, I liked to use it reading and sleeping. Nonetheless, I attempted to mimic her playful attitude in my next response.

I apologize for my inadequate response, though any further answer would’ve been a lie. To make up for it, would you like to ask TWO questions on your next turn. Is that fair?

I like to read anything, but historical biographies are my favorite.

I extended the notebook back to my mate, and she eagerly took it from my hands. Her smile grew with every word she read, and, when she finished, she turned that grin on me and very nearly knocked the breath from my lungs.

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