Page 60 of All's Fair in Love and Magic

She nodded. “I need to rune the wards before we risk sealing the bond.”

“That would be ideal.”

If the alternative was risking her life, I could wait as long as I had to.

She struggled to pierce a vegetable with her fork.

The itch to take the box and feed her myself grew stronger.

“How are you feeling?” she asked me.

The question caught me off guard. “What?”

“How are you feeling?” she repeated, meeting my gaze. “I know the bond is pushing you, and I haven’t done anything to make it easier for you. I can’t imagine seeing me struggling this much is helping anything.”

It sure as fuck wasn’t.

“I can handle it,” I said instead. “Don’t worry about me.”

She rolled her eyes. “If we’re going to be mates, worrying about you will be part of the bond.”

“Even when it’s sealed, you don’t need to do that.” I finally snagged the fork from her shaky fingers and stabbed the broccoli for her. “I can take care of both of us.”

“Sounds lonely.”

“I don’t get lonely.” I lifted the fork to her lips.

Sage studied me for a moment before she gently pushed my arm away. “If I don’t get to worry about you, you don’t get to feed me.”

I growled. “You’re my mate.”

“And you’re mine. Right?”

“Yes. So let me feed you.”

“I haven’t touched you,” she said.

I blinked. “I hold you every night. Your hands are on me when I do.”

“Not like that.” She held my gaze.

Oh.

Fuck.

My cock throbbed hard.

“You’re so weak you can’t lift a fork, Clove. That’s out of the question.” My voice came out sounding gravelly. “Just eat the damn food.”

“I will,” she said, but batted the fork away again when I lifted it back to her lips. “If you do something for me in exchange.”

“Sure.” I just wanted her to eat, so she could get her strength back.

“Take your shorts off.”

I blinked once.

And again.

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