Page 40 of Beyond the Storm
“Because he cheats,” Mason said. “Just ask him about our paintball match last week.”
“I didn’t cheat! I won fair and square.”
Mason looked at me. “He didn’t. He cheated. He used his cuteness against me.”
Gray grinned at that before spinning in the barstool again.
“What is a paintball match?” Elasus asked. “It sounds exciting.”
As he explained what it was, Mason grabbed two beers from the refrigerator and handed one to Elasus before popping the cap on his. Although he was from Ancient Sparta, Elasus was still human. Therefore, he could become drunk on human alcohol without the need for ambrosia, pure absinthe, or vials of blood to enhance the effects. Not that he and Mason were drinking to get intoxicated.
“Need help?” I asked after joining Raiden at the counter.
He turned his face toward mine, and knowing what he wanted, I gave him a quick peck on the lips. “Do you mind chopping bell peppers and an onion? I’m about to start seasoning the chicken and steaks.”
Fajitas. He always went all out with them, cooking chicken, steak, and shrimp, along with making red rice and beans. He often made the flour tortillas from scratch too.
“I’ll start heating the grill!” Nico said before going outside on the patio. His friends trailed after him—all in their early twenties. They were good kids. I had trained each of them around the time Nico came to the island.
Thank the gods none of them had been killed in the battle. Some of them had chosen to keep fighting, though, and patrolled Athens in nightly shifts. Was I proud? Most definitely. Yet, I worried too. It was one reason why I continued to train with the warriors. Anything I could teach them that would make them stronger for those patrols allowed me to sleep a little easier at night.
Dinner passed with plenty of great food and conversation. A lot of laughs too. Then, everyone pitched in to help clean up the kitchen while I threw together ingredients for brownie batter and stuck the pan in the oven to bake. Baxter handed out more beers, and Kallias brewed coffee for those who wanted a non-alcoholic drink. By the end of the evening, the brownies had been devoured, as had the tubs of ice cream in the freezer.
“Thank you for the meal,” Kallias said before he and Elasus took their leave.
Dargan and Oliver stayed to visit longer with Baxter, Naida, and Zale. Raiden and I told them good night before leaving.
“I’m so full I could burst,” Raiden said, holding my hand as we left the villa and walked through the moonlit courtyard.
Nico flew above us. Gray picked up Mason—which was an amusing sight, given their height difference—and flew after him. They would reach the house before we did. I didn’t mind. I was enjoying the alone time with my mate. And the quiet. Because something told me I wouldn’t get much of it that night.
Who knew video games could make people so loud?
“You outdid yourself yet again,” I said.
“Yeah, but your brownies were amazing. I think I ate half the pan by myself.” His thumb glided across mine. He held my right hand instead of my titanium one, so I was able to better feel the warmth of his skin on mine. But I felt his warmth even with my metal one too. It was like the sun existed inside Raiden, heating anyone fortunate enough to be around him.
Somehow, I’d been the most fortunate of all. Fate had chosen him for me.
“Baxter liked your Titan Burger video,” I said. We kept a casual pace as we moved through the courtyard, passing the evening blossoms springing from the soil near the fountain. Maybe he was trying to stay in this moment with me for as long as possible too.
“Oh yeah? Cool. I didn’t know he watched them.” Raiden beamed with a smile. “I think my next one will be a dessert. Maybe chimney cake.”
“Whatever you do, everyone will love it.” They’d love it a bittoomuch. The comment section of every one of his videos was filled with thirsty humans only there for the eye candy. My beautiful husband was oblivious though. It made me love him more.
Baxter was right. Raiden was so goddamn wholesome. Gentle, sweet, caring, and the most amazing person I’d ever had the honor to know. His beauty shone from the inside out.
“I was kinda thinking.” He stopped walking and faced me, still holding my hand. “I’m really lovin’ making those videos and stuff. But maybe I could open my own restaurant someday. Call it Raiden’s Kitchen.”
The excitement in his eyes caused little zaps in my heart. “You can have whatever you want. Just say the word.”
“Yeah?” That excitement grew. Fuck. He had mentioned he was so full he could burst, and in that moment, seeing him like this gave me the same feeling. “Do you think you’d like to work with me? We could make magic together.”
“Baby?” I brought him closer and wrapped my left arm around his thick waist. “We already do.”
That dimple returned to his cheek. “Hell yeah we do. Know what else is magic?”
“What?”
