Page 64 of Lavender and Lightning

“Why didn’t—You could have—”

“It wasn’t the right move. I knew I could take him out without my weapon. And with the police, nothing makes them twitchier than someone pulling a gun in a fistfight,” Caleb goes on, pulling out the chair at the head of the table and sitting.

I can hear Sylvie bustling around, cupboards opening and closing, dishes clattering, and even her muttering slightly to herself. All the while, Caleb looks between me and the kitchen door, a fond smile on his face. I’m quiet until my curiosity can’t take it anymore.

“You and Sylvie have been bonded for three years, right?” I ask, dropping my voice so it doesn’t carry.

Caleb nods. “She isn’t Leo’s birth mother, if that’s what you’re getting at.”

I blush and look away, embarrassed to have been caught so fast. Caleb only chuckles and sets the frozen peas on the table.

“My son’s mother lives out of state. After I came back from my tour, we tried to make it work, but we’d both changed. Leo was a surprise, but it was for the best that we went our separate ways. Beth and I are better friends and co-parents for it. We trade Christmases, and Leo spends his spring and summer breaks here. Sylvie loves kids, and he loves having two moms,” he explains.

His eyes drift to the largest portrait of the three of them, the most recent one by the size of Sylvie’s baby bump. There’s a sparkle in Caleb’s gray eyes that makes my heart melt.

“What’s it like? Being bonded?” I whisper, a little bashfully.

Caleb looks at me, and he tilts his head slightly, curiosity in his eyes. “Has no one ever…”

I shake my head. “My parents are bonded, but they never talk about it. My mom never even taught me how to use my omega purr.”

Caleb nods, and a sadness flickers in his eyes for a moment before it vanishes. He looks off to the side, not really seeing anything before he answers.

“It’s not like having someone else living in your head. It’s more like… never being lonely again.”

I hum as I consider that, my brow furrowing. When I don’t answer right away, Caleb looks at me, his smile warm.

“Sometimes, when I’m stressed or tired, my mind puts me back in that Humvee, trapped with no way out, no one to hear me yelling for help. Before the bond, I could lose days to episodes like that. But with Sylvie… she can help guide me back home. There’s never any guessing if we’re just having a bad day, or if there’s something else going on. We just… know. You’d think that being connected to someone like that would be invasive or uncomfortable, but it’s not.”

The warmth to his voice, the complete lack of irony toward any of those feelings, makes a lump form in my throat. All this time, being bonded felt like a trap, a cage for an alpha to keep me in and control me. No one had ever described the peace I see on Caleb’s face, or the joy in his eyes when he looks at Sylvie’s picture on the wall. But now…

Would it be so bad to share something like that with Rhett? Or Mateo? Or even Lex? There would never be reason for fear again, because they would always know I’m safe, and I would know they’re with me, even when we’re apart. Would Rhett’s temper improve if I were there to soothe him, not only with words, but with the very essence of my being? Would Mateo wander less often, because he’d finally be able to feel peace when he’s at home? Would Lex hide from us so much if she knew we all care and support her, no matter what?

“Isn’t he just a big sap?” Sylvie sighs fondly.

I jump and whip my head around to find her leaning on the doorframe, one hand idly rubbing circles on her belly. Caleb turns and looks, and his smile changes, gets brighter somehow. She pushes off and comes over to stand next to his chair. He purrs a little as she runs her fingers through his hair, and I can’t help but smile. The love between them is a tangible thing, warming the entire room with the scent of cinnamon and sugar.

“Are you staying for supper? I can put a plate together for you,” she says, looking up at me with kind eyes.

As if on cue, the familiar sound of a motorcycle engine pulls up out front. “Thank you, but my…boyfriend is here.” My chest warms as I say the word out loud. Labels haven’t come up, but it feels right to call him my partner. Well, one of them at least.

Caleb wraps an arm around Sylvie’s hips and kisses her stomach before getting up. “I’ll walk you to the door.”

I nod, giving Sylvie another smile before following Caleb out. I slip my shoes on and look up at him again.

“You going to be okay?” I ask cautiously.

“Oh, yeah. Drive home safe,” he responds, putting a hand on my shoulder.

I smile and nod before heading out of the door. Lucas is parked behind Caleb’s SUV, the bike propped on its kickstand as he inspects the sizeable dent in the rear corner. He looks up as I approach, his lopsided smile making my heart do a jig. When I’m within arm’s reach, he grabs the back of my neck and pulls me in for a heated kiss. When we break apart, my stomach is fluttering, and I sway on my feet.

“You got a sweatshirt or something?” Lucas asks, walking back to his bike.

Shaking my head, my mouth waters as he swings one leg over the seat and settles. He unzips his leather jacket, revealing a plain long-sleeved shirt and motions for me to come closer. He takes my bag and secures it inside the saddlebag before pulling me close and slipping his riding jacket around my shoulders. It’s a tight squeeze, thanks to my ample bosom, but he manages to get the zipper up all the way. When I step back, I can’t help but smirk at the open expression of awe and pure need that flashes across his beautiful face before he shakes his head.

I follow his instructions, mounting up behind him and putting my feet on the pegs. He hands me a helmet, which he double checks before kicking over the engine. I smile a little, excitement and nervousness mixing in my belly. I wrap my arms around his waist, leaning into his back as he reverses out of the driveway and takes off down the street.

twenty-eight

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