Page 20 of Binding Their Hearts

“Tall, narrow, stripey pumpkin thing.”

Their unison singsong sent them collapsing into each other, the laugh dam bursting open and flooding the kitchen with sound. She swiped tears from the corners of her eyes.

“Great! We’ve conquered the first ingredient. Only…” The recipe card had tiny blue ink bullet points in front of each item. “Twelve more to go.” The instructions got numbers. “Shit. We should’ve turned the oven on first. How does Henry do this every night?”

“Magic.” Jay cradled three little not-pumpkins to his chest. “Do we juggle them?”

Dinner might not be perfect tonight. But the memories would be magical.

She shrugged. “There are three of them. I think we have to.”

Chapter ten

Henry

The nutty, earthy scent of roasting squash infiltrated Henry’s nose the instant he opened the apartment door. Someone was cooking. Usurping his role, providing care for his pets because he had been absent. And unnecessary. Easily dismissed, with neither purpose nor recognition.

He left his shoes and satchel at the door, reminding himself between measured breaths that Alice and Jay’s initiative delighted him.

“I guess plates? And maybe…spoons?” Alice stood at the breakfast bar, bent over a mixing bowl with a wooden spoon. The sweater she’d worn this morning dangled from a chairback, and she’d cuffed her shirt sleeves at her elbows. “This stuff goes in the tiny pumpkin boats when they’re ready. I hope we chopped everything the right size. I can’t believe there’s no schematic to show the difference between a dice and a mince.”

Jay, his naked back turned as he fetched dishes from the upper cabinet, showed off exceptionally splendid musculature beneath the golden kitchen lights. “Criminal. We’ll send a strongly worded note to the recipe police. The orange plates, you think? To match the delicate squash insides?”

“The white with”—two sets of eyes homed in on Henry’s position, the instant attention feeding the hungry fire within him—“green piping, please, for the contrast. Good evening, my loves. I see you’ve been busy.”

“White and green, I’m on it.” Jay stretched for the next shelf with casual grace. “We’re nearly ready for dinner, promise.”

“Surprise!” Casting a thousand-watt grin, Alice raised the spoon in a sheepish shrug. Quinoa pearls clung to the wood, and an apple cube—slightly large, but an acceptable dice—plunged back toward the bowl. “We kinda started without you.”

Indeed they had. Their intent hadn’t been to exclude him or deny him comfort and connection, but to provide service. And yet. The growling, unfocused desire for recognition refused to settle.

With pursed lips, Alice thrust the spoon into the mixture and churned. “I think it’s going okay, but we really missed your guidance.”

The possessive blaze swelled, flames leaping and licking and tickling his mind. A change in routine needn’t be negative. If this fierce hunger to be seen would not be subdued, it could yet be channeled.

“How was your meeting?” Alice cast glances between swipes of the spoon. “Did they have a bunch of questions? Or you had to talk them out of terrible ideas for their painting?”

He prowled closer, his gaze following Jay’s sleek form as he carried plates to the table. Lush. Tempting. His.

“Or they just didn’t want to let you leave?” Leaning the spoon against the bowl, Alice wiped her hands on a kitchen towel. Strong, delicate hands whose use he might control when he chose. “It’s the suit.”

She curled her head back over her shoulder and twitched, a slight jolt of her hips, perhaps finally noting his proximity. Good. Canny prey could sense danger, and his girl was nothing if not intelligent.

“That navy on you is so yummy—”

He spun her into him, quick enough she stumbled and found footing atop his toes. His kiss sought to spread the flames, to give her the need devouring him. Harsh, nipping, he backed her to the counter and pressed his advantage, stopping only once her moans floated skyward and the pulse in her throat throbbed beneath his lips.

“You’re mine.” Rough gravel invaded his voice. “Your needs are mine to meet.”

“Of course we are.” Even as she struggled to catch her breath, his shrewd Alice analyzed him with narrowing eyes.

“For sure we are.” Jay sidled up to them and nestled tight. Jay’s rising cock heated Henry’s hip. Soulful brown eyes implored him. “I have needs you could meet.”

“Could I?” He struck before Jay’s teasing smile could morph into an answer, covering those lips with his own. Jay’s surrender drew him in, soft and pliant despite the hard strength of his body. A contradiction, his boy, and one so utterly delectable that Henry would never willingly cede control over Jay’s myriad facets. Yet he’d nearly done so mere weeks ago, yielding his rights, slipping into invisibility. Digging both hands into the back of Jay’s head, he clenched thick hanks of damp black hair between his fingers. “You. Are. Mine.”

“Yes please. I am.” Voice trembling, Jay stood with parted lips and dazed eyes. “Thank you, Master Henry.”

Pure devotion. The flames roared white hot, fed not with playacting but with holy purpose. Alongside his low growl came a soft hiss.

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