Warmth and happiness spread through Cort at Grey’s words, and Grey couldn’t stop his own happy sigh, feeling it ripple through his mind.
“And it connects us?”
“Mmmm…wraps from you to me and back in one endless loop. We’re soul mates. Fated. Made for each other.” He paused and huffed a little laugh. “That doesn’t mean we won’t argue and drive each other crazy.”
“We’re too good at that to ever stop.”
“But it means that no one will ever understand me better than you. No one will ever fit you better than me.” And even though he could see the joy in Cort’s eyes, he couldn’t stop himself from asking. “Am I not what you expected? Or maybe not what you want—”
He didn’t get to finish. Cort was rolling him onto his back, kissing him deeply, making him forget his stupid questions and worries.
“No, I didn’t expect you,” Cort said, his damp lips brushing against Grey’s. “But I didn’t believe in soul mates until you. And even if I did believe in soul mates, I don’t think I could have imagined someone as amazing, strong, brilliant, or sexy as you belonging to me.”
“Then I guess we’re both lucky.”
“I only brought it up because Wiley told me about the bonding ceremony after he and Baer found out they were mates. You hadn’t mentioned it and I was wondering…”
Grey pulled away a little so he could clearly see Cort’s face, but he also needed Cort to see his sincerity. “Darling, I would love nothing more than to be bonded to you, but it’s a big step. It’s like marriage but bigger. This is magic. The bond can’t be broken once it’s formed. You’d be stuck with me forever.”
Cort opened his mouth, eyes lighting up, and Grey could almost hear his happy words saying he wanted exactly that, but Grey lightly pressed his fingertips to Cort’s lips, stopping those words.
“When I say forever, I mean forever. You get some of my powers. I’ve stopped aging, Cort. I don’t get sick. Won’t get some fatal disease. As long as the pestilents don’t chop off my head or cut out my heart, I’ll live forever. And if you bond with me, so will you.”
The flush seemed to leave Cort’s cheeks, and his eyes widened. The words that had been trying to break free never came out as Grey lowered his hand. Not that Grey blamed him in the least. This was much, much bigger than anything Cort likely imagined.
“Oh,” Cort finally whispered. “But John and the pestilents…”
“Don’t worry about them.”
“But Wiley and Dane help.”
“And you can help me without bonding with me. I don’t want you to make this decision because of the rest of the world. I want it to be just for us.” Grey pressed a light kiss to the tip of his nose. “Let’s not worry about it tonight. I want us to celebrate getting my vision back, getting my powers back. Celebrate just us. We have time to figure out the other.”
Cort relaxed against the mattress again, releasing a deep sigh as he nodded. “Sounds good to me.”
Grey watched his lover fall asleep. Little lines disappeared from his face and his lips parted as his breathing evened out. He had begun to lose hope that he would ever have this moment. He’d been afraid he’d never get to see Cort’s beautiful face, his perfect smile. The rest of the world could wait. He wanted to cherish this while he could.Chapter 22Cort left Grey sleeping and took his clothes into the bathroom to get dressed. He pulled on jeans and a blue Henley, washed his face, then walked through the apartment and outside. Calder and Baer played with Ruby on the other side of the pool, both men laughing. A December nip in the air made him shiver, so instead of enjoying the early morning sunlight and their antics, he hurried into the main house. He was after coffee. He could have made some in Grey’s small kitchen, but he suspected someone had already brewed some.
Sure enough, Dane and Wiley were seated at the small breakfast table in the kitchen, each with a mug in their hands.
“Good morning,” Dane called out. “Join us!”
“Yeah, we’ll have a mates’ gathering.” Wiley lifted his superhero mug.
“I’m not exactly bonded to Grey yet.” Cort walked to the coffeepot and got the stripper unicorn cup for himself before pouring. He strode to the table and sat next to Wiley, who held out his mug in a toast. He grinned and tapped it with his own. Bright sunlight poured in through the back windows and French doors, giving the breakfast room a cozy feel. He settled into his seat and wrapped both hands around the warm cup. It felt good on his cold fingers as he blew into the mug to cool the coffee a bit. Ruby barked from somewhere outside. He marveled over how much he felt a part of this family already. He’d been mostly just working here in Savannah—without friends—and now he was involved in something bigger. Something important. His bond with Grey hadn’t only given him a soul mate, but a family.