CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Ryan~
What had he done? Ever since she got home, Claudia had been spoiling for a fight. Oh, she had concealed it well. Jimmy had prattled on through dinner about his visit to the pumpkin farm. His garishly bespattered pumpkin held pride of place in the middle of the table. He ate everything on his plate and asked for seconds. But Ryan had to choke down every mouthful. His mate was furious. When your queen was unhappy, no lion was happy.
Ryan wracked his conscience and found it clean. He had spent a useful morning at the Bean with Walter and Quinn fending off the blandishments of Councilor Somerset. Walter thought he should start to weaken tomorrow or the next day. Quinn thought they should eat more brioche. The dragon was not taking this situation seriously. His old pal seemed to imagine it had been created purely for his amusement.
Ryan had made a point of inquiring about Claudia’s day. It seemed pretty normal to him, except for her visit to Robin. Had the fairy upset her? He had heard that mothers-of-the-bride could interfere in wedding arrangements. Had Virginia’s wish list collided with Claudia’s dreams? He planned to back his wife to the hilt – even against her mother.
Of course he had planned to leave the arrangements for the vow renewal up to Claudia and her family. Naturally if she wanted more input than a blank check, he could do that. But what the heck did he know about floral arrangements? If she wanted some gun emplacements, on the other hand, he was her cougar.
As soon as Jimmy’s soft breathing indicated that his cub was sleeping, he braced her. “Have you and Robin settled the details?” he asked.
“How could we? I don’t even know if you still want to be married,” she stormed.
“Hey.” He held up his hands. “Where did that come from? As far as I’m concerned we’re already married and planning a vow renewal.”
“Are we?”
“Certainly. Your parents seem particularly set on a big ceremony. But what we do is up to you. Bride’s choice. Do you need me to back you up?”
“And then what?” she demanded, brown eyes flashing.
He was at a total loss. “After the vow renewal? I guess we get cracking on that house I promised you, or did you mean will there be a honeymoon? I figured we’d want to take Jimmy with us, so what about a cruise?”
“I mean what are your plans now that you aren’t dying?”
Ah. He sat down on the couch and held out a hand. After a moment she settled rigidly beside him.
“Well, I’ll have to get back to work,” he admitted. “Can’t drag out my leave of absence indefinitely. But that shouldn’t be a problem. Not with the internet making a commute unnecessary. I’m not saying I won’t have to go to Portland regularly, because Cougar One is a pretty hands-on sort of boss, but we can get a helicopter if we need one.”
“And you permanently forgo finding your fated mate?” Her voice was skeptical.
He pulled her close to his side and spoke directly into her ear. “No need to look. I’ve found her.” He hugged her tighter. “What about you? Still looking?”
“Me?” she squeaked.
“You. Am I going to come home one day and discover you’ve found greener pastures, or gone back to that worthless tomcat who left you high and dry?”
“No.” He felt her painful swallow. “No! You don’t have to worry about him. He’s ancient history as far as I am concerned.”
“That’s good to know.” But he had to know for sure. “Because the real question is, are you satisfied with the bond between us? Because for a fact, on my side it will only get better. Deeper. Richer. I promise.”
“Are you talking about that weird stuff that happens when we have sex?”
Now he was the one who was annoyed. “Nothing weird happens when we make love.”
Her shoulders slumped. “You don’t feel it?” she whispered.
“I feel plenty. Our auras harmonize. And every time our bond just gets more powerful. But there is nothing weird about it. For us it’s normal.”
“It’s pretty intense.”
“Sure is. I figure my odds are poor for finding another female as perfect for me anywhere in the world. How about you?”
“Me too.”
He laughed. “Should I go first?”
“Go first?”
He kissed her hard. Looked into her pretty brown eyes. “I’m yours, Claudia, not because Cougar One told me to marry you, not because I’m dying, but because you are my one true love. I love you and I’m willing to wait until you love me too.”
“I already do.”
He tried and failed to keep the skepticism off his face.
“You don’t believe me?”
Ryan shook his head. “I don’t think you trust me enough for it to be love. But don’t fret. I’m patient. I’ll wait you out. You’re my fate.”
“Why would you think I don’t trust you?”
“I know you don’t – you keep feeding me that line about being a talent detector. As if anyone in Mystic Bay gives a damn about talent detection.” He kissed her left hand. “But when you’re ready, I know you will feel able to confide in me.”
“Oh. That. I’m not used to telling anyone. It’s been a deep dark family secret ever since I manifested.” Her voice was thready.
“Yeah? What is it? Assassination at a distance?”
She choked. “No. I’m a spell-binder.”
“Huh?” What on earth? “I certainly find you spellbinding.”
“Not that kind of spell-binding. I can reinforce a sensitive’s talents or magic. Make the effects last longer or be stronger. The flip side is I can unbind spells, rendering people’s talent useless. That’s basically how I defend myself when you say my aura disappears.”
He laughed in relief. “And you’re off-the-charts strong. No wonder the council is worried. What the heck do they think I can do about your gift? You unbind me too.”
“Do I?” she asked wistfully.
“Yup. Unman me too. But no matter, I’ll keep the island safe from your wiles.”
She thumped his arm. “And how do you plan to do that?” she demanded crossly.
“No hitting. You sorcerers have to learn self-control.” He kissed her fist. “I intend to keep you barefoot and pregnant. Well, pregnant. I have nothing against shoes. I figure two or three more cubs and you’ll be too busy to interfere in other sorcerer’s affairs.”
“I see. While you wait for me to fall in love with you?”
“Something like that. I have a secret weapon.”
“A penile bone?”
Happiness exploded in him like a fountain carrying him high. “I love you, Claudia Peterson. I love our son. And I plan to love whatever other children we make.”
“I love you too,” she said shyly.
“Good to know. You sure?”
“I’m sure. I told you that whatever I felt for your cousin withered when I found out I was supposed to be his secret second wife and that he already had,” she hesitated, “Several children.”
“Then shall we go celebrate being in love? I want to see if I feel any weird effects from making love to a spell-binding sorceress.”