***
“Put the knife down!” he called, stepping through the back door.
Quinn laughed, and he felt her amusement pulsate through him.
“I don’t carry it anymore!” she protested, putting down the food she was preparing and striding toward him.
“Are you sure?” he asked, giving her a quick frisk.
“Yes. Though if you aren’t sure, you might have to give me a more thorough inspection,” she purred, pushing her ass back into him and grinding it up and down.
“After dinner,” he said, his palm making firm contact with her behind, causing Quinn to jump in both surprise and delight.
“How long are you home for, dear?” she asked, stressing the last word happily.
“Three full days,” he told her, holding up the equivalent amount of fingers as he smiled broadly.
“Really? That’s amazing!” she said, throwing her arms around his neck and giving him a kiss.
“I know. We passed stage one.” Asher tried to say it as calmly as possible, but Quinn saw right through his façade, and could feel his inner excitement.
“You can brag to me, you know,” she told him, hanging off his neck, her eyes mere inches away from his. “It’s okay to be proud of yourself.”
He shrugged. “I guess. It’s kinda cool though.”
She planted another kiss full on his lips. “It’s amazing. We’re going to celebrate. Break out the wine!”
Asher chuckled, arms tightening around her waist as he spun around in a circle. “Oh we are, are we?”
“Of course.”
Squirming out of his grip, she planted her feet on the ground and took his face in her hands. “I love you, Asher Owens. This whole thing is crazy, and while I’m glad I was finally able to get word to family and friends outside of Cadia, I’m here with you. And I’m proud of you.”
He heard all of her words, but only the first five truly registered.
“I love you, Quinn Bryant,” he told her solemnly, opening his mind fully to her, so that she might experience the depth of his feelings for her.
“Good, because you went and stuck yourself with me,” she said, sticking her tongue out at him.
Asher grinned and kissed her again, more passionately this time. And for longer.
Much longer.
“Oh my,” she said, waving a hand in front of her face. “Is it hot in here, or just me?”
He laughed. “Have you decided on what you’re going to do now?”
One of the deals he had made with Quinn was that she needed to find a job, or a hobby. Something that kept her involved.”
“I think so,” she said nervously, and he could tell she was seeking his approval.
“Well, make with the details!” he said, tickling her sides slightly as she hesitated.
“Stop!” she giggled, then sobered. “I was thinking that I might start a travel agency for shifters leaving Cadia and going to the human world. Places to go, places to avoid, things to see, educating them on cultural customs and the like. What do you think?”
Asher looked at her in surprise. “Quinn, that actually sounds like an amazing idea!”
“Really?”
He nodded. “Really! I honestly do. You should definitely go for it.”
“Thank you,” she said, looking up at him. “Seriously. Thank you for everything.”
He brushed it off. “Nonsense. You’re the brains here. I’m just the brawn.”
Quinn laughed. “Well duh, but what brawn it is,” she said, squeezing his bicep as he flexed for her.
“So, I met the neighbors today,” she said, trying to sound nonchalant despite the sudden change in topic.
“Oh,” he said, feigning calm, wondering what she was going to drop on him next. “And how are the Swifts?”
Though they weren’t close, about a mile down the road a wolf shifter family had taken up residence half a dozen years or so prior. Asher liked them enough for the little interaction they had.
“So nice!” Quinn said, taking his arm and leaning against him. “It’s been nice getting out and meeting people, knowing that I can be seen in public without possibly being instantly killed.”
Asher squeezed her tight, indicating his agreement. “I’m glad of that too.”
Daxxton had made it known to Cadia that Quinn was bonded to Asher, and that she was to be accepted. That was basically it, as far as things went. A bonded human didn’t need forms to come into Cadia, as long as the shifter they were bonded to was present as well. So over the past week Quinn had slowly been stretching her legs, getting out and seeing the place where Asher had grown up.
“They have the cutest pups,” she said now, slowly and cautiously.
Asher’s stomach did a backflip. He turned to look at her. “You want kids?”
She blushed. “I don’t know. Maybe? Yes? I hadn’t really thought I was ready, but things with you just…oh, I don’t know how to say it. But they just make sense. And seeing the Swifts’ kids…oh they’re just the cutest.”
He grinned. “Quinn Bryant. You know that we shifters highly value children. You would never have to fight with me for that. But there is a condition.”
She looked at him. “What’s that?”
“We wait until after I’m done with Top Scale, one way or another. I don’t want to be unavailable at all during my training.”
Quinn smiled happily. “That, my love, is more than acceptable. But,” she took his hand, “I too have a condition then.”
He sensed part of her emotions coming through their link, but it seemed like she was doing her best to shield him now, because they were fuzzy.
Damn, she learns quickly.
“And what is yours?”
“You promise to practice as much as possible in the meantime.”
“Deal.” He grinned. “Starting right now then.”
Without waiting, he reached down and threw her over his shoulder, carrying her to the bedroom as Quinn howled with laughter and pounded on his back, telling him to put her down.
Eventually, he did.