Chromium had headed back down to the restaurant to find himself hailed as a hero and smiled at the thought that the staff clearly thought very highly of Helen, as he did.

They’d told him to take the rest of the night, and since he knew he needed to check in with Cobalt and Mario had assured him he’d keep an eye on things, Chromium had agreed.

When he got to his room, he checked his phone and saw several urgent texts from Cobalt.

12:53—They are getting suspicious about you not showing. I think they’re too used to your cooking.

2:30—Arsenic is complaining they are going to starve, but Cadmium saved the day by ordering takeout.

5:17—Zinc wanted to check and make sure you were still alive, but I told him if someone wanted to disrupt the most elite warrior in Drakkaris when he’s specifically asked not to be bothered, that’s their prerogative.

Chromium smiled at that last part.

8:43—I don’t think I can hold them off much longer.

Chromium sighed as he called up Cobalt, knowing his cousin was right. He had good friends, far too good not to worry about him if they didn’t see him. But he needed a little more time.

Cobalt answered, sounding relieved to get the call. “I’m so glad you’re done.”

Chromium raised an eyebrow. “Who said I was done?”

Cobalt’s tone turned nervous. “Why are you calling, then?”

Chromium hesitated. “I need more time.”

An aggrieved sigh was heard on the other side of the line. “Dammit.”

Chromium let out a snort. His cousin wasn’t one to use such language frequently, considering it coarse. “I’m sorry, Cobalt.”

“It’s fine,” was the terse retort.

“I think she’s my mate.”

“Ah, so it’s not just a rescue mission now?”

“I mean, it is. She’s in trouble. But…”

“But?”

“It’s not resolved. I can’t leave. So you’ll just have to use that big brain to figure out a way to keep them out of my room.”

There was a short silence, then a rough exhale. “I’ll try.”

“Thanks, Cobalt.”

“If I have to, I’ll just tell them the truth and hope they don’t tell the oracle.”

“They all ignored her rules when it came to getting their mates, so I would hope they’d be fair about it.”

“Worried but fair.” Cobalt agreed. “But anyway, you be safe out there. Are you sure you don’t need backup? You know I’d do anything for you, and that’s before you helped me with my mate.”

Chromium shrugged. “I’ll be fine. I sense only humans here.”

Cobalt laughed. “Piddly humans.”

“Hey. I’m becoming quite fond of humans.”

“Of course. I meant the bad ones.” Cobalt’s tone grew serious. “As you well know, the most important person in my life is a human. No offense, Chromium.”

“None taken,” Chromium said. “There is no feeling that compares to having a mate. I understand it now.”

“I’m glad, but be careful. You never know what’s hiding around. But I trust you as one of the greatest fighters of Drakkaris.”

“Your trust means a lot. Thank you for doing this for me.”

“Of course.”

Chromium sort of didn’t want to hang up. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, he missed seeing his friends, missed his mansion, liked hearing Cobalt’s familiar voice.

But he wasn’t ready to go back there. Not without winning Helen. “Good-bye, Cobalt.”

“Good night.”

And then Chromium was just sitting there in the darkness, wondering how to proceed in winning his mate. When he would be able to go home.

What if she didn’t even show up tonight?

A knock sounded on the door, and he slumped in relief as his lips curved into an excited smile.

He knew just what to do next.

* * *

Helen felt nervous as she waited for Chromium to open the door.

Sure, he’d told her to come see him, but how would he react to her actually being there? Perhaps it was spur of the moment and he had changed his mind by now?

She had brought lasagna and cannoli with her, just to see if he was hungry and to sweeten the deal, but now she felt stupid standing here on the porch with food in hand, waiting for a guy to maybe sleep with her.

How did she get herself into this situation?

He opened the door, and she felt her jaw drop as she realized he was only half dressed. Or half naked. Cup half empty or half full depending on how you thought about it.

And it was hard to think at all with rippling muscle upon rippling muscle overwhelming her view. She tried to remember how to talk while her hands wanted to drop the lasagna and roam over the most perfect abs she’d seen in her life, including in any magazine or movie.

Her mouth was watering, and it had nothing to do with food.

Then she looked up at him and saw him watching her with amusement.

She straightened slightly. “Is this a bad time?”

“No.”

She gestured to his chest. “I mean, you’re not dressed.”

He grinned. He actually had the nerve to grin cockily, as if he were perfectly aware of his effect on her. “I’m simply displaying what I have to offer as a warrior.”

“Warrior?” She looked at him curiously.

He frowned. “Bodyguard?”

“Ah.” Well, she wasn’t going to complain, even if it was hard to think with him like that. Who needed to think anyway? Thinking was clearly overrated and—

“What’s that?” He looked at the sack in her hand.

“Oh, I brought lasagna and some cannoli and—”

He stepped back so she could come inside. Then he shut the door behind her. She felt her heart racing in panic and anticipation as heat coiled tightly inside her.

He set the bag on the table and turned back to her, pinning her with a hand on either side of her head.

“I thought you might be hungry,” she murmured nervously.

His eyes gleamed, and a lock of white fell over his forehead. “I am, but not for lasagna.”

She reached nervously into the bag and grabbed a cannoli, bringing it up to his lips. “This, then?”

He snorted and took it out of her hand. He stared for a moment, then took a bite, chewing thoughtfully. “Mm. Good. But not what I had in mind.” He finished it and took the bag from her, walking over to set it on the table.

She stayed where she was, worried that if she moved, the magic spell over the room would be broken.

When he came back, there was a cannoli in his hand. He brought it up to her lips. “You now.”

She shook her head, pressing her lips together. “Thanks, but I’m watching my weight.”

He let out a snort, then seemed to realize she was serious and frowned. “Watching your what?”

She felt her cheeks redden in embarrassment. Why was he making her say this? “My weight. Making sure I don’t get too… curvy.”

He laughed. “A woman trying to be less curvy. That’s a new one.” He laughed again, and she felt something shatter in her at his mocking. She tried to push him out of the way, but he quickly trapped her against the door, his look now one of concern.

“Get off me,” she said, hoping she wouldn’t cry in front of him.

“What did I say wrong?”

“You made fun of me. You don’t think I can lose weight, and—”

He raised an eyebrow, looking genuinely shocked. “I what?”

“You laughed at me.”

He leaned in, trapping her again, and his eyes roamed slowly over her. “I didn’t mean anything by it. I simply can’t believe you’d be trying to change when you have the perfect body.” He held up the cannoli to her lips again, and she looked up at him in pure shock.

“What?”

“You’re perfect.” His look was instantly hungry, and he grabbed her by the hips and pulled her against him, letting her feel the delicious contrast between his hard thighs and her soft ones. “Sumptuous, plump, soft.” He nudged the cannoli toward her lips, and her mouth watered. She’d denied herself for so long. “You should deny yourself nothing.”

He was right. She didn’t want to hold back anymore. She bit into the cannoli and groaned at how good it tasted. How long had she been holding back from things she loved, believing her ex when he’d said she didn’t deserve it because of her weight or any other factor?

She loved food. She always had. She loved sex, too, and hadn’t had that lately as well. She tried to stay healthy and work hard and be a good person. Perhaps she deserved good things now, just as she was.

At least maybe she could tell herself that, just for this evening.

She licked cream off her lower lip and looked up at him, finally acknowledging her hunger for much more than the rest of the cannoli. “I know what I want. What do you want?”

His eyes flashed, going slightly darker as the pupils seemed to change marginally. Perhaps it had just been a trick of the light.

“You,” he said simply.

Then he claimed her lips with his in a kiss that tasted like sugar and sin, his skillful tongue darting in to stroke her mouth as his strong arm wound around her waist, pulling her in closer.

As she felt herself melt like chocolate on a stovetop, she knew she was in for the night of her life.