Page 11

Story: Cullen

This kitchen really did have it all.

“That’s wild. So you have some of those coins.”

Orion had to grin. “Enough to devalue them some if I ever released them for sale…”

“Wow.” Cullen actually turned to stare at him, leaning on the sink. “Quite the collector, huh?”

“I am. I don’t do ceramic unicorns from the dollar store, you know?” He grinned. “Though those have their appeal.”

“I bet. But if you bought every one you see, you wouldn’t have a hoard. You’d have an endless stream of unicorns.” Cullen pushed the drained mushrooms to him.

He dumped them into the pan with the bubbling tomatoes. He stirred, then added a bunch of herbs and spices from the spice rack. “Sometimes, I do buy a chipped or broken one just to smash it with a hammer. You got any stock? Or red wine?”

“I have both. Which would you rather?”

“Mmmm. Meatballs… Wine.”

“Cool.” Cullen went to a closet, which turned out to be a fully stocked wine storage. “Uh, chianti?”

“Perfect.” He beamed and then took the bottle to pour half the contents into the sauce. The other half stayed in the bottle, which he waved at Cullen. “Glasses?”

“Some for the pot, some for the chef?”

“Absolutely. The best way.”

“You’re kind of nuts.” Cullen got out two big-bowled red wineglasses.

“But you’re not kicking me out.”

“We’ll see how the sauce comes out,” Cullen shot back.

“Oh! Direct hit.” He put the lid on the pot just a little cock-eyed to let steam out before moving across the kitchen to crowd Cullen a little. “Now I see how you taste.”

“Oh no. Nope.” Cullen backed off, moving to the other side of the island. “If we do that, and I sayif, it will be for dessert.”

“Oh, love. Dessert is a full-body contact sport. Kissing is an appetizer.”

Cullen’s pupils dilated, his breath coming faster as Orion chased him. Stunning.

He wanted that. Now.

“I’m not big on appetizers.”

“Really? Because you have all the stuff for about a million charcuterie boards.”

“Pregnant brother.” Cullen shrugged. “He likes his cheese and meat.”

“Mmmm. So do you.” He grinned. Hugely.

“Okay, but you don’t. You’re a vegetarian, and I am absolutely not made of plant matter.”

Oh, nice, that was a direct hit. “For you, I’d make an exception.”

“I have no doubt.” Cullen arched an eyebrow at him, having regained his equilibrium, which was a pure shame.

Off-balance dragon was delicious.

“What about the fae part of your parentage? Surely they’re vegetarians too.”