Page 32 of Did It Have To Be Gnomes?! (Carry A Faerie #1)

Chapter Twenty-Three

Miles

I was so excited about everything that I wound up rushing through my shower and getting ready faster than expected. So now I had all this time to spare before Winter was picking me up for our date.

Our date.

Crapola on toast, I was going on a date with Winter Montgomery.

If someone would’ve told me that in high school, I would’ve laughed in their face, then probably cried because I was found out—I’d always been terrified that someone would notice my massive crush on the cute jock.

I walked into my kitchen, grabbed a glass out of my cabinet, and pulled the water pitcher out of the fridge. As I shut the door, the magnet I always kept on my fridge—the Carry A Faerie logo magnet—caught my eye, and I jerked back in surprise.

My logo had a gnome on it, but since I had to look at them every day already, I’d whited-out the gnome on the one on my fridge. But looking at it now, I could see the damn gnome—no whiteout in sight.

“What the actual hell?”

I leaned in to get a closer look. It looked perfect with not even a speck of whiteout. Was… was this a different magnet altogether? I certainly hadn’t put a new one on the fridge. But… where did the whiteout go? Could it have fallen off?

But… wouldn’t there at least be some residue or something? There was no piece of whiteout on the floor anywhere either. What the hell?

I glared at the thing, absolutely done with gnomes, then went about making my glass of water. I huffed at the little magnet after I put the pitcher back, flicked the gnome, turned on my heel, and walked into the living room.

I had a ton of time, so I figured I could hang out with Sola and Odin for a bit while I waited.

If Winter walked in right now, he probably wouldn’t be surprised to find me sitting on the couch with Sola on my shoulder and Odin on my lap. Odie was purring up a storm and so, so, so happy to have me home. It made me feel guilty that I was leaving again soon.

And Sola kept trilling away and rubbing her face on my cheek—making me feel even guiltier—so I gave her some scratches with one hand while petting Odie with the other.

“You two act like I left you for weeks instead of hours. Maybe I should get you a kitten friend, Odie. What do you think? You want a little brother or sister to keep you company?” For now, he had Sola, but once we bonded, she’d be coming with me everywhere I went.

I made some kissy noises at them both. “You’re both too cute. ”

Sola trilled at me again, then headbutted my forehead until I stared into her eyes. Odin continued his purring, and I kept one hand on his back, but Sola had my full attention.

“What’s up, pretty girl?” I whispered without breaking eye contact.

She made another little sound, kind of like a chirp, that I’d never heard before, and I felt her magic flare to life. Her fire erupted around her, making me flinch automatically before I realized it wasn’t hurting me at all.

Odin jumped off my lap to get away from the magic, but he sat on the other couch, watching us, curious.

I was curious too.

What in the world was Sola doing?

Was this just some ploy to get me to herself?

But then I felt her magic reach out for me, and I sucked in a breath. Could she… could she want to bond with me too?

Tentatively, I reached out with my own magic, and the adorable firebird didn’t hesitate to let her magic touch mine.

I gasped as our magics met, and in one smooth movement, the two weaved around each other. I pushed more power into it, a big smile on my face as I stared at Sola. I could feel her happiness, her excitement over our forming bond, and it matched my own.

We both let go at the same time, letting our magics do what they wanted without holding back. My purple magic met her red in a stunning display of power. It moved and swooped and spun around us.

A laugh bubbled up from my chest, and the second it came out, Sola let out the happiest trill I’d heard from her yet. I was beaming, and if a firebird could smile, Sola sure was.

I could feel her magic helping to boost my own and vice versa, but most of all, I could feel the affection this pure and trusting firebird had for me. She was so adorable, so good-hearted, and I was beyond lucky to have found her.

With one final burst of magic, our bond solidified inside my magic, inside my heart, inside my soul, and I knew I had a new forever companion. I had someone who’d stick with me no matter what. No matter what.

With another joyous laugh, I pulled Sola into a hug against my chest, and she diminished her flames as she rubbed her face against my chin.

“Oh, lovely girl, you really are my familiar.”

Tears burst from me as I hugged her, happiness and relief sweeping through me. No matter what I’d said, what I’d felt, a part of me had been scared Sola wasn’t actually my familiar. A part of me had been scared I’d have to release her somewhere, that she’d have to leave me.

But now that we were bonded, she never had to leave my side, ever. She was even allowed to go into stores and restaurants and everywhere with me.

“Oh, sweet, sweet girl.” I kissed the top of her head. “I’m so happy you’re mine, and I’m yours.”

She trilled, and even though I couldn’t read her thoughts, I knew in my heart she was agreeing with me. I could feel it through the new bond.

We touched foreheads, and I couldn’t have stopped the huge smile on my face even if I wanted to.

Never in all my years did I think I’d be lucky enough to have a familiar.

It had always been some silly unattainable dream.

Honestly, I hadn’t thought empaths could bond with one since we weren’t regular practitioners.

Thank god I’d been wrong about that.

I had a familiar.

The thing every child always dreamed about, and I was lucky enough to have one.

And not only a familiar but a damn firebird at that. Firebirds were rare and powerful, and it was practically unheard of for one to bond with a human. And yet, I’d just bonded with one.

I laughed again, and a knock came from the front door.

With a huge grin on my face, I kissed the top of Sola’s head, scooped her up against my chest, and rushed for the door. I flung it open, making Winter jump, but all I could do was blurt, “I just bonded with Sola!”

He stared at me for a beat, then a big grin, almost big enough to rival my own, grew on his handsome face. “Really?”

I nodded. “Yes! I wasn’t planning it or anything, but Sola reached out with her magic, and I just… followed my instincts, like Chaos said. It was so cool. Our magic was floating all over the place, and it sort of weaved together, and… yeah. It was awesome.”

He let out a laugh, then picked up Odin, who’d run over to greet him, in his arms as I waved him inside.

“I’m so happy for you, Miles.” As if not even thinking about it—or worrying the way I always did—he leaned in and placed a small kiss on my cheek.

He did it so naturally. Like he’d done it a million times.

Like we were a couple and that was just a thing we did.

He moved so fast, I barely had time to react. When it finally registered what he was doing, he was starting to pull away. But I was feeling brave, or maybe just overenthusiastic after bonding, so I grabbed his polo shirt and pulled him back to me.

But this time, I turned my face so our lips met, and I swore it felt like fireworks exploded overhead and electricity erupted from my heart. Little sizzles danced over my skin and through my body, lighting me up inside.

I’d kissed other men before, but I’d never felt anything like this.

It was like his lips lit me up, and my body ignited with sparks of delight, sparks of pleasure. My heart exploded with warmth, and I couldn’t help but step even closer to the man, the sensations drawing me in.

He grinned against my mouth, humming in approval, and when he swiped his tongue against my lips, I opened without hesitation. My belly swooped as his tongue brushed mine, and I let out a little whimper I couldn’t even be embarrassed about because he hummed again as if he’d liked the sound.

He grabbed my shoulder with one hand so I couldn’t stop kissing him as he leaned over, taking me with him, to set Odin on the entrance table.

Then Winter’s hands touched my face, and one trailed behind my head and into my hair, and it felt like every cell crackled to life with every little touch of hands, fingers, lips, and tongue.

I wanted—needed—to be closer to him, so I pressed against his chest, and Sola got annoyed and hopped off my shoulder.

I didn’t even look to make sure she didn’t burn the house down around us as she flew away. I was too wrapped up in Winter to care.

My arms found their way to his waist, and my belly fluttered in anxious excitement that he was letting me touch him this way, that he obviously wanted me to touch him.

He was so tender with me, kissing me and touching me like I was special, like I was precious. It melted my heart more and more with every delicious brush of his tongue and every gentle caress of his fingertips.

I lost track of how long we kissed because I was wrapped up in the kindest, most amazing man I’d ever met.

And somehow, he wanted me.

When we finally broke the kiss, my eyes fluttered open to find Winter smiling affectionately at me.

He whispered, “Congratulations.”

My brow furrowed? “For… kissing you?”

He barked out a laugh and pressed a peck to my lips, smiling away. “No, you goof. For bonding with Sola.”

“Ohhhhh. That makes so much more sense. I didn’t think you’d be all pompous and douchey after you kissed me.”

He snorted. “Nope. If anything, I should be thanking you. I’ve wanted to kiss you since I was fourteen years old.”

My eyes widened, and I laughed. “What? No, you didn’t.”

“I did so. I had the biggest crush on you in high school.”

My jaw dropped. “But… but I had a huge crush on you in high school.”

His eyes widened for a brief second before he let out a whoosh of breath, snorted, and leaned forward to rest his forehead on my shoulder, shaking his head.

“Oh my god. Are you telling me we could’ve been together this whole time?

God, I’m an idiot. I wish I could go back in time and tell myself to ask you out. ”

That was a lot to take in, but the way he said it, it sounded like he thought we’d still be together now if we’d started dating back then. And that was… well, that was the sweetest damn thing I’d ever heard.

“Does that mean you really want to date me?”

He lifted his head with a confused expression. “What do you mean? I asked you out earlier.”

“No, I know. It’s just… I wasn’t sure if this was more of a hook-up type of thing or a real dating type of thing.”

He brushed his fingers through my hair—he seemed to really like doing that, and I was coming to love it—staring me in the eyes as his hand landed on the side of my neck, thumb brushing my cheek.

“Sweetheart, I’m not looking for a hook-up.

I’m hoping to convince you to date me for a very, very long time.

I’m hoping to call you my boyfriend one day, and maybe even more. ”

My eyes widened, and fear lanced through my heart. Boyfriend? And more ? What the hell? Did that… did that mean he wanted to marry me one day?

He huffed. “Sugar butt, I’m not proposing, okay? I’m sorry. That was a little more intense than I meant it to be. But I’m hoping you’ll date me with the intention of more. Is that clear enough for you?”

I opened and closed my mouth a few times before finally settling on a nod. Words evaded me for the time being. No one had ever stuck with me for more than a few months, and he was already talking about us being together for the rest of our lives?

We’d have to see if he felt the same in a few months’ time.

“Are you okay with that?”

I nodded again. “Y-yeah, but…” I cleared my throat. “The sugar-butt thing needs to stop.”

He laughed and kissed my lips again, then pulled me into a big bear hug. Closing my eyes, I let myself sink into his arms, pushing all my fears and doubts aside, loving the warmth and comfort of a simple hug.

Simple hugs weren’t something I’d ever had in my life, and I wasn’t sure Winter knew how much I appreciated it.