Page 85 of Guiding Desire

Orrey kept his hands on the shirt’s hem. “I apologize, but I can’t see it that way. Kind deeds are like currency, except the only way to grow it is to give the kindness away. I like to think that’s what vookas owners mean when they say their lizards are cuddly. If you’ll excuse me.”

Maro and Senlas both watched Orrey walk away. Not run despite the fact that he was clearly uncomfortable in only the shirt, but walk, keeping his head high.

When he was out of earshot, Maro said, “How long did it take for you to rub him the wrong way?”

“You’re just assuming I rubbed him the wrong way. Maybe I never did.”

She snorted. “I know you. And this one’s got one hell of a backbone if he wants to. The notion of being a Conduit instead of a protector practically overnight can’t have been easy for him to swallow.” She glanced at Senlas. “Or did you manage to stop your words from scorching for long enough to seduce him?”

Senlas frowned. “No. Informing me he didn’t want to have sex with me was one of the first things he said to me.”

She openly looked at his boner. “Must be hard.”

Senlas did his best to remain calm. “He has since come around. Sort of. He is trying.” He reached for the custard filled bun Orrey had barely taken two bites out of. “He gave me half his bun.” He bit into the deliciously fluffy pastry, and the knowledge Orrey’s mouth had tasted it made it the best bun Senlas had ever had.

“So how long?”

Senlas shrugged, chewed, swallowed. “I apologized.”

She chuckled. “Sometimes I think I’d rather be an S- or A-classer, and other times, I watch you, and my life seems so much simpler.”

“Thank you for encouraging me in my relationship with my Conduit, Auntie.”

She got off the stool, rounded the counter, and started unpacking her bags. “You’ve clearly done something right if you got him to wear your clothes. How’re his injuries? Anything lasting?”

“Luckily no. I got him to the hospital right away.” He shook his head. “If I’dPulledhim back just a little later…I don’t know. I should’ve been able toGrabhim sooner. Shouldn’t have just let him run toward danger like that.”

Maro opened the fridge. “What’d I tell you? Teachable. But follow my words, he’s not your average Conduit. He has no idea what it is like to be one.”

Normally, Senlas would have finished the remainder of his bun in two big bites, but he made it last for four. “I know that.”

“Yes, but remember that you know it, he feels it. Remember what it was like when you came to live with me. How it took your cohort fellows a while to accept you.”

“I had Col. Orrey has me.” He finished the last of his bun. “And don’t make it sound like I can’t cook.”

“Well, you can’t cook.”

Senlas pushed the chairs back into the island, joined her behind the counter, and went about grinding coffee beans. “I can. Maybe nothing fancy, but I can prepare food for my Conduit.”

She chuckled, sounding even more like a drama’s intimacy obstacle. “I’ll let your mother know you’re smitten. She’ll be so relieved.”

Senlas snorted. “You shouldn’t be spying on me like that.”

“Well, then you should call me when important life events happen. In your life. Of which I happen to be a part.”

“I am sorry, Auntie.” He got the machine started, getting it ready to make coffee for three. “You’re not making him split his buns with me, are you? You’ll bring two for us next time?”

When he turned away from the machine, he found himself face to face with Maro, her finger poking into his chest. The soft buzz of her diagnostic power flooded him, comforting in its familiarity. “You are absolutely like a lizard, Sen-Sen. Count yourself lucky they are my favorite.”

TheyhadcoffeewithMaro, but she took off right after, explaining she needed to get to work. It left Orrey back at the kitchen island, his second mug of coffee in front of him.

Senlas, after showing Maro out, sat back down next to him. “Do you want to move to the couch?”

Orrey shook his head. “This is fine.”

I’ll have to get a dinner table after all.“Thank you for the custard bun, kitten.”

Orrey focused on his mug. “It was nothing. I just hope I didn’t offend your aunt.”