Page 107 of His Ruthless Match

“Oh, please.” Grelth rolled his eyes dramatically. “You’re practically glowing. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you’d claimed her already.”

My jaw worked as I forced myself to keep my tone casual. The perceptive bastard. “It’s complicated.”

Grelth leaned back, clearly enjoying himself. “Complicated, huh? Let me guess. You’re scared she’ll find out she’s your mate and run for the hills because you’re too intense? Too wild? Too much of an arrogant prick?”

“You’re not helping,” I snapped.

“I’m not trying to help. But since we’re on the subject, you’re an idiot if you think you can hide this from her forever. Mates aren’t exactly subtle, and even less so once they realize.”

He wasn’t wrong. I knew he wasn’t wrong. But telling Eva now? With the chaos and danger in her life, it felt impossible. She’d bolt, or think I was using this to control her. She deserved better than that.

“Did you ever think she might feel the same way?” Grelth’s voice softened slightly, the smug edge fading. “Humans can be more intuitive than you give them credit for.”

I shook my head, dragging a hand through my hair. “She’s got enough on her plate. She doesn’t need me making it worse.”

Grelth snorted, but before he could say anything, we heard the bedroom door open. My head jerked toward the hallway just as Eva stepped out, her damp hair curling around her face. She was wearing my shirt, the fabric hanging loose on her frame, and the sight of her was enough to steal the air from my lungs.

“What are you two scheming about?” she asked, her lips twitching as she padded barefoot into the kitchen. Her tone was light, teasing, but her mere presence made it impossible to focus on anything else.

“Nothing,” I said quickly, turning back to the skillet. My heart pounded, and I knew she didn’t buy my answer for a second.

Grelth grinned wide. “Just discussing how completely incompetent your boy here is at cooking.”

“He’s not my boy.” She stepped closer, her hand brushing my arm. “What’s for dinner?”

I cleared my throat, trying to focus. “Steak. Potatoes. Something resembling vegetables.”

“Sounds edible,” she said with a soft smile before glancing at Grelth. Her expression brightened. “But before we eat…”

She ducked behind the counter, pulling out a neatly wrapped package and a cake box. Grinning, she set them in front of Grelth. “Happy birthday, Grelth. It’s not much, but we thought you’d like it.”

Grelth stared at the gifts like they were foreign objects. “What’s this?”

“Happy birthday,” Eva repeated, her smile wide and genuine.

“Don’t get used to it,” I added, smirking as I flipped the steak.

Grelth huffed but tore into the package, pulling out a cashmere sweater. He held it up, his expression oddly touched. “What am I supposed to do with this?”

“Wear it,” Eva said, laughing. “It’s cashmere. You’ll look dashing.”

“I’ll look ridiculous,” Grelth grumbled, but his tone lacked bite. He put the sweater aside and eyed the cake. “We’ll save that for later. But if it tastes like cardboard, it’s going in the trash.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” Eva said, rolling her eyes. She turned back to me, her smile softer. “Dinner smells great.”

I nodded, my chest tightening as I watched her move around the kitchen. She was everything. And it terrified me. Because I knew I couldn’t keep the truth from her forever. But for now, I’d hold onto this moment—this quiet, messy, beautiful moment—and try not to let the fear win.

I staredat the ceiling as if it might offer answers to the whirlwind in my head. The sheets were cool against my skin, but my blood ran hot, restless, refusing any hope of sleep. Ever since Eva and I had slept together that first time, there had been no peace. Not in my dreams, not in my waking moments. She was always there—her scent, her smile, the hypnotic sound of her laughter—invading every corner of my thoughts.

I had never been afraid of much. I tackled challenges head-on, and I never flinched in the face of danger. But the idea of Eva rejecting me, of her looking at me with anything less than the warmth I’d grown addicted to, turned my stomach into knots. If she discovered she was my fated mate and didn’t feel the same way, it would destroy me. The thought of it clenched my chest so tightly, I could hardly breathe.

I inhaled slowly, trying to steady the pounding of my heart. The faint hum of the city traffic outside drifted through the window. It was late—past midnight, at least—but I knew I wouldn’t be sleeping anytime soon. The bond—because I now recognized it as that—thrummed inside me like a tether tugging at my core, urging me to find her.

Eva was in the next room. Only a single wall and a few walls separated us. Still, it seemed like an impossible distance. Nerves too on edge for me to sleep, I threw off the covers and got out of bed. A drink might help settle me, or at least give me something else to focus on.

The apartment was nearly dark, save for the slivers of city light cutting through the windows. I pulled a glass out of the cabinet, my thoughts still swirling around Eva. As if my mind had summoned her, I saw her standing on the balcony.

With her hair spilling over her shoulders and the city lights bathing her in gold, she looked like an ethereal painting come to life. She was dressed in a silk tank and matching loose shorts that should have looked simple, but on her it looked regal and otherworldly. My heart clenched at the sight.