Forced Bonds (The Bonds That Tie, #4)(14)
North doesn't attempt to speak to me or drag me into a conversation, which I'm thankful for. I don't really have it in me right now. And when we get back to the house, he lets us both in and doesn’t bitch me out when I kick my shoes off and leave them on top of Atlas’. It’s a little fight I’m having with my other Bonded, mostly because we both know it’s getting on everyone else’s nerves and it’s sometimes nice to piss people off in such a low-stakes way.
It’s sad how petty we’ve been forced to become for our own enjoyment.
The house is empty and dark, so I move through it and start turning on lights ahead of North to try to breathe some life into the place. It still doesn’t feel like anything more than a house, a temporary dwelling. We’re all living out of suitcases and boxes and that makes it hard to feel settled. When the others are all out, it makes it even harder to pretend everything is normal and okay here.
North pulls his coat off and tucks his laptop into his room securely as I duck into Atlas and Gabe's room to check if either of them left any signs of where they are or what they’re doing, but there’s nothing. I send Gabe a quick text message to check in with him and use my mind connection with Atlas to do the same. He gets back to me immediately. I'm at the council offices with Gryphon, questioning my sister. We’re heading back soon, Sweetness.
I wince and send back, Be safe. I’m sorry you had to do that.
He doesn’t answer in words, only with a feeling of warmth and love that makes me want to crumble to my knees in the hallway and just sob like a child.
North walks up behind me and takes my arms into his warm hands, rubbing slightly as he murmurs, “The water contamination issues have been fixed. Go have a hot shower and climb into my bed, Bonded. I’ll bring your dinner in there for you.”
And that’s why I love this man.
The shower is basically a lifesaving measure.
I spend too long in there, long enough that by the time I shut the water off and climb out of the very utilitarian stall, I can smell the delicious aroma of dinner wafting in through the door. It helps me to rush my way through pulling my clothes on. By clothes, I mean a pair of boxer briefs I’d stolen from Atlas weeks ago and left behind here for myself and one of Gryphon’s old training shirts. It’s a little obscene, thanks to the giant armholes that expose a good deal of my chest, but I’m sure North won’t be complaining. It’ll be a good little way of showing my appreciation for the food, though I’ll probably need to eat quickly before he decides that I’m dessert.
When I get the door open, North already has plates piled with food on them set up on the small tables at either side of his bed. He’s standing there with his shirt open, his chest and gorgeously tanned abs on display, while he taps away on his phone. He glances up at the sound of the door opening and smiles at me, the lines of frustration around his mouth softening away.
My heart does a weird thumping action in my chest at the sight of it.
“There aren’t many seafood options here yet. I hope you like Italian.”
It’s a trick question, he already knows that it’s a close third option for me. I like seafood anything, Mexican, and if those two options aren’t available, then I’ll go for Italian any day of the week. I still have no clue how he found this out about me, how he knows every little preference, and even my ridiculous order for Starbucks. When I narrow my eyes in his direction, he gives me what can only be described as a shit-eating grin.
He’s so fucking smug about knowing my every whim.
I sit cross-legged on the bed and dig into the giant bowl of pasta, my hunger finally hitting me full force. I’d probably feel self-conscious or embarrassed if North wasn’t watching me with pure, unadulterated satisfaction. He always was the provider out of my Bonds, the one who wanted to prove himself to my bond with all of the things he could give us both. Even now that we’ve found ourselves on the same side of everything, he’s the first person to sort out every little problem that might pop up.
I give him a saucy grin, literally, because there’s definitely some splattered on my chin right now, and he finally seems satisfied that I’m taken care of appropriately, grabbing his own bowl and digging in.
Shockingly, I managed to eat the entire bowl. When I put the bowl back down and stretch out, I don’t even feel bloated or overly full. It’s as though my body was processing the carbs as quickly as they were going in, thanks to how much of my gift I’d been using.
A handy little trait to have.
My eyes drift shut, my hands clasped over my stomach, and I let myself work through the plans for tomorrow to prove Sage’s innocence.
I can’t think about any other option here.
I hear North collect my plate when he’s finished eating, pressing a kiss to my forehead, but I keep my eyes shut with a quietly murmured, Thank you. I could fall asleep here, just slip away into blissful nothingness and forget about everything that is hanging over my head… except the moment I think that, I’m ravaged by guilt and my eyes flutter back open.
What else can I be doing right now for Sage?
Nothing. There’s nothing you can do for her, just get some rest, Bonded, Gryphon sends straight into my brain, always meddling in my goddamn head, and I ignore him entirely.
If someone doesn’t tell me how to block him soon, I’m going to fling myself directly into the sun. It’s too freaking embarrassing to go on like this forever.