Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 93267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
He found the apartment door unlocked, and he could hear what sounded like Salem talking to someone.
Stepping inside, Gregori found the cutest sight ever. There was a little girl, no more than six, with flaming red hair lying in loose curls around her shoulders. She looked very distressed, her hands on Salem’s knee, watching the proceedings with full attention.
Salem sat on the couch with thread, scissors, and a stuffed animal of some sort all laid out on the coffee table in front of him.
What the hell was going on?
Salem glanced up as he entered, shooting him a fleeting smile. “We’re in surgery over here. Is that pizza?”
“Yeah, I picked up some on the way in. Surgery?” Gregori put the pizza on the table so he could come in closer and see this for himself.
Ah, it was a stuffed bunny. With its head completely detached. “Who guillotined the bunny?”
Salem snorted a laugh—the first one Gregori had heard from him. Aww, look at how cute he was.
The little girl was the one who answered. “Grammy washed Bun Bun ’cause she was sticky, but her head came off.”
“Ohhh.” This was no surprise, considering how well-loved Bun Bun looked.
“Grammy had me bring Bun Bun to Mister Doctor ’cause he knows how to sew.”
Salem shrugged. “Comes with the territory. All right, I think we’re ready to get Bun Bun’s head back on.”
Why did this look like an ongoing relationship? Gregori had met the neighbors on this floor already, and everyone had been very welcoming to him. Surprised he was with Salem, too, as they had assumed him to be a confirmed bachelor at this point. No one had mentioned Salem was the resident fixer of stuffed bunnies, but Gregori could tell she had been here before based on her easy body language. She’d made this request and gotten her stuffed animal fixed.
The way Salem deftly stitched the material, slowly reattaching head to body, also told its own story. He’d clearly done this before too, as he wasn’t fumbling or hesitant.
Gregori studied his bowed head and marveled at his mate anew. Every day he spent with Salem, he saw some part of this man’s heart. He’d already known Salem must have a big heart to be a pediatric surgeon. Watching his tired mate patiently fix the bunny for his neighbor’s grandchild only highlighted how big.
Gregori suspected Salem kept him at arm’s length because he had been burned by too many bad relationships in the past. If he could just get it through his mate’s head that he’d never, ever hurt him, half the battle would be won. Gregori recognized a trauma response when he saw one. Not that Salem trusted him enough to talk about it openly.
Well, he had time. Really, they had all the time in the world. Gregori wasn’t giving up on him. Salem’s walls would come down on their own eventually, and Gregori would be able to love him properly. Right now, he just had to be patient.
“There!” Salem finished off the last knot and snipped the threads. “All done. Tell Grammy no more washing it in the washing machine, okay?”
“Okay!” She hugged her bunny to her chest, beaming. “Thanks, Mister Doctor!”
Then she darted out.
Gregori followed her to the door, watching as she went straight across the hall and into her grandmother’s apartment. Safe and sound then, good. He closed and locked the door behind her, as he doubted they’d leave the apartment again tonight.
Salem immediately went for the pizza, then made oohing sounds.
“Wiiiine. Thank fuck. I need alcohol today. I’m so buzzed I can’t settle or relax.”
“Glad I got some, then.”
Salem did a little happy dance as he grabbed glasses and plonked himself down at the table. He poured them both a glass before promptly sipping his.
“Ahhh, a good red goes down right. Where were you today?”
“Oh, signing up with the police department and fire station.” Gregori accepted the offered glass and took a sip. Mm, the wine was delicious. He’d guessed the correct one to grab.
Salem paused with the lid to a pizza box half open. “Uhhh…why?”
“Well, they’re in line with what I do. And I need something to occupy myself aside from feeding you and sexing you up.”
“I mean, you’re right, but why those two places?”
“Well, I’m a demolitions expert.” Gregori shrugged. He was secretly very pleased at Salem’s interest. This was the first time he’d ever asked Gregori any questions. “I figured the police was an obvious choice. And they agreed, but they also had me sign up with the fire department to help with all the house fires.”
“Oh right, ice dragon magic. You’d be good at suppressing fires.”
“That I am.”
Salem gave a sage nod. “I bet they cried tears of joy when you signed up.”
Gregori snorted a laugh, shaking his head as he grabbed some slices for himself. “I wouldn’t go that far.”