Viv stared back, feeling increasingly foolish, until she relented with a sigh. “Deal.”
* * *
Exhausted,they stood together at the top of the ladder.
“I thought I told you to buy a bed.” Tandri grimly surveyed the still-barren loft.
Viv had Amity’s seldom-used blankets and pillow under one arm. “Well, I was a little distracted. Nighttime intruders, and all.”
Tandri rolled her eyes. “Give me that.”
She seized the bedding, shaking the dire-cat hair out of the blanket and pillow before busying herself unfolding Viv’s bedroll and assembling a larger place to bed down.
Viv watched with a growing feeling of embarrassment and trepidation.
“Well,” said Tandri, her hands on her hips. “At least with the stove running, it shouldn’t be that cold. I can’t believe you live like this.”
“I’ll be fine alone, really. There’s no reason you shouldn’t sleep in your own bed.”
“Stop it. We already had that argument.” After a moment’s hesitation, she shucked down to her smallclothes, slid quickly under the blanket, and turned her back to Viv.
Viv extinguished the lantern and then did the same, tiptoeing as if Tandri were already asleep, then snorting at her own ridiculousness. She pulled the blanket—still smelling strongly of dire-cat—over one shoulder. Even with her back to Tandri, she could feel the woman’s warmth.
“Good night, Tandri,” she said, too loudly.
“Good night.”
Viv stared ahead into the darkness.
“Is that your tail?”
“I’m just getting comfortable.” Tandri’s reply was tart.
After some strategic adjustments, she fell still.
There was a long silence.
Viv cleared her throat. “I’m glad you stayed.”
Tandri’s breathing was slow and even, and Viv thought she might already be asleep. But then came a murmured reply. “I know.”
After that, for the first time in ages, Viv fell asleep almost instantly and did not wake until morning.
24
When Viv’s eyes opened, she could tell from the coldness behind her that Tandri had already risen. She was amazed she hadn’t woken when the succubus left. Viv wouldn’t have thought it possible.
She smelled freshly brewed coffee and dressed slowly, needlessly delaying. Then, she became annoyed with her own dithering. Before Tandri, she’d never been hesitant in her life. Was she really going to pick up the habit, now? She descended the ladder with great deliberateness.
Tandri sat at the big table, staring over the top of a mug that curled a ribbon of steam. As Viv joined her on the bench, the woman slid over another mug, still hot.
“Thanks,” murmured Viv.
Tandri nodded and took a slow sip.
There was a relaxed curve to Tandri’s back, and her tail made slow, lazy motions behind her. Viv’s tension released, and she swallowed some of the good, hot drink. The warmth of it settled into her whole body. The gabble of Thune’s waking noises, muted by the walls of the shop, surrounded them peacefully.
They enjoyed their coffee, slowly and quietly. Viv was reluctant to break the meditative, mutual silence, but after dallying like a coward in the loft, she felt a need to act decisively.
