“Just after eight-thirty and you’re up and working.Andyou’ve bathed.” She noted his hair was fixed. “Do you sleep?” The pillow muffled the end of her words as she fell back into it.
“Normally, not very much.” His quill scratched against the parchment.
“Normally?” she repeated, twisting her face to look at him from under the blankets.
“I slept well last night.”
“How did we make it to the bed?” she couldn’t help but ask.
“I brought you in when I noticed you’d passed out. I suppose my story on the Kingdom of Mhashan wasthatboring.” Aldrik glanced at her from the corners of his eyes.
Vhalla laughed guiltily.
“Elecia was right though,” he continued. “I couldn’t find one complaint with the chaises.”
Vhalla chewed that over for a second. “Wait,” she paused, “youslept on the couches?” Vhalla rolled onto her side to look up at him.
“Of course.” His brow furrowed slightly. “Did you think I would creep into your bed as you slept and spend the night lying with you without your permission?”
Vhalla stared at him. She had assumed falling asleep in his arms after kissing half the night away to be permission enough, but the chivalry in the statement was noted. However, any tenderness over the sentiment was quickly lost to laughter.
“What?” he asked, staring at her queerly.
“I kicked the crown prince out of his bed.” She rolled onto her back with laughter. “Oh, that is a story I wish I could share with someone.”
Aldrik grabbed the blankets and threw them over her face. “You’re annoying in the morning,” he said with a hint of amusement.
It sent Vhalla into a fit of giggles. “Oh I am sorry, mighty Aldrik.” She sat up, throwing the covers off her. “Am I a disturbance to your routine?” Vhalla put her hands on the bed between them and leaned over.
“Very much so,” he smirked.
“Fine, then I shall leave promptly.” Vhalla swung her feet off the bed.
She heard the rustle of his papers as he reached and grabbed her shoulders, pulling her onto his lap. He leaned over, and his lips were on hers. Vhalla sighed softly, she could get used to waking in this manner.
“I haven’t cleaned my mouth yet.” She quickly covered it with her hand as he pulled away.
“I know. It’s foul too. Washroom is there.” He grinned and pointed at an adjacent door.
Vhalla glared at him as she stood. She never knew a man who could be such an ass while still being so handsome. The moment the bathroom door closed, Vhalla suppressed another fit of giggles.
It was absolutely insane what was happening. It was absolutely insane how happy she was. Vhalla hummed as she ran her hand across the counter. It was a dark black marble, and the spigot was cast in gold. The tub was large enough for four people to sit comfortably, like a small pool carved from stone. There was an adjacent closet filled with more clothing than she knew he carried with him on the journey. The whole room was as opulent as the building itself, and Vhalla couldn’t believe that she had a place here.
There were a few bottles on the counter. She noticed one or two mostly empty clerical elixirs among them. Vhalla mused over which one he used for his hair, smelling a few that had the fresh scent of eucalyptus, as she located the one to cleanse her mouth with. Vhalla washed her face and ran her wet hands through her hair. It stayed back slightly from the dampness and she laughed.
“Look, I’m you.” Vhalla opened the door.
He glanced at her and then returned to his papers. “It looks awful,” he murmured.
“Now, now, don’t be mean to yourself,” she laughed lightly, sitting across from him on the end of the bed. “I think it’s striking on you.” Vhalla ran her fingers through her hair, teasing it back into its normal mess. Aldrik looked over his papers at her and said nothing, though she could have sworn there were the makings of a smile on his face.
“So what will you be doing today?” he asked.
“I’m not sure. I suppose I’ll go back and ... see what everyone else is up to.” Vhalla shrugged.
“Will you return tonight?” Aldrik paused, searching for her reaction.
“Tonight?” She hadn’t thought of it.
