????“Practically the same age. 32”
????That makes him chuckle. ????“You’re basically ancient,” he teases.
????“Don’t remind me,” I wince.
“What’s your favorite food?”????
“I don’t need to consume food like humans do. I can eat a large quantity and then go weeks without needing to refuel. I’ve never really eaten because it was something I enjoyed. I did it because it was a necessity.”????
“You don’t like food?!” I exclaim.
????“I think it’s fine. I don’t really have cravings or favorites like you do,” he clarifies, “But if you want to know the few things I enjoy more than others, it’s usually fresh berries and red meat.”
????“Ew, that sounds terrible. I couldn’t live without bread, and pasta, and pizza, and potatoes… oh, potatoes are so good, Andrik!”
He chuckles again.
“What’s your favorite season?” He asks
“Definitely fall. There’s something magical in the air when the leaves start to change colors. I love the decorations and the spicy, warm scents,” I tell him as I think about all my candles back at my apartment.
“I love having scary movie nights and snuggling up in the chilly weather. Fall will always be my favorite... but I’m coming around to winter.” I wink at him.
“You’ll be coming for winter very soon, Lumi.” He flashes those damn fangs at me again.
“Okay, that’s not exactly what I said.” I roll my eyes while I try to hide my smile.
Andrik-
She’s warm beneath me, legs tangled around my waist, fingertips caressing my fur.
I could lie here forever. Her scent in my lungs. Her heartbeat under my cheek. The sacred hum of the bond echoes through my bones.
Her voice breaks the quiet first.
“Have you ever been in love before?” My eyes stay closed, but the answer spills out of me immediately.
“No,” I say softly. “But I’ve spent my entire life feeling haunted by something I can’t name. I look at the stars and feel homesick for a place I’ve never been. I hear lovers laugh, and I ache, because some small part inside of me keeps screaming that I once had that too.”
She’s quiet while she continues stroking my hair.
“And when I met you, Lumi... that ache finally stopped gnawing at me, and started burning instead.”
I gather her wrists in my hands, “Even before I had a name for you... I was already searching.”
I open my eyes and see that she’s studying my face.
“Your turn,” she says, voice smaller than usual. “Ask me something.”
“Have you?” I ask.
“Have I what?”
“Been in love?”
She breathes out through her nose, not quite a laugh, not quite a sigh.
“No... I don’t think so. I’ve cared about people. I’ve been held, kissed, talked about futures that never happened.” The thought of her being with others twists something in my gut, but I force it down. “I’ve taken road-trips and made dumb little lists about how many kids I’d have, but no. I don’t think it was ever love.”
