“This all smells amazing,” I said. “If people saw this side of you, I think—”
He shook his head, sliding the second tray over my lap, locking me in place. “No,” he said, climbing back into bed beside me, carefully, so as not to knock me or the food and drinks. “Everyone should know how to cook, clean, and take care of their partner. Like, that’s a given. Everyone.”
“You won’t let me cook for you,” I said.
“Because I’m having a lot of fun cooking for you,” he said, kissing my cheek. “We’ve got strawberry jelly, honey, maple syrup, and butter.”
“Strawberry jelly?” I asked, making a winced face. “Where did you—”
“It’s new,” he said. “Not everything here has been here for months. I grabbed it from the gas station. Had the ribbon... looked homemade, sorta.”
I’d slept since then, and everything had been turned upside down after hearing those bodies fall—and then there was my legal team calling every day to check in. It was intense. Of course I didn’t have space to remember the jelly. “Have you tried it?”
He dipped his finger into it, swirling it around then licking it clean. “It’s delicious,” he said.
“Does it have seeds?” I asked, trying to see the residue on his finger.
His finger went into the pot again, and this time we looked at it, then he put it in my mouth. “No seeds,” he said. “And how does it taste?” His finger was swishing around against my tongue, and my teeth, and for a moment I thought he was going to make me gag on it. He laughed, pulling his finger back out. “It’s a very loose hole, kitten.”
Licking my lips, it was surprisingly delicious. “That was my mouth, not my—” I stopped myself from getting too animated and having the breakfast going all over. “It was nice.”
“Aw, kitten’s first outburst, almost,” he said, pinching my cheek with his sticky fingers. “Think we should go explore today. We’ve kinda been stuck inside while I tested the waters.”
I nodded. “I’m having the entire waffle for that,” I said.
Jacques finally took the second table from over my legs and placed it over his lap where we switched over cups and plates to share the breakfast. It had been nice in the house, and Jacques had made sure nobody was around or watching us through some fancy tech equipment. I just accepted everything he said, and worked on thinking about what I’d say when people came for us—for my statement.
***
Fresh air was well needed, especially here. We were in a slightly out of the main town area. People were around by the river, kids mostly, throwing sticks and stones into it. We walked handinhand until Jacques spotted a log he liked the look of, and under his arm it went. I saw some worms on it, so I kept my distance
This was how life should be, filled with moments where I wasn’t thinking about who was trying to kill me, or even that people were trying to attack me. I should’ve been laughing, smiling, and wondering where Jacques had been all my life.
“I think we could get a smoker for out the back,” he said. “Smoke some meat, barbecue it and stuff.”
“I knew you were inspired,” I laughed. We’d watched a lot of cooking shows on TV the last couple of days. They were mostly competition shows and oh my gosh, they made me so hungry just watching them. The way the meat would fall of the bone andhow all those juices just looked so finger licking good. “I think it’s a good idea. I also think if we’re going into town for groceries, maybe we could stop by a bar, or the rink. I like the way skates make me feel free.”
Jacques dropped the log as he inspected another. He looked up at me and smiled. “We could, but I think we need to wait a couple more days before we go out into the town,” he said.
I pulled his beanie down over his eyes. “At least we’ve got this view.”
His big arms tackled around my thighs, and his face was pressed into my sweats. He looked up at me, nuzzling his chin gently into my balls. “I’m very happy with this view,” he said, pulling back the beanie. “Do you wanna give me a hand carrying these logs back?”
I tried to escape his grasp, but he was strong, and I didn’t actually want to be let go. “You could carry me back.”
The house wasn’t far at all, I just liked the idea of the ultimate caretaking ritual—of him carrying me. “I’d love to, but I know you’ve got to get those legs stretched out,” he said, moving his head down and biting my thigh. “Mhm.” He left a wet mark where his teeth were. “Was that a no to helping me with this wood?”
Once more, I played with his beanie, pushing it over his eyes. “I’ve handled your wood enough,” I giggled. “But if you’re talking about those wormy logs, then no. You can do that yourself.”
He went back in with his ticklish bite, getting both thighs and making it look like I’d dribbled on myself after peeing. “Get on my back,” he said.
From his position, I hugged my arms around his shoulders, pulling his beanie back for him to see. I held myself in place as he stood tall with two logs under his arms, my legsaround his waist, squeezing tight. I hoped none of the bugs from the wood got on me. They didn’t—just some dirt.
“You know we’re gonna get through this,” he said. “Together.”
I squeezed harder, with my heels around his waist, like I was a jockey and he was a horse. “Together. Giddy up.” I giggled as he stomped through the wood, snapping twigs underfoot. “I’m surprised you managed to get the jump on anyone.” It was a thought my voice let out the moment it was there.
“Trust me, it’s a task,” he said, this time purposefully throwing a leg down onto a branch and letting the snap echo through the woodland. “But most of the time, I’m either—” He paused. “Do you actually wanna hear how I do it?”
