Well, that was entirely Ciaran’s now.
What he felt was far too early to name, but damn, he was giddy with it.
After the last time he dozed off, he awoke to a crack of new daylight coming through the window and Ciaran bringing a plate over to the mattress. “Morning.”
Sawyer was sprawled out on his front, every muscle well-used, and he smiled into the pillow. “Hi,” he replied, voice croaking.
“I made you breakfast,” Ciaran said, voice soft and lovely. “You should eat and drink water. You must need hydration.”
Sawyer laughed at that because yes, they’d both expended a lot of fluid yesterday. He sat up and took the plate. There was sliced fruit and cheese. Perfect. “You too.”
Ciaran smiled and glanced at the door. “I will probably need a swim shortly. Immerse myself in water.”
Sawyer frowned. “Do you have to do that? Like, should I be aware that you need to swim every so often? What happens if you don’t? Is it dangerous for you?”
How could he have not thought to ask this?
Ciaran gave a fond shake of his head. “We don’tneedto, but we like to. It feels... therapeutic. Like a reset or a recharge, that’s all.”
Sawyer relaxed immediately. “Oh. That’s okay, then.” He ate some strawberry and apple. “This is great. Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.” He watched Sawyer for a moment. “How are you feeling?”
“Like a new man,” Sawyer answered honestly. “Happy. I feel...” He searched for the right word. “At peace.” Then he shrugged. “Content and so freaking happy, it’s hard to explain. But I also know that we’ll be okay. It makes me feel a contentedness that I wasn’t expecting.”
“Same. I feel that too,” Ciaran said softly. “I feel connected to you. I felt a pull toward you before, but now it’s...” He made a face. “It’s knowing. It’s surety. I feel grounded and tethered but also free to fly. With you, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.”
Sawyer leaned up and softly kissed Ciaran. It was sweet and chaste, and, despite the hours of debauchery they’d just shared, it was probably one of the most intimate things Sawyer had done.
He took a strawberry and put it to Ciaran’s lips. “Some?”
Ciaran took it between his lips, his eyes dancing with light and happiness.
But it got Sawyer thinking. “So, about food.... Do you eat in freeform? Like, when you’re in the ocean?” He popped some melon into his mouth, chewed, and swallowed. “Or do you prefer human food?”
“I can eat either,” Ciaran replied. “I probably prefer human food. It’s.... I dunno, it’s weird. When we’re in freeform, it’s natural for us to eat whatever is available. Fish, molluscs, that kind of thing. It’s what we do. I don’t ever think,I won’t eat because I’d prefer a pizza.I eat because I’m hungry without thinking about it.” He shrugged one shoulder and smirked. “But I do love pizza.”
“Same.”
“And pasta. And steak. And mashed potato, for some reason.”
Sawyer laughed. “Same, same. And same.”
Ciaran’s smile was soft and lovely, and when his eyes met Sawyer’s, he seemed shy, almost. “Can I get you anything else?”
Sawyer shook his head, and he finished a piece of cheese. “No, I’m fine. Better than fine, actually.”
Ciaran nodded toward the door. “About that swim....”
“Can I come?” Sawyer asked. “Is the water here the same as in the Cove?”
“What do you mean, the same?”
“Is it... mysterious and alluring? Wonderful.”
Ciaran tilted his head and studied him for a long second. “You know, every other human that comes here is terrified of that water.”
Sawyer grinned at him. “I’m not like other humans.”
