The plan for the night came rushing back to me. “Oh, Elex. I was waiting for you!” I pulled the robe closed and turned around. “I was waiting for you, and I was…”
He was snoring.
I sat down next to him and leaned into his shoulder. “I was waiting for you. All I want to do is make love. Just once. I don’t want our world to die. I don’t want the mountain to crush us.”
“I’m sorry, love,” he mumbled, fighting sleep. “I don’t have to go to the university tomorrow.”
“Stay. Stay in bed with me. I’m navigating this new life alone. I’m lost and confused most of the time.”
He pressed a kissed to my head. “I’ll stay.”
I nudged him. “Let’s at least sleep in the bed.”
“Mmm, agreed.”
It took all we had to get off the couch and make our way to the bedroom. I don’t know who fell asleep faster.
* * *
The sun shone against my eyelids, and I tried to ignore it.
But a moment later, the smell of breakfast and fresh, hot tea tickled my nose, and I had to find out where it was coming from.
I sat up and realized I was completely naked. Looking around, I was happy to realize, and then remember, I was in my own bedroom.
Elex and I had at least shared the bed.
A start.
My robe was hanging on the bedpost. I grabbed it and swung it around me, tucking it in and tying it.
Following the delicious smell of cooking, and a moment later, the snap of a frying pan, I wandered into the kitchen.
Elex was standing at the stove, bent over pulling something out of the cast iron oven. I watched, half asleep until I saw him go in without a potholder.
“Elex—”
“Ouch!” He yanked his hand back out and waved it maniacally in the air.
“Get your hand in the basin, get some water on it,” I instructed, snatching the potholder off the hook next to the stove.
I pulled out the muffin tin and set it on the butcher block near the water basin. Elex was grimacing as the cold well water cascaded over his palm.
“I wanted to surprise you.” He glanced over at me and had a sweet, apologetic look on his face.
“Trust me, I’m surprised.” I nodded at his hand. “Okay?”
The palm of his hand was angry red, but I didn’t see any permanent damage. “Do you want to call for the healer? Just to be safe?”
“I’m fine. Just a little dumb.”
“We’ve all done it. Would you like me to take over?”
He grunted. “Please. Before I screw it up anymore. I swear I know how to cook.”
“Of course, I know. But we all mess up once in a while.” The fork was resting on the hot stove, and I shook my head. “If it weren’t the oven, it would have been this.” I pointed to the utensil.
“Gods and goddesses, I’m too tired!” Elex wrapped a wet towel around his hand and sat at the table.
