Peter’s lip curled.“Yes.It could’ve been.Was it?”
“I’m not going to answer that.I’m sure as my lawyer, you understand.”
“Hmm.”
Theo scratched his head and looked out of his window.It was as if Faerie’s brightness was only a faint memory now.New Elvenswood looked almost normal again, pretty in the September sunlight.The tram line Theo used to take to work was passing them by.It felt like ages ago that he’d taken it to his old place and back to work.
“You can have my blood as soon as we get home.I mean, you could’ve had it before, I told you that.I’m just saying.”
After a moment, Peter sighed.“Beloved.I made you angry.Again.”
Theo stubbornly didn’t turn toward Peter, just kept watching the other cars, the houses, the people.Anything other than having to look into Peter’s eyes.
“You don’t have to call me that.It’s fine.We can just… We’ll just keep on doing what we’ve been doing.That’s fine.There’s no need for more.”
There was an uncomfortable noise, and when Theo did glance over, he saw the way Peter was gripping the steering wheel and making it creak.
“Theodore.”
Theo sighed.“Yeah, go with that.”His voice sounded soft, much softer than Peter’s.He was exhausted, was looking forward to passing out after Peter took what he needed.Tomorrow was going to be normal again—perfectly buttered toast and coffee.Theo would give almost anything for that right now.
Peter didn’t say another word until he parked in front of his house.Theo got out on his own, though Peter looked as if he’d been about to help him out of the car and up the front stairs.
The little flowerpot next to the door had changed again.It did that sometimes, and Theo had been wondering whether Peter was the one who’d taken out the little windmill and replaced it with the miniature pumpkins and metal butterfly that were in there now.He always forgot to ask as soon as he’d crossed the threshold.
Peter held the door for him, and Theo was very aware of those icy eyes on him as he moved inside, his shoulders sagging with exhaustion.
“Should we—”
“Have a conversation?Yes.We absolutely should.”Peter let the door fall shut.“I’ll make you hot chocolate and a sandwich.”
“I can—”
“Sit at the table.Excellent idea.It was such a long day.”
“But—”
“Theodore.”
Peter’s voice was very nearly a growl, but not the kind with which he’d addressed the sky back in the car.This was kind of sexy, and if Theo had been any less tired, he’d have jumped at the opportunity to get more of that sexy voice out of Peter, but this very clearly was not the time.
He decided to shut up and followed Peter through to the kitchen.There was a relief to being home.The familiar emptiness of Peter’s house felt doubly warm now that Theo had seen Cloudtree’s house, and the little bag he’d come back down the stairs with while Laurette had gone outside ahead of everyone to summon his deer.
I think if I had to leave this house, I’d want to take more than a little bag.The very thought of that, the thought of leaving, hurt Theo in an unfamiliar way.Not like it should.He knew he got along well with Peter.He knew they cared about each other, yes, but it couldn’t be more than that.It shouldn’t be.Other people are where the danger lies.
Once they were in the kitchen, Peter made a point of pulling out Theo’s chair for him even as Theo frowned at the gesture.
“I can make my own damn sandwich, you know.And I’m not even that hungry.”Theo shrugged.“I had a fruit tart.”
Peter smiled at him pleasantly.“You missed lunch.”
“I can miss lunch if I want to.”
Peter nodded.“That’s right, but you didn’t want to.You skipped lunch, because you correctly clocked Cloudtree as being out of place and—also correctly—ran.”
Theo snorted.“I walked very fast at best.”
“Be that as it may, I’m making you a sandwich, and you will sit down and relax while I do so.”
