Unlike last night, I was on my side this time, with Zephyr pressed against my chest, his legs pressed against my front legs. He'd suggested he be the big spoon, but I'd declined instantly. I wanted him in my arms, not the other way
"You have no idea. Horses don't really lie on their backs, you know? They curl up on their legs, or lie on their sides like this. But I can't look at the sky properly like that, so I have to get on my back. I mean, I can see the stars standing up too, but it's not the same."
Zephyr hummed thoughtfully, and I smiled, wrapping my hand around his and linking our fingers together.
He sucked in a breath, his fingers twitching between mine. "Why do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Hold this hand," he said, moving his hand. I tightened my hold so he wouldn't pull out of my grip, and he stopped moving.
"Because it's your hand," I murmured, though I knew that wasn't what he meant. It was his left hand, his metal hand, and I knew he had a love-hate relationship with it. While there were days I got annoyed with my cart, I'd never hated it. But I'd also not lost the use of my legs in a violent moment that haunted my life, so I couldn't really compare our situations.
Zephyr didn't reply, and I pressed my lips to his cheek, his stubble scrapping against my skin. "I know you have mixed feelings about your prosthetic, but I don't. To me, it's as much a part of you as your right arm, and I don't really care which one I hold as long as I can hold your hand. But if you'd prefer I hold your right hand instead, I can do that."
He was silent for a moment, then let out a soft sigh. "No, it's okay. Sorry for making a big deal of it."
"Anything you feel is a big deal to me, Zeph. Don't apologize," I murmured, and he sucked in a breath as his face flushed.
Damn. How could someone like him blush so easily? It was adorable.
"Do you wanna watch a movie?"
Zephyr nodded, and I grabbed my laptop, glad I'd put it within reach, and found a streaming service to peruse. Once we found amovie that sounded good to both of us, I hit play and placed the laptop in front of Zephyr. It was weird watching it on our side, but he didn't seem to mind.
I tightened my arm around Zeph and pulled him closer, soaking in the warmth of his skin as he covered my arm around his waist with his.
Half hour into the movie, I realized Zephyr had fallen asleep, and I smiled as I carefully reached forward and lowered the volume.
I wasn't sleepy at all, so I just held him and watched the movie, sneaking glances at his face every now and then. He looked so much younger when he slept, at peace with the world in a way he never was when awake.
Like the cloak that he'd taken off after breakfast, Zephyr was always covered in an invisible layer that kept him separated from the world around him, from the people who loved him. I didn't know if it was because of the loss of his familiar, or just a culmination of all the trauma he'd faced in his early years, but I really, really wanted to do whatever I could to take care of him in any way I could.
The movie had long since ended, and it was almost time for lunch when Zephyr stirred, and I knew the moment his brain came back online because he froze in my arms. I couldn't even feel his chest moving with his breaths.
I pressed soft kisses to his jaw, murmuring the words directly into his skin. "Hey, it's okay. We're okay."
"I fell asleep.On our date," he gasped out, almost panicked, and I squeezed him tight.
"Cozy and calm, remember? I don't mind, Zeph. In fact, I'm kind of glad you fell asleep."
"Why?" he demanded, and I chuckled at the incredulity in his voice.
"Because it made me feel like you trust me. I know how guarded you are, Zeph. The fact that you felt safe enough to fall asleep in my arms? It means the world to me."
Zephyr didn't say anything, but his body relaxed as a breath whooshed out of him, and I tucked my face into the crook of his neck, pressing soft kisses against his skin.
He turned around in my arms, his blue eyes soft and sleepy as he closed the distance between us and kissed me. I smiled into the kiss as I wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled him closer.
Zephyr hummed, his lips parting as he invited me in, and I slid my tongue against it, moaning at the sweet taste of him. Damn, seventeen-year-old me never could've come up with this day in his wildest daydreams.
Zephyr pressed closer, and I sucked in a breath when I felt the result of his attraction press against my abdomen, and I pulled back with a gasp.
Fuck, I'd gotten so caught up in everything Zephyr was that I'd forgotten something important. Something I should've told him much earlier.
The fact that we were mates made me hopeful Zephyr wouldn't change his mind about us over this, but my fingers still twitched with nerves as they rested against his waist.
"Wait," I murmured when he reached to kiss me again, hating that I'd stopped him, and he pulled back. A worried look furrowed his brows, and I pressed my thumb over his forehead, smoothing out the lines. "There's something I have to tell you."
