“I absolutely can blame you.” But Ant was smiling. “That was childish.”
“You loved it.”
“I tolerated it because it was you.”
“Same thing.”
Ant turned fully to face him, and Viktor caught the mischievous glint in those gray eyes a heartbeat too late. The cabinet behind Viktor suddenly swung open, and every single plate they’d just put away floated out in perfect formation.
“Jesus Christ…”
“Telekinesis is a basic skill,” Ant said mildly, while twelve dinner plates orbited his head like a planetary system. “Would you like me to juggle them?”
“You’re going to break something.”
“I’m a highly skilled mage. I’m not going to break anything.” To prove his point, Ant sent the plates spinning faster, adding the coffee mugs into the rotation. “See? Perfectly controlled.”
Viktor stared at the flying dishware, then at his mate’s smug expression, and started laughing. “Okay,” he managed. “Okay, you win.”
“I usually do.” Ant guided the plates and mugs back into the cabinet, each one settling into its proper spot. “But your invisibility trick was amusing. You should do it more often.”
“Yeah?”
“Within reason.” Ant stepped closer, close enough that Viktor could see the exhaustion still lingering at the corners of his eyes, the faint bruise on his temple from where he’d collapsed after destroying the ward matrix. “Perhaps when we’re not handling fragile kitchenware.”
Viktor cupped Ant’s face, thumb brushing over that bruise with infinite gentleness. “How are you really feeling?”
“Tired,” Ant admitted. “My magical reserves are still recovering. But I’m fine, Viktor. Anytime I feel off-kilter, I just remind myself that we’re safe and we’re home.”
Fuck, I love him,Viktor thought, not for the first time and definitely not for the last.
Ant’s pupils dilated slightly. “I can feel what you’re thinking.”
“Good.” Viktor bent to kiss him, slowly and thoroughly, savoring the small sound Ant made against his mouth. “It saves me from having to explain.”
“You understand me perfectly.” Ant kissed him again, harder this time, fingers threading through Viktor’s hair. When they finally broke apart, Ant’s cheeks were flushed, and his breathing had quickened. “Bedroom?”
“Yep.” Viktor swept his mate up without warning, grinning at Ant’s undignified yelp. “Definitely bedroom.”
“Why do you keep thinking I can’t use my legs?”
“I know you can.” Viktor headed for the stairs, cradling Ant against his chest. “But this is faster.”
“That’s not…” Ant stopped, clearly running the calculations. “Actually, yes. This is approximately forty percent faster than if we walked together, accounting for your longer legs.”
“Only you would know the percentage behind it.”
“You like it.”
Viktor took the stairs two at a time. “Babe, I fucking love it.”
/~/~/~/~/
Their bedroom was dark except for the moonlight filtering through the curtains. Viktor set Ant down beside the bed and immediately pulled him close again, hands sliding beneath his mate’s shirt to map warm skin. Ant made a soft sound and arched into the touch, his own fingers working at the buttons of Viktor’s shirt.
“You’re overdressed,” Ant murmured.
“So are you.”
