A slow smile slid over his face when I set my purse down and turned to face him. “Three days off?” he asked hopefully.
“Three days,” I agreed as I kicked off my shoes and shrugged off my cardigan. The days were growing much cooler here now, and the wind outside was sharp and frigid. Some time ago, I lost my resistance to cold and hot temperatures, and since it wasn’t ever hot here, I had to start wearing cardigans or light jackets all year round.
Cernunnos knew this and had switched on the fireplace for me, turning the room into a warm and cozy space. The god patted the couch next to him. I happily curled up into the blazing heat of his body and lay my head on his chest.
“You smell like Ethan,” he observed.
No annoyance or jealousy, only curiosity. Another thing I liked about him. We both walked into this thing with our eyes wide open. He knew how I felt about Ethan, but he also trusted me enough to come home to him. We both agreed we would beexclusive for as long as doing so served us both, and if we caught feelings (or extra feelings, in my case), we would be honest with one another.
“I put my two weeks in today. He didn’t like that.”
Cernunnos grunted. “You finally tired of him running you ragged and wish to reclaim your time?”
I tilted my head and grinned up at him. Sometimes he sounded so old. “Something like that. And he’s doing it on purpose.”
“Mmm. Yes, he is.” Cernunnos kissed the top of my head and turned sideways, tugging me with him with one arm until I was lying on top of him. “That’s better.”
I dropped a soft kiss on his lips. “This really isn’t a sleeping position,” I mused.
Cernunnos grinned, his multi-colored eyes swirling. “Oh no,” he said quietly. “Whatever shall we do?”
An hour later,he pushed a steaming cup of Earl Grey across the table. “For the lady.”
I grinned and took a small sip. He’d learned exactly how I liked my tea. Say what you would about the gods, but they were trainable. Or at least this one was. He sat on the opposite side of the table with a cup of coffee. I plopped my foot on his thigh.
“Spending the night?” I asked.
“Not tonight.” His brow furrowed. “Trouble is brewing in my forest, and I must get to the bottom of whatever is wrong. Hopefully by tomorrow, things will be back to normal, and I will return to you.”
“Anything I can help with?”
His face softened. “No, beautiful Moira. This is between my forest and me. But I thank you for the offer.”
“How about tacos before you go?”
His face lit up. “Truly?”
I laughed. “Yes. I bought extra meat and fixings a couple of days ago. There are plenty to go around.”
The god had a weakness for anything crunchy you could fill with food, but especially when meat was included. Tacos and empanadas were his current favorites, though it proved difficult to find a good, true empanada place here in the PNW. I started making them from scratch for him, and he couldn’t get enough.
“Do you have that cue seasoning?”
I smiled behind my mug. “Cumin?”
“Yes! I love the cumin. With the red stuff.”
“Chili powder.”
Cernunnos’s eyes sparkled. “I would like to grow those spices so you never run out.”
I reached over and took his hand. “I can buy them in bulk for cheap.”
“Yes, but plants are more sustainable and fresher. Do you know the current lifecycle of spices and herbs you buy in the stores?”
Lord love a duck. I should have just found the seeds and let him go to town. “I can only assume it’s long and meandering,” I said slowly, unable to keep the look of dread off my face.
Cernunnos laughed. “Forgive me. I can sometimes be preachy. My apologies.”
