“How could I not know about this?” I hold the bag close to me and hug it. “I’m never going to let you go, baby.” As soon as all of this is over, I’m going to take my new popcorn knowledge straight back to Sweet Tooth. They’d go wild over this popcorn, I know they would but…if I didn’t know about it the chances a millennia's old archdemon knowing to magically summon it here doesn’t seem plausible.
“But if it wasn’t Jaak…then…” I look up at the ceiling. “Wait, was this you? The food? The popcorn bliss?”
The lights flash in the kitchen and I have to laugh. I raise the popcorn bag to them in thanks. “Okay, you’re forgiven for earlier. We’re even now.”
The lights in the kitchen go a little brighter before they dim to a comfortable, cozy level. I start looking through the fridge for what I might need for dinner when I see the metal tray on the second shelf of the fridge.
“What’s this?” I grab the tray and pull it out to see it’s a fully-prepped chicken and potato dish. All I have to do to cook it is put it in the oven. The house didn’t just give us food, it prepared dinner. Behind me the oven clicks on and I smile. “I take back what I said. You’re not just forgiven, we’re best friends.”
It’s easy work to sit and wait for the oven to preheat for dinner. I find a pitcher of fancy punch drink in the fridge and grab myself and Jaak a glass. When I pour myself a glass and take a sip, I almost moan at how good it is.
It’s sweet and tart at the same time. Cherries and something else, I don’t know what but I love it. I’ve downed half a glass by the time the oven is ready for the chicken. I hop up from the stool and have to steady myself. I feel warm and floaty. It must be the glee over the popcorn. I’m lucky I wasn’t holding the tray of chicken, I might have dropped it. I take extra care when I grab the tray and pop it in the oven just as I hear footsteps outside of the kitchen.
“Meadow?”
“In here,” I call.
The door opens and Jaak strides in. He looks…good. Likereallygood. He’s windswept in the best way, hair tousled and shirt unbuttoned at the top and open slightly and his pants, holy hells have they always been that tight? Heat washes over me and I feel myself start to react. There’s an ache inside of me that’s new, but feels right when I look at Jaak. My breasts ache and my skin starts to feel like it’s on fire. The way he kissed me on the bench replays when he pushes his hair off his face and walks towards me.
“All was well outside. The wards are charged.”
I don’t say a word. It’s like my tongue is tied up and all I can do is look him over. Gods, I want to wrap myself around him and-
“Everything all right?” he asks when I don’t say anything.
I blink and it’s like a bucket of cold water is thrown on me. I am creeping on my own husband, aren’t I?
“Yeah, everything is fine. Dinner’s in the oven.”
“You found provisions?” Jaak turns away from me and I let out a grateful breath. I can more or less function around him when he’s not looking directly at me. I pick up my glass of punch and take a hasty sip. I’m so thirsty all of a sudden. Is this because of how much I want Jaak? Is that a thing? Do you get thirsty when you want someone so bad you could scream?
“Meadow?” Jaak stops in the pantry doorway to look back at me. “You look ill. Do you need to rest? I can take you to bed now and bring you dinner when it’s ready if you aren’t feeling well.”
Take you to bed.
Holy smokes. Those four words paint a pretty picture for me, a scorchingly hot pretty picture but I feel remorse. I don’t want Jaak to think I’m sick when I’m not and especially not whenhe’s supposed to tell me about his demon origin story. Get it together, Meadow.
“No, I’m fine, really. I just, it’s nothing. I think I’ll feel better after a good night’s rest,” I say and pick up the pitcher of punch for him to see. “Do you want something to drink? The house was making up for earlier with the door. It made us dinner and this too. That’s where all the food came from.”
“Interesting,” Jaak says. He comes and takes the pitcher from me. I watch as he holds it up to the light and then gives it a sniff.
He looks at me over the rim of the glass. “Do you know what this is?” he asks.
I shake my head and take another deep drink from my glass. “No, but it’s yummy. I’ve never had anything like it. Try some, you'll like it. Who knew the house was this handy with drinks? I wonder what else it can make.” I bounce on my toes. I feel energized, restless even. I must be getting my second wind of the day.
“I wonder too.” Jaak takes the glass and pours himself a glass. “And I expect I will,” he says and raises his glass when I hold mine up for a cheer.
“It’s bad luck not to cheers,” I tell him. “I’m cheersing to a good dinner and night with you.”
He smiles at me. “You picked a fine cheers. I’m happy and honored to be your husband. I cheers to you, my beautiful and brave wife. You are and have always been my light in the dark,” he says and clinks his glass lightly against mine.
My cheeks go hot. How does he always know exactly what to say? Every time he opens his mouth he gets sexier.
“Thank you,” I murmur and drop my eyes to my glass. I’ve barely got a few sips left so I move to grab the pitcher to top my glass off when Jaak puts a hand out, covering the top of my glass.
“I wouldn’t do that. Maybe you should slow down on the drink,” he says while he proceeds to start chugging his glass.
I toss back the few sips I have left and then put my glass down with a thud. “Slow down? Why? And why are you drinking it so fast? There’s plenty more and I’m sure the house will make us another pitcher if we ask nicely. Right, house?” I ask.
