Page 83 of A Sinful Gravity

The steak was done. So was the pasta. I plated them, drizzled sauce over top, and set it in front of her.

"Of course, I'm not saying this to make you forgive me. I just wanted to cook you dinner."

Luna only said thank you, then looked down at the perfectly presented food, cut a small piece, and put it in her mouth.

"How is it?" I watched her nervously.

"Not bad." She assessed, her long lashes trembling once, then cut a second piece.

I leaned against the opposite side of the island, watching her eat with her head bowed, feeling a long-absent satisfaction rise in my chest. This moment felt more powerful than closing any business deal.

She ate slowly, chewing each bite thoroughly. The light fell on her face, softening her features.

"Luna," I spoke after sitting down.

She looked up.

"Thank you," I said.

"For what?"

"For... being willing to sit here." I paused. "Willing to eat my cooking."

She looked at me, her eyes softening slightly.

"Cassian." She said.

"Yeah?"

"You've changed."

I froze. Then I smiled.

"Have I?"

She nodded.

"Then I'll keep cooking for you."

She looked at me, didn't speak.

But her mouth curved.

That smile was faint, but enough to carry me through the whole evening.

Luna didn't contradict that "keep cooking."

Just her being there made heat coil low in my stomach.

Chapter Eighteen

Luna

The candle on the table was almost burned out.

It was the one Cassian had just brought over, stuck simply in a glass he'd found. Wax tears dripped down the sides, hardening into little white patches. The light was soft, making his features look gentler than usual.

He hadn't touched his steak much, just held his wine glass, his eyes looking a bit shattered in the candlelight.