I nodded. She filled out the academy uniform quite nicely as well.
She draped her arms over my shoulders, pulling me so that our noses touched. “There is, however, one additional outfit that I would welcome your opinion onlater this evening.”
I kissed her again, eyes closing lazily as I did. “And that is?”
“Nothing at all.”
Epilogue
I stepped from the carriage to the wet cobblestone street in front of her home.
Sephi took my extended hand in hers, her slim fingers appearing positively dainty in those skin-tight, green silken gloves. She squeezed my hand as the carriage departed. A firm grip. A grip that I could trust if either of us ever dangled from a cliff.
Though hopefully that wouldn't be tonight.
The historic ogre district was a quiet neighborhood this late at night. Industrial feeling, with a lot of brick buildings and not many windows or storefronts at ground level. Wind whipped the tops of a few spindly trees to and fro, while moonlight reflected off pooled water from the earlier rain. Temperature hovered around freezing. Not a cozy locale.
I glanced at Sephi.
The company, on the other hand, made it cozy.
“I am grateful that you and your colleagues waited for me,” she said. “The second half of the evening was far more agreeable than the first.”
I took her hand in my other, so that I could slide an arm around the delightful curve of her waist. The side of her hip pressed firmly into mine as I pulled her tight. “Agreeable, hmm?”
“Most.”
“Even the Lindworm Lunge?”
An exasperated huff passed her lips, fogging the night air. “Even that mostrusticof formation dances with your friends.”
“They seem to be on the way to becoming your friends as well.”
She flashed a subtle nod. “Shall we go?”
“Lead the way.”
Gretta, who I’d learned was one of an entire family of ogres living in the building, greeted us as we pushed the heavy door within a door shut.
“Hullo Missus Nose, hullo Mister Wood,” said the ogress.
“Good evening Gretta,” said Sephi. “I see you are nearly done with the blanket you have been knitting. The pattern is most fetching.”
“Thank you, missus Nose. You two have fun playing ball?”
“Indeed.” Sephi put a palm on my back to guide me toward the wrought iron staircase that led up to the level of her apartment, pausing at the first step. “Gretta, do not be concerned if you hear odd noises coming from my home this evening. Mister Thistlewood is my new consort, whom I shall beravishing most extensively for the next few hours.”
A pity I had no beverage, as I would have either choked on it, or spit it out most theatrically at that moment.
I felt fingers on the back of my neck as I secured the door to her apartment, fingers that glided under the collar of my overcoat to slide it off my shoulders.
“Thank you,” I noted she’d already hung up hers, leaving her in that slinky iridescent green dress that both covered and accentuated her every curve. “You’re beautiful.”
“You…” She began unbuttoning my jacket top to bottom. “Are overdressed.”
She seemed to drink in every detail, the tip of her tongue poking from the corner of her mouth, as she deftly undid the lowest burnished brass button. “And most handsome, darling consort.” Her green eyes sparkled as she slid her fingers under the jacket to press her palms against my belly, thumbs playing with the little buttons of my shirt.
My abs tensed at the touch.
