“You shall stay right where you are,” Aurin mumbled.
Salem laughed again, quieter this time, and pressed his forehead against Aurin’s. He could feel the smile lingering there.
For a long while, neither of them moved.
The daylight climbed higher across the bed. Aurin traced idle patterns over Salem’s wrist, half asleep again already. He watched the light catch on the golden strands of Aurin’s hair and thought about all the mornings they’d lost to secrets and hiding—all the ordinary moments that had once seemed impossible.
Now there would be coffee mugs left in the sink. Clothes left on the floor. Sleepy arguments over whose turn it was to cook dinner. Cuddling under the covers while the rain hit the window. All the human things Salem had never experienced.
A normal life.
Well, as normal as a life such as theirs could be.
“A swim before breakfast? Or food first?” Salem asked.
Aurin protested with a mumble.
“We have a lot to do today,” Salem said. “We need to bring all your things over and set up our little home. Get some groceries and cleaning supplies.”
Salem felt Aurin smile against his skin. “You’re excited.”
“My darling Aurin,” Salem whispered, kissing Aurin’s head. “I cannot wait.”
A quick swim first,to wake up, Aurin decided, and Salem was only too happy to oblige. And how easy it was to simply step out their front door and dive into the water.
Oh, he’d missed this water.
And he’d never tire of watching Aurin in freeform. The way he glittered, specks of gold and starlight, still stole Salem’s breath now as it did the first time he’d laid eyes on him.
He was the prettiest thing Salem had ever seen.
Aurin rolled his eyes and gave him a soft nudge.I heard that.
I tell you all the time you’re the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen.
You’re a sweet talker.He coiled one arm around one of Salem’s and glanced up at the surface.Okay, now I want food.
Salem chuckled as they pushed up to the pier. They dried off quickly before redressing in the same clothes they woreyesterday, and then they headed to Aurin’s old place. Aurin was clearly surprised to see Kellan in the kitchen.
“Oh,” he said. “Morning.”
“Morning,” Kellan said. “Are you feeling any better?”
“Hm,” Aurin said. “We came over because there’s nothing in our new place. I’ll clear out my room here today.”
“No rush,” Kellan said, then nodded to the kitchen. “Make yourselves some breakfast. Coffee, toast, fruit. I think Dylan has some cereal in the cupboard.”
“Thanks.”
“Aurin, is that you?” Dylan called out before appearing in the hallway. His face lit up when he saw Aurin and Salem. “Still not used to seeing you in human form,” he said to Salem. “You’re very tall.”
“Yeah, we’ll need to get him some clothes,” Aurin said. “Now he can be human more than cat. These pants from the faun, while much appreciated, are not really your style.”
Dylan came over and gave Aurin a quick hug. “We have a lot to catch up on,” he said, giving a pointed glance at Salem.
“Uh, yes, we do,” Aurin said, nodding to Kellan, who blushed, and then Hendrix, who came out of the hall. “We have alotto talk about.”
Hendrix was holding some folded fabric, and he put it on the table and spoke to Salem. He must have heard Aurin before. “These should fit you,” he said. “We’ll get you some more, but it’s a start. Anything else you need, just let us know.”
