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I flashed Turik a smile and took both plates.
“Come on, then. Let’s check out your movie selection.”
After encouraging Turik to sit on the couch, I left the plates on the coffee table and went to inspect his stack of movies. I was very aware of the view I presented when I bent forward and grinned when I heard him shift on the couch behind me.
“I’m glad you had the forethought to close the curtains,” I commented as I browsed. “I’m not exceptionally shy about my body, but I’m not really into public exhibition either. Especially with all my bruises.”
“I like your body. I don’t like the bruises.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I gave him a quick, reassuring smile. “Me either. I’m going to be really glad when they fade.” The smile diminished, and I straightened with a random movie in my hand. “Did anything happen here today while we were gone? I should have asked Julie that before we left.”
Turik stood and closed the distance between us. When he reached me, he smoothed his hands over my arms. There was no mistaking the tender look in his eyes or that he was trying to comfort me with the gesture.
“You are safe here. Nat no longer deserves any of your thoughts. Give your worry to Vorx.”
I felt a tug on my heartstrings and wasn’t exactly sure why. Was it because I was so starved for gentle touches and kind words, or because Turik was so open about his concern for people other than himself?
“And you too, right? You still deserve my worry?”
His ears darkened, and his pupils grew just a little larger as his gaze dipped to my chest. Then he shrugged slightly and returned his gaze to my face.
“Only you can decide who is deserving of your worry. Except for Nat. He is no longer deserving.”
My smile returned.
“Understood. But my worry was more for the people here than Nat.”
He grunted and slid his hands the length of my arms.
“Are you cold?”
My smile widened.
“Is this where you offer to keep me warm?”
“Yes, I can add wood to the stove.”
I chuckled and shook my head, loving that the fey, while very interested in attaining a female of their own, didn’t stoop to games.
“I’m actually fine. It’s comfortable in here. Ready to watch this?” I looked down at the movie in my hand. It was an old classic about a bunch of misfits going on an adventure and finding treasure.
“I am ready.”
He took the movie from me and started it while I settled on the couch with my plate. Was this the third meal now that I hadn’t needed to cook for myself? Feeling decidedly spoiled, I took my first bite. The chicken breast was seasoned to perfection, and I groaned when I tried the baby potatoes and carrots.
“You have no idea how good it is to eat a vegetable that isn’t cooked to nothing and swimming in a thin stew. This is delicious.”
“I’m glad you like it. Emily and Mary have been teaching some of us to cook using human spices. Mary said that food was the way to a man’s heart, but she thinks it will work the other way around now since food is scarcer.”
“She’s right about that,” I said. “You saw the women lining up for the soup kitchen. Feed them, and you’ll win them in no time.”
He grunted and started eating his meal as the opening credits rolled.
Once my food was gone, the movie sucked me in, and it wasn’t until nearly the end that I heard a pained sound coming from Vorx’s room and returned to reality. One where I was comfortably snuggled against Turik’s side, and he had an arm casually draped over my shoulder.
“I’ll go check on him,” I said. “Maybe you can warm up his dinner again?”
Turik’s only answer was to lift his arm. I hurried from his side, worried about Vorx, which proved valid when I caught him in the middle of trying to sit up.
