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It’s firmly in the realm of night by the time I step out of my apartment building with Elias on a crisp, late January evening.
He’s in a smartly cut waistcoat, formal as ever. His hair falls across his face, shadowing the deep, dark gray eyes of his glamour. The carefully groomed pattern of his facial hair accentuates his features perfectly.
Elias takes my hand as he walks beside me, and even after all this time, it still makes my heart flutter.
While we’re stopped at the crossing, I lean up and nuzzle against him, pressing a soft kiss against the underside of his jaw. He raises an eyebrow at me.
“You’re gorgeous,” I say by way of explanation, which makes Elias laugh. It feels like he laughs more often and more freely around me now, and I love it. It’s only ever quiet, unlike Caelan’s enthusiastic cackle, but Elias’ laugh is rich and deep, and I can feel the vibration if he laughs while I’m resting against him.
I duck my head, realizing I’m getting caught up in my own thoughts again. I’m still so head over heels for them, it’s embarrassing.
We’re not far from the coffee shop, at least. The place isn’t high-class, but it has a quaint charm. It’s a small chain, just two or three branches within the city, with eclectic décor somewhere between pop culture and antique. There are 80s and 90s comic prints on the walls, but there are also gilded chairs positioned around marble tables and a statue of a sphinx in the middle of the room. Because reasons, I suppose.
“What would you like?” I ask Elias. “Usual?”
“Darling, that’s unnecessary.”
“Hush,” I inform him, inelegantly waving away his attempts to reach for his wallet while fumbling with my own. “It’s only one damn coffee.”
I want to do something for him in return, as small as the gesture is.
“Sometimes you really are as stubborn as Caelan,” Elias notes.
“I’m going to assume that’s a compliment.”
Elias only smirks in response.
I take our drinks, an espresso for Elias and a spiced chai latte for me, since I want to be able to sleep at some point, and slide into a booth. Elias joins me, and I immediately lean in against him.
“You’re affectionate tonight,” he says, quietly amused.
I lightly snort. “Am I ever not?” I wonder if I’m a little too affectionate sometimes. Neither of them are tender sorts, and I don’t want to overdo it to the point of irritating them. But they’ve never reacted negatively. Not yet, at least.
Elias chuckles. “I suppose that’s fair.”
“I just enjoy spending time with you. And it’s been… a day. I could use some affection.”
Elias frowns at that. He takes a sip of the coffee I procured for him, then puts it down on the table, letting his arm snake around my waist instead. “Is there anything you would like to talk about? Anyone that needs dealing with?” His eyes flash dangerously with the second offer.
“At least you’re more subtle and don’t straight up suggest murdering people like Caelan does,” I say, grinning. “No. I’m just tired. Assignments. Exams. Work. Human bullshit.”
His frown doesn’t waver any. “We’re distracting you from your other obligations.”
“No! God, no. You and Caelan are the best thing I have in my life. The rest is just… just that. Obligations. Things dragging on and stress piling up. I just want to get my degree done and get out at this point.”
“Hmm… if you’d rather not go anywhere tonight…”
“I want to,” I immediately affirm. I already feel more at ease just being at Elias’ side, with a warm drink clutched between my hands, leaning casually into Elias as I observe the rest of the coffee shop bustle about. “You said you had something planned?”
He presses a kiss to my temple. “Nothing important.” A crooked little smile. “I have taken note of your request not to spoil you too much, as unnecessary as I feel it is.”
“I appreciate it.”
“Paying for my coffee is still not required of you, either.”
“Shh. Let me have this one thing.”
He tilts his head slightly, the corner of his mouth quirking up. Then he lifts my chin and kisses me, which is payment enough. Sighing against him, I can taste the coffee on his lips and tongue as he deepens the kiss for a moment.
