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“At least until you fall asleep.” He prayed the energy that filled his home may be able to sustain him for at least that long.
“You promise?” she asked, her voice fading.
“Promise.”
Her breathing evened out, and her body fell into a deep sleep. Whatever hold he had on his form slid away. Her arms and leg fell through him to the bed. As he pulled back, she shivered, wrapping the blanket around her tighter.
Unable to hold her now, but full of determination, he padded through the room gathering a few battery-operated items. Alarm clocks, flashlights, and remotes were gathered together nearby to fuel his practice at touching other physical objects. He tried moving the rocking chair in the corner, drawing energy from the alarm clock first. It didn’t rock an inch. Next, he tried the same with the flashlight, but achieved nothing as the light dimmed and abruptly went out.
“Dammit.” He hissed and glanced back at the bed when he heard Anastacia shift in her sleep. A warmth seeped in through his chest, working through his limbs as he watched her dream. He gripped the back of the chair and nearly fell forward when it finally rocked. Staring at his hands, the warmth retreated and he snorted in amazement. Thinking back to his impromptu lesson with Viper and Ralphy, they were on to something. His emotions fed his abilities, so he would have to learn to tap into them. He didn’t want this to be the only moment he shared with Anastacia.
A shift in the moonlight drew Mel’s attention to the window in time to see a flash of black eyes passing by. Pushing himself up from the floor took enough time for whatever creature it was to disappear. He tugged the curtains closed the rest of the way, blocking out all moonlight and shadows. Whatever waited outside the window wouldn’t get past him. Not tonight.
Insteadoftheclean,floral scent of her studio apartment, a multi-toned musk she didn’t recognize surrounded her. Anastacia’s eyes tried to focus as sleep faded away. The heaviness of her eyelids battled for more time in the blissful embrace of slumber. A scratchy groan made her cough, and she was instantly awake. She sat up in a mess of pillows and blankets, the cool air reminding her that she was still very much naked. Pulling a soft, cashmere blanket to her chest and running a hand over her hair, a blush burned her cheeks as the night before played in the back of her mind.
It wasn’t like her to be so forward but she didn’t want to waste a moment with Mel. Anastacia scanned the room and found it empty. Panic throbbed in her heart; if she’d given him the wrong idea, if she’d chased him away…
The mere idea of him not being with her stole her breath as stabbing pain slammed into her.
Deep, calming inhale.
Soothing exhale.
Reaching out with her gift, she could feel him nearby.
Wrapping the blanket around her shoulders, she dipped her bare feet to the cold wooden floor, hoping to find her discarded clothes. Searching the floor, bed, under the bed, and the tops of the scant pieces of furniture turned up nothing except boxes in the corner labeled “clothes.” If hers didn’t turn up, those in the box were strong contenders. But she couldn’t imagine anything that Mel had once worn as being the perfect fit. A large plush robe hanging on the back of the door caught her attention. She swung it on, letting the blanket fall to the floor. The padded silk flowed around her, a luxurious but absurd feeling given that Mel was taller and wider than her. The way it whispered around her calves made her think of Mel’s touch, sending shivers up her spine every time she moved.
As soon as she was out of the bedroom, she spotted him at the front window, near the door. He didn’t make any motion to show he knew she was awake.
“You made a splash with the neighbors. There are still a few souls out there waiting for you to get up," he said casually, eyes trained out the window.
“Good morning to you, too,” she answered sarcastically.
He turned toward her, smirking as he noticed she was dressed in his robe. She watched his eyes trail down her form as if they were his hands, running over every curve and dip. “Greatmorning.”
Her feet padded across the wood floor to peek out the front window with him. Five spirits were scattered over the lawn and sidewalk, their hopeful eyes not leaving the building, searching for her.
“They’re going to wait longer. I need some food and then a shower.” She turned from the window and made her way to the kitchen to scavenge through his freezer and pantry.
“You going to wear the robe today? Because I’m in favor.”
“I may have to, the clothes I arrived in are missing," she quipped from behind the counter. “I haven’t looked through the boxes in your room, but I know what's in them won’t fit me as well as they did you."
"I wouldn't mind you wearing some of my shirts."
"I bet."
“Yours are in the wash.”
Her eyebrows lifted in interest as the sound of the dryer finally caught her attention. “You can do laundry?”
“Trying to test my control on just how much I can touch and move. Come to find out material isn't too hard. Buttons on the machines took some time, though. I had to resort to using some electric impulses.”
He leaned over the counter and placed a kiss on her forehead. It wasn’t a true kiss. She couldn’t feel his lips like she had the night before, but it was more than just a chilly breeze over her skin. It had substance and pressure.
“I’m still trying to find the right pull for a proper kiss. My muse has been asleep.”
She chuckled at his sappy lines, finding sweetness in them. This man had an impact on her that she just didn’t understand. “Careful. Your charm is showing.”
