Chapter Text
“You are technically only walking into the next room,” Gemma argued.
The apartment was Gemma’s Crow dream; a labyrinth of rooms even for those who didn’t know about the secret entrance from the tavern’s storage room on the bottom floor. Entering through the front door, the main living space was an open floor plan that held the kitchen, dining area, family room with fireplace, and a washroom. High up on the living room was a balcony that attached to their bedroom, one floor above. The bedroom spanned back to the other side of the building, providing a master washroom and more closet space than either of them currently needed. From the bedroom, a set of spiral stairs led into their shared potion lab, which had a door Gemma’s private office, which had a door to the hallway opposite the front door to the living area.
This layout supported Gemma’s point that traversing from the bedroom to the kitchen was easy. Easier with wings. She had to use the collapsible ladder.
Lucanis’s face was pink. “It’s just….”
Spite chuckled.
“No one can get in,” she continued. “I set the wards. Illario can’t get in without Bellara’s help, and she isn’t expected back for two more days.”
“Rook.”
At his pleading tone, she climbed out of bed and padded on bare feet to stand beside him. With a gentle tug, she took the loose pants out of his hands and set them on a chair. Twining her fingers with his, she said, “We’ll do it together.”
She felt Lucanis flinch and tighten his fingers around hers when they stepped out of the darker bedroom into the light of the balcony. Spite obligingly provided wings, warm hands gripping her firmly around the waist, and a soft drop down to the family room.
There was a dining table with chairs for eight, but Gemma slid onto a tall chair at the kitchen island while Lucanis crossed to the coffee brewer. The pot was still half full from breakfast. When he brought two filled mugs and situated himself carefully on the chair next to her, she heated up both mugs with an easy touch of magic.
As they both sipped their coffee, she watched his shoulders relax. The midday sun streaming through the wall of windows touched his olive skin ignited a spark within her, but she ignored it. The apartment was quiet, providing peace that neither of them were used to.
Another sip and another dip in the line of his shoulders. He turned and rested his bare feet on the rungs of her chair. “This is…. Nice.”
She bit back the giggle that bubbled through her chest, not wanting to ruin the moment.
“ALWAYS TOLD YOU. CLOTHES WERE. UNNECCESARY.”
“I’m not cooking naked,” Lucanis said quickly. His face flushed again. “Will you….?”
The giggle escaped. “I will still love you even if you never walk around the apartment naked again.”