Page 5 of Fairy’s Forbidden Touch (Wings & Whispers #2)
“You’re seeing someone,” Maya announced two weeks later, hands on her hips as she stared down at me on her couch. “You’ve been sneaking in at dawn with that stupid smile on your face.”
I pulled the blanket over my head. “It’s too early for interrogations.”
She yanked the blanket away. “Who is it? Someone from that weird café? Please tell me it’s not your boss with the wings.”
“It’s not Pix,” I groaned, giving up on sleep. “And it’s… complicated.”
Maya dropped into the armchair across from me. “Complicated how? Married? Criminal record? Oh god, please tell me they’re at least human.”
I winced, and her eyes widened.
“Jesse Parker! You’re screwing a fairy?!”
“First of all, they prefer ‘fae.’ Second, we’re not exactly… I mean, we’re taking things slow. Sort of.” The memory of the previous night—Thalen’s cool fingers exploring every inch of my body with increasing confidence—made me flush.
Maya buried her face in her hands. “This is exactly the kind of bad decision that landed you on my couch in the first place. Remember the bass player who stole your credit cards? The ‘entrepreneur’ who was actually running a pyramid scheme?”
“This is different,” I insisted. “Thalen is different.”
“Thalen?” Her eyebrows shot up. “That’s… an unusual name.”
I shrugged, trying for casual. “He’s an unusual guy.”
“How unusual? Like, unusual career choice unusual, or unusual has-wings-and-lives-in-a-mushroom unusual?”
I snorted. “No mushroom houses. But he is… important in the fae world.”
Maya’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Important how?”
“He might be… sort of… royalty?”
“ROYALTY?!” She leapt to her feet. “You’re sleeping with fairy ROYALTY?!”
“We’re not exactly sleeping together yet,” I clarified. “More like… exploring. And keep your voice down, the neighbors already hate us after the blender incident.”
Maya paced the small living room. “Let me get this straight. You, Jesse ‘bad decision’ Parker, are ‘exploring’ with fairy royalty. The same Jesse who once dated a guy for three months because you were too awkward to tell him you weren’t actually interested.”
“That was different. I was younger.”
“That was last year!”
I sighed, sitting up properly. “Look, I know my track record isn’t great—”
“Understatement of the century.”
“—but this feels different. He’s… there’s something special happening.”
Maya’s expression softened slightly. “Special enough that you’re finally going to get your own place?”
“Working on it,” I promised. “The café pays well, especially with tips. I’ve been saving.”
She eyed me for a moment, then sighed. “I’m going away this weekend to visit Mom. You’ll have the place to yourself. Try not to burn it down or summon any fairy armies while I’m gone.”
An idea sparked. “Actually, that’s perfect. I’ve been wanting to introduce Thalen to movies. He’s never seen one.”
“Never seen a movie? What rock has he been living under?”
“More like what magical realm,” I muttered. “Their technology is… different.”
Maya shook her head in disbelief. “Just promise me you’re being careful. And I don’t just mean sexually. These fairy—sorry, fae—they play by different rules.”
“I know. Trust me, I’m learning the rules as I go.”
After Maya left for work, I texted Thalen using the strange crystal communication device he’d given me.
It looked like a regular smartphone to human eyes but functioned on what he called “resonance patterns” rather than cell signals.
The screen shimmered slightly when I used it, and the text appeared to float above the surface rather than on it.
My cousin’s away this weekend. Want to come to my place and watch movies? Human cultural education.
His reply came almost instantly:
I would be most interested in this cultural exchange. What time shall I arrive?
We arranged for him to come over Friday after my shift.
I spent the rest of the day cleaning Maya’s apartment, hiding the more embarrassing family photos, and making a list of potential movies.
What do you show someone who’s never seen a film before?
Start with classics? Or something modern with better special effects?
By the time Friday night arrived, I was uncharacteristically nervous.
Thalen had never been to a human home before, and I suddenly saw Maya’s apartment through new eyes—the mismatched furniture, the peeling paint in the kitchen, the general smallness of it all compared to his elegant, spacious residence.
I needn’t have worried. When Thalen arrived precisely at the agreed time, he looked around with genuine curiosity rather than judgment.
“This is where you reside?” he asked, examining the family photos on the wall.
“Temporarily,” I explained. “I’m staying with my cousin until I find my own place.”
He nodded, continuing his inspection of the living room.
He was dressed more casually than I’d ever seen him—though “casual” for Thalen still meant perfectly tailored trousers and a silk shirt, just without the elaborate jacket and accessories he usually wore.
His hair was in a simpler braid today, draped over one shoulder.
“You look nice,” I told him, unable to resist reaching out to touch the silk of his shirt. After two weeks of exploration, touching him had become more natural, though I still marveled at the privilege of being able to do so.
He smiled, a real smile that transformed his usually serious face. “As do you.”
I glanced down at my worn jeans and faded band t-shirt. “I’m practically in rags compared to you.”
“I find your attire fascinating,” he said sincerely. “Especially these… images.” He traced the faded logo on my shirt. “They tell stories about you.”
That was such an unexpectedly sweet observation that I had to kiss him. He responded eagerly, his arms sliding around my waist with practiced ease. These past two weeks had seen him grow increasingly comfortable with physical affection, sometimes seeming to crave it after a lifetime of deprivation.
“So,” I said when we finally separated. “Movie night. I’ve got a few options.” I gestured to the selection I’d queued up on Maya’s streaming account. “We’ve got action, comedy, romance… any preferences?”
Thalen looked at the TV screen with interest. “I defer to your expertise. What would be an appropriate introduction to human cinema?”
I ended up choosing “The Princess Bride”—figuring its mix of humor, action, and romance made it a good starter film. As we settled onto the couch, Thalen immediately pressed against my side, seemingly determined to maintain physical contact.
“There are rules to watching movies,” I told him with mock seriousness. “First, no talking during important parts. Questions can be asked during pauses. Second, snacks are mandatory.”
I produced the popcorn I’d prepared, along with some of the honeyed wine Thalen had introduced me to, which was apparently a common fae beverage.
“And third,” I continued, “cuddling is strongly encouraged.”
That earned me another of those rare smiles as he deliberately moved closer, his arm sliding around my shoulders.
The movie began, and I watched Thalen’s face more than the screen.
His expressions were fascinating—surprise, amusement, confusion all flitting across features that had seemed so impassive when I first met him.
He asked occasional questions, clearly trying to follow the “no talking” rule, but sometimes couldn’t contain his curiosity about human behaviors or film conventions.
“So the grandfather is telling a story within the story we are watching?” he clarified during one pause.
“Exactly. It’s a framing device.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “We have similar structures in fae storytelling, though without the visual component.”
When we reached the famous “as you wish” revelation, I glanced over to see Thalen watching with unexpected intensity.
“That is… quite romantic,” he commented. “To conceal such feelings in plain speech.”
“It’s become a bit of a cultural reference,” I explained. “People say it to mean ‘I love you’ without saying it directly.”
Something flickered in his expression, but before I could interpret it, his attention returned to the screen.
As the movie continued, I became increasingly aware of Thalen’s proximity—the cool press of his thigh against mine, the weight of his arm around my shoulders, the subtle scent of winter and night flowers that always surrounded him.
By the time we reached the Fire Swamp scene, my focus was less on the film and more on the way his fingers were absently stroking my shoulder.
When Westley and Buttercup kissed, Thalen turned to me with obvious intent. “Is this also part of the movie-watching ritual? Mimicking the actions on screen?”
I laughed. “Not officially, but it can be.”
He leaned in, capturing my lips in a kiss that started gentle but quickly deepened.
The movie continued in the background as we explored each other with increasing urgency.
Two weeks of “lessons” had made Thalen remarkably adept at physical intimacy, and he now knew exactly how to touch me to get the reactions he wanted.
His cool fingers slipped under my t-shirt, tracing patterns across my stomach that made me shiver. I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, gently tugging at the braid until it came loose, silver strands spilling over my fingers.
“I believe I’m missing the plot developments,” he murmured against my lips.
“We can rewind,” I assured him, pulling him closer.
He shifted until he was practically in my lap, a position we’d discovered he particularly enjoyed. His greater height meant he had to bend down to kiss me this way, his hair creating a silver curtain around our faces.
“May I remove your shirt?” he asked, ever formal with his requests despite our increasing intimacy.
“Only if I can remove yours,” I countered.