Page 62 of Moonlight Hearts

“Hah.You think I’ll let myself be intimidated by tales of your cook?”

“Sous chef.I just mean that if Vico and Chef are coming too, then… You know.”

“If my cooking fails to impress them, you’ll have to do that for me, my heart.”He waved over the closest salesperson, a human-looking woman with her hair in a tight ponytail, wearing a spotless white blouse and a navy apron with the Pottery logo.“I’ll take this one.I need a few more plates too, and cutlery.But show me your citrus presses first.”

I cleared my throat.“And…the juicers?”

Soyer groaned.“Yeah, fine.Show us to your juicers.”

Soyer bought a lot of stuff at that store.I had exactly no idea what anything cost, because there hadn’t been price tags on anything, and he said something about that being because they always worked out the general human tax and the Hawthorne tax later on.I was pretty sure it was because he’d spent a minor fortune.

Most of the things were to be delivered, except the stainless-steel lemon squeezer Soyer had insisted on taking with us right away.He was washing that in the sink when I stretched my arms out in front of the window, looking out over the city.We’d gotten ice cream too, and it was waiting in the freezer to become a dessert later tonight.

Outside, Newstaten was as busy as ever, cars down below already flashing their headlights.Clouds had rolled in, light gray winter clouds, and they’d brought more than an evening chill with them.

“It’s started snowing again.”

“It has.You know, that means the roads will be bad.You should stay in today, let Thaeros take over for you.”

I looked back over my shoulder.“You are the worst.Wednesday is mine, and so is Thursday.Are you going to come by later?”

“Yes.Are you going to save me some pie?”

“Of course.”

He turned, leaving his new gadget in the sink, his hands still wet when he leaned against the counter.

“I’m looking forward to that.To getting my dessert.”

I hesitated, though not for long.Soyer’s want came in the form of a hint, an indirect question that I could choose to answer or not.The choice was always mine.

I turned my back on the window and walked over to him, then wrapped my arms around his middle.“Yeah?”

His eyes were beautiful black pools.“Yes.”

I bit the inside of my cheek.“I’d like to give you a sweet treat.Should I… Is that what I say?You know I’m not good at this.”

He cupped my cheek.“My heart, you know that doesn’t matter.Can I kiss you?”

“Only if you promise not to make me late.”

He groaned.“You’re too damn responsible.Fine.I’ll make sure you’re at the Moonlight on time.”

“Okay.Then…should we go upstairs?”

“I’d like that.You?”

That made me smile.“Are you ever not going to check and check again?”

“Probably not.Why would I?Well, if you start acting like Elias, I might have to, but I don’t really see that for you, my heart.So then, why would I stop making you tell me that you want to fuck me?It’s the sweetest thing a man can tell another.”

I cackled.“There are people who’d disagree with you.”

“Fuck them.Come on, take me to bed, hmm?”

I nodded and held out my hand for him to take, much like he had on that night I’d given him his name.He followed me, wanted to follow me, so I took the lead up the winding staircase and to our bedroom.I chuckled when I saw that he hadn’t made the bed—something he usually did without giving me the opportunity to help or do it for him.

“Did you plan this?”