Page 125 of Wicked Magik

“I have eaten my fill, enough to put her to sleep.”

I frowned and picked up my trousers, awkwardly putting them over my shaft. “Is she still not sleeping well?”

Oryx shook his head. “I pushed her so she would sleep.”

I smiled and put my hand on Oryx’s arm. “Then we clean her and put her to bed. I’ll sit in a chair and watch over you both while you sleep.”

As I moved to leave, Oryx's tail coiled around my waist, drawing me back against him. The cold bone of his skull pressed near my temple while his wet tongue slid from between his teeth and traced a slow path up my neck.

“We are close,” he hummed. “I know this.”

I hoped to the Under Shadows that it was true.

Oryx cleaned and bathed her. She was half asleep when he tucked her into bed. Oryx was already nestled beside her, his front to her back, in the large nest he had created. His tail flicked back and forth in happiness and soon, he was asleep before Vesper had even closed his eyes.

Vesper's eyes found mine across the room. My chair waited by the table, stacked with books to pass the hours while they surrendered to sleep. Rest rarely claimed me, though a blanket draped over the chair's arm stood ready should exhaustion finally win.

Not that I think I would be sleeping, not with the images that were still playing in my head.

Our eyes locked across the room, neither of us looking away. I shifted in my chair, crossing one ankle over my knee, waiting. The silence stretched between us until I finally broke it. "Is there something I can do for you, Vesper?"

Vesper bit her lip. “I don’t know how to say this but, I don’t hate you.”

I smiled. “You don’t say?”

Vesper scowled. “Don’t get a big head about it.”

I laughed softly. "I wouldn't dream of it. I'm genuinely glad you don't despise me. I was aiming for something closer to liking, but not hating is," I paused to take a deep breath, "a good start." I intertwined my fingers.

Vesper bit down on her lip again and moved the blankets so they were open to me. I lifted an eyebrow in question.

“Don’t make me say,” she whispered.

“Say what, darling?” I countered.

She huffed and patted the bed.

I'd accept any scrap of affection she offered. Rising from my chair, I removed my shoes and tunic, feeling her gaze track each movement. When I slid into their nest, I maintained a careful distance, pulling the covers over myself and fixing my eyes on the ceiling above, waiting.

She sighed heavily again. “Do you need an invitation written in stone?”

“You are the one not communicating,” I drawled.

Vesper pulled on my arm and I rolled towards her, her face slammed into my chest.

Warmth filled my body as Vesper's breath was hot against my skin, her body relaxing into mine. I tentatively wrapped an arm around her, half-expecting her to stiffen or pull away. But she didn't. She nestled closer, her head tucking under my chin. I could feel Oryx's tail wrap around the both of us.

"You're warmer than I thought," Vesper murmured, her voice barely audible. "Oryx's like a furnace, but you... you're just right."

I smiled into her hair, inhaling her scent. She smelled of that lavender Oryx talked about and a hint of Oryx's darkness. It was… nice. "And you're just right for us, pet," I whispered back.

She pulled back slightly, her eyes meeting mine. There was a softness in her gaze that I hadn't seen before. "Just don’t fuck it up. You are still on probation" she said, but there was no heat in her words.

I brushed a strand of hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear. "I know," I said. "And I'll spend every day making it up to you, if you'll let me."

She searched my face, her eyes flicking back and forth between mine. Then, she nodded slightly, her lips pressing into a thin line. It wasn't complete forgiveness, not yet, but it was a start.

Behind her, Oryx stirred, his arm snaking around Vesper's waist, pulling her back against him. His eyes opened and he tilted his head as he took in Vesper in my arms. A soft purr rumbled in his chest, and he nuzzled into her hair.