"Thatbad?" Marge shot me an apologetic look.
"No!It's fucking delicious. Tell him I said thank you!"
"Oh!"She bowed low and made a sweeping gesture with her hand. "I present toyou, the Witchwich. Forgot that part." She rolled her eyes and turnedtoward the kitchen. Herb was practically hanging out of the window. "Shelikes it!"
Therelief in the diner was real. Everybody seemed to start breathing again.
"Betchathe menu's gonna have a new sticker tomorrow." Yuki giggled.
Chapter 10
Ding dong.
Itook my finger from the modern looking doorbell and waited, uneasily. Since Darand Shea had started seeing each other outside of our relationship, it hadalways been my intention to make Shea's apartment their own little sanctum andnot intrude.
However,after lunch at the diner, I'd stopped by the bookstore. The two of them hadtaken my comment about crashing at their place at face value and had arrangeddinner and planned on me spending the night. Chief had winked at me and told meto go. He didn't mind spending the night in my room without me, thanking me forletting him crash there. I even offered to ask Yuki to cuddle with him. He'dbeen less than pleased, even though I'd been joking. Yuki smacked me in theback of the head when he wasn't looking. I thought their whole damn rivalrything was kind of cute. And fun to exploit for my own entertainment.
"Youcould have just shadow walked into the apartment," Shea said as he pulledthe door open with his hands encased in oven mitts.
"Thatwould be rude." I kissed him on the forehead as I walked inside the earthyapartment. Truth be told, I loved spending time there. His wood furnishings andtaste in décor ranged from Middle Earth to elven assassin.
"Dinneris almost ready. Wine?"
"Aslong as it doesn't knock me on my ass."
"Nopromises, Lady." He let out a string of musical laughter and headed back tothe kitchen. He was wearing a leather apron and had his hair tied back with ablack ribbon. Even without the leather pants he was hot. Watching his ass in saidleather pants, he was drool worthy. I had failed to get him in the habit ofwearing jeans or sweatpants. While he would have looked magnificent in gray sweatpants, you wouldn'thave been able to see every ripple of every muscle in his ass and legs as hewalked.
"Where'sDar?" I was making conversation.
"Inthe shower. He just got home from work."
"Youshould have told me to come later."
"Bythe time he gets out of the shower, dinner should be done, Lady." Hepulled off the oven mitts and pulled an ancient bottle of wine off the winerack that looked like it had been grown from grape vines. Deftly cutting thewax from the top with the dagger he kept somewhere on him when he wasn'twearing the heavy cloak he fought in, he tucked it away and held his palm tothe bottom of the bottle, whispering something too softly for me to hear. Iwatched in fascination as the cork wiggled itself out of the bottle and felldeftly into his hand.
"Tellingyou. You should get a job as a sommelier."
"Andspend time away from my beloved books? I think not, Lady." He smiled at meand started pouring the amber liquid into three crystal glasses on the counter.
"What'sthis one?"
"Elvenfire wine."
"Soundsspicy."
"Notat all." He grabbed two of the glasses, handed me one, and then lightlytouched the rim of his glass to mine before taking a sip.
Ibrought the glass to my lips and inhaled. It smelled like summer. I couldpractically hear the waves of the lake as they gently lapped the shore.Laughter filled my ears as I took a sip. It went down smooth, settled in mybelly, and then began to warm me from the inside out. "They should call itsummer instead of fire."
"Itis in reference to the warming effect. Elven travelers often brought this oncold voyages. I thought it fitting considering the weather and the meal."
"Whatare we having?'
"Searedvenison loin astride roasted root vegetables and fondant potatoes with a portreduction."
"Deer,veggies, and taters?"
"Yes."He stared at me blankly.
"Well,if it's as good as it sounds, I'm sure I'll love it." I chuckled andpulled him in for a hug, careful not to spill our wine.
Hepressed his face against my chest. "I have missed you."
"Missedyou too, my Shea."
Helooked up at me with one of those innocent smiles that made my heart melt andlady bits get squishy. Leaning in, I kissed him.
"Isee the two of you are skipping to dessert."
Turningaround, I grinned at the half-naked blue demon in the doorway to the bedroom.My squishy bits drooled. He was wearing nothing but a white towel and thecontrast between it and his azure skin was mesmerizing. As was the bulge in thefront of the towel.
"Letme throw on some pants," he said and blew me a seductive kiss.
"Noton my account, I hope." I wiggled my eyebrows at him.
Hereturned before I got my staring situation under control, wearing the graysweatpants I'd been picturing on Shea. "Dar, we have a guest. You shouldwear something more appropriate. At least put on a shirt."
Darfrowned. What say you, Master? Would you like me to wearmore, or divest Shea of some of his…
Divestaway!
Darlaughed and walked over to Shea, untying the thong on the apron and taking itand his peasant shirt off. Shea rolled his eyes in protest.
"Master'sorders," Dar whispered in his ear loudly enough for me to hear.
Shealooked at me shyly, his protests turning to a smile. "As our guest wishes."
Dartook the third glass of wine and motioned for the table, pulling out the seaton the end for me. "Thank you, sir."
WhenI sat, he reached down and grabbed the hem of my shirt, lifting it over my headafter I set my glass down. "What are you doing?"
"Ifyou wish us to be shirtless during dinner, we cannot allow our guest to standout." He kissed my shoulder as I instinctually covered
