Page 118 of Ever After

Levi strips off his jeans and briefs and, as always, I look with interest at his lean body. But tonight I give a weary sigh, and say, “I think I’m actually too tired to fuck tonight, Levi.”

His mouth twitches. “Oh no. Say it isn’t so.”

I roll my eyes as I strip off my own clothes. I move about the bathroom, lighting candles and setting out towels. After I dim the light, candlelight fills the space, making it feel cosy and warm. I test the water and motion him in.

He hesitates for a second, and then slides in, holding out his arms for me. I step in and settle down with my back against his chest and my head resting on his shoulder. Just being skin to skin with him is everything to me.

His body is stiff and I can feel his quick breathing lifting his chest. “It’s okay,” I say quietly. “I’m here, Levi. I’m not going anywhere, and I won’t let anything happen to you.” I reach back and tap his amulet. The stone is cool to the touch. “And don’t forget you have this too.”

“I know.”

For a few moments there’s just the familiar sound of the wind rattling the windowpanes. I wait him out, holding his hand and playing with his fingers. Finally, he gives a long sigh. His arms tighten around me, and as the tension eases from his muscles, I give a grunt of contentment and continue the thread of our conversation.

“It’s true, Levi. We’re too tired for sex on our honeymoon. Grave robbing and intimacy do not go together.”

He cups his hands, gathering water to wet my hair, and when he’s done with that, he then stretches to get the soap. My eyes close in pleasure as he lathers soap over my arms. His fingers are firm, kneading the sore muscles, and the simple pleasure makes me sigh.

“And you don’t think this is intimacy?” he says quietly.

I consider the hot bath, the feel of our naked bodies, the affection in the way he touches me, and how we can say absolutely anything we want and the other one won’t think it weird because we understand each other right down to our bones.

“Yes,” I finally say. “This is definitely intimacy.” I crane my head back and kiss him. “I love it,” I whisper into his lips.

He presses a kiss onto my ear and starts to rinse the soap away. “Me too.”

I turn around and do the same for him, paying attention to the neck muscles that are tight with strain. Then we lie back, listening to the wind. It’s started to rain and the pattering against the window is almost comforting.

“Still,” I say after a few minutes, “we should really find some new hobbies other than digging up old magistrates. Maybe gardening would be better. You’re obviously talented with a spade.”

He snorts. “Or maybe we should just take up armed robbery. It’s got to be easier and less stressful.”

“Name the day and time. I’m definitely your accomplice in everything in life, Levi. It was in my wedding vows.”

“I don’t recall the registrar mentioning a life of crime.”

“It was implied.”

His laughter is bright and warm, and my eyes slide closed as I nestle closer, a comfortable silence falling. I think I might have drifted off because I jump a foot when he jerks and says, “Oh my god.”

“What?” I come up on my knees and spin to face him. “What is it?” I ask frantically.

“I’ve had an idea.” He gestures wildly.

I sag in relief. “What the fuck is the matter with you? Have a quieter one next time.”

“No, really.” He grabs my fingers, his eyes wide. “Didn’t Branok say that he thought the book would be somewhere dark?” I nod. “He was joking when he said he reckoned nothing would live near it, but what if that’s true?”

I scratch my nose, settling down opposite him in the bath. “What are you getting at?”

“It was your gardening joke. It made me remember something that Lord St Claire said.”

“What?”

“Do you remember when we took Frank back to the hall?”

I blink. “Who?”

“The dog. He ran off when we got to the hall and we followed him to the garden where we found Lord St Claire. He was gardening and he made an offhand remark about an area in the garden where nothing grew. What if it’s the book causing that?”