The Hidden Crystal

Chapter 34

Iris was still in Char's arms when morning came. He opened his eyes and smiled, following the halo of chestnut brown hair from the pillow to his chest, where her sleeping face rested. At some point in the night, she'd wrapped her arms around his waist. He kissed the top of her head and lightly brushed her hair back from her face. She stirred and nuzzled into him.

"Good morning, Iris."

Her brown eyes opened and looked up at him, dimmed by sleep but still brighter than they had been the night before.

"We need to stop doing this," she said, smiling shyly. Her voice was a little less harsh this morning.

"Or not." He leaned in to place a light kiss on her lips, and she didn't flinch away. A soft, contented sigh escaped her when he pulled away. He grinned. "How are you feeling?"

"Stiff and sore," she replied, settling her head on the pillow next to him. "It gets better after a few days."

He cupped her cheek in his hand and rubbed his thumb across her skin, back and forth, and she sighed again. She was enjoying this.

"So...how do you actually feel about me?"

A dusting of pink colored her cheeks. "I love you, Char."

He felt his heart swell in his chest, and he kissed her again, savoring the feel of her soft lips against his. She accepted a second kiss, and a third, allowing his fingers to trail down her chin to tilt her face up as he shifted up to hover over her. The sweet smile on her face matched the rosy glow on her cheeks. He combed her hair back with his fingers and left one last kiss on the tip of her nose.

"We should probably get up," he said reluctantly.

She nodded. He pushed back the covers and climbed out of bed, and when he turned back to her, he glimpsed long, bare legs before she yanked the blanket back up to her waist. Her face was beet red. It took him a moment to realize why, and then he turned quickly away, heat rising on the back of his neck. She was only wearing one of his shirts. He cleared his throat and headed into the bathroom.

"I'll just be a minute," he muttered.

He rushed through his morning routine and darted through the bedroom to the living room, careful not to look at her. The smells of hot food wafted through the air to greet him. He took a deep breath and went into the kitchen. Rath was already there, of course, and he looked up from his plate to give Char a teasing smirk.

"You didn't sleep on the sofa last night."

"No, I didn't," Char replied, taking his seat and avoiding Rath's eyes.

"She woke up, didn't she?"

"Yes."

Rath chuckled. "So?"

"So, she was upset, and I...comforted her," Char said lamely.

"Oh?" Rath packed as much suggestion into that single syllable as it could hold, and Char's neck heated up again.

"Not like that," he said firmly. "She was crying, and I hugged her, and we fell asleep. That's all."

"Uh huh." Rath chuckled again. "Look, I know you wouldn't do anything like that right after what she's been through. I just wanted to give you a hard time."

"I hate you," Char muttered.

"No, you don't. So, where is she?"

"Getting ready, I guess. And just to warn you, her voice is kind of rough."

"Why?"

Char scowled. "Screaming."

"Ugh. We need to figure out a way to kill that guy."