The Magician's Witch

Trouble in Paradise

Eilis felt Erik stir first the following morning. He pulled her closer to him as his lips touched her hair. Her eyes still closed, she smiled.

"Good morning, wife," was the whisper against her temple.

Eilis smiled wider, burrowing her face in his chest. She was too comfortable to allow herself to be fully awake yet.

Erik chuckled at her reaction as his arms tightened around her. He nuzzled the side of her neck, breathing her in.

Eilis sighed. This was bliss.

Eilis nearly fell asleep again, drifting peacefully, when a knock sounded at the door. They groaned in unison.

"I think the outside world has found us," Eilis complained, her response muffled against his skin.

"Regrettably," Erik agreed.

"Maybe if we ignore them, they will go away."

She paused, listening.

Another knock.

"Unfortunately, my dear, they seem rather insistent."

Eilis grumbled something unintelligible.

They rolled away from each other, stretching and yawning and sitting up. Eilis rubbed her eyes like a sleepy child. She reached over the lip of the bed for her bathrobe, grabbed it after the second try, and fumbled with the sleeves until she could shove her arms through them.

Erik got up from his side of the bed and dressed quickly. He picked up his clothes and Eilis' pajamas from yesterday, leaving them in a pile in the corner of the wardrobe. He then picked up the scarf that had been their handfasting cord.

Another knock sounded.

"Where shall I put this?"

A wistful smile spread across Eilis' lips. She looked around the room, thinking.

"Maybe put it in one of your saddle bags for now. Leave it tied."

Erik met her eyes, his own sparkling as he recalled yesterday. He went to where he kept his saddle bags, opened one of the flaps, gently folded the scarf, and placed it inside. He fastened the flap and then went to answer the door. But before he got there, he made an about-face and came up to her, taking Eilis by the waist and pulling her to him. His lips were warm against hers and she opened to him, fisting his shirt in her hands.

The knocking became more adamant; someone was annoyed with having to wait.

Erik ignored them, taking his time, his mouth sealed with Eilis'. When he finally released her, they were both breathless. His eyes said all he felt.

Eilis was tempted to throw up the deterrent spell again and send the interruption away, but they would just come back.

"We will continue to celebrate our marriage later," she promised.

Erik grinned. "I should expect so," he growled. He leaned in once more time, planting a short kiss on her cheek. He returned his face to its normal state and snatched his mask from the floor where it had fallen off the bed.

Eilis giggled, and then went to sit on the divan. The world was spinning a little too fast, and not just because of their kiss. She sat down and practiced breathing slowly. Her hand went to her stomach.

"Easy does it, little one," she murmured. "I know it's called morning sickness for a reason, but give me a minute to wake up first."

Erik answered the door. Behzad strode in looking agitated.

"I swear, the next time I have to wait outside your door for longer than two minutes, I will order it to be broken down!"

Eilis pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. She couldn't be bothered to be annoyed with the surly chief of police today.