The Unveiling - Modern Magic: Book 1

Chapter 20

A/N:  I'm sorry updates got so delayed.  Unfortunately there's no good reason, just a series of excuses.  So, I hope I haven't lost too much interest in the story.  Things are still progressing, and I think more than a few characters are hoping things are going to return to normal.

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Chapter 20

By the end of the week, I spoke with Aki about James. One of her employees was looking for a roommate, and since he was also Magi, James could continue practicing and training without having to worry about hiding while in his new home. I didn't mind having James stay at my place, but there's always something different about having your own space and a bed rather than being stuck on a couch day after day. One thing I hadn't even thought about over the last week was Angelina apparently had no interest in discovering why her "nephew" had gone missing. It was yet another thing to worry about involving the past week, but I didn't have a great deal of time to focus on it as the afternoon faded to evening and a light knock came from my door.

Just as I predicted, Diana arrived at my apartment exhausted. Although I'm pretty sure she was exaggerating it slightly when she practically fell against me as soon as I opened my door. "Tired. Brain. Dead." I couldn't help but laugh as she rested her head against my chest. I wrapped one arm around her back, twisting the both of us as I finally got her fully inside and closed the door.

"Alright, Zombie Diana. Let's get you comfy." I eventually shifted her around so she was mostly leaning against my side. I heard a sound that could have either been a murmur of agreement or her attempt to sound like a zombie. I led her to the sectioned off area of my apartment that represented my bedroom where I had two candles burning. A quick search on the internet let me know that lavender and chamomile were supposed to be soothing and relaxing scents. I couldn't entirely tell if they worked, but at least Diana didn't jolt awake and question my choices.

I slipped the backpack off her shoulders before she slumped onto the bed. Diana's eyes traced slowly up to me, giving me the long blink of someone who is having trouble keeping her eyes opened. I offered a warm smile before I knelt in front of her and helped untie her shoes. She squirmed and let out a quiet little giggle when my fingers brushed over the bottom of her feet. It was often astonishing to me how she could appear so incredibly cute in almost any situation.

It wasn't long at all before she was cuddling under my comforter. Between her tiredness and our agreement to wait for marriage, I knew nothing inappropriate would happen, but I still left my pants on before laying down next to her, wrapping her in my arms. Until that moment, I hadn't realized how much I needed that feeling - the comfort of holding the woman I loved close to me. I definitely didn't have Diana's difficult schedule, but the emotional rollercoaster of the news throughout the week was a drain of its own. My prediction of a massage ended up being wrong as we were both soon asleep.

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There are few things more wonderful than waking to the feel and smell of the woman you love. Being partly awake and still mostly asleep helped me ignore the tickling of Diana's hair on my face as I tightened my arms around her. If I had been more awake, I probably would have tried to be a little more subtle in order to not wake her up. Instead, my incoherent thoughts made it seem like a wonderful idea to begin planting gentle kisses against the back of her neck. The first caused a little stir, the second made her wiggle again, and the third brought her fully giggling and squirming. "Tickle..." Her voice was soft, probably still more asleep than awake as well.

"Mm..." My mind wasn't yet coherent enough to reply, and definitely not coherent enough to actually realize I was waking her up. So, another kiss brought a stronger squirm before Diana turned around in my arms and poked me on the nose.

"Zane... I was sleeping..." She murmured, only partially sounding like she was complaining. I felt my mind slowly slithering into consciousness as I blinked at her.

"Oh... sorry." I let out a jaw-cracking yawn. "Was still mostly asleep myself."

Diana followed me with a yawn of her own before giving me a light kiss. "I guess I can forgive you." She wiggled a little and we shifted around together before we found a comfortable position with her head resting against mine. "You're just too comfy to be mad at..." I chuckle lightly, letting one hand slowly glide up and down her back.

"Note to self..." I smiled and gave her a light kiss in return. "Stay as comfy as possible at all times." Diana giggled. I swear that sound can make me forget every worry I have. I know I hadn't slept as well the entire week as I did that night. We ended up laying in each other's arms for a while longer, probably a few hours, before the sun coming through the window became too much of a nagging reminder of the morning going by. "Should wake up..." I said, even though I definitely didn't want to.

"Mm Mm..." Diana murmured as she wiggled a little closer to me. I smiled and let my hand glide along her back again, this time slowly easing her back into consciousness.

"How come I'm always the one who has to move first?" I ask with a feigned whine in my voice.

"Mm... Comfy." Was all Diana replied with, but I laughed at her reference back to earlier in the morning.

"Oh alright - Occupational hazard, then." I slowly wrestled with my own very strong desire to stay exactly where I was, finally rolling over and sliding out of the bed. I stood and stretched, feeling tension roll through several muscle groups as I let out another long yawn. "Time to get up, sleeping beauty." I turned and smiled at her. Diana was attempting to cuddle with my pillow, probably for the lingering warmth. "I'll start some breakfast." I tugged a random shirt from off a hanger in my closet, pulling it on before I went over to the kitchen area.

The extent to which I was willing to put effort into breakfast ended at a pair of hot pockets slowly spinning and warming in my microwave. The smell was enough to convince Diana to get up as well, and we shared a happy morning meal as we found our way to full wakefulness.

The morning transitioned into afternoon as we discussed the interrupted dinner plans with my parents as well as the news from the last several days. Being so focused on her exams, Diana hadn't had a lot of time to watch the "Breaking News" and "This just in..." day to day. I caught her up on the gist, leading to my belief that things were beginning to die down. With next year being another election year, talk had already begun shifting to presidential campaigns. It was odd, but part of me almost hoped for some scandal involving a candidate to help fully transition the news away from the events surrounding Easter Sunday.

Diana and I finally decided to start focusing on the plans for the evening - dinner with my parents. I could tell there was a little nervousness in Diana's body language despite how many times I reassured her that my parents were going to love her. We parted, for only a short time, to get ready.