Page 2 of The Arrival
Nino grins. “You would definitely help us cover it up.”
Asao pauses, then disappears as he leans behind the open door to scavenge the fridge. “I would. But please don’t put me in that situation.”
“Let’s try this again,” Haruka asserts. “But keep your attention and aura focused on the external matter, exclusively. You are capable of holding and lifting objects very well with surface control. Distinct manipulation is not necessary for now. What do you think?”
“I think we shouldn’t be using anythingglass,” Asao barks.
“Jesus.”Nino scratches his head. “What if we go back to the tissue boxes, but I try to manipulate the tissue out of the container? That way, I can practice exerting more finite control.” The salt-shaker may have proved a little too advanced, too soon, but he’s ready for a new challenge in his training.
“What tissue boxes?” Asao lifts his chin. “Who’s replenishing these—”
“Asao, it does not matter.” Haruka closes his eyes as he massages the bridge of his nose with his long fingers. “Please be more encouraging.”
“I’ll be encouraging when I don’t need to replace four pillows, two coffee mugs, a sliding door and now a salt-shaker within a month.” Asao takes a long pull from the bottle of green tea he’s taken from the fridge. When he finishes, he looks at Nino. “I’ll be your biggest cheerleader then.”
Nino folds his arms, grinning despite himself. “I’m getting better. The pillows and the door were three weeks ago.”
“Rah rah.” Asao smirks, leaving the kitchen with his bottle.
Haruka frowns. “Ignore him. You have made wonderful progress in a very short amount of time. I am proud of your efforts.”
Beaming, Nino stands, then moves toward the pantry to retrieve the broom and dustpan. “Well, I have an amazing teacher, don’t I? Even though he can be a little strict… Can you grab a dishcloth and clear the tabletop first? Unless you want to expend the energy to clean all this up with your aura?”
Haruka stands from the table as well, huffing. “I do not.”
For almost two months, from the moment they returned from their vacation in Trentino, Nino has practiced controlling his energy with his mate on a rigorous schedule. Things have returned to normal since he was vanished and abducted in May, but Haruka has held Nino to his promise of taking their meditation exercises more seriously.
But after the conversation they had at the cabin about growing their family, Nino sincerely wants to be stronger. Not just for himself.
When Nino is standing beside his mate at the table, Haruka turns, lifting his hands and holding Nino’s face between his palms. “I am strict because I believe in your abilities. You are a phenomenal student.” He leans in, tilts his head and blesses Nino with a soft touch of their lips.
Nino scrunches his nose. “Mm, I love it when my teacher rewards me with kisses.”
“In this context my behavior would be seen as inappropriate conduct.”
“It’ll be our secret.” Nino juts his chin forward, placing another kiss on Haruka’s mouth before pulling a chair out so that he can sweep the mess from under the table. “Jun texted me, by the way. He said he’ll be here tomorrow at noon to start dressing us for the party.”
Not surprisingly, Haruka groans as he bends and takes hold of the dustpan. Nino laughs. “You agreed to this. Don’t try to back out of it now.”
“Yes, I agreed. However, why can’t I know what my costume will be? I should have a say in this ridiculous situation.”
“It’s not ridiculous.” Nino sweeps the salt debris onto the pan as Haruka holds it steady. “It’s unusual as far as aristocracy events go, but I think it’ll be really fun. And you don’t get a say because when Jun and I asked you what our costumes should be, you said vampires. Your vote was annulled.”
Haruka stands with the dustpan, frowning. “I am punished for being pragmatic?”
“Nobody wants pragmatism on Halloween, tesoro. We get to play and be someone else—like a fantasy.” Nino waits, bright-eyed and wanting his mate to understand. Haruka dumps the contents of the pan into the trash, his brows scrunched in concentration.
“I don’t need to fantasize. Truly,youare my wildest dream. What more could I possibly desire? Why should I imagine anything else?”
Nino’s cheeks warm as he shakes his head. “Haru, you’re thinkingwaytoo deeply about this. We’re just going to have fun, alright? Trust me?”
“Of course,” Haruka says, handing him the emptied dustpan. “Just know that I am pleased as I am, with you and our life together.”
“Alright, alright. Sheesh.” Nino chuckles, moving back toward the pantry.
“Has Jun invited Doctor Davies to this event?” Haruka asks.
“No. He said some friend of Jae’s from the UK unexpectedly showed up to his apartment yesterday. The situation sounds complicated.” With the broom returned to the pantry, Nino rejoins Haruka at the table and sits down beside him.
