Page 41 of Illuminated

I walked over to him. I’d found sweatpants in a cabinet in the bedroom and was wearing my old hoodie. The days were getting colder quickly now.

“Thanks,” I said and took the mug from him.

“My pleasure. Are you feeling all right?”

I threw him a grin. “Awesome, actually.”

“Meaning you liked it.”

“You fucking me? Yeah, I liked it.”

“Good, because I did too, and I think I wouldn’t mind doing it again sooner rather than later.”

“Let me have my coffee first.”

We smiled at one another, and I finished half my mug in silence.

“Where are the priests?” I eventually said.

“They left town.”

I nodded. I didn’t really need to know anything else, did I? He’d told me everything already. And I didn’t want to talk about them anymore.

“How did you know when to make my coffee?”

He shrugged, and his silver eyes caught the light. “I pay attention. I can hear when you are coming out of deep sleep.”

“Huh. Cool. Also weird.”

He didn’t argue, and we spent a quiet morning being lazy together and watching the ocean.

* * *

Around noon, I decided to take a shower. The hot water on my body felt wonderful, and I sighed happily.

As I soaped myself up, I remembered once more that I had come out here to work, no matter if I had… run into my prophesied soulmate? That sounded idiotic. It even sounded idiotic if I considered that Auris was different, that being with him felt just right. I wouldn’t call him my soulmate, though, not yet at any rate.

But I wanted to work, and while it was cold outside, the sun was shining, and it was a beautiful day. I decided I would find a café and do some editing there.

Auris was back at the kitchen counter when I came down the hallway, my camera in hand, and dressed to go out.

“I think I’ll head out. There is a café here with a deck, like the bar. I don’t remember the name, but they had all these oil paintings of the ocean inside. I went there the day we met. Can you point me toward it?” I asked.

He stopped typing for a second, then continued. “I gather you want some alone time. It’s a shame. I was looking forward to getting your pants off you again. You’re talking about the Sea and Salt Café. It’s just down the road.”

“Seriously. Is everything here named like that?”

“It’s a touristy town, Ethan. Before you go, what’s your phone number?” he asked and pulled out his own phone.

I recited it for him, and he dialed. My phone rang.

“There, now you have my number as well. Have some food while you are there, my sweet,” Auris said.

I double-checked I had everything I needed in my bag. “I thought you found it hard to keep track of human food habits,” I said, finally closing the zipper and grabbing my jacket.

“You see, Ethan, just because I’m old doesn’t mean I can’t improve.”

“Good to know,” I said, and on a whim, I walked back to him and kissed him on the cheek. “You can get my pants off me once I get back.”

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