Page 39 of Iron Secrets

Sam took it, and he tugged her to sit beside him on the couch.

“I didn’t push you down there, did I?” Aero asked, holding off on the celebration of making it through the night without incident.

Sam chuckled. “No, I did that. My alarm scared me.”

“Oh, good.” Aero kissed her forehead. “How’d you sleep?”

“Good, you?”

Aero sighed. “Pretty good if I didn’t wake you up.”

“You didn’t.” Sam smiled, reaching up to cup his cheek.

He leaned into her touch but said, “I can’t guarantee it’ll always be like that.”

Sam’s face fell slightly, but she said, “I know, but we should enjoy it when it is.”

Aero’s chest ached at her words. “Yeah. We should.”

“Coffee?” Sam offered, and Aero agreed.

Sam stood to head for the kitchen, but Aero tugged her back down so she landed in his lap.

Her eyes were wide as he wrapped her in his arms and held on tight.

“Thank you,” he murmured, kissing her softly.

Sam kissed him for a moment, then tucked her face into the hollow of his neck.

“Thank you,” she parroted. She was thrilled, not only that he’d stayed but that it had been so successful.

They held each other for a moment until Sam kissed his cheek softly. “I’ll make coffee.”

“Okay,” Aero agreed, reluctantly releasing her. He watched raptly as she entered the kitchen and started bustling around. Then his feet were moving, carrying him to her as if they were drawn together by a magnet.

In the small, neat kitchen, Aero stepped up behind Sam, wrapping his arms around her middle.

“Hi.” She giggled, instinctively moving back to brush against him.

“Hi,” Aero murmured, nuzzling her neck.

Sam tried to focus on putting scoops of grounds into the coffee maker, but her hands shook as he held her.

“I don’t usually cook breakfast,” Sam said as he stroked the skin beneath her shirt softly.

“That’s okay,” Aero muttered.

“I have cereal.”

“I’m not hungry,” Aero said, pressing a kiss to her neck.

Sam sighed, every intimate muscle clenching at his touch.

“You’re lovely,” he murmured against her skin.

Slowly, Sam reached a hand up to the back of his head, holding him to her.

The moment was so sweet and so normal that Aero forgot everything outside of that kitchen.

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