Chapter 5 #2
He looked a bit taken aback by my serious tone, but he nodded. “Okay. Whatever you want. We can wait.”
“Thank you.”
The ride home was mostly quiet but not tense like I worried it would be. In the backseat, I wriggled into Miles’s side, and we rode like that the whole way. Occasionally, one of the three of them would bring up something from the party, or a story from the past, and they’d all laugh discussing it.
When they dropped us off at Miles’s apartment, we made plans to all hang out again soon. I hoped we could keep those plans.
Stepping back through Miles’s door felt surprisingly comforting and secure, like returning to a sanctuary. I’d never felt that way before about a place. Or a person.
After closing it behind us, he laid his hand on my arm. The warm weight of it, and the sudden realization that this person had become my sanctuary, had my feelings rushing up to the surface like never before.
“Meadow, if you want to relax before we talk, we c—”
“Miles, I’m not human.”
He blinked, lowering his hand to his side. The silence between us stretched out for what felt like a long time, until Sammy trotted up to our feet, trilling to show her happiness. He knelt down to stroke a hand down her back, staring up at me with his brows furrowed together.
“Are you trying to be funny?”
“No. I’m being honest.”
“What exactly do you mean by that?” he asked, and I could tell by his tone he didn’t think I was being literal. Like I was using the term as a metaphor for some big flaw in my personality.
“I mean I’m not a human. I’m a magical being with magical powers, and I’ve been alive for over 200 years.”
Again, he only stared at me before moving over to the couch and dropping down into it. “Can you… I mean, I don’t even know what to say.”
“Take all the time you need,” I offered. I hated the nerves running rampant in my stomach. “Is it okay if I sit next to you?”
“Yeah,” he said softly, nodding but not looking at me.
It took a lot of explanation about faeries and my powers, but eventually it seemed like he was processing it and possibly coming around to the idea.
“Wait, so you’re not really from that Ray-kee-whatever place?” he asked, looking sort of traumatized.
Trying not to laugh, I tilted my head. “Sort of. The portal we use to travel between our realm and the human realm is located in that village. The residents there are my kind. When the occasional human passes through, we direct them away from the idea of living there. It makes it easier for everyone.”
“So… you said you’re using a glamour.” He repeated the word I’d used. “Does that mean you don’t really look like this?”
“It’s not quite that dramatic,” I promised him. “Some of us use it to adapt a new identity. I use mine to hide the parts of myself I can’t show.”
“Meaning?”
I shrugged a shoulder. I wasn’t used to feeling insecure about the way I looked.
“Wings, ears, markings. Things that are obviously not human.”
“Can you… show me?” he asked. “I mean, are you allowed?”
“Technically no, but as long as I’m not publicly revealed, then it’s fine. Do you really want to see me like that?”
“Of course! As long as you don’t think it would, you know, ruin anything.”
“I hope it doesn’t,” I said sincerely. “I’m afraid I’ve become very fond of…
whatever it is we’re doing here. And I understand that maybe saying that now, before I show you what I really look like, is possibly manipulative, and that isn’t my intention.
It’s just that I’ve never done this before, and it’s all a little bit scary. ”
He blinked a few times before letting out a huff of breath he’d been holding back, looking somewhat in awe of me.
“Meadow, I think that’s the most words I’ve ever heard you say in a row before.”
“I don’t get nervous very often,” I admitted. “I’m a little too old for all that.”
His gaze darted around my face, first my eyes, then down to my mouth as he leaned into me.
My breath hitched for just a fraction of a second before my lips parted for his.
A cheery little jingle played from a holiday wall clock as the kiss deepened, long and drawn out, until I eventually realized I was leaning back against the arm of the couch with Miles on top of me.
“Wait,” I requested softly, but I couldn’t bring myself to release the grip I had around the back of the collar on his shirt. Our breath mingled together as we both softly panted.
“Are we moving too fast?”
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” I teased him, and he flushed that lovely pink color I had become so fond of. “It isn’t fair for us to do this until I give you what you asked for.”
He was reluctant to let go of me, I could tell, but he did. “Okay. Show me.”
Sucking in a deep breath, I stood up, feeling incredibly exposed already. “Getting out of this suit will be much quicker and easier if I just…” I trailed off, giving a little waving gesture before I made my clothes disappear.
He jumped a little, eyes huge, as he coughed out a stammer. “God, Meadow, you’re going to kill me.”
“I can do it to you too,” I offered, and he blushed darker, covering his clothed crotch with his hands.
“Uh, not yet, if that’s okay.”
Chuckling, I nodded as I bit down into my lower lip. “Understood. Are you ready?”
He nodded, his amber eyes looking warm and deep and lovely and helping greatly to alleviate my nerves.
Concentrating a bit, I let my glamour dispel, and suddenly the very light weight of my wings was present again.