Chapter 29 #2
“Your definition of early needs a bit of revising.” Harper took Maya’s hand and intertwined their fingers. “But… you know that thing about you being sappy? I might be taking a liking to it. Since you’re ridiculously good at it.”
Maya grinned. “Poor you. My goal is to be great at it, so you’re going to have to deal with me practicing some more.”
She brought their joined hands to her mouth, kissing Harper’s knuckles. Just a light caress of lips against skin, and somehow, it had the effect of getting punched in the stomach. Not because it was bad. But because Harper knew that in no time at all, she would have to be without it again.
“When do you have to go?” She’d meant to sound casual, but the words came out meek.
“Soon. It’s getting dark. Aleksander will probably call me back to the outpost any minute now.” Maya put her arm on the couch cushion, resting her chin on it. “I wish I didn’t have to leave. If I had my way, I’d stay right here. Watch you sleep some more.”
Harper’s face warmed. Was she really so lost in this woman that a comment like that could make her blush?
“I don’t think that’s totally true,” Harper said with a smile. “I saw you sparring earlier. You were having fun without me. Don’t pretend you weren’t.”
Maya didn’t argue. Either for or against. She just looked into Harper’s eyes, her thumb drawing half-circles over their still entwined fingers.
“It’s better, I admit. A lot better. People actually talk to me every now and then.
It’s not much, but it’s more than I had before.
” She ran a finger over Harper’s forehead.
“But it doesn’t beat being alone with you.
You shine, Harper. You make everything around you brighter.
I’d take a minute of silence with you over weeks of conversation with anyone else. ”
Harper’s heart did a pirouette in her chest. It spun and spun, going so fast that she got dizzy.
Damn Maya. Especially her sweet words and beautiful smile, both of which were alive with sincerity. Damn her for looking at Harper like she did, as though being in her presence was a blessing rather than a chore.
But even though it would be more familiar, Harper couldn’t make herself resent the feeling blooming in her chest.
“Just so you know…” Harper’s voice was unsteady. “If you end up getting hurt, I’ll never forgive you.”
Maya’s gaze softened. “Then I guess I can’t get hurt.”
She gave Harper a light kiss. A gentle press of their lips, so careful it was almost chaste.
How could she be without this again? And for how long? How was she supposed to stay normal when just the thought of them being apart was agonizing?
She couldn’t, was the answer.
“Can I stay here?” Harper whispered. She hadn’t meant to. The words just slipped out on their own.
Maya shook her head. “It’s dangerous. And even if it wasn’t, you didn’t bring anything with you. No clothes or anything.”
“I brought my car and a credit card. I can buy what I need.” She touched the steel chain necklace around her neck. An X-shaped pendant dangled from it. “The Court of Chains pays its staff very well.”
All non-supernatural members of the Court wore that kind of necklace. An arcane charm that offered basic protections and showed their Court affiliation. She, Nell, and Patricia all got one when they were hired at the Lotus.
“There isn’t anything to do out here,” Maya said quietly. “It’s a lot of drills, training, and more drills. I’m busy all the time, and it’s risky, too. Far riskier than being back in Chicago.”
Harper smiled. “I’m not hearing a no.”
Maya stayed silent. Which was an answer on its own, underlined by the worry in her eyes.
“Please,” Harper said. “I won’t pull you away from where you’re needed, I promise.
But it’ll be easier to steal a few moments with you if I’m close by.
” She shrugged, grinning. “And if you’re busy, I can entertain myself in other ways.
Angela is at the outpost. I have a feeling that spending a minute near her with your hands free is a great way of finding something to do. ”
Maya still didn’t speak. Still stared at her, as though doing so would produce the more sensible answer rather than the one she wished to utter.
The persistent silence eroded the first response.
“I’ll have to ask Aleksander,” Maya said. “And even if he says yes, it’ll only be for a few days. I don’t want to put you at risk any longer than that.”
It sounded like she would keep listing negatives. As though she had an entire catalogue of reasons Harper shouldn’t be here, and she was prepared to go through all of them, looking for the most convincing one.
Harper cut them off with a kiss.
“Being near you is worth a little danger,” she whispered. “Like I said. We don’t have much time. Don’t waste it on an argument you’ll lose. Especially not since I want to kiss you for however many minutes we have left.”
That won her over. Maya sighed and cupped her face. Deepening the kiss. Harper hummed, tension flowing out of her and being displaced by Maya’s fingers moving into her hair. Brushing through it again.
She was worried about nothing. An army of Chains soldiers was nearby. What could possibly go wrong?