Chapter 15 #2
"I'd take it even without the 'everything else, too,'" Peter murmured, clearly pleased. "But thanks. You…" He hesitated, studying her carefully, an odd smile playing across his lips. "You know you're beautiful, right?"
Shanti made a face. "Pretty, maybe. Cute. Beautiful? I don't know about that."
"Pretty sure I'm right on this one." Peter bent his head to kiss her again, a little less intensely but no less erotically, and finally smiled and broke away. "Movie, or…snacking?"
She was almost certain her face lit entirely on fire, and clapped her hands against her cheeks. After an agonizing moment she whispered, "Movie? I'm…not fast."
"You don't have to be," Peter promised, and hit play on the remote again. Shanti exhaled and carefully tucked herself against his side again, trying to work her way through overwhelming emotion in the face of cheerful songs and dances.
Part of her wanted to throw herself into Peter's arms and hang the consequences.
She believed nothing bad would come of that.
She believed in fate, as it turned out. But to do so was so unlike the careful person she'd been for so long that she didn't quite know how…
and more importantly, she realized she thought that was okay.
She wanted badly to be impulsive and to do things on a whim, and Peter made her feel like she could.
But not this. She wanted to take her time with him, and the fact that he seemed so completely okay with that made her sure of him in a way that even magic couldn't. It wasn't that she doubted the power of shifter fate was real.
It was that any man who was really worth her time could be patient, and being patient obviously didn't bother Peter at all.
Shanti smiled and turned her face to squish her nose against his ribs, and he chuckled, tucking her closer. "What, does it get scary?"
Shanti laughed into his side. "Not even a little. I just like you, that's all."
"That's good news, because I like you too.
" They finished the rest of the movie with interspersed moments of "I know that gif!
" and "Oh this is what that clip's from!
" from Peter, who actually applauded when it ended.
"You're right, that was great. I'm not entirely sure about the dream-scene dance in the middle, but that woman had legs for miles so I guess I'll allow it. "
Shanti couldn't help laughing and stretching one of her own legs out. "If 'legs for miles' is one of your criteria, I'm not sure fate got us right after all."
"You're perfect," Peter said without hesitation. "But I'm also not dead, and…legs for miles!"
"She did have legs for miles," Shanti admitted, smiling. "We should all be so lucky."
"It's not that late," Peter said after a glance at his phone. "Do you want to go out for dessert, or is it time to wrap up the evening?"
"I ate so much popcorn," Shanti protested. "And we've got doughnuts we could have for dessert, if you want something sweet? They won't be as good tomorrow. Which means they'll only be very good instead of excellent."
Peter put on a super-sweet, sappy expression. "If I want something sweet, all I have to do is ask for kisses."
Shanti laughed out loud. "Oh, God. Is that the kind of line that works on people?"
"I don't know. I've never tried it before. Is it working?"
"No! Except to make me laugh, which is good." Shanti sat up to kiss him first, sweet and shy, then broke away as he smiled. "Oh, darn it, it worked, didn't it?"
"It totally did," Peter said smugly. "Doughnuts for dessert it is, then.
At the table, I'd guess, so we don't get sugar in the cushions.
I'll make sure there isn't any popcorn in them.
" He boosted her gently, and Shanti climbed out of the deep, cozy cushions to get doughnuts while he tidied up the living room.
The doughnuts were a little worse for the wear after being knocked around in a box all day, but they still tasted delicious, and Shanti poured glasses of milk to go with them, which made Peter laugh but shake his head.
"It's a good idea. Better than coffee at this hour.
I just wouldn't have thought of it. This has been a great day," he added more quietly, as they finished up the doughnuts. "It's not what I expected—"
"Not what you expected!" Shanti blurted. "I found out my boyfriend turns into a bear!"
Peter's smile started small but bloomed fast, until it was huge and bright and hopeful. "Boyfriend?"
Shanti clapped her hands over her face, eyes wide between her fingers before she whispered, "Yes?"
Peter beamed. "Today has definitely been a great day."
"It really has been." Shanti bit her lip, trying to make a decision, and found herself relieved when Peter made it for her, standing up to clear the table of their dessert dishes.
"I'm going to let you walk me to the door and give me a kiss," he told her as he did so. "And then…well, work tomorrow, but I'll see you for dinner?"
"I can't think of anything better," Shanti said happily, and did just as he'd suggested, lingering in the kiss before leaning in the doorway and watching him head down the snowy driveway. Then she closed the door and leaned against it, arms wrapped around herself in a happy hug.
If this was fate, she was all in.