4. Chapter 4 #3
Having witnessed how cold Milo got, he stopped and really considered things.
Milo was thin in stature—he had no fat for insulation—and while it got warmer up at the duchy in the summer, it probably wouldn’t feel warm to him.
Not to mention he’d freeze solid in winter.
Southern clothes tended to be made of cotton and were more lightweight and breathable.
Northern clothes consisted of wools and furs—thicker materials.
The cloak was clearly a wool one, lined with thick plaid, and would be far warmer than the thin jacket Milo currently wore.
Perhaps this would seem like an over-the-top gift on the first day of dating, but to Rowan, warm clothes were practical. Hopefully the surprise would help pull Milo out of his strange shy state. Rowan liked Milo as his usual confident and exuberant self.
Decided, he put the snacks and oil on the counter and said to Mary, “Start ringing me up. I’m getting a few more things.”
She eyed him warily but nodded. He knew her look all too well.
Mary was around fifteen and the store owner’s child.
She’d started helping out in the store a few years ago, and despite Rowan occasionally dropping in, she always seemed incredibly intimidated by him.
Usually he’d try not to spook her, but today he just didn’t have the patience to put her at ease.
He’d be gone in the next minute, after all.
Retreating to the corner of clothes he’d spied, Rowan riffled through the slim selection, but he did find something he thought suitable.
A fur-lined cloak in olive green, with a hood.
Perfect. Last one, too. He also found a matching hat and gloves in black, and he grabbed those too.
Milo struck him as a man who rarely wore hats except in the depths of winter, when it was insane to leave your head bare.
Pleased with himself, he took the items to the counter. Mary finished calculating everything and stammered off his total, which he paid easily. Gathering everything back up, he walked out with a huge armload.
Milo had stayed planted on the cart, clearly keeping an eye on the door. He spotted Rowan coming out and did a visible double take. “Did you leave any snacks behind in the store?”
“Hardy har.”
“I’m dead serious, but I guess it makes sense if you’re sharing them.”
“These are all for you, Milo. I don’t need snacks,” Rowan said, perfectly sincere as he started handing things up to his pleased boyfriend. “I got two of everything.”
Milo’s shy smile was back, but it was now paired with a happy noise as he took the bundle.
He seemed utterly at a loss for words, and that was telling in and of itself.
Rowan hadn’t thought anything could stun his boyfriend into silence.
Milo stared at the snacks like he couldn’t quite believe his eyes.
With his arms full, he finally looked at Rowan, the expression on his face one of adoration.
Rowan blinked, not having expected his reaction. From snacks?
Yes, Milo’s god seemed to be food, but still. Snacks got this reaction?
Rowan was glad to find something he could spoil his lover with, no question, but this hinted at Milo’s dating history being even shittier than Rowan had realized. And wow, the thought made Rowan homicidal.
No, calm, calm, stay in the moment. Rowan absolutely didn’t want Milo to feel he was angry at him. He wasn’t.
Mental note: Spoil Milo more.
Rowan gave himself a mental shake and kept going. “Oil—”
“Such lovely, big bottles.” Milo sighed, expression happy and lecherous all at the same time.
Rowan snorted. “And finally, a new cloak—something that can actually handle the winters up here—hat, and gloves. Do you wear hats?”
Milo accepted the items but stared at them, jaw dangling, completely speechless.
“Milo?” Rowan had now stunned him mute twice in the span of five minutes. It had to be a record. Was it just him buying Milo gifts that did this? Or was there something more to Milo’s reaction? Rowan had this sense there was something more churning behind those eyes.
“You’re worried about me,” Milo said in a soft voice. His eyes came up to Rowan’s and there was wonder there, but those gray eyes were also a touch bright. “Worried I’ll be cold.”
“You won’t be if you wear those.” Rowan could tell he’d really touched Milo’s heart with these gifts. Again, concern for his boyfriend shouldn’t be this remarkable.
Unable to just stand there, he got a foot on the cart and levered himself up enough to kiss Milo lightly.
Milo snagged him by the shirt before he could drop back down, kissing him ardently back. He only parted to breathily say, “You need to get us to that inn now. I need to show you just how happy you’ve made me.”
“Fortunately, the inn’s not far.”
He’d not meant to rile Milo up like this. Gift giving was how he showed affection, and Milo was right, he had been worried about Milo being cold. Wasn’t it natural to look out for a lover like this? Maybe not in Milo’s world.
Well, it would be from now on. Rowan would see to that. Milo was going to learn how it felt to be properly cared for.
Notes:
AJ: Rowan, you are literally the definition of don’t judge a book by its cover.
Rowan: What? I don’t try to be mean.
AJ: I know, but your RBF seriously throws people off. Except for Milo.
Rowan: I only need one person.
AJ: Aww, how sweet.