Page 46 of Brought to Light

His arm relaxed, and he started to pet me. Better, much better.

“I heard a joke in the human realm,” Linden said into my chest. “Something about a very large gorilla sitting wherever it wanted to. I think maybe you get to stand wherever you want at fancy parties. Who’s going to dare to stop you?”

That startled a laugh out of me, jouncing his head on my chest. He poked me in the side, and I caught his hand and brought it up to my lips, carefully kissing each of his fingertips before I laid it back on my stomach, holding it wrapped in mine.

“As long as you want me there, I can live with terrifying everyone. At least no one else’ll try to grope you. Fucker. He’s lucky I didn’t snap his neck.”

Linden lifted his head, his lips quirking in amusement, a mischievous light in his eyes. “I could have gotten rid of him myself,” he admitted.

I stared at him. That little…I’d known he was playing me.

Linden started to laugh, collapsing onto my chest in helpless giggles. I flipped him, rolling on top and making him gasp.

As I gazed down at him, not sure how I’d gotten so fucking lucky, he smiled up at me. A real smile, carefree and joyful.

Gray dawn gave way to rose and gold, and as I looked at him in wonder, the sun came up.

The End