Page 25 of Dance with Me
“You shouldn’t be working all day,” Star protested. “We’re not great with cooking, but we can share.”
“Okay,” Yuri agreed. “If you’ll nap with me after we eat.”
Star blinked, trapped by his attempt to make Yuri’s day easier. He glanced at the others as though expecting backlash. “Just me?”
“Is that okay?”
“Fine by me,” Radu said, picking apart a donut he shared with Theo. “I need to stop in to see Raphael for some paint. He had some ideas about colors I want to discuss, and I want to check on Uriel. Perhaps we could make enough of these donuts to share?”
“On it,” Yuri said as he flipped the batch in the oil, then fished out the finished ones to put on the rack. Theo painted them with the glaze while they were still warm. The bread was in the oven, filling the house with its delicious scent. He’d gone with a crispy focaccia bread and couldn’t wait to try it.
“I want to nap outside,” Theo said, his gaze straying to Lucian.
“Yes, angel. I have a book to read. We’ll sit over in the garden while you rest.” He glanced at Yuri, “If that works for you?”
“None of you are too far, right?” Yuri asked. “Not even going to Raphael’s?”
“It’s a ten-minute walk,” Radu said. “They are out of sight and earshot, but if you need me, I’ll fly back in a heartbeat.”
Yuri nodded and turned his smile on Star. “Nap after food. In my room if that’s okay? I’d like to snuggle under those blankets you picked for me.”
Star flushed again but nodded. He accepted the donut Theo brought him, and a plate of cookies from Lucian.
They finished up baking, and Yuri doled out plates of bread with olives and sharp cheese, which everyone devoured. He packed up a basket to send with Radu, and watched Lucian set a blanket out in the grass for Theo to nap beside him while he read.
Star lingered in the shadow of the doorway, uncertain, but Yuri snagged him around the middle and coaxed him upstairs. Inside Yuri’s room, he wrapped his arms around Star and held him tight, unable to hold back the tears.
“What’s wrong?” Star hissed. “Did someone hurt you? I’ll kill them.”
Yuri couldn’t help but laugh. “You were with me the whole time. How could anyone hurt me?”
Star wiped at Yuri’s falling tears. “But your eyes drip pain.”
“I left you in the dark for too long,” Yuri admitted. “I failed you.”
“You didn’t. I’m here.”
“And afraid of the light. You were supposed to be light like them.”
Star sighed. “I’m working on it. But I don’t want you to think it’s your fault. You didn’t curse me. You freed me. Brought me home.” He wrapped his arm around Yuri’s waist and rested his forehead on Yuri’s shoulder. “I promise, while it’s hard to accept this is all real and not a dream, I am trying. Sometimes I fear I’ll wake, and you’ll be gone. I’ll still be chained in the dark.”
“Wanna know a secret?” Yuri asked as he dragged Star to the bed and pulled back the blankets so the two of them could snuggle beneath the warmth.
“What?”
“I’m afraid of that, too.”
“How can we be sure this is real?” Star asked in a small voice as he nestled himself against Yuri, his face the only part of him visible beneath the blankets piled over them.
“Time?” Yuri asked. “I don’t plan to let go. It sounds selfish of me to need all of you. But you’re mine, Star. I spent lifetimes barely existing, and now I just want to hold you forever, is that okay?”
“Yes,” Star agreed, tucking his face in close to Yuri’s. He blinked sleepy eyes. “I don’t know why I’m so sleepy.”
“Warmth, snuggles, and yummy food with the people you love, the only thing better would be the patter of rain on the roof while we napped,” Yuri said.
Star snorted. “I can make that happen.”
“How about you rest?” Yuri wondered if Star had gotten any real sleep at all.
