Page 5 of Love the Way You Lion
Nothing I do is ever right, even with him; I don’t deserve the happiness I was feeling.
Taurus’s gaze drifts to the scattered array of crafting supplies that invade the surrounding space. His curiosity pulls his attention from our earlier conversation, and he leans forward, peering at the needles and yarn as if they are artifacts from an alien world.
“It’s what I do, love. What’s with all the stuff you have here?” His voice is gentle, the timbre a soothing balm to my frazzled nerves. He’s trying to change the subject, but that won’t help me stave off the internal loathing in my soul.
I offer him a small, sheepish grin as I gather the knitting needles and hold up the jewel-toned squares for him to see. The colors capture the warmth of the room, reflecting the flickering candlelight in deep, comforting hues.
“It’s an experiment. I’ve never done this before.” The needles were awkward in my hands, a testament to my inexperience.. The squares, though imperfect, are a patchwork of my determination—a physical representation of stepping beyond my usual realm of abilities.
He reaches out, his fingers brushing over the soft yarn as he examines my handiwork. For a moment, the shared silence between us as Beethoven’s notes filled the spaces words cannot reach. I’m not any good yet, but I’m determined to learn, even if it’s just to spite the universe.
The former gifted kid in me simply refuses to let yarn and pointy sticks win.
Taurus’s expression morphs into one of comic disbelief, his mouth opening and closing in rapid succession, a silent stammer as realization dawns in the depths of his warm eyes. He shakes his head, chastising himself with an exasperated chuckle that rumbles from deep within his chest.
“Oh, bloody buggering hell! You were pining and here I am whining about my hurt delicates.” His voice is thick with mock horror, yet beneath it lays a genuine note of self-reproach.
A light laugh bubbles up from my throat—I’m always amused by his dramatics. Holding up one square, I shrug nonchalantly. “They’re blanket pieces,” I explain, hoping this minor revelation will help him connect the dots.
The colors of each square pop even more vividly against the backdrop of the dimly lit room, their purpose yet to be fully understood by the man kneeling before me. With a tilt of my head, I watch, waiting for the significance to register.
His brow furrows in concern as he scans the room, landing on the little squares of fabric scattered around me. “Did the furry princess lose that raggedy thing she carries, and I missed it?” His voice is tinged with urgency. “I’ll send a sodding cleaner team everywhere she’s been until they find it. I know how she loves that?—”
I shake my head, cutting him off mid-sentence, and hold up one of the knitted squares between my fingertips. “No, no. Aradia did not lose her blanket. It’s smaller. See?” The tiny stitches and the soft threads gleam under the flicker of candlelight.
He’s normally not this dense, but the date thing shookhis confidence, I know.
Taurus leans closer, squinting at the square, the gears visibly turning behind his puzzled gaze. A light of recognition finally ignites in his eyes, a slow grin spreading across his face. “Oh! That’s for the wee one.”
My heart swells and my lips curl into a broad smile. I let the needles clink softly together as I set them aside, the half-formed mess left waiting on the chair. Unfurling from my cozy nest, I push to my feet, the blanket pooling around my ankles.
“Exactly,” I say, reaching out a hand to him. “Come here, you grumpy old man. I have a yen to be close to you. I’ve been itching all day.”
He rises, the corners of his mouth twitching with a suppressed chuckle, any remnants of irritation melting away as he steps closer. The space between us closes as I melt into his embrace, the air charged with a current that only ever sparks when we’re together. Taurus’s hands settle on my waist, and I sigh softly.
This is what I’ve been missing since he left for his mission.
“I know how that is, heart of mine,” he murmurs. “I’ve been feeling off and missing you like a hole in the chest for the past few days.”
The raw honesty in his words stirs something deep within me. I lay my hands on his broad shoulders, the strength beneath them reassuring, and shut out everything else in the world for a moment.
“Stay close,” I whisper. A soft breath escapes my lips as I visualize our destination, the familiar contours of our bed inviting and safe. The world shifts, a sensation of falling upwards enveloping us, and then it steadies.
My eyes flutter open at the sight of our bedroom from a different position in the room. We are now beside the bed, perfectlypositioned as if we had always been there. A triumphant grin spreads across my face, mirroring the wonder in Taurus’s eyes.
“Look at that. I did it!” I beam, the success igniting a spark of pride that dances in my chest.
Taurus’s expression, a mix of shock and awe, is the kind of reaction that could fuel me for days. His lips part in disbelief, then curl into an approving smile, that spreads warmth through my veins like a sip of fine whiskey.
His praise makes some of the ugly goo inside me from earlier dissipate like mist.
“You did. Bloody hell, two people…” His voice trails off, tinged with admiration. “I’m so proud of you. You’re getting better every day.”
“I can get one person anywhere, I think. Aradia isn’t small, but she’s like another big person, and I can get her around with me.” A playful smirk draws up the corners of my mouth, as I recall past attempts. The mishaps are now just humorous memories. “At least I didn’t drop us on our asses midway there. It’s happened a couple of times when I attempted both of us together.”
The grin on Taurus’s face matches mine, his pride in my progress a palpable thing that fills the room. Even the candles seem to flicker in time with our shared laughter, their light dancing across our faces as we revel in this simple yet magical moment. I settle astride his lap, looking down into his face proudly.
“Good form, love,” he murmurs, his hands finding their way to my hips to steady me. “You could have gotten us naked, but points for the ‘not dropping’ thing.” His eyes gleam with a respect for my burgeoning power. “I enjoy seeing you get stronger. It’ll help when they send you on a test run.”
