Page 21 of A Winter Courtship
That meant Ulrich wanted there to be a next time. And he wanted to feed Lutoth. Provide for him and nourish him. Lutoth squirmed, trying to get closer to Ulrich even though that wasn’t really possible. The man was just too perfect.
“That is… If you want there to be a next time,” Ulrich said, uncertainty in his voice.
Lutoth cracked open his eyes.
“Is there…” Ulrich licked his lips. “Is there going to be a next time?” The skin between Ulrich’s eyebrows creased.
Lutoth reached up and smoothed it. He didn’t want Ulrich to be anything but relaxed and happy, enjoying the morning cosiness with Lutoth. “I’d like there to be a next time. Many next times if you’d like that.”
“I’d like that.” Ulrich smiled. “Very much.”
Lutoth kissed him, and they got lost in lazy kisses for several minutes. No rush, no escalation, just slow kisses and gentle caresses.
“And I got you a Solstice gift,” Ulrich murmured against his lips.
“A Solstice gift!” Lutoth pulled back. “You gotmea Solstice gift?”
“Did you not think I would?”
“I… I’d never thought about it.” In all the plans he’d made, he’d focused on what he could do for Ulrich. He hadn’t put much thought into Ulrich reciprocating. “You got me a Solstice gift,” Lutoth said, voice soft and amazed.
Ulrich climbed from the bed and grabbed something from the table. “Sero sends his greetings. I was told you were related.” Ulrich sat on the bed beside Lutoth. “Also…everyone in the store knew about what was going on between us.”
“Sorry.” Lutoth propped himself up. “I probably should have mentioned it before you went there. How was Auntie Mila?”
“She watched me intensely when I arrived.” Ulrich rubbed his arm. “Guessed you were here. Then she welcomed me into the family.”
“She didn’t!” Lutoth said. “Actually, that sounds exactly like her. Did it bother you that they knew?”
“It took me by surprise.” Ulrich fidgeted with the blanket. “How did she guess you were here?”
Lutoth placed his hand over Ulrich’s, stroking it with his thumb. “I kind of told them I wanted to court you.”
“Really?” Ulrich’s eyes widened. “How long have you been planning this?”
“A year.” Lutoth stared at their hands.
“A year?” Ulrich said, shock clear in his voice.
“Well, eleven months to be precise.” Lutoth gave a nervous chuckle. “Is that a problem?”
“Well… No… I just don’t understand.”
“Well, you see, last year I came to the Solstice festivities, and I saw you. You and Ethel. I knew it was you the moment I saw you.” Lutoth met Ulrich’s gaze. “Those feelings I had all those years ago came rushing back. But I wasn’t a fourteen-year-old youngling with a crush. I knew I wanted to be with you.”
“You had a crush on me back then?”
Lutoth nodded.
“But then… If you knew you wanted to be with me… Why wait a year to court me?” Ulrich asked.
Lutoth took a breath. “I told you I’m half-sylph.”
“On your mother’s side.” Ulrich paused. “Mila said some things about that.”
“What things?”
Ulrich pressed his lips together.
