Page 22 of A Winter Courtship
“I know what others say,” Lutoth said. “I promise nothing you say will surprise me.”
Ulrich scratched at his beard. “She said sylphs fly with the wind. They don’t stay still. That your mother left your father because she is a sylph.”
Lutoth swallowed, battling against the nerves flailing around in his chest. “And did that scare you? Are you worried I’ll leave?” Was he about to lose Ulrich? Would he be scared off before even giving Lutoth a chance?
“I just want to know what you want,” Ulrich said. “I don’t know anything about sylphs. And I don’t know if you want what I do.”
“What do you want, Ulrich?”
Ulrich stared at his hands, as if too nervous to say what was on his mind.
“You can tell me,” Lutoth said.
Ulrich didn’t answer straightaway. He just continued to stare at his hands. Finally, he spoke, not meeting Lutoth’s gaze. “I want a lover. A partner. And I want it to last,” Ulrich said softly. “I want to share my life with someone and not be alone.”
“I want that too.” Lutoth’s hand tightened on Ulrich’s. “And I am capable of that. That’s why I waited a year to approach you. I wanted to prove that I could stay constant. That I wasn’t fickle. That I wouldn’t leave. I needed to prove that to everyone.”And to myself.
“Will you give me, will you give us a chance?” Lutoth asked, trying to keep the desperation from his voice. Hoping that after a year of waiting, he wasn’t about to lose Ulrich. “That’s all I’m asking for. A chance to see if we fit together. A chance to see if we could make a life together.”
“Of course. I would have given you a chance last year.” He stroked Lutoth’s cheek. “You weren’t the only one with a crush twenty years ago. I remember how I felt about you then. I wanted to kiss you so much, and now I get to.”
He kissed Lutoth then. And Lutoth smiled into the kiss.
“Happy Solstice,” Ulrich said. “Here is your first Solstice gift from me.” Ulrich handed Lutoth a small parcel. “Expect more.”
Lutoth untied the string. “Cookies!”
“Solstice cookies. Aryn told me you have a sweet tooth,” Ulrich said.
Lutoth bit into one and moaned. He closed his eyes and chewed, savouring the sweet, jammy, chocolatey taste bursting on his tongue and swirling around his mouth. “Mmmmm.”
He opened his eyes.
Ulrich stared at his mouth, desire burning in his gaze.
Lutoth’s gaze moved downwards to Ulrich’s engorged dick. He swallowed the cookie and placed the parcel beside him, reaching for Ulrich.
“I suddenly want something a bit more savoury. Perhaps something a bit salty.”
Ulrich laughed as Lutoth pounced on him.
ChapterFourteen
Clouds of grey smoke billowed out of Ulrich’s door, floating up into the sky. Ethel stood outside Ulrich’s cabin, staring through the open doorway.
A fire.
Ulrich froze, panic tearing through his veins.
Where was Lutoth?
Ulrich bolted, covering his mouth and nose as best he could as he entered the cabin. Still, the acrid taste hit him in the back of his throat and nostrils. He waved at the smoke. His eyes stung. He could barely see anything but smoky shadows.
But he could hear coughing. Lutoth was coughing!
“Lutoth? Are you all right?” he yelled.
“Yes,” Lutoth called and coughed. “I burnt something on the stove.”
