Part 87 (1/2)

Excellent.

Dax grinned at her as she did this and his grin did not waver, nor did he hide the intensity of his pleasure when she ceased laughing but did so turning more fully to him, adding leaning toward him in her chair.

Dax reciprocated this gesture by leaning toward her.

At this, she seemed to brace but visibly forced herself to relax as they continued conversing.

”The steaks are totally gonna burn,” Noc muttered.

”We'll leave them be and go buy more,” I suggested.

Dax said something amusing again, for Circe laughed again, this time doing it reaching out a hand to touch his forearm that was resting on the arm of his chair.

He did not grin as he watched her laugh.

He looked down at her hand on him and immediately twisted his arm so he could lace his fingers in hers.

In return, Circe instantly stopped laughing.

I held my breath.

”f.u.c.k, bold move and too soon,” Noc remarked tersely.

I let my breath loose on a chant, ”Don't let her go. Don't let her go. Don't let her go.”

Circe stiffened, moving her torso away a bit.

Dax did not let her hand go and leaned in deeper, pursuing her, even seated.

She dipped her chin, turning her head and further hiding her face with a fall of hair.

Dax was speaking to her as she did this and continued to do so as she kept her face averted.

He did this for some time.

Noc and I remained silent and watchful for that time.

And then I drew in a sharp breath as Dax lifted his hand, touched gentle fingers to Circe's jaw, and forced her to face him.

”f.u.c.k,” Noc growled.

Dax kept speaking.

I held tense.

After moments that felt like eternities pa.s.sed, she nodded, a warm, relieved look washed over Dax's face and he dropped his fingers from her jaw but continued to hold her hand and his place in her s.p.a.ce.

”Now we really gotta check on the potatoes,” Noc muttered.

I took my hand from the slats and turned to him.

He was so close I felt my arm brush his chest as I did so. Also as I did so, he took his hand from the slats and looked down at me.

I gazed up at him, all of a sudden stunned.

He was so beautiful. Sheer perfection in every way.

It wasn't the first time I'd noted that, but now that I'd sensed his pain, I couldn't help but feel the silenced throb of it beating under the surface.

This made me sway into him at the same time wrapping my arms around his waist.

Noc returned the gesture.

”A few more minutes and I'll go out and intervene. Give her some respite so she can catch her breath,” I told him.

”Think that's a good plan.”

I nodded and rolled up to my toes to touch my mouth to his.

When our lips parted, I didn't roll completely back.

I held his gaze and shared the love I had for him in mine.

”Thank you for your patience with this,” I whispered.

”Baby, do anything for you, but helping you guide Circe to happy is not a hards.h.i.+p.”

I pulled an arm from him, lifted my hand and cupped his cheek, running my thumb along the edge of his bottom lip.

”Yes, I know that, it's very you. But thank you all the same.”

He didn't respond. He just shook his head as if to negate the compliment I'd paid, dipped it and brushed his lips against mine.

”I need to check the potatoes,” he said when he'd lifted away. ”And you need to give our girl a breather.”

I nodded.

Noc's arms gave me a squeeze.

I squeezed him back.

He drew his arms from around me but took my hand and held it, even though we were simply walking to his kitchen.

I waited inside it, watching Noc do something peculiar, this being poking the potatoes with a fork.

I didn't ask after this partly because I didn't care, but mostly because I had other things on my mind.

These other things being that I felt I'd given it enough time.