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Mel stirs awake and the first thing she notices is that her arms are empty again.
The first time was understandable once he explained why he had to leave early. But this second time? She lets out a groggy sound - equal parts exasperated and pouty. She barely starts opening her eyes when she hears hurried footsteps coming back. He pushes the gossamer curtains aside and tucks them in their side hooks to stay open. That has her mildly curious. Then he fully enters her bedroom.
“No, no,” Jayce winces upon seeing her awake. “Sorry, I thought I’d be back in time. Close your eyes Mel.”
She gives him a stern look and then rotates around, giving him her back. “What for?”
“Please?”
She sighs. She closes them more out of curiosity and tiredness. She feels the bed shift and then he’s shuffling under the blanket so he’s got his arms around her. He only has his sleep pants on so his chest is slightly cold but quickly he warms up. She shifts her arm so his arm goes around her waist and her hand rests along his forearm. He pulls her closer and puts his chin above her head.
She lets out a satisfied hum. “Better,” she declares.
“Hold that thought for another…” he turns his head to look at the clock on her nightstand, “ten seconds.”
She lightly frowns but before she could ask, there’s a new scent entering her room. A little bell sounds. She opens her eyes as she hears something wheeling into her room. She lifts her head as a breakfast cart, with gears and cogs undoubtedly due to Jayce, wheels itself past the doorway and stops right by her bedside.
“Jayce?” She turns around in his arms to look at him.
He shifts so they’re face to face. “Good morning Mel.” He moves one arm so he can prop his head up, making a lock of dark hair drape across his forehead. “Would it please the councilwoman to have breakfast in bed?”
On cue, a mechanical arm lifts the cover, revealing the delicious spread of food. There is a bowl of warm oats and berries with a jar of honey to pour on it. Some glazed pastries sit on the side, tempting her. In the center are soft boiled eggs in their golden stands and a couple of slices of breakfast meats.
“You made this?”
“Well, my devices did.” He moves his hand to lightly rest on her shoulder. “Now you can tell me if this is better than last time.”
For once, she is speechless. It’s more than anyone’s ever done for her and it was just breakfast. She leans in, kissing him and surprising him like the first time. He must be getting used to her surprise kisses for he easily kisses back, putting his hand along her cheek and then sliding it into her hair. They pull out of the kiss and just lean their foreheads together.
“We should eat before it goes cold.” She sits up and looks again at the feast. He moves so he’s sitting a little behind her but in front of the cart too. “Is the tea cart coming?”
“Tea!” He lets out a sigh. “I knew I forgot something.”
Mel lightly laughs behind her hand. “It’s alright.” She leans back against his chest with a raspberry glazed pastry. “We’ll get some later.”
She lifts the pastry up to his mouth. He takes a bite of it with a smile.