Work Text:
“One more chapter.” (#30)
Unlike the many nights at Rue Royale, the street in front of the house was sparse, the snow outside the door undisturbed. No music coming from the usually open windows, people spilling out, some that had been there all night, some never to be seen again.
“ Having drunk his fill, he lay down on the brocade carpet of soft grass, in the shade of the palm trees to rest awhile…”
Despite the chill of the world outside, it was warm inside, the crackling of the fire breaking the otherwise stillness of the room. The curtains shuttered, the lights dimmed.
Lestat ran his fingers up and down Louis’s side as they reclined on the couch. Stroking the flesh of his hipbone as Louis laid with his head on Lestat’s chest. Feeling the rise and fall as Lestat read aloud.
“ Soon the tired man was wrapped in peaceful slumber. Time passed unnoticed. When he woke, the sun was already low in the west. He had the feeling that someone had been staring at him. But who? No living soul was visible, far or near…”
The clock on the wall chimed, once, twice, three times telling them it was three in the morning. Lestat marked their place and started to move but Louis stopped him. Shifting more of his weight onto Lestat and curling his fingers into the fabric of his shirt.
“Louis, it is going to be sunrise soon,” Lestat reminded him.
“We still have time,” Louis didn’t open his eyes. “Thought you would appreciate my rapt attention.” He smirked a little teasingly.
Lestat huffed out a laugh. Soft as he let his hand wander under the back of Louis’s shirt to stroke the bare skin of his back.
“La joue de toi,” Lestat smiled.
“Tu aimes ça,” Louis countered.
He opened his eyes and looked up at Lestat, then turned and pressed a chaste kiss to the spot just above his heart.
“One more chapter,” he settled against him more.
Lestat sighed, as if feeling put out, but opened the book, finding the place where he’d left off, and waited until Louis was comfortable again before continuing on.
Outside it was cold, and dark, but inside the town house of Rue Royale, two lovers, found warmth.