The smell hit first.
Warm. Sweet. A hint of vanilla and rebellion.
Malvor blinked awake, the sheets tangled around one ankle, hair wild from sleep, and found himself nose to mug with a steaming cup of coffee being held by a very smug, very awake Annie.
She was already dressed, soft black shirt knotted at her waist, loose lounge pants, barefoot, hair still damp from a shower. Her eyes sparkled.
And she was smiling.
A real one.
The kind that crept up her cheeks like it had nowhere else to be.
He blinked again, groggy. "What is this? You bribing me for something? You know you don't have to—"
She kissed him.
Not quick. Not chaste.
A slow, plush kiss that tasted like promises and roasted hazelnuts.
Then pulled back, placed the coffee in his hands like a trophy, and signed:
Good morning, lover.
Malvor stared.
Then looked down at the coffee.
Then back at her.
"You're flirting before I've even opened both eyes?"
She nodded. Beamed.
Her hands moved fast.
You look like chaos. I like it.
He made a scandalized sound. "I will have you know this chaos takes work."
Lie. She grinned.
Then, Thank you. For yesterday.
Her smile faltered just the tiniest bit. Not a crack. Just… reverence. That soft exhale of "you saw me" that didn't need explaining.
He sat up, resting the coffee on the nightstand, and cupped her face with one hand, thumb brushing her cheek.
"You don't have to thank me for loving you," he said quietly.
She leaned into his touch. Closed her eyes. Kissed his palm.
Then signed:
Let's do something fun. Just us. Something ridiculous.
He raised a brow. "You want ridiculous?"
She nodded. A little too eagerly.
He grinned.
"Oh, darling. I thought you'd never ask."
She signed: Let's do something absolutely insane.
He blinked at her. "This is coffee, right? Not spiked ambrosia?"
She nodded solemnly.
Then: I want to get my runes from Vitaria and Maximus.
He stopped mid-sip. "Wait, now?"
Her grin said everything.
Maximus will be easy. Vitaria… we bring her in.
Malvor raised a brow slowly. "Oh?"
She pointed at herself with both hands, gave a flirty little spin, and signed with full diva energy: I am a sexy piece of work.
Then pointed at him. You are… meh. Okay.
He dropped his head back onto the pillow. "Rude."
Her shoulders shook with silent laughter.
"Seriously?" he asked, peeking up at her. "Maximus and Vitaria?"
She nodded, eager now, eyes wide with mischief and ambition.
He groaned. "Gods, seduce a god and a goddess in the same morning? That's… honestly, impressive."
She shot him finger guns.
He sat up fully, rubbing a hand through his hair. "You know Maximus is so needy, right? He's going to monologue. There will be velvet. Possibly fruit. And he always insists on wine I don't like."
You like drama.
"I like me being the dramatic one. Not getting outdone by that prancing debauchery peacock."
She arched a brow.
"And Vitaria…" he huffed, "she's boring if she's not angry. If she starts talking about fertility rituals again, I'm walking into the sea."
Asha grinned wider.
You love it.
"I love you," he muttered, "I tolerate them."
Perfect. Then let's go.
She leaned in, slow and sinful, her fingers signing with dangerous precision:I am breakfast.
He blinked. Choked on absolutely nothing.
Then grinned—slow and wicked, like a storm deciding which village to destroy first.
"Oh gods," he breathed. "We are definitely going to hell."
Her smirk told him she'd booked the chariot ride.
"At least let's wear something scandalous."
He didn't even look at the coffee this time. Just set it down with reverent finality and stepped toward her like a man who knew exactly what he wanted.
"You're breakfast?" he repeated, voice low enough to make the air thrum.
She nodded once. Cocky. Daring.
His gaze raked over her, and something inside him snapped.
"Well then," he murmured, "it's only polite to start with a taste."
He moved.
Fast.
One arm hooked around her waist, the other caught her wrist mid-sign, pinning it above her head as he threw her back onto the bed. The air left her lungs in a breathless gasp—but she didn't have time to catch it.
Because he was already there.
Mouth on her throat.Fingers sliding beneath her shirt.Body pressed flush against hers like he was determined to worship every inch.
"You said you were breakfast," he growled against her skin, nipping at her collarbone. "Don't be surprised when I use my hands."
And gods help her—she wanted that.
She arched. He groaned.
"You're quiet," he murmured, voice molten. "But your body? She doesn't lie."
Her thighs parted. His mouth followed.
There were no more words.Only breathless moans.Only hands and mouths and wicked, wicked intentions.
By the time he came back up, eyes heavy with hunger and lips glistening like sin, he smiled like a man who'd just devoured a miracle.
"You were right," he whispered, kissing her like a confession. "Best damn breakfast I've ever had."
Annie lay sprawled beneath him, hair a wild halo across the sheets, lips kiss-swollen, body thrumming with satisfied heat.
She tapped his chest lightly, signing one word against his skin:
Again.
Malvor laughed, low and wrecked. "Greedy," he whispered, nuzzling into the crook of her neck.
She signed again, firmer this time:Always.
He pulled back just enough to look at her—really look at her—the smirk, the sparkle in her eyes, the pure, shameless hunger that had nothing to do with magic and everything to do with her.
"You," he murmured, pressing a lazy kiss to her throat, "are going to be the death of me."
She shrugged with exaggerated innocence.
He kissed his way up her jaw, each touch softer, slower, anchoring them back into the real, breathless world.
"We have to go seduce Maximus and Vitaria," he teased between kisses. "Remember?"
She signed lazily across his shoulder: Later.
"Later?" he repeated, mock scandalized. "You have corrupted me, woman. I had plans."
She tilted her head sweetly, batting her lashes.
He melted.
Of course he melted.
"You are so much worse than chaos," he muttered against her smile."And you know what?"
She lifted a brow.
He kissed her again, full and slow.
"I wouldn't survive a single day without you."