Micah startled at the sound of Sasha’s voice—yeah, he’d never met an outside voice he didn’t immediately bring inside, like a lost kitten—and gave a slight shake of his head. “No, that’s all right.” His eyes went to Viv, then to Sasha, and then he looked away, drawing the blanket tighter around himself.
But Sasha figured it out. Maybe he wasn’t book-smart or magic-smart… but he could tell things about people, and right now, he could tell that Micah was lonely. And that was something Viv’s magic blankie wasn’t going to fix. Spells in thread were one thing—and, hey, he wasn’t going to knock it; that blanket had helped him over a few summer colds—but what Micah needed now was the sort of comfort that wasn’t magic, just human. He needed to be touched.
Sasha glanced at Viv, then back to Micah. He cleared his throat, thought for a minute how to ask, then gave up and barreled on as he usually did. “Hey, Micah, you want in on this?”
Micah blinked. “What?”
“This,” Sasha said, waving a hand to indicate the sofa.
“I’m warm enough,” Micah said, but the yearning was there, in his glance if not his words.
“Great, but that’s not what I meant.” Sasha patted the space next to him. He was in the middle, since Viv was small enough not to take up much room. “Come have some cuddle time, buddy.”
Viv sat up a bit, peering over at Micah. “Sasha is good at many things, but he’s best at this.”
“I’d like to think there are one or two other things I’m equally good at,” Sasha said, waggling his eyebrows at her. He play-winced when she smacked him on the arm, then shot Micah another encouraging smile. “Seriously, come on over. You can bring your blankie.”
“It isn’t a blankie,” Viv huffed.
“I don’t want to intrude,” Micah said softly, and now the longing was in his voice, not just the look he was giving them.
“Can’t intrude if I’m inviting you,” Sasha said.
“Come over here, already. He won’t stop until you do,” Viv said. “Believe me. That’s how I ended up married to him.”
“Hey! I won’t lie, sheer perseverance was a part of it, but baby, you know I bring other skills besides that.”
“I know. I’m only teasing.” She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. “Micah, come over here.”
“The dom says so,” Sasha added. He beamed when Micah stood with the blanket around his shoulders like a cape. Micah took a few steps closer, then stopped.
He looked lost, hopeful, and so very, very wary. Sasha wondered if someone had hurt him, offered comfort and touch and then recoiled or pushed him away.
“Please, c’mon. I’m a cuddler by nature, man. Don’t keep me from my favorite job.”
“You’re ridiculous.” Micah sat on the couch, leaving plenty of space between them. He gave Sasha a pained look.
Sasha put his arm around Micah’s shoulders and hauled him close. “There you go. See? Want me to play with your hair?”
He was teasing, but only because he didn’t expect Micah to agree. But to his surprise, Micah nodded, and Sasha felt like he’d won a prize. “Lie down a little. There you go.” Micah slouched, and Sasha reached out to draw his fingers through Micah’s hair. It was clean, washed and combed, with none of the grime or tangles he’d had when Sasha first brought him home. It was soft as silk and smelled good. Micah also smelled good.
“See, it’s nice, right?”
“It… is,” Micah said, sounding strangled. “Strange. But nice.”
“No one’s played with your hair before? Really?” Sasha shook his head. “Thought those doms over in Dragan’s village were smarter. Guess not.”
“No one touches me,” Micah said, shifting closer. “I like this, though.”
“Like I said,” Viv murmured, voice warm, “Sasha’s good at this. He’s the human version of that blanket I gave you.”
“Aw, babe.” Sasha smiled at her, and with his otherhand, he played with her hair, too. “Damn, living my best life right now, yeah? Two hot doms, and I canpetthem.”
“Sasha,” Viv said, but she laughed. “Micah’s right. You areridiculous.”
“Very,” Micah said, the tension gone from his voice. He sounded almost drowsy.
“Is that any way to speak to the champion cuddler of all of Lukos? Skull-crusher cuddle-monster Sasha?”
