“Bounce on it?” Tynan’s eyes widened. “Is that allowed? What if it breaks?”
“Then I’ll fall, and the cushions will soften my landing. Haven’t you ever done this before?” Tynan shook his head. “Oh, hon. You haven’t lived if you haven’t bounced on a bed, or a couch, or even a pile of cushions.”
Letting go of his mate, Malik leaped up onto the couch, his legs already prepared in case he did go right through. But no. Tynan should really trust his magic more, because the surface Malikjumped into was soft, without being crumbly soft, and he happily bounced from one side of the divan to the other. And then, because Tynan was actually smiling, he bounced all the way back the other way.
“See,” he said, only slightly puffed as he jumped off and landed by Tynan’s side again. “I can guarantee anytime you feel a bit down or disgruntled, a good bounce shakes all the negativity away.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a fae bounce.” Tynan chuckled. “They’d be too scared they’d muss their hairdo or something silly.”
Malik swept his hand over his bald head. “I don’t have to worry about things like that. Now, I’m going to put on some coffee. Your very clever magic didn’t touch my kitchen, so I know where to find the coffee pot. I’ll make us some coffee, and oh, mustn’t forget to open the window for Sparky. You’ve been very quiet and well-behaved, so thank you.”
Making sure Tynan was happily seated, Malik went over to the counter, smiling at the bird.
“You promised me gingerbread and something about a jam roll,” Sparky said. Malik had never seen a bird look so amused before. He could swear the raven was grinning although he wasn’t sure if that was even possible.
“I did indeed.” Malik pulled open a cupboard and pulled out his cake tin. He quickly cut a slice of gingerbread and another slice of jam roll. Tearing off a sheet of paper towel, he put the pieces on there, and then laid them on the counter. “Is that suitable, or do you prefer a proper plate?”
Sparky nodded as he hopped closer. “Plates make my beak tingle if I tap them. But it’s fine. You’ll get used to my ways. I would saythat most people do, but then Tynan doesn’t know most people. But you’ll get used to me, I’m sure.”
Leaning over the kitchen counter, Malik reached up and opened one of the small windows he had in the side of the building. They were too high for anyone to look in, and too small for anyone to get in. But they were definitely big enough for an inquisitive raven to be able to hop out.
“You can pop out there any time you feel the need to. I don’t want to be cleaning up messes on my counter.”
Sparky ruffled his feathers. “As if I would. I’m not that kind of bird. A small bowl with water would be appreciated, though, thank you kindly.”
Chuckling, because the bird had attitude, Malik found a bowl for some water and left it for Sparky. Then he quickly made two mugs of coffee, putting them on a tray along with sugar and milk, seeing as he wasn’t sure how Tynan took his coffee yet.But I will.
Making his way back over the couch, carrying the tray, he stopped in the middle of the room and looked around. “Oh, I hadn’t noticed that. My coffee table’s gone.” But as soon as he said it, a coffee table appeared, right by his leg.
“I didn’t do anything,” Tynan said quickly. “I wasn’t even thinking about magic.”
Chuckling, Malik put the tray down on the new table and then sat down next to Tynan. “I’m honestly not worried about it. As I said, clearly your magic’s just trying to make a good impression. Now, how do you like your coffee? It’ll be handy for me to know when I bring you a coffee in bed in the morning.”
“Maybe you should check you’ve still got a bed, before thinking about us sharing it.”
Chapter Eight
“How long have you been living on Earth?”
“Huh?” Tynan was still worrying about the state of Malik’s bed. Malik had laughed when he mentioned it might be gone. He hadn’t gone to check on it. Tynan thought he really should. There was no idea how “impressive” his magic had decided to be.
“Er…thank you.” He accepted the coffee mug Malik had given him. “I’ve been living on this realm about a year and a half, or thereabouts.” He leaned forward, grabbed three sugar cubes, dropped them into his mug, and then, because he really felt he needed the extra boost, he added another two. “It’s been a learning curve.”
“I see you have a sweet tooth.” Malik grinned at him. There was something comfortable about the bigger man – or rather, sharing a divan with Malik. “I’ve learned something important about you already.”
“Ah, yes.” Tynan was sure his cheeks were radiating more heat than the sun. He looked down at his mug. “Sugar seems to calm my nerves. Don’t ask me why, because I have no idea.”
“Hopefully, I don’t make you nervous. Mate or not, I’m not going to jump on you. We’re just enjoying a coffee together.”
“I’m not nervous about you jumping on me.” Tynan slapped his hand over his mouth, his cheeks flaming at that point, especially when Sparky laughed. “I’m worried about your bed.” He dropped his hand quickly.By the Fates, could I be any more stupid?“Not if you have a bed, or if I’ll be sharing that bed with you.”I’m just making things worse.“I’m worried that my magic might have changed your bed. You didn’t check it.”
“Why would it matter if your magic had done that?”
“You’re being so nice, and I really don’t deserve it.” Tynan sighed. “I’ve only been here five minutes, and I’ve ruined your home. Did you get angry? Nope. You just said, ‘what does it matter if your magic has changed the bed?’”
He desperately needed Malik to understand. “You don’t know what my magic can do. It’s so erratic, so unpredictable… We could go in there, or you could, or maybe we could, whatever, that’s not the point. There might not even be a bed in there. For all I know, I could’ve turned it into a swimming pool or something useless…you know…for sleeping in.”
Malik was watching him so intently. There was a part of Tynan that wanted to shrivel away from it, because experience had taught him that being noticed wasn’t always a good thing. But there was such a kindness to Malik as well. He was so big, so solid, so calm. Tynan found himself warming to that.
