It took another hour before Effie finally decided she had consumed enough of Sunny's food, patience, and dignity to be satisfied.
"Alright, we're out," Effie announced, slapping her hands on her thighs and standing up. She stretched, looking around the living room with an expression of deep, menacing approval. "I have a thing to finish, and Doofus here needs his rest. Escaping the Crushing takes it out of you."
She walked over to Sunny, who was leaning against the kitchen archway looking thoroughly defeated. She slapped him on the shoulder hard enough to make his teeth rattle.
"You did good, short king," she murmured, dropping her voice just enough that Cielle wouldn't catch the nuance. "Keep her safe. And buy some thicker walls. Soundproofing is an investment."
Sunny glared at her, his face heating up again. "Get out of my house, Effie."
"Love you too," she cackled.
Kai stopped by the door, offering a polite, perfectly executed bow. "Thank you for the tea, Cielle. And Sunny... I'm happy for you. Really."
Sunny just rubbed his temples. "Goodbye, Kai."
The heavy front door finally clicked shut, the deadbolt sliding into place automatically.
Instantly, the house fell into a profound, ringing silence. The chaotic energy that Effie brought with her evaporated, leaving behind the steady hum of the Waking world. The faint hum of the refrigerator. The soft rustle of feathers.
Sunny leaned his back against the front door and let out a long, shuddering exhale. He felt like he had just survived a Nightmare all over again.
He opened his eyes and looked toward the living room.
Cielle was still sitting on the couch. The moment the door had closed, her posture had visibly relaxed. Her wings, which had been held tightly against her back to avoid taking up too much space around Effie, slowly unfurled, draping over the cushions. The loud, abrasive volume of the morning was gone, and her senses could finally settle.
She looked at him across the room. Her green eyes were perfectly clear.
"She is very loud," Cielle observed bluntly. "My ears are vibrating."
"She's a walking natural disaster," Sunny agreed, pushing himself off the door. He walked into the kitchen and started gathering the empty mugs and plates Effie had left scattered across the marble island. "But she means well. Usually."
Cielle stood up. The oversized black shirt slipped completely off her left shoulder as she padded barefoot across the hardwood floor. She didn't stay in the living room. She followed him right into the kitchen.
Sunny turned the tap on, the warm water rushing over his hands as he began to rinse the plates. He was trying to ground himself in the mundane, domestic chore. Wash the plate. Rinse the mug. Ignore the fact that a girl had just claimed him in a cave a few hours ago.
He felt her approach before he heard her. The temperature right behind him seemed to rise.
Cielle stepped up directly behind his back. Without a word, she wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her face right between his shoulder blades. Her wings flared slightly, wrapping around his sides like a soft, feathery curtain, effectively caging him against the sink.
Sunny froze, the sponge slipping from his fingers.
"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice coming out a little rougher than he intended.
"It is quiet here," Cielle mumbled against his spine. "You are quiet. I am letting my head stop buzzing."
It was such a violently cute admission that Sunny's heart did a painful flip in his chest. He turned the water off, his wet hands gripping the edge of the marble counter. "Was it too much? I can tell them not to come back without warning."
"No," Cielle said, her breath hot against his back. "I liked her. But I like this better."
She squeezed him a little tighter, then let go. Sunny let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding and turned around to face her.
He didn't get far.
Cielle didn't step back. Instead, she hopped up, seating herself directly on the edge of the cold marble kitchen island. The movement hiked his shirt dangerously high up her thighs. She parted her knees and casually pulled Sunny by the waist, slotting him perfectly between her legs.
Sunny's breath hitched. His hands instinctively went to her waist to steady himself, his thumbs resting against the bare skin exposed by the oversized shirt.
She looked down at him. Her green eyes were no longer sleepy or overwhelmed by Effie's noise. They were dark, focused, and entirely predatory. The sudden shift gave Sunny complete whiplash.
"We were interrupted," Cielle stated, her voice dropping into a low, husky register.
Sunny swallowed hard. "We were eating stew."
"We were doing something else before the stew," she corrected seamlessly. Her hands came up, resting flat against his chest. She could feel his heart hammering a frantic rhythm against his ribs. The corner of her mouth twitched upwards in a tiny, pleased smirk. "Your heart is beating very fast."
"That's because you are a menace to my health," Sunny managed to say, though he made absolutely no effort to step away from her grip.
"I want to copy your aspect again," she whispered, leaning forward.
Before Sunny could process the ridiculous, paper-thin excuse, she closed the distance.
She kissed him, and there was nothing soft about it. It was immediate, heavy, and hot. Her tongue swept into his mouth, claiming him without effort as Sunny groaned, his eyes fluttering shut as his control snapped all over again. His hands tightened on her waist, lifting her just slightly to pull her flush against his hips. She let out a soft, breathy sound into his mouth, her arms wrapping around his neck to anchor him there.
She tasted like the robust tea and honey, sweet and scalding. Her fingers tangled in his hair, gripping the short strands tight enough to send a sharp, thrilling spike of heat straight to his lower stomach.
Sunny pushed forward, crowding her against the counter. The cold marble at her back only made her press closer to his heat. She broke the kiss just long enough to drag her open mouth down his jawline, her teeth grazing the sensitive skin of his neck.
"Cielle," Sunny gasped, his head falling back slightly to give her better access. His hands slid down from her waist, gripping the backs of her thighs, his thumbs pressing into the soft milky skin.
She kissed him again gently on his lips, making him shudder. "You said I was a menace," she mumbled against him, her breath searing hot. "Are you going to stop me?"
Sunny looked down at her. Her hair was a mess, her lips were slick and swollen, and she was looking at him with unapologetic desire.
"Dont think I have a say in that anymore," Sunny mumbled.
He leaned in and captured her mouth again, kissing her hard, deep, and thoroughly. The dishes were forgotten. The chaos of the morning faded entirely. The only thing that mattered was the heat of her between his hands, the soft rustle of her wings, and the slight doubt at the back of his mind.
'This is just a casual friendly activity, that's right'