Blessed: A Suitable 'Verse alternate universe novella (The Suitable 'Verse) by R. Cooper

Author:R. Cooper [Cooper, R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-05-26T18:30:00+00:00

Arden was next to him when Mattin opened his eyes, looking so wickedly handsome that Mattin stared at him for a long while before he even realized he was staring. With some confusion, Mattin considered the side of Arden’s face and then the fireplace in Mil and Arden’s sitting room, currently blazing with a toasty fire. Then he studied the table in front of him, laden with quite possibly every fruit the palace greenhouse had to offer as well as a pot of tea and platter full of sweet buns.

There was a cup of tea before him. Mattin had the vague thought that he’d had some tea already, milkier than he usually drank it, but someone had insisted he needed it.

He supposed he did. He was… very tired.

He turned back to Arden for explanation and then jolted, which made Arden put down whatever he was reading to look at him.

Arden was not just next to him. Mattin was pressed against Arden’s side from chest to thigh, and while Arden was dressed in an undershirt and pants, Mattin was not. Mattin was wearing a blanket. Or—he looked down—a large towel, with a blanket thrown over his legs.

He turned to Arden again, who stared back at him, interested and warm despite the shadows beneath his eyes that said he was also tired. His hair was damp, so he must have bathed not long ago, which was when Mattin realized that his hair was wet too but wrapped in another towel.

He left Arden to stare at him with that mortifyingly indulgent expression on his face to glance around the rest of the room, but Mil didn’t seem to be there.

Mattin was in their rooms but he wasn’t…. He’d come here for help, but he couldn’t be post-fever. He was tired and confused and hungry, but nowhere near as worn out as he should be.

“Did you… did you not want me?” That was also mortifying, but it was saying the words that made him aware of his hoarse throat and how the rest of his body was somewhat raw.

Very raw. Sore in places and tingling and sensitive in others. But not aching. Not pained.

He recognized this with wonder, then turned back to Arden.

“Not want you?” Arden clucked his tongue.

“I’m sorry,” Mattin apologized immediately. “I’ve never felt this good befo…” He trailed off at Arden’s obviously smug expression. “I’ve never not hurt the next day,” he said anyway because Arden should hear it. He had a feeling his face was red but he still felt the fever enough that it meant nothing. “Thank you. I hope I wasn’t too much trouble.”

Arden snorted softly, then angled his head so Mattin could better see his neck and the four raised lines that Mattin took several moments to recognize as scratches. Arden lifted one of Mattin’s hands and raised it to the spot, where Mattin’s fingers lined up perfectly.

“Dear heart,” Arden was fondly amused, “you had two Gifted with you and we could barely keep up. Trouble? We are blessed indeed.

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