Lyra's shock broke into something softer. Her voice came barely above a whisper. Her hand still over her mouth.
"A-Auryn... when did you do all this?" she asked In a slow stammer.
He moved toward her in silence, a calmness that pushed her heart rate up by several beats. Reaching for her dusty travel cloak, he ran his fingers around the helm.
"Who would have thought two days would feel like two weeks." The admission came easier than he'd expected.
"I wanted tonight to be special after sending you away on business," he added.
She was still looking around, taking in everything. he'd rearranged furniture, creating space, the specific dishes on the table. Her favorites. Her eyes glowed with emotion she was too tired to fully guard against.
Then she crossed the space between them and wrapped her arms around him.
Auryn held her, feeling dust on her clothes and exhaustion in how she leaned against him. But also warmth that flowed across their bodies making her joints loosen.
