She's been gone for hours. It's not as if that length of time is long. In fact, it's the blink of an eye, the snap of his fingers.

And yet, it feels... longer than it usually does, for some reason.

Den is sitting in a comfortable chair by the carved wooden railings. There's a book open on his lap, but he's been staring out over the jungle instead of reading it. He half wishes he'd gone with Yesmine to see her parents.

But he doesn't see that going over well, and besides, she wanted to go alone.

Den really wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't come back.

And he doesn't quite understand why that thought is... saddening. Den doesn't need people, and he's only known this girl for a week.

And yet. She's something... bright. She makes him laugh.

Den can't remember the last time anyone did that.

And he rather likes her, impulsive little creature that she is.

If she doesn't come back... well, it isn't as if anything will change. Den doesn't even know why he asked her to stay, except that he could use something bright in his life, and if she's offering... he knows it's time to stop living in the past, even if it's easier said than done. She offered to help him, and Den didn't feel like refusing.

Now that she's gone, he wonders why that is.

And if she's wondering, too. It can't be easy for her to explain to her parents that she's going to be living with a man she just met.

Den wouldn't be surprised if they've convinced her not to come back.

If she's convinced herself that it was a stupid, spur of the moment decision.

Den sighs. Thinking about this is rather pointless. He'll wait a few days, and if she doesn't return, he'll just go on his way again. Nothing will have changed.

Nothing ever changes.

Den watches the sun move across the jungle, the rays bright against dark green leaves. The sounds are magnificent--so much life exists on this little moon in the middle of nowhere at all.

Even without Fae or humans or any other sentient race... Restalia thrives.

Den sometimes thinks the worlds would be better off without beings who can think and act beyond instinct.

He looks back at his book. He started it not long after Yesmine left, but he's only thirty pages in. The story is interesting, but Den doesn't feel like focusing on it. He sighs.

He contemplates putting it up and doing something else, but can't decide--mainly because he doesn't feel like doing anything else, either. Den is still debating with himself when Yesmine appears in the air a few feet from his chair.

She falls into his lap with a deep, weary sigh.

Den looks down at her and absently hopes she's not crumpling the pages of his book.

"You came back," he says.

Yesmine looks up at him with confusion. "Yes...?"

"I... wasn't sure you would," Den admits a bit sheepishly. He's... glad to see her, though. A smile twitches at his mouth.

She tilts her head. "Why wouldn't I have?"

"You only met me a week ago," Den says wryly. "I half expected your parents would throw a fit, or you'd talk yourself out of it."

"Well... my parents weren't expressly happy... but no one can talk me out of anything once I've made up my mind. That includes me," she says with a little wry grin.

Den arches a brow, amusement swirling within him. He portals the book out from under her, dropping it to the coffee table a few feet away. Books are important. "I'd wager I could talk you out of a thing or two," he says, smirking faintly.

Not that talking would be his primary method of coercion.

"Hmm? And what is it you will be trying to talk me out of?"

Den makes a thoughtful sound. "I don't know yet. It was a general statement."

Yesmine turns so she's facing him and wraps her arms around his neck. She's very soft, and very warm, and he rather likes having her right where she is. "I'm going to need context, otherwise I'm certain even you won't succeed in being able to change my mind about... anything."

"What sort of context would you like?" He asks, tilting his head closer to hers.

Yesmine makes a thoughtful sound. "Well, I guess anything's fine. Provided there's cake involved." She grins, and Den shakes his head at her. She really loves cake, though Den can't fathom why.

"No cake. Cake wouldn't be any fun," he says.

She pouts at him. "You're not any fun."

Den arches a brow. "Oh really?"

Yesmine nods at him. "Really. Cake is amazing."

"Hmm." He lowers his head, nuzzling her neck. "So what you're saying," he murmurs as she shivers, "is that cake is more interesting than me?"

"Exactly," she says, but her voice is unsteady, disproving her statement.

Den chuckles onto her skin. "I don't believe you," he says, his voice low.

Yesmine huffs. "You're free to believe whatever you want."

"Yes," he agrees, "I am." He scrapes his fangs against her neck, feeling the way her pulse races. "But..." he pulls back, sighing mournfully. "If you'd prefer cake over me..."

She gives him a thoughtful look, a wicked glint in her eyes. "Hmm... cake over your body... that sounds like an excellent idea..."

Den arches a brow. "Interesting. Would you like to get some help for these strange delusions of cake worship? You can hold it up all you'd like, but don't expect me to bow."

Yesmine smirks. "No, you don't have to bow. You just lie on your back..."

Den wrinkles his nose. "Something other than cake, perhaps."

Her smirk turns to a frown. "You don't have to eat it. I'll be eating it. I'm just using your body as a plate." She adds a cheerful grin, and Den finds himself very amused.

"Why do I feel as if I'm getting the short end of this deal?" He asks wryly.

She arches a brow. "My lips and my tongue are going to be all over you and you feel like you are getting the short end of this deal?" She pouts.

Den strokes small circles on her back soothingly. "Yes, but there would also be cake on my body." He wrinkles his nose again.

"What is your issue with cake?" She asks, frowning. "I like cake. I need something. Today has been stressful..." She pouts again and her head falls against his chest. Den lifts one hand to stroke her hair, not even certain why he's doing it.

"I don't like it," he says dryly. It's true, though not the only issue. The simple truth is that the thought of her eating anything off his body isn't really all that appealing. Den would much rather do things to her than have her do things to him.

Other people's attempts to control his body have never turned out well. He taught himself to feel nothing when others touched him a very, very long time ago. It's been so long... Den doesn't think he could unlearn that skill, even if he wanted to.

So really, the only person getting anything out of this situation would be her. And it's not that he minds... it's just that it's not appealing.

"Again, you don't have to eat it. I'll be eating it," she mumbles against his chest.

"And who is going to make this cake?" Den asks, arching a brow.

Yesmine snaps her fingers and a piece of cake appears in the palm of her hand. She holds it out to him. "Really? That was a genuine question?"

"No," Den says, amused.

Yesmine sighs. "So, can I eat cake off you or not? Or should I go find someone more willing?"

Well, and that ultimatum is not pleasant. Though, he's marginally certain that she's teasing.

"You could," he says calmly. "But I'll most likely kill him."

She sits up, looking at him with an arched brow. "Isn't that a bit extreme?"

"No," he says.

"No?" She challenges. She taps his chin with a tiny fork she manifested along with the cake. "Talking. Explaining. Elaborating. All very helpful tools in your possession."

Den arches a brow. "Torturing him would be extreme."

Yesmine blinks at him. "And why would either of those things be on the table?"

"You're mine," he says simply. It's true that it's only been a week, which is a ridiculously short period of time. But if she's staying with him, if he's keeping her, then that's it.

Den doesn't do things halfway.

The only way she's getting rid of him now is if she tells him so.

Yesmine tilts her head at him as if she's confused, watching him for a moment. Then she frowns. "Okay, still, that doesn't give you a reason to torture or kill someone without due cause."

"I don't think you understand this concept," he says dryly.

Her hazel eyes narrow and a pout forms on her lips. She takes a bite from her cake. "So explain it to me," she says after she's finished chewing.

Den looks at her for a long moment. How to explain that without coming off as a total bastard... not that he isn't a total bastard, of course.

For some reason he feels compelled to act the part of a gentleman with this girl.

It's almost annoying.

He sighs. "Never mind."

Yesmine shakes her head. "Nuh uh. You aren't getting off that lightly. I said I was going to help you with the talking thing, consider this lesson one."

Den arches a brow. "I don't think you want me to explain this."

"I would not have asked you to if I didn't want you to. Talk."

He sighs again. She's fond of giving orders, it seems. She's lucky she's so adorable. "Very well. Don't say I did not warn you."

"Wouldn't dream of it," she counters, and takes another bite of her cake.

Den gives her a dry look and slides one hand into her hair, along her cheek, looking into her eyes. "You're staying with me," he says calmly. "And I do not share." Not the important things, anyway.

Yesmine stares at him, motionless on his lap, the remnants of the piece of cake still in her hand. The sudden lust on her is so strong that Den can smell it. He's amused.

Yesmine finally sets the cake down. "So I'm eating off you then?" Her voice is slightly unsteady, as if she's trying to jest but isn't succeeding.

Den chuckles, leaning forward to kiss her softly. He moves his mouth along her jaw until he reaches her ear. Her hands tighten around his neck. "You could," he rumbles, "but I'd much rather it be the other way around."

Yesmine makes a sound that sounds half like a protest and half like agreement. Den chuckles again, nipping her earlobe.

"Is that a yes or a no...?"

"It's a..." she says, her voice breathless as she struggles to find words. She is ridiculously adorable. "Yes I want you to, but no because I want to give you something too..."

"Your presence is more than enough," Den says, kissing the skin beneath her ear. It's true. Den doesn't need her to do things to his body--it's more his mind she needs to save. For some reason, just the sight of her can put him in a better mood, so there isn't much she really needs to do.

Aside from letting him love her body, of course.

He rather enjoys that.

Yesmine is pliant in his arms, one hand in his hair to keep him close to her. Den chuckles again, flicking his tongue against the sensitive skin of her neck. She moans, her hands tightening in his hair, and he grins to himself.

She seems to have forgotten all about the cake.

And she thinks he can't make her change her mind. Ha.

Den portals them downstairs to his bed, and decides that they might not leave it for a very long time.

End of Story