One Wonders
It’s bitterly cold out and that, even without the wind chill, nebulous concept it is at best, keeps me from wandering out to nowhere I need to be.
I admire the perfect licks of the fire in its home and smile as I feel arms slide around me.
“Miss me, beautiful?”
“You made it back,” I state more than ask.
“Still welcome?”
“Earn it.”
“Here.”
Something small is placed into my hand in a tiny silk pouch. I pretend not to be interested.
“Come on, you want to know,” he smiles against my hair. I ignore him, or at the very least pretend to.
One stroke of his hand against my cheek and sighing in spite of myself, I relent and tug open the golden braided ties of the scarlet silk pouch.
“This isn’t Christmas, Robert,” I remind him.
“No, gorgeous,” he whispers against my neck. “I don’t need a reason to make you happy.” Strong arms tighten around my waist. “Not here,” he whispers against my neck and I smile.
“Where, then?”
“Here.” He tugs me over to the fire. Once we’d - well he’d disposed of that sow and we’d taken over the establishment - we’d only ask and it was there.
“Robert,” I mutter against his neck as he has already tugged me down and onto his lap.
“Shut up and open it already.”
The pouch reveals a small treasure - a beautiful ivory carving and I recognize both its quality and age. "Robert..."
"To accompany your Christmas gift," he whispers.
The piece is extraordinary, a beautiful buddha netsuke.
"Like it?" he asks into my neck. I nod.
Robert is many things, dangerously frightening and lethal foremost among them. He is also infinitely kind when allowed.
We are two of a certain breed.
At this moment I am feeling extraordinarily kind.