30. Cake

{Naya}

By the time we made it back to the apartment, I just wanted to disappear inside my hookah. The drive with Portia was more emotionally taxing that it needed to be. And while I understood that she was my friend, I didn't particularly want to relive that dinner with the reverend.

Despite my soul-crushing weekend, when we got back to Uri's apartment, I didn't want to be left alone. So before I plunged into the hookah pipe, I looked at Uri and said, "You coming?"

Uri's lower jaw dropped a couple of inches, as if it was a surprise that I'd want to spend some time with him after that shit-show of a vacation.

He stumbled with his words. "There was something I had to do . . ." he glanced at Ritsu, who narrowed his eyes at the djinni. Then Uri looked back up at me and held my gaze. Something changed his mind.

"But it can wait."

I turned away from the pipe. "Are you sure?"

Over Ritsu's high pitched growl, he said, "Absolutely. In fact, I feel like it's been ages since I cooked anything. Let's make something together."

By now, Ritsu had stomped his little body all the way to the hookah pipe and disappeared inside. I didn't wonder about his behavior, because let's be honest, that monkey was always in a sour mood.

After Ritsu left, Uri relaxed his shoulders and went to raid the kitchen. I followed him, hoisting myself onto one of the bar stools. Watching Uri cook for me was fast becoming one of my favorite hobbies.

"What are you in the mood for?"

While his back was to me, I let my gaze travel up and down his slender body. There was a level of regret at the realization that even after all this time, we hadn't engaged in much physical contact. So far it had all been rather goofy or too brief.

Like that time when Uri touched my ass.

I pouted at the thought of never having the opportunity to return the favor.

"Naya?"

I blinked. "Wha – ?"

Uri was facing me now, holding up a box. "I said, what about if we made a cake?"

I nodded, perhaps a bit too fast. "Oh, yeah. Cake sounds so . . . um, great."

Uri lowered the box onto the counter. "You were staring at my backside again, weren't you?"

Feigning disbelief, I pushed myself off the stool and met him on the other side of the table.

"No! And what do you mean again?" Not able to look him in the eyes, I began opening cabinets and drawers in search of a bowl and a whisk.

"Your eyes wander, Naya," he said from behind, not at all trying to hide the smile in his voice.

By now, my face was hidden in the hollows of the cabinet, where it couldn't betray me.

"Pff! Look, no offense or anything, but you ain't got that much to stare at anyway. Besides, don't act like your eyes don't roam around from time to time."

He chuckled and muttered something about my tempting cut-off shirts.

The two of us carried on like this while we prepared the batter. It felt like old times before all of this mess with my father happened. The only difference was that I had nothing else weighing on my mind. I no longer worried about who I needed to lie to next. The moment left me feeling light and eager to revel in this new freedom.

By now the batter was done and the oven was heating up. While we waited, I beckoned Uri over.

"Here, taste."

I held up a finger with batter clinging to it. Uri approached and hesitated, his gaze shifting between me and the batter.

I giggled, "Hurry, before it drips!"

Uri closed the last bit of space between us and latched onto my finger. I didn't expect him to maintain eye contact with me as he sucked my skin dry. I leaned back against the counter for support and for a moment lost control over the muscles in my face.

When he let go, I fought to keep a neutral expression.

The djinni said nothing at first. Instead, he licked the corners of his mouth. And then in a voice that was so soft it made the preheating oven sound like a roar, he said, "Can I have more?"

Without thinking twice, I dipped my finger in the cake batter again and brought it before him. Once again, Uri savored the exchange. This time he closed his eyes. A low moan escaped him, which I felt through the vibrations in his teeth. The sensation brought forth a similar sound out of me – something between a sigh and a whimper.

Uri was quick to sense my need. He released my finger and eliminated what little space existed between us. I gave him the reins, letting his right hand guide the back of my head.

Slowly, Uri's mouth worked against mine until I parted my lips. I wanted nothing in that moment but him, and I wanted him to not only know it, but feel it as much as I did. So without even understanding how, I called upon my fire. Uri's own inner flame flared up and threatened to overwhelm me, but it didn't burn. I took his lip between my teeth as a sign to not hold back.

Still trying to wrestle command of his flame, Uri took hold of my hips and hitched them close to reestablish our connection, making it impossible to ignore his solid presence below the waist.

"Naomi." He drew my attention back to him.

I didn't really recognize the sound of my own voice as I replied with a desperate, "What?"

Uri swallowed and leaned his forehead against mine. Judging by the heat of his skin, he was doing all he could to control that fire of his.

"Are you sure . . . . Don't get me wrong. I want to. I want you."

"Open your mouth."

Without an invitation, I stuck another batter-laden finger into Uri's face. It caught him off guard, but he reacted accordingly. For a moment, his knees buckled and he moaned again.

I grinned. "You're a little freak, you know that?"

Uri swallowed the cake batter. "You are playing with fire, Naya."

I dipped my finger in the mix one last time and teased him with it.

"In case you haven't noticed, djinni, I'm made of fire too."

+++

{Janus}

Two beings stood before Uriel's apartment door – one visible, human, and dressed expensively. The other invisible, demon, and salivating in excitement.

"They're in there. Right now." The demon said, his black tongue dancing in all directions.

The human adjusted his cufflinks. "I know, Sabur. But it's rude to barge in without knocking."

He didn't tell his companion this, but the human was watering at the mouth too.