I was suddenly very glad I’d let Ginni talk me into wearing the skirt she’d made.
“I brought something for you.” He held up a small rectangular box. I opened it and gasped. A small silver chain was nestled inside with a blue stone embedded in a circular pendant. I touched the delicate stone with the tip of my finger. The tiny facets sparkled in the light whenever I moved the box. I’d never seen anything like it.
“It’s a necklace,” Adrien said, his voice a little higher-pitched than normal. “Henk helped me get it. Here, allow me.” He pulled the necklace from the box, then moved behind me and draped the chain over my neck, the little pendant hanging like a teardrop. His fingers trembled as he lifted my hair and closed the clasp. He leaned in from behind, his voice a whisper. “Don’t take it off, even when you sleep. I want a little part of me to be with you all the time.”
“It’s so pretty!” Ginni squealed.
I put my hand to my neck and traced the chain down to the pendent. I’d never owned something so special in all my life. I turned to look at Adrien. He’d pulled back slightly, but he held out an arm.
“Shall we?” he said.
I glanced back and saw Ginni’s swooning face. I laughed and grabbed Adrien’s proffered arm.
“We shall,” I said.
We walked down the hallway, and I felt a bit silly in the skirt. It whooshed around my legs in a way I wasn’t used to, and my calves were bare. It was a strange sensation.
Adrien raised one eyebrow and grinned as we passed the Caf. He finally stopped when we came to the training room.
“Are we going to be lifting weights or perfecting my aim?”
He smirked. “Neither.” He opened the door and I stepped in.
The lights were dimmed like they were during meditation, but in the farthest corner I could see a small table set up. Someone had draped a deep magenta fabric over the plain white walls beside the table, and as I came closer, I saw some of my newer drawings had been hung up. My brother’s face, my parents, even Max.
“I thought you might like to be surrounded by all the people you love tonight.”
I felt myself tearing up. I turned and hugged him. “It’s perfect,” I said.
He pulled back with a laugh. “But you haven’t even seen everything tonight has to offer.” The table itself had been covered in cloth too—a bright blue triangle piece was set over a bigger white cloth that draped over the edges of the table. A single rose spun in the light from a projection cube set in the center of the table.
Adrien popped the top of a tall bottle and poured sparkling liquid into our glasses.
“What is that?” I leaned in closer.
“The Community rations finally arrived, and I had Henk toss in some champagne as well.”
“But won’t I be allergic to it?”
“Nope. We’ve tested everything you’re going to eat tonight. It was all produced in the underground Community hothouses, with zero Surface allergens.”
“Wait,” I paused as what he said sank in. “You mean I’ll finally get to eat real food?”
He nodded, his grin so wide I thought it would split his face. “Surprise.”
I let out a giddy squeal and clapped my hands like Ginni did when she was excited.
“My lady,” he said, and held out a chair for me.
“Tonight you get to feast on braised beef and carrots, in a red wine sauce.” He clicked his com, and a few moments later, Jilia walked in carrying two loaded plates. She set them down in front of us.
“Thank you,” I said, but she didn’t respond, she just smiled and then walked out again.
I took a deep drink of the champagne and almost coughed because of the bubbles that seemed to fizz in my nose.
“Start out slow,” he said, patting my back as my coughs died down. “Take sips, not gulps.”
“It stung,” I said, my eyes watering.
Adrien laughed. “It does take a little while to get used to. But hurry, take a bite of the beef before it cools down too much.”
I did as he said, and immediately closed my eyes to focus on the flavor. The beef seemed to melt on my tongue, it was so tender and juicy. I’d never had anything like it in my entire life. When Adrien said Community rations, I thought he meant the hard bread and protein patties I’d eaten every morning of my life, not this. A low groan escaped my throat.
I looked back up at him. He hadn’t even taken a bite yet. He was just watching me. I blushed slightly and ducked my head.
We ate quietly for several minutes, both of us enjoying the sumptuous flavors.
“Remember how you used to explain emotion words to me?” I asked after I’d finished the last of the meat.
He nodded.
“I’ve been experiencing emotion for long enough now that I think I understand most of them, but every now and then another one will surprise me.”
He smiled. “Like what?”
“Like this right now.” I put my hand to my chest. “I feel warm and happy, but that doesn’t quite seem to describe it. It’s something more than that. What do you call it?”
Adrien’s face turned thoughtful, his eyebrows drawn together. He took a drink of champagne before answering. “I think,” he said tentatively, “I think it’s contentment. Where you have everything you ever wanted, all together in one place. It’s quieter than excitement, but,” he swallowed, “maybe it’s better.”
“Contentment,” I said, trying the word out on my tongue.
“I haven’t had a lot of it in my life,” he said. “It’s new to me, too.”
“When was the last time you felt this content?”
His face darkened and he shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. My past isn’t me.” His tone sounded strangely resolute. “All that matters is who I am now. Who I am when I’m with you.”
I stood up and walked over to him, not hesitating before I leaned over and swooped in to kiss him. I could feel his surprise, but he quickly opened his soft lips to mine, his hands gently cupping my face.
I dropped into his lap, feeling pleasure bloom inside me. He slid his hands down my jaw and pulled me tighter. Something inside me began to soar, and my power buzzed to life. Instead of releasing it uncontrollably, it hummed inside my chest, sparking down my spine like electricity. Every inch of me felt alive and wild.
Reluctantly, I released his lips, and looked around. Even though we were alone, anyone could walk in. I pulled his hand to stand up and follow me. “Come on,” I whispered.
Since we were already in the training room, we didn’t have far to go to the equipment closet. We didn’t touch as we walked across the room, but I felt the anticipation building. I pushed the button to open the door and tugged him over to the corner, grabbing a training mat from a shelf as I went. I tossed the mat on the ground in the corner. As soon as the door closed behind us, I pulled my top off over my head, then turned to him.
I didn’t say anything more, just grabbed the bottom edge of his shirt, lingering for a moment to touch the skin at his waist. Then I stood up on my tiptoes to pull it over his head.
Adrien stared at me, his warm blue-green eyes full of heat, though the corner of his lips turned down with a touch of uncertainty.
“Zoe, wait—” he started saying, but I shook my head. He lifted his arms up to help me take his shirt off in spite of his protests. I paused, breathless and excited. His chest was lean and tanned, and taut with tension. He looked wiry but strong. I traced my finger down along his collar bone, down the small dipping line in the middle of his chest, then down his stomach to his navel. A shudder rippled though his body at my touch.
He wrapped one arm around my waist, burying his other hand in my hair. He cupped the back of my head and looked in my eyes. “You drive me crazy. All I want to do is make everything around us stop so I can just be with you. But I don’t know if it’s right…”