Grabbing a basket as she walked into the store, L frowned as she looked at it. Realizing that she was going to need a cart instead. She put the basket down and moved to get one of the carts, the fae already heading into the store. L couldn’t help but smile as she took in their wide eyes and amazed expressions as they passed disys promoting various items.


    “So youe here for all your food?” Lu asked as he slowed down from the others to walk beside her.


    “Most people do now day, I mean there are people who have gardens and do the whole hunting thing.” L said with a shrug as she walked along, pushing the cart. “Did you umm, did you do a lot of hunting before?”


    “Aye, well, mostly foraging. We bartered a lot, my mum kept a garden.”


    “Interesting, we don’t really barter and I don’t have enough space in my apartment to do a proper garden. Maybe one day I can have a house with a small garden.”  L let out a wistful sigh, and Lu couldn’t help but envision a future with her. One where her belly was swollen with child as they both worked in their garden. A toddler with copper curls ying in the yard with another sibling. He smiled to himself as he looked over at L.


    “I think that’s a fine thing to have.” Lu said as he watched L step away from the buggy and grab a bag full of apples.


    “I think so too. Is there anything in particr you guys like?”


    “You,” Lu smiled at her, watching the blush re to life as it covered her cheeks.


    “I mean to eat.” His eyes met hers and she felt her blush spreading into her hairline, “Food, I mean food.”


    “We are not picky, anything will be fine.” Lu smirked as she looked away from him, moving to grab a carton of strawberries.


    “That’s good.” L said as Lu moved to take the cart from her hands.


    “Let me,” his hands brushed against hers and L bit her lip as she watched the tops of his cheeks turn red. She dipped her head in thanks as she moved to the vegetables. Grabbing some carrots and potatoes with an idea to do a stew for dinner. She grabbed a few more things before walking over to look at the fresh-cut flowers.


    “In your garden, do you want flowers?”


    “Yes, I think roses would be lovely.” L said as she brought her hand up to touch the pale white petals of a rose.  “Or maybe daisies.” She added before stepping away from the bouquets. She walked away, grabbing more of the groceries she knew they would need, cing them into the cart before moving to head down an aisle.


    Lu followed behind her, his eyes tracing her curves. Even in the harsh lightening, she glowed with a beauty that took his breath away.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    L looked over her shoulder, “Is there anything you missed when you were trapped?”


    Lu bit his lower lip as he looked at L. There were a lot of things he missed. A woman’s touch, a barrel aged whiskey, his mother’s baked bread. “There were mostly little things. I missed dancing with a woman.”


    “I’m not sure I’d be a suitable partner, but we could dance.” L said as she moved closer to the cart, dropping in a box of tea bags.


    “I think you would be an excellent dance partner,”  Lu said as he stepped around the cart and held his hand out to her. His eyebrow raised as he bowed, waiting for her to take his hand.


    L bit her lower lip as she looked down the aisle. With a giggle, she ced her hand in his as he pulled her close. His handing to rest on her waist as he held her close, spinning them around to the soft jazz that poured through the store’s speakers.


    She looked up at Lu as he smiled down at her, twirling them about. He was humming a tune under his breath as he moved. Her body was pressed against his, her palm resting on his shoulder.  He wrapped his arm tighter around her waist. She felt his muscles flex and her eyes widened.


    “Lu,” L shrieked with a giggle as he lifted her up so her feet were off of the ground. Her cheeks flushed as she realized how close together they were. How she could feel the racing of his heart under her fingertips as he sat her back down.


    “See an excellent dance partner.” Lu said, resting his forehead against hers.


    L brought her hands to his waist, feeling the soft cotton of his shirt under her fingertips as she breathed in his unique scent.  Warm whiskey with hints of herbs that made her mouth water. Her heart fluttered in her chest as his warm breath fanned across her lips, L closed her eyes. Tilting her head up, waiting for him to press his lips against hers.


    Lu studied her face, her closed eyelids. The way her lips were softly parted waiting for his kiss, he drank in the sight of her. Fireflies ring to life in his stomach as he closed his eyes.


    “Found you.” Merrow chuckled, making L and Lu jump apart. He held out a sausage on a toothpick, a smirk on his face as his eyes met L’s, “I brought you a sample.” He held out his offering to her as he bit into the one in his other hand.


    “Thank you,” L said, looking away from his smile as a blush covered her cheeks. L peeked over at Lu as she tried to take the toothpick from Merrow. He held it up, a teasing glint in his eyes.


    “Don’t I get anything for bringing you something?”


    “I can get my own free sample.” L said, not meeting his gaze as she turned back towards the buggy.


    “I’ll take it.” Lu snatched the bite away, biting into the delicious morsel as he scowled at the merman.


    “I didn’t interrupt anything, did I?” Merrow asked, his lips twitching up into a half smile as he met Lu’s re.


    “Nothing that won’t happen sooner orter.” Lu said after he finished his bite of the meat.