Chapter 17: Cooking Together
The Library was quiet, and Emmie relished the calm as she made her way to the kitchen, looking for a bit of comfort after the intensity of their recent missions. She paused just outside, surprised yet pleased when she sensed Ardeth's presence behind her. Turning, she found him standing there, his gaze warm as he observed her with that steady calm she had come to cherish.
"Couldn't sleep?" he asked, his voice low and soft in the quiet of the Library.
She smiled, a little thrill running through her. "Not quite. I thought I'd make something warm. Something simple and comforting." She raised an eyebrow playfully. "Want to help?"
Ardeth's gaze softened as he nodded. "I would like that. I've been curious about Western cooking. You'll have to show me."
They entered the kitchen together, Emmie pulling out ingredients from the pantry. Ardeth moved beside her, his presence close and grounding as they gathered vegetables, flour, and spices. As she reached for a cutting board, she handed him a knife.
Without hesitation, Ardeth took the knife, his movements precise as he began slicing vegetables with ease. His hands moved with practiced skill, each cut clean and efficient, the blade gliding through with quiet confidence. Emmie found herself momentarily mesmerized by the smoothness of his movements, surprised yet somehow pleased at how naturally he handled the task.
She leaned against the counter, watching him with a soft smile. "I should have known you'd be a pro at this too," she murmured, mostly to herself.
Ardeth glanced up, catching her gaze. His lips quirked with the faintest hint of a smile. "When you have been preparing food in the desert for as long as I have, you learn efficiency."
Emmie chuckled, feeling warmth rise to her cheeks. "Well, that certainly makes things easier for me."
As they continued working together, she showed him how to prepare some of the other ingredients, her hands brushing against his as they passed utensils back and forth. The kitchen felt cozy, the warm light casting a soft glow around them, making the space feel like their own little haven.
When Emmie reached for the flour, she accidentally brushed some onto her hand. A playful idea sparked, and she flicked a pinch of it in his direction, a small cloud of flour dusting his cheek. For a second, Ardeth looked at her in surprise, his gaze narrowing with playful mischief.
"Oh, so this is part of Western cooking too?" he murmured, his voice low and teasing.
Emmie laughed, stepping closer to wipe the flour from his face with her thumb, her fingers lingering for just a moment as she felt the warmth of his skin beneath her touch. Ardeth's gaze softened as he looked down at her, his hand reaching up to hold hers gently, keeping her close.
"Thank you," he said quietly, his voice rich with warmth.
Their eyes met, the air between them filled with an unspoken understanding that needed no words. Emmie felt her heart beat faster, her pulse thrumming as his thumb brushed lightly along her wrist, his touch sending a gentle thrill through her.
Clearing her throat, she stepped back, a playful smile lighting her face as she tried to ease the tension. "We'd better get back to it before we end up covered in flour."
Ardeth's lips curved into a faint smile, and he gave her a small nod, though his gaze remained warm, his attention never fully leaving her as they returned to their work.
With the vegetables neatly chopped and a pot simmering on the stove, Emmie moved to the counter, reaching for spices. She felt Ardeth's gaze on her as she measured a pinch of cumin, a dash of paprika, and a bit of salt, tossing them into the pot with practiced ease.
As she stirred, she felt him step closer, his hand lightly grazing her back. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver up her spine, and she found herself smiling, the simple, quiet intimacy of the moment making her heart feel light.
"Care to give it a try?" she asked, offering him the spoon with a playful glint in her eyes.
Ardeth took the spoon, his fingers brushing hers, lingering a second longer than necessary. He tasted the broth, his expression thoughtful before a subtle smile softened his features. "It's good," he said quietly, handing the spoon back. "You've brought out the warmth in these flavors."
Emmie felt her cheeks warm under his gaze. She leaned in to take a taste herself, savoring the mixture. When she looked back up, she realized Ardeth was watching her intently, his gaze filled with quiet admiration. The comfortable silence between them felt heavy with meaning, as if they were sharing a language all their own.
They continued working side by side, their movements in sync, as though they'd done this together countless times before. At one point, Emmie reached for a dishcloth and noticed a smudge of flour still on Ardeth's jaw. Unable to resist, she reached up, brushing it off with her thumb. His hand came up to rest over hers, holding it there as he turned to face her fully, his eyes searching hers.
The gentle weight of his hand over hers, the warmth radiating from his touch, left her breathless. Slowly, she let her fingers trail down his jaw, feeling the roughness of his skin beneath her fingertips. His other hand came up, brushing a stray curl from her face, his thumb tracing the line of her cheekbone.
Neither of them moved for a moment, caught in the quiet intensity of each other's gaze. Emmie could feel the world around them fade into the background, her senses filled entirely with the warmth of his touch, the steady rhythm of his breathing, the tenderness in his eyes.
The sound of footsteps in the hallway made them pull back, sharing a small, knowing smile as they resumed their tasks. Cassandra and Evelyn walked into the kitchen, the smell of spices drawing them in.
"Oh, what do we have here?" Cassandra asked, her voice laced with mischief as she took in Emmie and Ardeth working together. "Cooking up something special?"
Emmie grinned, doing her best to keep her expression casual as she stirred the pot. "Just making something to warm up after a long day. Nothing fancy."
Evelyn gave them a knowing smile, her eyes flicking between the two of them with a look that suggested she suspected something more. "Well, it's nice to see you two spending time together. Cooking is such a… bonding experience, don't you think?"
Cassandra nudged Evelyn, a grin spreading across her face. "They do say the way to a person's heart is through their stomach."
Emmie felt her cheeks heat under their scrutiny, but Ardeth, ever calm and unbothered, merely nodded. "A shared meal strengthens any connection," he replied smoothly, his hand resting lightly on Emmie's shoulder as he spoke. Then, with a slight, welcoming smile, he added, "Perhaps you'd both like to join us? There's plenty."
Evelyn raised an eyebrow, exchanging a quick glance with Cassandra. "Oh, no, no. We wouldn't want to intrude," she said, though the gleam in her eye suggested she was noting every detail.
"Besides," Cassandra chimed in, trying to hide her grin, "it seems like you two have things well under control. We'd hate to mess with… the chemistry."
Ardeth's expression remained calm, his smile polite. "The more, the merrier, as you say," he replied smoothly, his hand briefly tightening on Emmie's shoulder, offering her a quiet, supportive reassurance.
After a moment, Cassandra and Evelyn exchanged one last look before finally excusing themselves, seemingly satisfied but still intrigued. The door closed softly behind them, and Emmie let out a small, relieved laugh. "They're relentless," she murmured, turning to face Ardeth. "It's like they're determined to push us together."
Ardeth's lips curved into a soft smile, his hand slipping around her waist as he drew her close, his gaze warm and filled with quiet affection. "Let them think what they will," he replied, his voice a low murmur that sent a thrill through her. "We know what we share."
Emmie felt her heart swell at his words, and she leaned into him, resting her head against his chest as he held her. For a few blissful moments, they stayed like that, wrapped in each other's presence, the warmth of the kitchen surrounding them.
After Cassandra and Evelyn finally left, the kitchen settled into a comfortable silence, the lingering scent of spices filling the air as Emmie and Ardeth plated their meal. Emmie set out a couple of dishes, and Ardeth carefully poured them each a warm drink. When they sat down, the quiet felt like a welcome retreat, a rare moment where they could simply be with each other without distractions.
As they ate, Emmie stole glances at Ardeth, appreciating the rare softness in his expression. She noticed the way his shoulders relaxed, his posture a little less guarded than usual, and she couldn't help but smile to herself. Even the small act of sharing a meal together felt special, a glimpse into something more familiar and intimate.
Ardeth looked up, catching her gaze, and a faint smile curved his lips. Without a word, he reached across the table, his fingers brushing hers before resting on her hand, a gentle, grounding touch that sent warmth spreading through her.
"Thank you," he said quietly, his thumb tracing small circles on her hand. "For this moment."
Emmie felt her heart flutter at his words, the simplicity of his gratitude filling her with a quiet joy. She gave his hand a gentle squeeze, meeting his gaze with an affectionate smile. "I should be thanking you," she replied, her voice soft. "Moments like this… they make everything else feel worth it."
They continued eating, their conversation flowing naturally between memories, stories of their past missions, and the small, simple things that brought them happiness. Emmie felt herself relaxing more deeply with each passing moment, enjoying the quiet understanding that seemed to flow between them without needing to be spoken.
When they finished their meal, they lingered at the table, neither of them eager to break the comfortable silence. Emmie leaned back, stretching contentedly before glancing over at him with a mischievous grin.
"So," she said, tilting her head playfully, "how did I do as your teacher? Think you'd survive Western cooking on your own now?"
Ardeth chuckled, a rare sound that sent a thrill through her. "With you by my side, I may have a chance," he replied, his gaze warm as he watched her. "Though I think I will leave the flour fights to you."
She laughed, reaching over to playfully nudge his arm. But her hand lingered, her fingers trailing down his forearm, feeling the strength beneath his skin. He caught her hand, his thumb brushing along her knuckles, his gaze softening as he looked at her, his attention unwavering.
They moved in perfect sync as they cleared the table, the small, everyday motions feeling intimate and meaningful. Emmie felt his presence beside her, each touch and glance filled with a quiet tenderness that made her heart swell. As they stood at the sink washing dishes, Ardeth wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her gently against him. She leaned back into him, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breath, savoring the quiet closeness.
In that moment, she felt a profound sense of belonging, as if the Library kitchen had become their own little sanctuary. His hand slid up to her shoulder, fingers tracing slow, comforting patterns as they stood together in the warm light of the kitchen.
"I could get used to this," she murmured, a soft smile playing on her lips as she tilted her head to look up at him.
Ardeth's gaze held hers, his expression filled with a quiet intensity. "As could I," he replied, his voice a low murmur. He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, lingering as if savoring the moment.
They stayed like that for a while, wrapped in each other's presence, each touch and quiet breath deepening the bond between them. Eventually, they broke apart, finishing their cleanup and putting away the last of the dishes.
As they turned to leave, Ardeth took her hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze as they walked out of the kitchen together, the quiet contentment of their shared connection filling the spaces between them. For once, there was no rush, no danger, just the warmth of a quiet night and the promise of many more moments to come.