“Yes.” Her throat did feel dry.
Jericho got up from the couch while Cara kept her eyes on the screen, trying not to notice how his faded jeans emphasized his well-shaped ass.
“Here you are, ice cold.”
“Thank you.” Cara took a small drink from the cold bottle. She knew she had discovered her second favorite thing about being human. It tasted slightly like ale, and although could never stand the taste of the strong brew, this was like a paler, weaker version, and the coldness only accented its wonderful taste.
“Pretzel?”
Cara took one of what looked like sticks, but it tasted crunchy and salty.
“I think I’m going to enjoy a few things about being human.”
Jericho laughed at her obvious enjoyment of the snacks. She even imitated him by putting her feet up on the small table before them, sinking back in a comfortable position on the old couch.
He slid closer to her on the couch, letting his thigh brush against her softer one.
“What would you be doing if you were at home?”
“I would be riding or working. I often rode when I was bored or watched the sky. My sisters each had their own pursuits. Zerina attends births. She loves walking and would disappear several times, only to come back with tales of lands she explored. Broni loves to fight. She would watch past battles and replay them over and over again. She spends a lot of time exercising her body into exhaustion.”
“You had no interests to keep you occupied?”
“No, not really.” A small blush colored her cheeks.
“What?”
“I would often watch and play with the servants’ children.”
Jericho had seen the images of her playing with the children when Grimm had touched him. She had been running in a green field with the children chasing behind her. She had looked beautiful from the few seconds he could remember, with her long, black hair flying around her face and her laughter filling his mind.
“I love children.” A soft look entered her eyes as wishful dreams swirled within.
Jericho had seen that look before on other women’s faces, so he did the only thing any normal, single, red-blooded male would do. He changed the subject by flipping the television channel until he found what he was looking for to distract her.
A blood-chilling scream filled the room as a monster chased a man across the screen.
Cara was enthralled. She didn’t take her eyes off the television as the horror movie became even more gruesome. Jericho was surprised she didn’t cringe away and shudder at the massacre taking place. Instead, she was absorbed and started yelling suggestions for hiding places to the hapless victims. Jericho could not help laughing at her antics.
“Would you like another beer?”
She nodded without taking her eyes off the movie.
When he was in the kitchen, he put a pizza in the oven for later.
They sat for several hours, silently watching television and eating pizza. Cara was enjoying herself, and so was Jericho.
“What are you smiling about?” Cara looked at him. It was the first genuine one she had seen on his stern face.
“Nothing really. I was just thinking that this is a typical date for mortals. Then I realized it was a first for me also.”
“You never sat and had a movie date before?”
“No, I had other things on my mind,” Jericho confessed wryly.
“Such as?”
Jericho simply lifted a brow at her question.