Varan and Yareli

Varan Tyde stared out the window of his office at the woman in the garden below. They had history—long complicated history, but he never once stopped loving her.

Centuries before they stood before their loved ones and pledged themselves.  The day was much like today. Spring was teasing the Court of Tears with warm temperatures and full sun, a rarity in February.

        He thought he heard a songbird, but it was much too early for them in this part of the world. A cardinal flew to a nearby feeder, and he watched Yareli turn to stare at it below his window. Holding still, he wondered if he was visible to her with the glare of the sun on the window.

Yareli raised a hand to shade her eyes, and he knew the moment she saw him because her jaw clenched. Her dark hair was in a messy bun, but wayward strands kept blowing across her face. A smile crossed his face as she reached up and pushed one away, leaving a smear of green paint in its wake.

A flush crossed her cheeks, and he smiled at her. Stiffly, she turned back to her easel and ignored him. A gravelly chuckle tore from his throat because he liked her flustered and prickly. The gods knew he had given her enough reason to be.

        A bottle of her favorite wine sat on the bar, hoping that eventually she’d join him in his study. Well, if she wouldn’t come to him, he would go to her. Grabbing the bottle and two glasses, he headed for the garden.

        Yareli tried to remember what she had been painting but failed.  She’d barely started the background, but the colors mocked her on the canvas. She’d hoped to do a landscape of the garden during the winter thaw, but she was struggling to find her focus for the piece.

Varan. Damn him for still affecting her. No matter how she tried to ignore his presence, he was always there a few steps behind or lingering in the shadows, watching her. The heavy weight of his gaze was a constant companion as she traversed the halls of court.

Once they had ruled this court together. Unfortunately, they had lost their way as a couple when the petty games of a young courtier destroyed the trust and life they had built. Yareli knew it wasn’t all his fault, but she found herself unable to resume the relationship they once had.

They were different people now.  Older and jaded and much less likely to settle for a mediocre relationship, she avoided him at all costs. Yes, she was a coward. She hung her head as she finally admitted that to herself. If she were to be completely honest, she would acknowledge how much she missed him, and they could move on. Fear held her back. Fear of their past, fear of the future, and fear of just how easy it would be to step back into her role as his partner.

A branch snapped behind her, and she turned to see the object of her frustration approaching with a peace offering.

Varan’s ocean blue eyes locked on her dark brown ones. She didn’t blink, and she didn’t glance away. Yareli met him head on for the first time since they’d seen each other again. Trying for casual, he grinned hesitantly at her.  “Join me for a glass of wine?”

Yareli’s eyes hadn’t left his, but he saw the moment she took a deep breath and relaxed. “I would love one,” she said, needing something to calm her nerves.

The shawl neck Aran sweater he wore was dark gray and made his eyes darker, sexier. She took the glass he offered and tried to ignore the touch of his fingers against hers. Electricity flowed between them the way it always did, and she gasped softly.

“Will you consider having dinner with me tonight, Yari?” he asked, using the nickname he gave her long ago. “I think it’s time we talked.”

His stomach rolled nervously as he waited for her answer, sure she would once again deny him.

Yareli took a sip of wine, noting that he remembered what she preferred. He fidgeted like a young man, asking a girl out on a first date. She choked back a smile but found his behavior endearing. Longing ran through her, and her heart ached with how much she missed this man. Fear came galloping right behind it because he was the only man who could destroy her completely if he hurt her again. Was she ready to take that chance? Was she willing to give him another one?

Varan watched her as hope blossomed in his chest. This was the longest interaction they’d had, and he wanted nothing more than to be with her. He saw the indecisiveness cross her face. Sure she would turn him down and pull away, he reached out and took her hand in his, lacing their fingers together. “It’s just dinner, Yari.”

“Nothing has ever been just dinner with you, Varan.” Her voice was low and sultry, though he knew she didn’t intend it to be.

“I just want to spend time with you.”

Yareli glanced away. Her gaze landed on their linked hands, and she missed this. She felt it intimately as his thumb stroked her fingers, and she longed for the intimacy and friendship they once had. Her eyes found his, and she decided. “Yes, I’ll have dinner with you, Varan.”

His name on her lips eased something in his chest. Varan smiled, reluctantly releasing her hand. “Until tonight, then.”

Leaving her to enjoy the day, he returned, unable to keep the wide grin from his face because this was the first step in the rest of their story. He sent a message to the kitchen, ordering all of her favorite dishes. Tonight needed to be perfect, because he’d only have one chance to reclaim the woman he loved.