heathen’s kiss

SUNJATA

i am the ocean, i am the sea

It’s easy for Jata to stand there and watch for a few moments while Phoebe gets to work, it’s even easier when she speaks about how it tastes, a chuckle leaving his lips as he regards her before taking a seat at the table she’s been preparing. “I’m sure it’s great.” He says with a quieter sound, his steel gaze remaining on her as she works with the food before she serves it to him. There’s a part of it that feels right, like home, where women held women’s jobs and made dinner for their men when they got home from work. All things considered, it was nice.

But Jata has manners too, and he waits until Phoebe returns with her own meal, waiting for her to take her first bite before he does. His eyes roam over her face as she speaks and he gives her a crooked grin over the table of food. “That’s kind of you.” He admits, beginning to eat the meal she’s prepared, his eyes drifting down toward it as the taste settles on his tongue. Perhaps he hadn’t realized how hungry he was, but he grows a bit silent and focused, akin to a wolf with a meal and somehow politely devours, until he grabs a piece of the buttered bread to soak some of the stews liquid. His eyes lift toward Phoebe while he does it. “It does taste as good as it smells. You’re a great cook, too. What can’t you do?” He hums to her, leaning a bit on the table with one arm while his other hand begins to soak up the liquid with the bread — his smoldering gaze remaining on her with the question that hangs in the air.

there is a world inside of me