The night wore on, hunger persisting. Lingering coldness clung to Waylen as he returned, a bowl of beef bone soup in hand.

"This is beef bone soup. Savor it."

Placing the bowl on the small tea table, Waylen watched her with a tender intensity, an unspoken declaration of his affection. In fact, his wife was very picky about food, but the one made by him was to her taste.

"Delicious," Rena declared, returning his smile.

Chill fingertips brushed against her cheek, his touch light and tender.