Dusk was falling in heavy blue; the last orange glow of the day lay low across the city as lights began to come on here and there in windows and on streets. A long musical chorus of bells rang out from somewhere, loud enough to carry across the city and into the bedroom. Teige cursed from under the covers.

"It's the feckin' evening bells already," he said irritably, and raised his horned head so that the covers fell back. Vlad, lying beneath him on the futon, rolled his eyes. Teige sat up, and Vlad propped himself up on his elbow.

"I've got to get back to the depot before the half past," Teige told him. "Sorry."

Vlad sighed. "Oh, it's not your fault my office hours ran over," he said. "Now I understand why Shinobu hated doing them."

Teige snickered as he pulled his shirt back on over his binder. "You've only just taken over her teaching, don't get jaded already. Besides," he added lightly, "ent it a little romantic? Sneaking a kiss and a quickie here and there like this?"

"Very glass-half-full, hon," Vlad said dryly, though he grinned.