After The I Do

by Autumn Breeze

  Sliding my mouth over Everett’s, my tongue flicks out as I seek entrance. His lips part and I twist our tongues together before letting him go. “I love you, Everett. You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

  It is a truth I cannot deny any longer.

  I love Everett.

  He beams, a smile stretching across his face as he reaches out to pull me back in for a moment. Our mouths touch but our lips don’t part. He pulls away; his fingers trail across my jaw until his palm is laid across it.

  “I love you, too, Thanos,” he mutters and I smile.

  Taking his hand, we carefully navigate the rest of foliage before we slip out of the woods and start toward the fire pit.

  28

  Mason bursts through the front door covered in sweat and grinning as if he’s just gotten the best blow job of his life as I come down the stairs. Everett comes in a second after him, half-dressed and panting. I lift an eyebrow as I look between the pair with curiosity.

  “They’re here,” Mason gushes, bouncing slightly. His childlike excitement permeates the air. I am surprised physical waves of it don’t roll off of him like sweat.

  “That explains why you’re here but—” my eyes move to Everett who lacks a shirt. His pants aren’t buttoned either. “—not your state of undress and physical condition.” Everett’s cheeks turn scarlet as his gaze shifts to Mason.

  Why is he blushing?

  What reason does he have to look to Mason as if the slightly older boy has answers?

  My brows pull down as my lips press into a firm line.

  What were they doing?

  “I . . . I . . . ” Everett stammers as I take the final step and stop in front of him. His nostrils flare as he meets my gaze with wide eyes. The blue is as deep as an ocean and as uncertain as the seas after a hard storm. He is hiding something. It isn’t the first time I have had the thought but it is the first time I’ve wanted to pry the answer from him.

  “We—” Holding my hand up, palm out, I silence Mason without a word before he can provide an explanation. It isn’t his place because he isn’t my husband and he isn’t the one I want answers from. Everett is the one I am speaking to and he is the one I expect to have an answer.

  “Leave us.” Mason opens his mouth, looks to Everett then swallows. I may not be head of this family yet but he isn’t going to question me.

  “I’ll let Sophia and Lilith know Mom and Dad are here,” he mutters and I nod. They will want to know our parents have arrived but right now, they aren’t my concern. Everett is.

  When Mason slips out of the room, my gaze moves back to my husband who clasps his hands together and wets his lips as I watch him. He looks . . . nervous.

  Why would he need to be nervous about spending time with my brother?

  I know they are close, best friends of sorts and I don’t mind because I know Mason and him would never cross any inappropriate lines. They truly are just friends. I still want an explanation as to what they were doing that would require Everett to undress even if I have my suspicions.

  “Explain yourself,” I tell Everett. He takes a half step back, worrying his bottom lip between his teeth as his eyes shimmer. I don’t like the way they darken or the way he steps back as if there is some reason to create distance between the pair of us.

  “Thanos—” I shake my head at his tone. It is soft, meek . . . scared, and I know Everett is none of those things. He likes to pretend he doesn’t have a backbone, that he doesn’t know how to stand up for himself, or that he is scared. He may have been those things in the past but he hasn’t been with me for some time.

  “We’ve been married three months.” Ninety-six days, in fact. “You know damn well that I’m not a danger to you so do me the courtesy of an honest explanation.”

  I am not a fool. He uses my feelings, my undeniable urge to protect him and shelter him against me. He uses wide eyes, his fear and the abuse he suffered in the past to manipulate me when it suits him but he needs to know it won’t always work. He can’t play me as if I am Mason’s favorite piano. I know he is plenty capable of going head to head with me.

  “Well,” I prompt when he is silent for longer than necessary.

  He rises to his full height and crosses his arms over his chest. There is something absolute in his expression. There is none of the uncertainty I’ve grown so accustomed to.

  “I don’t have to explain myself to you,” he says. I lift an eyebrow with his words. He lifts his chin and glares, fully prepared to argue his position.

  An argument isn’t necessary.

  “No, you don’t,” I agree, giving a small nod of acceptance. His eyebrows shoot up as his jaw drops. Why is he surprised? Of course he doesn’t have to explain himself to me. I want him to tell me what he got up to with my brother but it is none of my business. It isn’t as if they were having intercourse. “Let’s join the others.”

  Laying my hand against Everett’s shoulder, I turn him toward the door. They left it open when they busted in with the news my parents were here. As of right now, I can’t see my mother or father so I assume they are still making their way up the drive.

  “Wait; what? I thought you wanted an explanation.” Everett peers up at me, his eyes dancing with suspicion. I squeeze his arm slightly and give him a soft smile.

  “I do but you don’t have to explain yourself to anyone, and least of all me. What you do with Mason is your business. If you don’t think I need to know, I don’t.” It isn’t complicated. He has a right to his privacy and secrets. I am not going to invade.

  “You don’t care what I do with Mason?” Everett asks. My parents' car comes into sight. Behind them is another familiar car I hadn’t been expecting to see for a couple more days.

  “I doubt the pair of you find much trouble,” I say. If they do find it, they are both adults and can handle the situation on their own.

  Everett is my husband, not my child. I can’t and won’t molly cuddle him forever. He is clearly able to stand up for himself. What he lacks is belief. Maybe if I show I believe in him, believe he is capable of taking care of himself, he’ll start to believe in himself.

  “I guess,” Everett mumbles as my parents park. I offer him a smile and lace our fingers together as my parents and the surprise visitor get out of their separate cars.

  “I didn’t know you were coming,” I speak to Duke.

  “I asked him to,” Lilith says, coming out of the house with Mason and Sophia. Unlike them, she holds a bag in her hand. “I’m going back to the city. Duke has agreed to let me stay with him for a few days.” He nods, taking her bag. I look between the pair, wondering when that arrangement was made.

  “She’s welcome to stay as long as she desires, of course,” he tells my father and mother. If they want to protest, neither of them show it. What would be the point anyway?

  Lilith is twenty-four years old and has already demonstrated she doesn’t require permission to live her life. If she wants to go back to the city, stay with Duke for a few days, weeks or even permanently, none of us can stop her. Maybe it will be good for both of them to share the same space separate from the rest of us. They’ll have to talk to each other at some point.

  “Are you at least staying for dinner?” Father questions and she nods.

  Mother engulfs her in a hug. “It’s wonderful to see you, sweetie,” she says before kissing her eldest daughter’s head. Sophia would have been next but Mason knocks her out of the way and wraps his arms around our mother. She laughs when her feet leave the stairs. “You smell like . . . Everett, I suppose.”

  Releasing Mother, Mason sniffs at himself and frowns. “Ew . . . dog.” Mason grunts, rubbing the back of his head as his black eyes moved to me. I lower my hand. “What was that for?” he questions and I lift an eyebrow. He knows exactly what it is for.

  Father laughs and Sophia gets her hug as Duke goes to put Lilith’s bag in his car. I shake my head at my family but don’t protest when Mother opens her arms to of
fer me my own hug. “We can settle—”

  “Actually, Thanos,” Mother interrupts, “I need to speak with you. Everett can see everyone settled. Let's take a walk.” My brows draw down as I look from my mother to my father. After a moment, I nod.

  “I’ll be back shortly,” I tell Everett, reaching out and stroking his jaw. He nods.

  Mother takes my arm when I offer it to her and the pair of us move down the steps. She doesn’t say anything as we walk away from the family. I wait, knowing she will speak when she is ready. My mind races in the silence, though.

  What could she need to talk to me about?

  Is something wrong?

  What is it?

  How will I handle the situation?

  “Athanasios—” she uses my full name and receives my full attention because of it, “I know we agreed to six months before you take over as head but your father isn’t well. The stress . . . ” she inhales and I look at her. She lays her free hand over mine and I can feel its tremble. She is distressed.

  “Richard’s been head of our family since he was thirty-five,” she says after a moment of pause. “In all those years, he fought hard to sustain our way of life. Now that there is peace, all his years of hard choices are catching up to him. He’s uneasy, untrusting of the peace and I can’t blame him. War is all he’s known. He’s not able to settle. It’s taking its toll on him,” she explains.

  I sigh. I should have expected this.

  When we are at war, my father is strong and sure. He knows the waters and how to plot the course but this peace is new, it is unfamiliar and he does not know how to navigate. I knew that weeks ago when he asked me to take over.

  Requesting six months while knowing he is unsuited to this new order was selfish of me. I should have never asked for time. My father is the one who needs time and I am wasting his by not taking my place as head of the family.

  “I require two weeks to get my affairs in order. I will officially take my place as head of the family in fourteen days.” I will have to scramble, have to rush to prepare all of my personal assets, but I will do it for my mother and father. In fourteen days' time, I will take my place.

  “I know you want time with Everett. I’m sorry you won’t get as much as you desired. I hope he’ll understand.” I lay my other hand over top of my mother's. Our fingers curl together and I squeeze softly. Everett will understand.

  “Your time of worry is coming to an end, Mother. I’ll take care of everything.” She will no longer be the right hand to the head of the family. She will be my mother and in that aspect, she will always worry but soon, it will be my job, Everett’s job to look after the family, look after the people who depend on it . . . us . . . me.

  Mother stops and turns to face me. “I know I have not said it often because it is not our way, but I love you, Athanasios.” A smile pulls at my lips. It is rare that I hear my mother say she loves me, any of us. I know it to be true but the words are rare. We always count actions as truth. “I am proud of you and I believe you will be an exceptional head of our family.”

  “I could not have asked for a better mother. It is only because of your guidance I will manage our family with any success,” I tell her.

  Her arms slip around my waist and I give her a hug that isn’t so different from the one I’d received earlier. This one feels different, though. The part of me that has always felt like a child, always felt like somehow I was her responsibility, is gone.

  She is mine now. It is my job to look after her, protect her, ensure her future is prosperous.

  Mother pulls back and offers me a smile before saying, “Let’s get back to the house. I’m sure you’ll want to speak with Everett.”

  I nod in agreement. I don’t know how he will take the news. I told him six months but now, all we have is two weeks. We only just confessed love and now I am being thrust into the position of head of our family. Will I really manage as well as my mother believes I will?

  For all of our sake, I hope so.

  29

  Monday is not going well and it is only eight o’clock in the morning. It will probably be some time until the beginning of the week isn’t viewed with disdain by everyone in my home, especially Everett and me.

  “I understand you’re upset,” I say to Everett, reaching out and stroking the back of his hand as we walk the familiar forest pathways. I’ve just told him about my mother’s request. He is taking it better than I originally suspected he would.

  “I know you have to take over,” he replies, twisting his fingers with mine so our hands are secure, “but . . . I just thought there was more time. We all agreed to six months.”

  Truthfully, we did all agree to six months and it isn’t fair that we won’t have that time together, to grow as husbands. My father can’t look after the family properly for another month, much less six more, though. It is time I take my place as head of the Moroii. It is necessary to ensure our survival.

  “I’m just as disappointed as you are.” I confess, wishing things could be different, too. “I have to do this for my dad, for our family.”

  Everett sighs and I squeeze his hand. He looks toward the emerald leaves overhead and I follow his gaze. They dance with the morning breeze, broken sunlight filtering through the branches illuminating the foliage. You couldn’t find a view half as beautiful in the city.

  “You always do that,” he mutters and I frown.

  “What?” I ask. What am I always doing?

  “You always say our family,” he says.

  I stop and look down at Everett. Why wouldn’t I include him, say our family?

  “You’re my husband,” I mutter, reaching out and brushing some of his hair back. His free hand curls in the front of my shirt as he peers up at me. “They are our family, you’re family.” Our first bond was made in marriage but the one that matters was formed by fondness.

  “Do we have to move back to the city?” he asks, his mouth turning downward.

  I shake my head. The city isn’t my home, not anymore. I grew up in the heart of the sprawling concrete jungle and have no desire to return for any real length of time.

  “I’ll be spending more time in the city, especially right after the transition, but the estate will always be home.” My land, surrounded by its thick forest and countless ponds was the place of my soul. I belong here and Everett belongs with me.

  “Is there anything I can do to help?” he questions and I draw him into my arms. He wraps his arms around my waist as he presses his face into my chest. Burying my nose in his hair, I inhale softy. He has no way of knowing know how much comfort this simple embrace brings me.

  “By understanding, you’re helping more than you know,” I mutter as I press a kiss to his forehead. He squeezes me and I softly grunt from the force. He is stronger than he looks.

  “I love you, Athanasios,” he mutters.

  Why is it every time he says that, my soul feels as if it is soaring above the clouds?

  “And I love you, Everett,” I reply.

  It seems like such an odd thing to be in love with my husband when just a few months ago I accepted the fact that by entering into an arranged marriage, I would probably never have the great love my parents share.

  “I suppose I should get to work,” Everett sighs unhappily as he pulls back.

  “Stay home,” I implore and he looks up at me with wide eyes. “I can send the staff home and we can enjoy a day to ourselves.” It feels like we haven’t had a moment to spare for ourselves since Lilith’s attack. Every time we try to spend any time alone, someone is always there. Now our home is empty; my siblings have finally gone home. This is as good a time as any to take a breath and exhale.

  “But . . . the studio; I have classes,” he explains.

  He has responsibilities. Shucking them for one day won’t hurt.

  “You can ask my mom to manage them for today,” I tell him. “She wouldn’t mind. Maybe it’ll even be good for her to have something to do with her time. It�
��ll be good for us to have a break, too.” We’d both been on the go for weeks. It is perfect weather to slow down, go for a walk, or maybe take a swim in the lake.

  “Well,” he hesitates.

  “I could take you for a horseback ride, too,” I say, watching Everett’s face light up.

  Going for a ride is something he’s been talking about since Lilith and Sophia went on one just before Lilith left.

  “Okay,” he agrees. I grin.

  Maybe it’s manipulative of me to suggest going on a horseback ride when I know he has other duties, but he could refuse; I could take him some other time. Of course, I’m not sure when I will have the time since in eight short days, I will be head of my family.

  August 10th looms overhead like a dark cloud.

  “How about we pack a picnic for the ride?” I ask.

  Everett looks skeptical and I lift an eyebrow in question.

  “Do you know how?” he questions and I scoff.

  “I’m thirty-one; of course I know how.” He laughs and grabs my hand.

  “Come along.” With a gentle tug, he starts walking.

  “Yes, dear,” I tease in the same manner I have often heard my father tease my mother as I fall into step beside Everett. The familiar quip, the one that reminds me so much of what love should be like, warms my heart.

  “Don’t be sarcastic,” he reprimands but grins and I find myself smiling in response. His happiness has become contagious.

  “Of course not . . . dear,” I reply. Shaking his head, Everett smiles. Tossing my arm over his shoulder, I pull him closer. We walk in content silence toward the house.

  “Sir.” Benjamin greets us at the door. Everett sighs; we both know that tone.

  “What is it now?” I ask, irritated. Can we not have one day, just one, to enjoy being married, being in love, before I take over for my father? Is one day really too much to ask the universe for?