by Flynn Eire
“I don’t care about traditions. I just want you.”
“As you repeatedly tell me,” he chuckled, smiling brightly at me to tell me that meant a lot to him. “Come, let me show you.” He took my hand and led me back to the table.
“You got engaged? And didn’t tell me?” Falcon whispered, hurt in his tone.
“A few days ago, and it seemed crass to talk about it while the inquisition was going on. I was going to tell you today,” I assured him, relieved when he nodded. I glanced over the mockups and frowned, not getting what it was. “You’re building a house after all?”
“No, I’m building an orphanage,” he explained, smiling when my eyes went wide. “I know you said it off the cuff to help heal my hurt that no one wants to live with the ancient who kills by touch, but I adored the idea of building an orphanage in this haven so there won’t ever be any lost little ones as you were. They’ll be safe and protected, treasured as they should be.” He nodded when I opened my mouth to ask what was first on my mind. “Yes, starting with the ones from the Quebec coven.”
“This is amazing ,” I rasped, touching the pages lovingly. I flinched when a tear landed in the middle of it, not realizing I was crying and hurrying to wipe my eyes.
“It will have a hundred and twenty-five bedrooms along with a massive nursery for any kids under five. Most will double or more, but when they get older, they can have their own rooms or maybe roommates. Either way, it should suffice to save as many as we can,” Sen murmured as he pointed out a few things. “No cold cafeteria but a lavish dining hall for a big family.
“I’ve spoken with Marissa, Gary’s mother, and she has found a dozen people she knew from New York who would love to get out from under their coven leader and work at the orphanage. We have a few cooks, several single mothers who will bring their own children, and a few teachers. Oh, and one pediatrician. Seems she knew one at a different coven who was pissed they were being called into the coven estate to work as a nurse in their infirmary.”
“I love you,” I choked out, hugging him tightly. “Sen, I love you so fucking much. I cannot believe you did this.”
“I love you too,” he murmured, rubbing my back. “I’d do anything for you, El. Anything. I saw how much you really meant the idea, and I thought it was so great, so you to worry about other lost munchkins. I found a Wyrok who can sense vampires the way Nero can sense zakasacs . He’s agreed to do some traveling and look for any vampires lost in the human system as you were and bring them home where they belong with us.”
“Why would he do that? Take all the time to help in a search that might be for nothing?” I asked, lifting my head.
“Linden Henning is young for an ancient or Wyrok and he… He comes from a prestigious family and doesn’t fit with them, wants freedom from them,” Sen explained under his breath so only I could hear him. Or maybe his friends too but not other ears. “His family’s money is all with the family, even two thousand years old and he’s under their thumb. I promised to get him free and clear and not destitute if he spends six months doing this for me.”
“That’s a good deal,” I murmured, bobbing my head. “A good guy to be willing to do it?”
“He’s not a bad guy. I don’t think he knows what kind of guy he even is because of his family,” Sen admitted, frowning.
And that was the last thing I wanted.
“I was studying again.” I smiled as his eyes filled with heat. “Can my fiancé take the morning off so I can show my appreciation of him?”
“I’ll cover your shift if your fiancé helps me get something cool for Roarke’s birthday since he does all that fancy import and export stuff,” Wally offered with a smile.
Except I frowned.
“You didn’t want to talk about it again after I wigged on our call,” Sen said with a sigh. “Word got out as to what I was doing and handling the importing of Alastair’s wind turbines now that they got the first two up on the new wind farm. Plus, everyone’s been talking about the sudden Ebola outbreak that hit the Bratva in LA, and all their money apparently went missing too.”
“You were busy, and I didn’t even get a chance to ask with the inquisition,” I grumbled, pissed I was a bad lover.
He shrugged. “You would have. Wally, you have a deal. My lover wants to show me just how much he was thinking about me.”
I gave him another kiss, glad he was letting me off so easily as I tried to do the same for him. It was nice. Nicer than I would have ever thought to have someone in my corner for me like that.
We ended up getting breakfast to go, knowing full well we’d be eating it cold and it would be more than worth it. When we reached his room and he let me in, I paused after closing the door.
“Will you move in with me?” I blurted a bit too loudly. “Now that all the guests are gone and they’re going to use this dorm for pre-trans and guests, non-warrior staff, let’s pick out a room in the new dorm.”
He winced. “I actually started talking with Gaius on getting a suite at his new place Falcon talked him into building, as it will house all the non-warrior security and we could have lavish accommodations there without the issue of it being my house and I can kill people with touch.” He set down his food containers and turned to me, frowning. “Don’t get mad. It was just talk. Well, okay, I started listing what we would want but—”
“You got excited and jumped the gun because you love me and want a future with me,” I cut in, letting out a slow breath when he nodded. “Do I get a say in where we’ll live, or is everything just going to be handled? Do I get asked, or are you planning on just making decisions for us ?”
“I love you,” he whispered as he took my containers from me and set them on the desk. “I told Gaius I would want us to have a master suite with sitting room, study, and maybe a guest room, but that was it. Nero has the samples book, and I was going to get it from him this morning, and we could pick out what we wanted if this is the way we want to go. I got so wrapped up in the orphanage, it just came out when we were talking.”
“So are you asking me to move in with you since you’re saying you don’t want to live in the new warrior dorm with me?” I pushed, wanting him to get the way to fix this, stop making it his stuff instead of ours.
He slowly took off his clothes, licking his lips before dropping to his knees and reaching for my pants. “El, my lovely, my mate to be, will you move in with me and help me plan the perfect suite for us to spend our life together in?”
“Yes, but I was going to suck you this time to thank you for my mating gift,” I whispered, covering his hands on my fly. I didn’t want this to be a thing where he gave me head if he messed up.
The smile he gave me filled my heart with everything warm and fuzzy. “Lovely, you don’t get how letting me suck you is a gift for me. It’s the best thank you ever because I love giving oral sex. It flat does it for me to blow a nice cock on a handsome man who appreciates it and tastes good. You are the best in all of those I have ever found. Biggest cock? Check. Best looking man ever? Check. Treasures me? Check. Tastes amazing? Check and double check.”
“Good because if I ever find you sucking any other cock or checking out anyone else for that list, I’ll end you, Sen,” I hissed as my fangs came out. I heard the compliment, but I didn’t like that it wasn’t only me specifically, as there could be others that filled his requirements. I moved his hands and pulled out my dick, holding it out to him. “Suck it now and swear that it will be the only cock you ever suck again or let fuck you, on your honor.”
“I swear it,” he promised, bobbing his head. “I only ever want you, El.”
I shoved his head on my cock, and he didn’t even hesitate. “You’re going to show me how much you love only my cock no matter who else might pass your check list, then you’re going to ride me just so I for sure know it, and after I’ll show you what I came up with while listing all I’m going to get you for your mating gift.” He gave me a hesitant look and a slight nod as he kept sucking.
He would like it. I knew that.
The blow job was amazing, him riding me even better, and it definitely handled any anger or upset I’d been feeling. When he finished all over me as I did in his ass, I gave him a quick break.
“Am I forgiven?” he murmured as he kissed my neck.
“Yes, and I get things were crazy. Sorry I got pissy, but you tried to apologize by giving me a list other men could pass, Sen. No man could compare to you for me. I got upset.”
He sighed, slumping against me. “I didn’t mean it like that. I was trying to make it not sound so stalkerish that you were the only one who could ever make me want to suck cock so much.”
“You can’t stalk the willing, babe,” I chuckled, forgiving him. I pulled out of his body and rolled us so I was on top and he was lying face down under me. I straddled his thighs and thrust in him, both of us gasping at the angle and how tight he was like that. “See, only I can do this for you.”
“Only you, and it’s amazing ,” he groaned, fisting the bedding. “Shit, I’ve not done it like this, either. I like, I so like, El.”
“You’ll like my mating gift too,” I taunted as I leaned over and bit his ear, licking away the sting as I thrust as hard as I could. “I want to get my mate all the toys he could ever want. Big toys and little toys that vibrate. Toys for my cock to make me last longer, and ones that tease every inch of my mate in the best ways. I want my ancient mate to be pleased in any and every way he could ever wish and some he never thought of.”
“Shit, that sounds awesome. You spoil me, El.”
“Of course, as you do me.” I stopped talking, using every ounce of my strength and every muscle group to pound into him. I knew sex wouldn’t express what I was really feeling, but showing how much I wanted to give him everything had to count for something.
Right?
Just to be sure, after that round I turned him onto his side, pushed his knees up to his chest, and thrust back in him as I kissed him silly. We were wiped after that, and he zonked out after I cleaned him up, but I had something on my mind I wanted to handle.
I knew I’d find Tadzio at the hangar the camp had for the couple of private planes we had. The airstrip was on the property the camp owned, but outside the walls for security purposes, though the planes taxied out the back gate when they needed to take a flight. But Tadzio and Philo practically lived there with the helicopters and planes they loved.
What I wasn’t used to was Norris stationed there as well. He was younger than our group but a warrior and now a pilot from what I’d learned… And mated to Philo, which had to be so much fun for Tadzio.
“Congrats on your engagement,” he greeted, not looking up from the workbench he had something taken apart on.
“Thanks,” I murmured and then sighed. “Sorry. I didn’t—I didn’t think about you being—”
“It’s fine, El—Ellison. I’m glad you’re happy and taking time to make sure it’s right and not circumstances and all the drama around you.”
“Thanks.” I cleared my throat when I realized Philo and Norris were diligently trying not to act like they were listening. “Do you want to get out of here?”
Tadzio slowly raised his head, frowning. “I don’t think that’s a good idea with how I feel about you and—”
“No, no , not what I mean,” I quickly cut in. I let out a huff and started pacing. “When we ended, being here, with you, seeing you every day hurt, I mean like killed me, and I don’t want that for you. And I was thinking about something Sen said about getting a Wyrok with the gift to find vampires who’s going to look for ones maybe lost in the human system like I was because that probably happens more than we’d think. And I was thinking this guy would need a ride.
“I mean, it makes sense, right? He’s not going to be jumping all around on commercial flights when he just needs to scan cities. And you’ve be safe with someone Wyrok and not in danger then. And you’re good to have in a jam. You’d back up the guy so he wasn’t on his own. I mean, I don’t want anyone getting hurt trying to keep other kids from going through what I did. And I just thought there was sort of overlap and—”
“Yeah, because otherwise I’d be pissed that you left our bed after making love to me to go see your ex-lover,” Sen seethed from behind me.
I spun around so fast I almost fell on my ass. “I didn’t think of it like that or how it would look. I… I just wanted to help, and we said we didn’t want to rub it in his face, but I realized I did this morning, and I felt bad and—”
“Lovely, if you don’t stop rambling, you’re going to pass out from lack of oxygen,” he murmured, coming over to me and giving me a hug. “I get it. Your heart is bigger than your brain sometimes, and you wanted to help. It’s fine.”
“Good. I wouldn’t ever want to hurt you, Sen.” I gave him a quick kiss and turned back to Tadzio, wincing that I was once again flaunting my relationship.
It was kind of hard not to in such a confined space, which was sort of my point.
“Yeah, actually getting a breather from here sounds good as long as it gets cleared with Alastair, since I think he’s in charge until Alexander gets back,” Tadzio said quietly, cutting into our moment. “Thanks for thinking of me. You’re right. It might be good to get out of each other’s faces when so much shit is swirling around.”
“I didn’t mean it quite like that,” I grumbled as I let Sen go.
Tadzio chuckled, shaking his head as he picked up some sort of tube or hose. “I know. You’d just tell me to fuck off or go fuck myself. Even then, I couldn’t hate you because I knew you were hurt when you said that sort of shit. This is you being the good guy you were when we met. The fast little shit who wanted nothing more than to fit in and do well at his new home, excited to have brothers.”
“That guy died several times over,” I argued, rubbing my arms. “But yeah, I want you happy, so maybe this will help.” I turned to leave, and Tadzio cleared his throat.
“That guy isn’t dead, Ellison. He’s in you. He’s always been in you, and that was what I thought changed with your transition that upset me.” He shot Sen a glance and then focused on me again. “I want you happy too, and he might be what’s best for you because he can help you like I can’t. I can’t understand what you go through with that gift, the fear you must feel to touch people. I can’t even wrap my brain around it.
“But if he fucks up and shows he’s not who’s best for you, know I start fighting for you again. Know there’s always a line of guys who would take the risk of getting hurt to get a chance with you. There always has been.”
I felt my cheeks heat as I nodded. “Thanks. I didn’t know that, but thanks for telling me.”
He smirked at me, his cocky ass smirk I used to love but now just made me chuckle. “Why would I have ever told you that before when I wanted you to only be mine?”
“Fair enough.”
Sen slipped his hand in mine as we left and raised it to his lips. “That’s not the only reason I’m best for you.”
“I know, but Tadzio doesn’t, and it’s not his business. He’ll find someone that’s worth him losing some of his selfishness for. When he’s ready.”
“Yeah, he will, and I love you for worrying over the man who was once your lover, your friend.”
I stopped and turned to face him, dropping his hand and pulling the thick sweater I’d thrown on tighter around me. “I do but that’s not really what happened here. In bed you like me to boss you around, but really, you do too, so I feel like we’re equals. It’s the rest of this that I feel lost, Sen. The orphanage plans are great and a gift. Talking to Gaius about the suite is great too, though, yeah, I would have liked to be asked first or discuss the idea.
“And I’m not mad.” I held up my hand to stop his argument. “I feel out of step with you the moment we’re outside your room. Like you have this whole world and life and you’ve been so busy learning mine, finding out about me—mostly because of the inquisition and stuff—but I’m lost as t
o what comes next or how to catch up, and it’s making me spin out a bit. I don’t want to feel behind you on everything.”
“Okay, okay, I hear you,” he whispered, stepping closer and pulling my head down for a soft kiss. “Lovely, you’re spinning out because of the inquisition too. Please believe me on that. You’ve been spinning out from the moment I met you, but you were in a direction, had some manual labor and jobs to give a bit of grounding. Now it’s over, and it’s not just me you’re lost about.”
“That’s fair,” I agreed after a few moments. “But I can handle that. I can’t handle Wally knowing more about you than I do. Or… I just can’t, Sen. I’m not trying to be a baby, but I can’t. Talking to Tadzio was me being a partner. You found Linden, awesome, but let me help . Be a team with me.”
“Always, I swear it.” He gave me another quick kiss and found my hand, holding it tightly even as I kept it against my body. After a moment I relented and let him take it and lead me away. “Let’s start at the beginning then, shall we?”
“Yeah, that sounds good,” I sighed, feeling some tightness inside me ease.
“I do import and export, mostly that’s my cover, and I’ve gotten good at handling the logistics for a lot of countries to aid our people. Alastair used his persuasion to get the land for the development, got the startup funds and bought the land. Nero’s the builder. He’s in charge of all the bug out tunnels, designing it all, getting supplies, and putting it all together.
“Gaius uses his gift to get money too. He’s the talent like Alastair for that, and Morggyan’s the logistics like Nero, but they’re handling the outside. She’s maybe the most organized and task oriented person I’ve ever met. Her super power really is getting more done efficiently than any person I’ve ever known. Basilia is security. She’s the best at training, and she’s impenetrable and a complete badass.
“Proximo has her back on that, knowing who’s afraid of what and checking all the corners around us constantly. They’ll handle people coming in as we all work together to make this happen quickly and safely . I bring in more money but more importantly stuff . What I had coming in was the first of Alastair’s wind turbines and the mass amounts of materials to get the bases built.