I finally have another CW update, and this one is very special. This chapter is a very very VERY Happy Birthday gift to the one and only @live-the-fangirl-life !! B - happy happy birthday! I hope you enjoy the shenanigans!
A note: this chapter is called “Jealousy,” but it’s not actually about the boys being jealous - I just couldn’t think of a better word. The theme of jealous does come up, but that’s not what it is - it’s just the boys wanting to show the world how lucky they are that their girls chose them. Also, this update all takes place during the original CW timeline.
Summary: Welcome to Cadre Weaponry - the shop for all your weapons needs, both antique and modern! Join the boys of the Cadre as they become friends and tackle this thing we call life. Maybe, just maybe, they’ll even find love along the way.
Let’s see what happens when our boys get put into situations that could very easily make them jealous.
Warnings: language, implied sexy times.
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THREE YEARS, NINE MONTHS, AND EIGHT DAYS AGO
Fenrys had never considered himself to be a jealous man - it just wasn’t what he considered to be a good look. He’d never taken part in trying to show the world that whoever he was dating was “his,” because that was complete and utter crap in any relationship.
And he certainly wouldn’t say that Asterin was his by any means - she was her own person, and that was it - which meant that he didn’t care who she talked to or spent her time with.
So, no… he wasn’t a jealous man.
He was, however, a man determined to keep his girlfriend from being hit on by assholes she didn’t want hitting on her.
They’d been dating for four months, and in that time he’d realized that occurrences like their first date - the one where she’d kissed him to chase off some guy from trying to ask her out - were pretty common. Asterin was gorgeous, and she oozed so much confidence that it was hard for people not to be attracted to her.
But he knew that all the attention weighed on her sometimes.
So, when that happened, he did everything he could to make it clear that she wasn’t available.
They’d gone out for dinner because neither of them felt like cooking, and he’d excused himself to the bathroom soon after they ordered. Rounding the corner on his way back from the bathroom, he saw his girlfriend shaking her head at the dark-haired man leaning on the edge of their table, her fingers flexing against the seat of the booth like she was two seconds away from smacking the guy.
As he got within earshot, he heard the man say, “all I’m saying is that I think we should go out sometime, I promise I’d show you a good time.”
Chuckling when he saw Asterin’s eyes roll - clearly this was not the first time the man had asked her out - he just slid onto the booth next to her, grateful that they’d gone to their favorite diner, which had wide booths that allowed him to do what he was planning to do. Slinging his legs over her lap and resting his chin on her shoulder as he peered up at the man staring at them in disbelief, he merely asked, “problem, love?”
“All good, baby,” she replied, letting her hands settle on his legs as she leaned into him. “Just telling this man here that I’m already taken.” The words were pointed, like it wasn’t the first time she’d said them, and the glare she directed at the stranger just underlined that point.
Raising his hands placatingly, he shot her a vaguely apologetic look before walking off.
“Thank you,” Asterin breathed, slumping against the back of the booth on a massive sigh. “I thought he’d never give up.”
Chuckling, he pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. “That’s what I’m here for, Rin. I’m happy to play jealous boyfriend for you any day of the week.”
“My hero,” she cooed, tightening her grip on his thighs when he went to swing his legs back to the floor. “No, stay,” she murmured, “just until the food comes. You’re so warm.”
“Anything for you,” he replied, situating his legs over her lap once more. “You know me: Fenrys Moonbeam, loving boyfriend and personal space heater.”
Shooting him some serious side-eye, Asterin just shook her head and knocked him lightly in the stomach with her elbow. “You’re a mess.” Though her tone was flat, he knew by the look in her eyes that she was fighting back a laugh.
“Yeah,” he agreed, leaning in to knock his forehead against her jaw, “but I’m your mess.”
Sliding her hand around his shoulder and trailing her fingers along the back of his neck, she gave him the widest, happiest smile before kissing him softly. “Yeah, my mess. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Me either, Rin. Me either.”
THREE YEARS, SEVEN MONTHS, AND TWENTY-ONE DAYS AGO
Going out dancing with his girl had quickly become one of Rowan’s favorite things. Aelin had always loved music - from picking the perfect playlist every morning to be the perfect backdrop for her cafe to her perfectly curated playlists created to help shut her mind off before she fell asleep - and getting to experience that joy with her as they danced was something he wouldn’t trade for the world.
They’d decided early on in their relationship that they’d make time at least twice a month to go dancing, and that hadn’t changed in the year and two months they’d been together. No matter how stressed or busy they got, they made the time. It had become something of a date night tradition for them.
Rowan loved every second of it.
They way Aelin lit up the minute they got through the door and the music was pumping through their veins, the way she immediately started bouncing and moving to the rhythm of whatever song was playing, the way she’d indulge him if he wanted to get a drink first even when all she really wanted to do was dance until she couldn’t feel her feet anymore… he’d never loved anyone more.
“Ro,” Aelin enthused, tugging on his hand as she danced around, “this is my favorite song!”
Chuckling, he leaned in to kiss her temple. “Go on, then, Fireheart. Go dance. I’ll join you as soon as I grab the drinks and find a table.”
Squealing, she kissed him quickly and darted off for the throng of people moving as one in the middle of the floor.
He paid the bartender for their drinks and quickly found an empty table, setting Aelin’s down as he took a long sip of his. Casting his eyes over the crowd, it wasn’t hard to find his girl. She’d always stood out in a crowd - between her golden hair and her unique eyes, she was hard to miss - especially when she was dancing.
When she was dancing, she turned every head around her.
Something about Aelin was so electric, so magnetic that people couldn’t help but watch her.
Noticing the way some of the guys around her were looking at her - the way he imagined he’d looked at her when he first met her, and probably still looked at her if he was being honest - he took another swallow of his drink and made his way toward her.
It wasn’t that he was jealous, because he knew that Aelin had chosen him the same way he’d chosen her. It was just that seeing other people watching her made him want to have her in his arms, basking in the knowledge that they hand chosen one another
Rowan wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, meshing his body with hers as they began moving as one. “Fireheart,” he breathed, one hand coming up to grasp her chin. Using that grip, he turned her face until he could press a hard, claiming kiss to her lips. “Do you have any idea how sexy you are when you dance?”
“Mmm, that kiss gave me a pretty good idea.” She rocked her body against his, sliding one hand up around his neck and tangling her fingers in his hair. “Didn’t expect you out here so quick.”
His chuckle a rasp in her ear, he ran his lips down over her jaw. “Just didn’t want my fiancée out here all alone.”
“Two and a half months of wearing your ring on my finger,” she said, turning in his arms, “and I’m still not tired of hearing it.”
Humming, he pressed his lips to hers. “My beautiful fiancée,” he whispered, their lips still touching, “I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of saying it.”
Aelin just smiled and kissed him again, letting him feel how much she loved him in the way her lips moved against his.
He poured his own love in the kiss, content to just stay in that moment where they lost themselves in the music and the feeling of being together.
It was moments like those that made him love dancing with Aelin all the more.
TWO YEARS, SIX MONTHS, AND TWENTY-TWO DAYS AGO
Getting to watch his girlfriend work was something Connall didn’t think he’d ever get tired of. It truly was inspiring, the way she could take a client’s idea, put it on paper beautifully, and then transfer that to their skin just as flawlessly.
In the year and four months they’d been together, three of which they’d spent officially dating, he’d never stopped feeling blessed that he got to experience that.
Reclining against the back of the sofa in the lobby of The Wastes, he crossed his arms behind his head as Vesta finished up with her client. She’d brought the man into the lobby so he could see the piece that stretched from his upper arm, over his shoulder, and onto his upper back in the large mirror on the wall next to the front desk.
As always, Connall was blown away with his girlfriend’s work. The lines were stunning, the colors were vivid, and the whole piece was so lifelike it took his breath away.
When they finally walked back into the lobby, her client’s new ink was covered and wrapped, but he still hadn’t managed to pull his shirt back on. Connall couldn’t help the way his eyes rolled - which luckily no one saw - at the obvious way the guy flexed as he reached for the pen to sign off on his bill.
“Thank you so much,” he beamed as he handed the pen back to her. “As always, your work is stunning.”
Nodding, she pulled him into a quick hug as she replied, “I’m just glad you trust me enough to keep coming back for more ink.”
Connall tried very hard not to think about the fact that the man was still shirtless.
His girlfriend exchanged a few more pleasantries with her client before he finally left - thankfully with his shirt back on - with one final wave and nod in Connall’s direction.
“Amazing work as always, my love,” he said, standing from the low sofa and stretching his arms up over his head.
Nodding, Vesta hopped up to sit on the counter, quickly filing the receipt in the appropriate folder and flipping through her appointment book, no doubt making sure she was prepared for whatever appointment she had next.
He took in the miles of leg left bare by the black combat boots and steel blue sundress she’d chosen for the day, took in the way a few tendrils of her long red hair had escaped her bun and were drifting down over her shoulders, which were also left mostly bare by her dress… He took all of that in and was across the lobby before he even realized he’d moved, his hands cupping her cheeks as he pressed his lips to hers.
Gasping, she froze in surprise for a split second before she was kissing him back with everything she had. Her mouth opened under the pressure of his lips, and it wasn’t long until their tongues were tangled together, her hands sliding over his back and down to cup his ass as his thumbs swept in long lines over her jaw.
Pulling back with a needy sigh, Vesta looked up at him through hooded eyes. “What was that for?” she asked, her cheeks flushed.
“Just wanted to make sure you knew how proud I was of you, beloved girlfriend.”
She just arched a brow at him. “Mmm, and it had nothing to do with the very fit, attractive, shirtless man that just hugged me?” The laughter in her tone - plus that fact that Connall had met this client before and actually quite liked the man - made it more than clear that she was teasing him, and the way her hands never stilled on his ass just further proved that she was trying to get a rise out of him.
Connall wasn’t a jealous man - or, at least, he tried very hard not to be - but if his girl wanted to play, he was happy to indulge her.
“Sounds like I need to take you to the office in the back and spend some more time showing you just how proud I am to call you mine.” He lifted her into his arms as he spoke, her legs easily wrapping around his waist as she moved her arms up to loop around his neck.
Nipping at his bottom lip as she kissed him again, she cooed against his lips, “oh, I absolutely think you do.”
He was more than happy to oblige.
ONE YEAR, TEN MONTHS, AND TEN DAYS AGO
Walking through the front door of The Keep Pub and Grille, Vaughan didn’t even have to look where he was going, just letting the familiar sound of Sorrel’s laughter guide him to the bar - not that he had any doubt that she, as head bartender, would be anywhere else. They’d been together - hanging out, hooking up, doing whatever they were doing that wasn’t dating - for almost two and a half years, and he found himself making more and more time to come visit her while she was working.
Just because he visited her at work didn’t mean that they were dating, no matter what his ridiculous friends kept telling him.
He was happy with things just the way they were. And so was Sorrel.
That was all that mattered.
Taking what had quickly become his usual seat at the end of the bar, he tipped his head at the dark-haired woman standing behind it and nodded at the questioning look she gave him. The regulars at the bar nodded at him while the woman prepared his drink, and he just offered them a grin in response.
He supposed he was becoming a bit of a regular himself.
“Your drink, my good sir,” Sorrel greeted, squeezing his hand after she set the glass in front of him.
Chuckling, he flipped his hand so he could trace his fingers along her palm as she pulled away. “Why thank you, beautiful lady.”
She just shook her head at him as she laughed before walking away to wait on her other customers. Vaughan watched as she worked, feeling the small smile growing on his face as she proved all over again how much of an excellent bartender she was. She handled everyone’s requests with ease, laughing and joking with her regulars as she went, making sure the newer and less frequent customers felt just as welcome.
Vaughan felt his smile sink a little, however, when he noticed two guys on the other side of the bar checking her out as she moved. They shot her winning smiles as she stopped in front of them, and he could hear their cheesy pick-up lines across the bar.
Gritting his teeth, he took a sip of his drink.
Sorrel wasn’t his girlfriend - he was the one who’d made sure they weren’t dating, and she’d readily agreed - but something about seeing someone else hit on her wasn’t a pleasant experience.
He tried to shake off whatever expression his face had settled into - he wasn’t sure what it was but he knew it probably wasn’t polite - as she finished waiting on them and politely but firmly turned away their advances.
Apparently, however, he was not successful, because she arched an eyebrow at him and walked back over to him quickly, rounding the bar to lean against the front of it next to where he was sitting. “Everything okay?” she questioned, taking both of her hands in his.
“Yeah. All good.” Shooting one last look at the men across the bar who were still staring at her, he couldn’t stop himself from leaning in and pressing his lips to her temple. “Just helping drive the point home for those two over there.”
Rolling her eyes, Sorrel just leaned against his side, letting him wrap his arm around her waist. “Is that all?” she quipped, kissing his jaw softly.
“Mmm, and what else would it be?” It seemed he couldn’t keep himself from kissing her, because he tilted her chin up so he could kiss her lips just as softly as she’d kissed his chin. Vaughan was aware that he was acting more like someone in a relationship that he usually did, but he couldn’t bring himself to stop.
He’d analyze what that meant later.
“Maybe,” she responded, nudging his shoulder with hers as she went back behind the bar, “you just missed me?”
Sighing even as he smiled, he just picked up his drink, content to watch her get back to work. “Maybe I did.”
ELEVEN MONTHS AND FOURTEEN DAYS AGO
Gavriel was actually in love with the days his fiancée got out of work early and came to visit him at the shop. She loved to walk through the store like she was browsing, spending hours just going through all the arrows they offered like it was her first time even though she’d seen them all before - hell, she usually helped them figure out which ones they wanted to stock.
They’d been together for almost two and a half years, engaged for a year and a half of that, and watching her love what he loved never got old.
The competitive archer in her never took a day off, even when she wasn’t actively competing.
For his part, he’d just sit on the stool behind the till and watch Lin move through the store, his eyes tracking the pieces of dark hair that always fell free from her bun as she talked excitedly with customers who seemed interested in whatever she was standing next to.
He was always amazed by the sheer number of people she managed to talk into buying something they’d previously been on the fence about.
It was a rare day when all five of his friends were also in the store - no one was out on supply runs or visiting a weapons expo or had even taken the day off - which meant that he had spent most of the day running the till, able to stay there since his friends could cover everything else. That wasn’t the most thrilling of jobs during the slow moments, which were thankfully few and far between, but it gave him so much time to marvel over Lin, who’d only worked a half day and had spent the rest of the day in the shop with him.
Just finishing up with the customer he’d been ringing out, Gavriel looked up to wave them through the door and found his gaze almost instinctively drawn to his fiancée. She was standing by some of their newest arrows, and she was explaining all about them to a customer, her eyes bright with that sparkle that archery always seemed to bring out.
It really was a sight to behold.
The man she was talking to, who seemed to be hanging on to every word she said, watched as her hands moved over the selection they offered, most likely pointing out the different features of each style. He nodded at something she said, and then Lin was turning to pick up a handful of the arrows she’d just pointed to, gesturing the man to the counter as she followed behind.
“Making sales again, Lin?” Gavriel asked, hopping off the stool to grab a box from under the counter that would hold all the arrows in her arms.
Chuckling, she set the man’s purchases on the counter before rounding it to stand next to him. “Aren’t you a funny one today? You know I can’t help myself when it comes to archery.”
“I know, I know.” Gavriel turned his attention to the man, quickly ringing him out and getting everything boxed up. “I’d ask if you found everything okay, but I think I know the answer.”
The man laughed, sliding his card through the machine to pay. “For sure. Y’all really know your stuff here. It’s nice to know someone will always have an answer to any questions we have.”
“Thanks, man.” Dipping his head in gratitude, he handed the box over to the man, who disappeared out the door with a cheerful wave.
Sinking back onto the stool, Gavriel pulled Lin into his lap, pressing a kiss to the side of her head. His arms were tight around her waist, and Lin squealed at the suddenness of the movement coupled with the way he started kissing a trail from her temple down to her lips. “Think the guys at the garage would let me poach you away to come work here?”
“I highly doubt it,” she murmured, turning her head and meeting his lips in a messy kiss that was all teeth and tongues. “But if this is how you thank me every time - and not just when it’s a guy that I help - then maybe I’ll be tempted.”
Gavriel pulled back so she could see his raised eyebrow. “Are you implying that I’m jealous?” He knew the incredulous look on his face was probably ridiculous, but he couldn’t seem to shake it. He’d never been the jealous type - and he thought Lin knew that.
Clearly Lin was messing with him, because her laughter rang through the store. “Of course I’m not - but that was a great face you just made, so it was totally worth it. I know you’d never be jealous, but I do like to mess with you.”
“You, my love,” he started, nipping her jaw lightly and drawing a gasp from her, “are a menace.”
Nodding, she settled herself against his chest in a more polite way as the front door jingled with the sound of another customer walking through the door. “Yes I am. And you wouldn’t have me any other way.”
“You got that right.”
ELEVEN DAYS AGO
Lorcan still couldn’t believe that Elide Lochan - well, Salvaterre as of a month ago - was his wife. They’d been together for right around three years, he’d proposed a little over a year and a half ago, and just about a month ago they’d finally gotten married.
It was better than any dream he’d ever had.
They were out with all their friends for half-price appetizers and trivia night, and as much as he loved all their friends, he tended to forget - or at least manage to pretend to be blissfully unaware of - how chaotic they could be. They were a noisy bunch, and trivia night tended to ramp them all up.
Sometimes it got to be a bit much for him - at least before he’d had time to get used to it.
He could tell Elide was starting to feel the same way. She had burrowed closer against his side in the booth, and she was sliding the charm on her necklace - a silver L pendant - along the chain.
“Feel like going to get us some drinks?” he whispered, leaning down so she could hear him. “Some of our glasses look pretty empty.”
Smiling up at him gratefully - she knew exactly the break he was offering her with that simple question - she prodded Fenrys until he slid out of the end of the booth with a theatrical groan. Determining who needed a refill and what they wanted, Elide made her way to the bar.
Lorcan settled back into the booth as he watched his wife cut through the crowd and lean against the bar, getting the bartender’s attention with a wave of her hand. From the way the man smiled at her, he had a feeling that her good looks had something to do with how quickly he’d given her his attention.
The man was all smiles as he refilled the drinks, and Lorcan realized that, with as many drinks as Elide had ordered, she’d never be able to carry them all on her own.
Plus he had the urge to make sure the bartender - who had definitely just winked at her - knew she was taken, knew that she was his wife.
“Move, pup,” he grumbled at Fenrys, poking the blonde in the back of the head so he moved, “gotta go help El with the drinks.”
Shooting him a knowing look, Fenrys just rolled his eyes. “Uh huh, sure you do.”
Deciding to ignore him, Lorcan just strolled to the bar, his long legs eating up the distance in no time. “Need some help, wife?” he asked, sliding his hands around Elide’s waist and pulling her back against his chest.
“Lor!” she jumped at his touch, clearly not expecting him to walk up behind her. “Actually, yeah - I don’t know why I thought I could carry all of these by myself.”
Chuckling, he squeezed her hips before releasing her, taking half of the drinks from the counter. “Anything for my loving wife.”
“Thank you, husband.” Smiling at him and tossing the money on the bar with a grateful nod to the bartender, Elide grabbed the rest of the drinks and led the way back to the table.
Once they’d sat back down, she curled up against his side once more. “Don’t think I didn’t notice that little display back there,” she murmured against his neck, her fingers playing with the hem of his tee. “Jealous much?”
“I wouldn’t necessarily say jealous. I just want the whole world to know you’re my wife, even if that means little displays like that.” He noticed the way she shivered at his words, and he tugged the flannel he’d worn as a jacket over her shoulders. “That okay with you?”
If he wasn’t, he knew he’d promise then and there never to do it again.
“As long as you don’t make a habit of it.” She gave him a hard look, and he nodded once, knowing that he wouldn’t become one of those territorial assholes. Elide was her own person and he would never do anything to infringe on that. “And as long as you keep promising to call me wife - it’s so hot when you do it.”
Final update of the year, and of course it’s Cadre Weaponry! Fair warning, this update is over 11k words. I just can’t seem to help myself.
Massive shoutout to @nalgenewhore for being the literal best and naming literally all of the parents. I would be entirely lost without her and she knows it.
Summary: Welcome to Cadre Weaponry - the shop for all your weapons needs, both antique and modern! Join the boys of the Cadre as they become friends and tackle this thing we call life. Maybe, just maybe, they’ll even find love along the way. Let’s see what happens when the boys bring their girls home to meet their parents.
Warnings: Just some language, I think.
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FOUR YEARS, EIGHT MONTHS, AND FOUR DAYS AGO
Rowan couldn’t understand why he was so nervous. Yes, he was bringing his girlfriend of a month and a half home to meet his parents for the first time, but this wasn’t his first rodeo. He’d brought other girls home to meet them. Hell, he’d brought Lyria home before they’d even been dating a week.
Granted, that was in high school, but still.
And besides, Aelin certainly didn’t look worried as she gazed out the window as his childhood home came into view. “This is your house?” she breathed, rolling down the window to get a better look.
“Yeah,” he replied, parking his Bronco in front of the garage door that had once been his. “This is where I grew up.”
Climbing out of the car, he held a hand out to Aelin as she walked around, her eyes never leaving the building in front of her. “It’s lovely, Ro.”
He couldn’t help but agree - his parents’ home was stunning. Though it was a simple ranch-style house, it was sprawling and elegant, a large porch and wide windows making it appear just as welcoming on the outside as he knew it was on the inside.
“Okay,” he finally muttered. “Let’s do this.”
Aelin jabbed her elbow into his ribs. “You could try to sound a little happier.”
He just sighed. “I know, I know. I’m just… nervous, I guess.”
His girlfriend just chuckled. “It’s okay, love. It’s going to be fine.” Pulling on his hand, she leaned up to kiss him softly. “I’ll be on my best behavior, I promise.”
“That’s not what I meant, you ridiculous woman,” Rowan laughed, some of the nerves fluttering around his stomach starting to dissipate. “But thank you anyway.” He kissed her once more before leading her to the front door.
He lifted his hand to knock - usually, he would’ve just let himself in, but he felt that a moment like this deserved a little bit of formality - but the door opened inward before his knuckles could even graze the wood. His mother was framed in the opening, the warm smile that had chased his nightmares away as a child on her face.
“My boy,” she greeted, leaning up to kiss his cheek. “I’m happy you’re here, Ro.”
“Hi mom,” Rowan replied, pulling her into a hug. “You make it sound like I wasn’t just here to see you a couple weeks ago.”
She just shook her head at him. “Yes, well, this is a very exciting visit, isn’t it?” Turning to face Aelin, she offered his girlfriend an even brighter smile.
“Yes,” Rowan agreed, squeezing Aelin’s hand. “Mom, I’d like you to meet my girlfriend. Aelin, this is my mom, Guinevere.”
“It’s so nice to meet you,” Aelin said, reaching out to shake his mother’s hand with a beautiful grin of her own.
“Likewise, dear. Rowan’s been telling us quite a lot about you.”
He felt the heat flooding his face, a fact that didn’t go unnoticed by the two most important women in his life. His mother chuckled and reached up to pat his cheek affectionately, while Aelin just kissed the back of his hand through her laughter.
“Right, well, come in, come in.” Guinevere ushered them into the house, shutting the door behind them and gesturing toward the living room. “Your father’s in there, Ro,” she explained. “You two head on in, I’ll be along in a minute.”
Nodding at her words, Rowan wrapped his arm around his girlfriend’s waist and guided her into the room. His father was sitting in his armchair, an open book facedown on the arm next to him.
“Rowan.” His dad stood, waiting for him to release Aelin before pulling him into a hug. “It’s good to see you, son.”
Pulling away, Rowan grinned. “You too, dad. This is Aelin, my girlfriend,” he continued, taking her hand once again. “Ae, this is Iolair, my dad.”
“So you’re the famous Aelin?” His dad shook her hand with both of his, offering her a welcoming grin. “We’ve heard so much about you - it’s lovely to finally meet you.”
Aelin laughed, the sound bright and happy. “Mmm, I’ve heard he’s been talking quite a lot about me. I hope he’s only said good things?”
“Oh, but of course. He’s obviously quite taken with you.”
Glancing at his girlfriend, he saw a light blush staining her cheeks, and he couldn’t help but lean down to kiss her forehead. “Well,” she finally replied, “the feeling’s mutual.”
Iolair gestured for them to take a seat on the couch. “Yes, he’s quite the charmer, isn’t he?”
Rowan groaned and dropped his head onto the back of the couch, but Aelin merely nodded along. “Oh, definitely. He’s very charming - and handsome, too.”
“He gets that from his dad.” Turning, he saw his mother walking into the room, an apron now tied around her waist. “Both his looks and his charm,” she added, perching easily on the arm of his dad’s chair.
His father smiled up at her, his eyes full of love. “Then I suppose the both of you are very lucky.”
“We are.” Turning back to face them, Guinevere said, “Rowan has told us you met at the store, but he’s been a bit vague on the details. Care to fill us in?”
Aelin chuckled as she relaxed into the arm Rowan had thrown over her shoulders. “Yes, well, I think that’s probably because he was a little intimidated by me. I’d come in looking for new throwing knives - my dad was in the military and he taught me - and then we got chatting about the sword replicas on the wall.”
“And that intimidated you?” his dad questioned, raising an eyebrow at him.
“No,” Rowan sighed, shaking his head when his girlfriend just laughed again. “It was the fact that her best friend and her cousin each own one of the actual swords - and the fact that she happens to own the third.”
Both of his parents looked impressed. “I can see how that would be intimidating,” his mother finally said. “Rowan also says you own your own restaurant?”
Sitting forward and dropping her hand to his knee, Aelin nodded. “I do - it’s basically a coffee shop and bakery hybrid, but with some light meals as well.”
“Cafe Terrasen has the best coffee in town,” Rowan added. “And the food is amazing, too.”
Aelin offered him a sweet little smile at that, and he couldn’t help the wide smile he gave her in return. Being with her just made him happy.
“We’ll have to keep that in mind the next time we’re in town,” his father stated.
Guinevere nodded at his words. “You know, I still have some things to make for our lunch today,” she started. “Would you like to help me, Aelin?”
He saw his girlfriend open her mouth to respond, but she never got the chance. Before he could contain it, laughter was bubbling out of his mouth as tears welled in his eyes. Dropping his face into his hands to try to control himself, he only succeeded in knocking Aelin’s hand from his knee as she glared at him.
“Rowan!” his mother chastised, his father looking on in confusion from her side, “what in the world is so funny?!” When his only response was more laughter, she continued, “what could possibly be so funny?”
“I’m sorry,” he finally spluttered, his chuckles slowly fading. “It’s just… Aelin can’t cook. Like, she really can’t cook.”
Aelin snorted. “Gee, thanks so much.”
“Oh, love, admit it. You and I both know you don’t cook.”
She glared at him imperiously for a few more seconds before she started giggling as well. “It’s true,” she agreed, turning to face his parents. “I can sometimes manage breakfast food, but that’s really it.”
Iolair still looked confused. “But, you own a cafe?”
“Well, when I first had the idea, it was mainly going to be a coffee shop,” she admitted. “But I knew I wanted to have a bakery, and light meals seemed like a good idea too, so I asked my best friend, Lysandra, if she’d handle the food half of the business. I just handle the drinks.”
Rowan watched as his mom offered her a gentle smile. “Well, would you like to make some coffee, then?”
“I’d love to.” Aelin knocked her knee into his, pulling his gaze to her face. “But none for you.”
“What?” he cried. “Why not?”
His girlfriend just smirked up at him. “It’s what you get for being mean to me.”
Dropping his forehead against hers, Rowan cupped her face in his hands. “I’m very sorry, my love. Will you please make me a cup of coffee? You know your coffee is better than anyone else’s in the world.”
“Indeed I do,” she murmured, kissing him quickly and gently before standing and letting Guinevere lead her to the kitchen.
He’d see the proud look his mother had given him as she left the room, and he could see the same knowing glint in his father’s eye.
“She’s the one, isn’t she?” Iolair asked, grinning happily when Rowan nodded.
“Yeah, dad. She is.”
FOUR YEARS AND SEVENTEEN DAYS AGO
He had no idea why he was doing this - he’d even briefly toyed with the idea of turning around and pretending like he’d never even tried. But then his parents’ loft came into view and he realized he was screwed. Sighing, Vaughan turned into the driveway and parked around the back of the building.
In all honesty, he loved the house he grew up in. Well, it was technically a business on the ground floor with a two-story loft above it, but it had always been home to him. His parents owned a small stationery shop, specializing in handmade journals and notebooks. His dad specialized in leather crafts, so he made the covers for them, and his mom bound them together with intricate ribbon-work.
Vaughan loved coming home to visit his parents. He just wasn’t sure what had possessed him to bring Sorrel home with him. They’d been doing… whatever they were doing for four and a half months now, but that didn’t mean he had to bring her home.
He never brought girls home. He didn’t do relationships.
He had, once, with a girl he’d started dating his freshman year of college. They’d been together for most of that year, but it hadn’t ended well. Fighting, things said intentionally to hurt each other, cheating. That last one, at least, had only been her. He might have been a dick, but he’d never do that.
Vaughan knew that relationship hadn’t been perfect, but he’d never expected that. It had left him devastated and had destroyed any belief he had in relationships, at least as far as his life was concerned.
His parents had been there for everything he’d gone through that year, so he knew they wouldn’t make any assumptions about him bringing Sorrel home. Well, he hoped they wouldn’t.
Shaking off his thoughts, he pulled his helmet off and twisted his hair up into a bun while Sorrel climbed off the back of his motorcycle. “This is where you grew up? It’s… not what I was expecting.”
“Oh?” he smirked, taking her helmet and stowing it in its bag. “And just what were you expecting?”
Rolling her eyes, she smacked him lightly in the stomach, saying, “I don’t really know. But this suits you somehow.”
“Yeah, I suppose it does.” He motioned for Sorrel to follow him, leading her to the spiral metal staircase that led to the second-floor deck that would grant them access to his parents’ home without having to go through the store.
“Do you always go onto the deck to get into your house?”
Vaughan chuckled, resting his hand on her waist and guiding her up the steps. “Well, yeah, since I usually don’t feel like going through the shop to get to the house.” At the confused look she gave him, he added, “it takes up the first floor of the building.”
“Ah, that’s right,” she replied, fingers trailing over the curving metal railing. “Osten Stationery - I can’t wait to see it.”
“I’ll take you on a tour. I’m sure my mom will be thrilled to show you all her new creations.”
Sorrel smiled over her shoulder, stepping to the side once she reached the deck so he could get to the door. “I’d love that. I’ve been meaning to pick up a new journal, so this is actually perfect.”
He nodded, though his thoughts had once again drifted to the fact that Sorrel was about to meet his parents. Steeling his nerves, he twisted the door knob and motioned her through the door, following right behind her.
“Mom! Dad!” he called, stepping into the kitchen, chuckling slightly when he saw Sorrel’s eyes track over the full bar on the one side of the room - he knew that, as she was a bartender, that would catch her eye. She always appreciated the aesthetic of an in-home bar. “We’re here!”
“Up in the office, kiddo!” That was his dad, and Vaughan linked his arm through Sorrel’s as he started to guide her through the house. The office was actually the suspended balcony between the two lofts that made up each end of the third floor - one side was his old bedroom and bathroom, and the other was the master suite. It was wide enough for a couple desks and a work table, so it’s where his parents usually worked if they weren’t in the store.
He started up the floating metal staircase that divided the large living room into two smaller spaces - a traditional living room and a library of sorts. Stepping into the office, he saw his parents bent over one of their desks. “Hi,” he greeted, rapping his knuckles against the railing.
“Hey, kid,” his dad greeted, tossing the folder he was holding on top of a stack of papers and stepping around the table to hug him. “Good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you too, dad.” Patting his dad on the back, he stepped around him to hug his mother, chuckling when she had to stand on her toes to return his embrace - he’d always taken after his dad in both height and looks. “Hi mom.”
His mother pulled back so she could look into his eyes. “How is my boy?”
“I’m good, mom. I’m really good.” She nodded, and he couldn’t resist leaning down to kiss her on the cheek.
She patted his arm affectionately as she turned to face Sorrel. “And who’s your friend?”
“This,” Vaughan started, slinging an arm around her shoulders as she climbed the final step to stand by his side, “is Sorrel. S, this is my mom, Kalinda, and my dad, Aves.”
Sorrel stuck out her hand for his parents to shake. “It’s lovely to meet both of you. And your home is beautiful. And the bar in the kitchen is quite impressive.”
“Thank you, dear,” Kalinda answered, offering her a wide smile. “So, you and Vaughan are friends?”
Sorrel nodded, her fingers twitching against his thigh gently when he stiffened at his mom’s words. “We are. Good friends, actually.”
“That’s good,” Aves replied. “How exactly did the two of you meet?”
“At the store.” Vaugahn could see Sorrel nodding at his side, and he couldn’t help but tease her just a little. “She bought a gun to try and impress me.”
“That’s not why I bought it!” she cried, poking him hard in the side. Turning her attention back to his parents, she continued, “that is most definitely not the reason I bought it. My mom was a sharpshooter - best the military has ever seen - and now I collect them.”
“Yeah, but you bought a Colt - so it was at least a little bit to get my attention.”
“You,” Sorrel muttered as his parents laughed, “are impossible. I like Supernatural and I combined that with my love of old guns. It was not to impress you. I didn’t even know you!”
Vaughan just nodded as she rolled her eyes, eventually turning back to his mom and deciding to change the subject. “Sorrel also happened to mention that she’s been meaning to pick up a new journal - and that she’s dying to see the shop. Feel like giving her the tour?”
He could see the excitement in his mom’s eyes before he’d even finished asking. “Absolutely! Follow me.” Looping her arm through Sorrel’s, Kalinda began leading her down the stairs.
“We’ll join you in a minute!” his dad called after them, placing a hand on Vaughan’s shoulder when he made to follow them. Once they were out of earshot, he cleared his throat. “Friends, huh?”
“Dad,” Vaughan groaned, not liking the knowing look in his dad’s eyes. “We’re just friends. I don’t do relationships - you know that. Sorrel feels the same way. Believe me, we’ve discussed it.”
Raising his hands in surrender, Aves just nodded. “Alright, son. I had to ask. After all, you did bring her home.”
“We spend a lot of time together, I knew you were bound to ask about her. I thought meeting her would get that out of the way.”
His dad clapped him on the shoulder. “I understand. Shall we go see what they’re up to?”
Nodding, he followed his dad down the stairs, the two of them taking their time until they were winding their way down the curling staircase in the back corner of the library that led into the back room of the store. By the time they caught up with his mother and Sorrel, the two women were bent over a selection of journals, talking animatedly.
“Find anything?” Vaughan asked, coming to a stop next to Sorrel and resting his hip lightly against hers.
The smile she turned on him was bright and full of joy. “I literally love them all! I don’t know how I’ll ever choose.”
“Well,” Kalinda interjected, “what if we made a custom one for you? We can start on it now and order in for dinner.”
“Oh gods, you don’t have to do that!”
Aves traced his fingers over the journals she’d been looking at. “We would love to. Why don’t you come with me and we’ll take a look at some of the new covers in the back - you can pick your favorite.”
Sorrel practically bounced with excitement. “If you really want to… okay!” His father pointed her in the direction of the back room and she made to follow him, her fingers tangling with Vaughan’s quickly as she moved around him.
“We can order from The Keep,” Vaughan offered, smirking at Sorrel. “I’m sure the owners would be more than willing to drive food out here for you.”
At his parents’ confused looks, Sorrel explained, “I’m the head bartender there, and the owners, Edda and Briar, are two of my best friends. And it’s not like we’re that far away - they would deliver here anyway.”
“Yeah, well, it doesn’t hurt to have connections.” Vaughan ghosted his fingers over her arm quickly before gesturing for her and his dad to go look for covers. “We’ll order when you get back.”
He watched her walk away for a long moment, his eyes tracking the happiness in her face before he realized his mother was staring at him, the same knowing look his dad had given him in her eyes.
“Sorrel seems nice,” she started, raising one eyebrow. “You seem to get along really well.”
He just sighed. “She is, and we are, hence why we’re friends. Seriously mom, that’s all it is.”
Kalinda nodded, and he was amazed at how easily both of his parents had let the whole situation go. And they seemed genuinely fond of Sorrel, so maybe it hadn’t been a mistake to bring her home, after all.
He wouldn’t let himself think about what exactly that could mean about their relationship.
Sorrel was important to him - he couldn’t risk it.
THREE YEARS, TEN MONTHS, AND SIXTEEN DAYS AGO
Something about the day just felt so right to Fenrys. An argument could be made that it was the bright sunshine making the world feel light and free. Maybe it was the feeling of his girlfriend’s arms tight around his waist, her fingers tracing delicate patterns over his stomach. It might have even been the wind swirling around them as his motorcycle ate up the roadway beneath the wheels.
But he knew that none of those things were responsible for the feeling of sheer joy burning inside him.
No, that came from the knowledge that he was finally bringing Asterin home to meet his parents. She’d taken him to meet her dad four days earlier, and he’d been thrilled when she’d asked him to go. They’d been dating for about three months, and he couldn’t wait for her to meet his family (well, the rest of his family - she and his brother had already met and were fast friends).
Turning into the winding drive that led to his childhood home, he felt his joy turn into pure elation. Though they hadn’t been together all that long, he knew in his heart that she was the one. She was his perfect match in so many ways, and she brought out the absolute best in him. Fenrys knew his parents would see how important she was to him, would see how well they fit together, even if Asterin had told him that morning she was nervous about meeting them.
Coming to a stop in the driveway, he waved to his parents where they were sitting in the breezeway that connected the rather large garage to the impressive colonial house as he waited for his girlfriend to climb off the bike behind him. Swinging his leg over the seat so he could lean against it before turning to face her, he noticed that she was chewing on her nail, something she only did when she needed to contain her nerves.
“Hey,” Fenrys murmured, taking her hands and pulling her to stand between his legs, “talk to me, baby. What’s up?”
She sighed, her fingers twisting nervously in his grip. “I’m nervous. I just… I just really want them to like me.” Her voice wobbled just a little, and he realized just how scared she was.
“Come here.” Standing, he pulled her to his chest, pressing her ear to his chest so she could hear his heart. “They’re going to love you, Rin. How could they not? You are so important to me, so special and wonderful and amazing. They’ll see that, the same way that I have. Okay?”
Asterin nodded, though he knew she was still worried. “Okay,” she whispered, a small smile pulling at her lips as her eyes met his.
Leaning down, he pressed his lips to her forehead, feeling the way she relaxed into him at the soft gesture. “I like you,” he breathed against her skin.
“Mmm, I like you too.” Giggling slightly, she pulled away and took his hand. “I’m ready. Let’s do this.”
He squeezed her hand once and led her up the front walk and onto the breezeway, smiling at the approving look his mom gave him at the way he’d been so gentle and sweet with her. “Hi mom, dad,” he greeted. “I’d like to introduce you Asterin, my girlfriend. Love,” he continued, turning to face her, “this is my dad, Tane, and my mom, Anahera.”
“We’ve been looking forward to meeting you for quite some time now,” his mom informed her, pulling his girlfriend into a hug. “Haven’t we, dear?” she asked her husband.
Reaching out to shake Asterin’s hand, he answered, “we definitely have. It’s good to finally put a face to the name we’ve heard quite frequently these last few months.”
“Likewise,” she agreed, smiling brightly at his parents. “Fen speaks so highly of both of you. I couldn’t wait to meet the people who shaped such a delightful human.”
His mom rested her hand over her heart, and he could see the proud look in his dad’s eyes. They had always wanted to do right by both of their boys, and he could see that Asterin’s words meant so much to them.
“Won’t you tell us about yourself?” Anahera gestured for them to sit, and Fenrys sank into the hanging wicker sofa, pulling Asterin into his side. “Fen says you own a gym?”
Asterin was playing with his hand as she answered, tracing her fingers over the lines on his palm. “I do! Well, I co-own it - my cousin, Manon, is the other owner.”
“Blackbeak Gym is the best gym I’ve ever been to,” Fenrys added, offering his girlfriend a proud smile when she blushed and dropped her chin against his shoulder. “They have a rock climbing wall and a pool.”
“You really pulled out all the stops,” Tane agreed. “Is that where the two of you met?”
Shaking her head, Asterin gave Fenrys a confused look. “You didn’t tell your parents where we met?”
“I feel like there’s a wrong answer here,” he admitted. “And I feel like my answer is that wrong answer.”
She just closed her eyes and shook her head, causing his parents to laugh. “Don’t mind him,” his dad chuckled. “He barely paused for breath when he was telling us about you for the first time. The lack of oxygen to his brain probably affected his memory.”
“Tane!” his mother scolded, pushing on her husband’s knee. Asterin just laughed, her golden hair sliding around her shoulders as she tipped her head back. He was so distracted by the way she looked in that moment - happy and beautiful - that he nearly missed her explanation of their first meeting.
“We met at Cadre Weaponry, actually.” Looking at him out of the corner of her eye, she gave him a small smile as she remembered that first meeting. He remembered that day well - he’d never been as taken with someone as he had been with her that day. “I’d come in looking for an Ironteeth sword - well, a Blackbeak sword, actually - and Fen was the one who helped me.”
“But those swords are nearly impossible to tell apart,” his dad interjected, eerily similar to the way he had that day she’d come into the shop. He and his dad had always been so similar, so he supposed that it wasn’t shocking his dad had picked up on that as well.
“Ah, well, easy solution for that,” Fenrys chuckled, his laughter only growing when his girlfriend kicked him gently in the shin. “Asterin’s a Blackbeak. Her cousin, Manon, is the one who owns Wind-Cleaver. Rin actually taught me how to tell all the makes apart.”
Both of his parents looked very impressed. “That’s incredible,” his mom said, his dad nodding along with her.
“Oh, thank you.” Asterin was giving his dad a curious look. “How did you know how hard it was to tell those swords apart? That’s not something most people know.”
Tane looked surprised. “I’m surprised Fenrys didn’t tell you - Cadre Weaponry used to be our business.”
He could feel Asterin’s surprise next to him, and it was clear that his mom noticed it too. “Of course, it’s very different now,” she added. “It was Moonbeam Arms when we had it, and it was really only antique weapons with a select few new ones as well, so we naturally did our research - Tane more than me.”
His dad chuckled. “What my wife means is that while we’re both quite knowledgeable about antique weapons, I’ve always been quite fascinated by them - spent all my spare time reading about them.”
“So that’s where Fen picked up the habit,” Asterin exclaimed, brushing a swift kiss to his knuckles.
“Connall and I both did - we grew up in that shop.” Fenrys smiled gratefully at his parents. “We always knew that we would take it over one day, but I don’t think either of us knew how much it would mean to us or what it would become.” Turning so he could meet Asterin’s gaze, he continued, “without it, I wouldn’t have met you.”
She looked vaguely misty-eyed, but he knew how much hearing those words meant to her. “Thank you,” she murmured, squeezing his hand tightly.
His parents were watching them fondly, and he knew without having to ask that they approved, especially after they both nodded at him encouragingly when Asterin couldn’t see. “How about a tour?” he finally asked, once the moment had passed.
“Actually,” his dad started, “before we do that, I have some Ironteeth blades I’d love for you to take a look at, Asterin. If that’s okay?”
“I’d love to.” She stood, pulling him to his feet beside her, clearly expecting him to follow her.
He could tell, however, from the expression his mom was sporting that she wanted to talk to him, so he just squeezed her hand. “I’ll be right behind you in a minute - how else can I impress my dad with my new skills?”
Laughing, she leaned up to kiss his jaw before following his dad around to the back of the house - Tane kept his collection of weapons in a small sunroom just off the greenhouse. He watched her, a fond expression pulling at his features, until she was out of sight. When he turned his attention back to his mother, she was smiling, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“Mom?” he asked, dropping to his knees in front of her and taking her hands.
“She’s perfect for you,” she breathed, and Fenrys felt his heart swell in his chest. Hearing that from his mom meant everything to him. “You love her, don’t you?”
He sucked in a breath, not entirely shocked that she’d been able to tell after watching them together for such a short amount of time. “I do, mom. I really do.”
“Have you told her?”
“Not yet,” he answered, squeezing her hands when she opened her mouth to respond. “And I will, don’t worry. I just… I’m waiting for the right moment.”
“My boy,” Anahera stated, looking into his eyes. “That girl is as gone for you as you are for her. You don’t need to wait - every moment is the right moment.”
He nodded, standing and pulling his mom to her feet as well. They walked around to the back of the house slowly, and Fenrys knew that he’d be telling Asterin how he felt about her - and soon. She was getting along with his family so well, and it was clear that his mother adored her. He was sure that his father would too - after all, Asterin knew her swords, and knowledge of weaponry was a staple in the Moonbeam home.
They were accepting her into the family - and that meant everything to him.
THREE YEARS, TWO MONTHS, AND EIGHTEEN DAYS AGO
Pulling into the winding drive that led to the house, he couldn’t help but glance over at Vesta, finding her framed in the sunlight filtering through the trees. Her long red hair was piled in a messy bun on the top of her head to keep it from whipping around in the wind - he’d taken the top off his Wrangler so they could enjoy the fresh air on the drive. With sunglasses perched on her nose and a wide smile on her face, Connall didn’t think he’d ever seen anyone as beautiful.
She looked so at peace, sitting there singing along with the radio, and he realized that she wasn’t nervous at all about what was about to happen.
She’d taken him home to meet her parents about four months ago. It had been an unplanned meeting - they’d been out for a drive and her parents had called, asking her to stop in for a visit, so he’d gone with - and it had gone well. Since then, he’d been toying with the idea of taking her to meet his parents. They’d been hanging out - his preferred way of phrasing it, since they weren’t dating, he’d never asked her to be his girl - for around eight months, and he figured it was finally time.
He parked outside the garage and climbed out of the vehicle, fixing the way his jeans fell into his boots as he waited for Vesta to round the back of the car. “You sure you’re ready for this?” he asked, looping an arm around her shoulders.
“Of course I am.” She laughed, slinging her arm around his waist as he began walking up the path to the front door. “I’ve seen you and Fen do drunk karaoke together - I can handle anything.”
Clutching his heart with the hand not resting on her shoulder, he winced theatrically. “How you wound me!”
“I do what I can, Con.”
He opened his mouth to respond, but was saved from having to think of a witty comeback by his dad opening the door.
“Con,” he greeted, gesturing them into the house. “It’s good to see you.”
“It’s great to see you too, dad,” he replied, watching as his dad gave Vesta a curious look. “V, I’d like you to meet my father, Tane. Dad, this is Vesta.”
They shook hands, and he could see the gears turning in his dad’s head as he saw the possessive way Connall had his arm wrapped around her shoulders. He’d been very clear in telling his parents that they weren’t dating - they just went on dates sometimes.
That hadn’t necessarily been the best explanation, but it was the only way he could think to phrase it. It had certainly seemed better than the alternative: “she’s not my girlfriend or anything - we go out on dates sometimes but mostly we just stay in and fuck.”
Connall didn’t think that would’ve been very well-received by his parents.
“It’s good to meet you,” his dad said, pulling the door open wider. “Come on in, your mom’s almost done making tea.”
He steered Vesta into the entryway, watching the way her eyes widened as she took in his childhood home.
And he certainly didn’t disagree with the awe on her face - it had certainly been an incredible house to grow up in. The entrance opened up into a rather large living room to the left and an equally large dining room the right. Directly opposite the front door was a wide staircase that led to the second floor, and railings framed the landing that stretched in a perfect square above their heads. Looking through the living room allowed him to see out the sliding glass door onto the back patio. The kitchen was visible through the dining room, and the first floor bathroom was tucked away under the stairs.
Though he couldn’t see it from where he stood, he knew there was a glass door in the kitchen that opened into the greenhouse, and there was also a door that led to the sunroom where his dad displayed his collection of weapons.
His father had walked into the kitchen while Vesta took it all in, and she finally turned to face him. “Your house is… a lot,” she whispered, almost like she was afraid the house would hear her (more likely, she was afraid his parents would overhear). “I feel underdressed.”
Connall glanced over her outfit for the day - a simple emerald green crop top and black flannel paired with lighter, high-waisted skinny jeans and black combat boots. It was eerily similar to what he’d almost worn, although he’d decided on a grey henley instead. “Relax, love - my parents are pretty laid back. Besides, I think you look amazing.”
“Thanks, Con,” she replied, leaning into him briefly as he steered her into the kitchen. His mom was just pouring water from the kettle into the teapot, and his dad had taken a seat at the smaller table they used for most meals (the dining room was only for special occasions).
“Hey, mom,” he called when she looked up at their entrance. “This is Vesta.”
“It’s wonderful to meet you, dear,” his mom greeted warmly, extending a hand over the island to shake Vesta’s hand.
“Vesta,” Connall continued, “this is my mom, Anahera.”
“Hi,” she responded, relaxing when she realized his parents weren’t the judgmental sort. “Your home is beautiful.”
“Oh, thank you,” Anahera beamed. “I know it can be a little intimidating, but we love it.”
Tane chuckled as he added, “plus, with twin boys growing up, the extra space and massive yard certainly came in handy.”
“Oh, I bet,” Vesta laughed, the sound ringing around the space and making both of his parents smile as she took a seat in the chair he pulled out for her. “The two of them can certainly be a handful.”
“Hey!” Connall cried, flopping into his own chair and pretending to be disgruntled. “Fenrys and I are awesome, thank you very much.”
His mother shook her head as she set the teapot in the middle of the table. “No one said you weren’t awesome, Con - because you definitely are. But Vesta’s right, the two of you together can be… very energetic and full of life.”
His dad snorted and gave his wife a fond look. “That’s your mother’s polite way of saying that you and your brother are dramatic.”
“Dad!” Connall couldn’t help the bark of laughter that escaped him, even though he tried to hide it. “I see how it is. I bring a guest home and you all take her side. I feel the love.”
“Oh, hush,” his mother chided, smiling and shaking her head at him before turning her gaze on Vesta. “Con says he met you at the shop - are you interested in weapons?”
She offered his mom a wide grin in return. “Well, I guess you could say that - I think antique weaponry is beautiful and fascinating, and I’m certainly learning a lot from Connall, but that’s actually not why I’d gone in the day we met.”
Tane raised an eyebrow, a look that Connall knew was eerily reminiscent of looks both he and his brother had perfected. “Oh?”
Vesta nodded, a faint blush rising on her cheeks. He took her hand beneath the table and squeezed it gently. “Yeah, I’d actually gone in because of your other son and his girlfriend.” When both of his parents gave her confused looks, she continued. “Asterin and I have been friends for years, and our group of friends was trying to plan a trip to the lake house we share. Rin was being difficult about leaving Fen because they were in the honeymoon stage - a stage I’m convinced they’ll never actually leave - and I wanted his help in convincing her to go.”
His parents nodded - he knew both of them were aware how in love Fenrys and Asterin were. “That,” his mother laughed, “is something I agree with wholeheartedly.”
“How do you and Asterin know each other?” his dad asked, taking a sip of the tea he’d poured himself while they’d been talking. “Do you work at the gym too?”
“Oh, no, we met in college,” Vesta answered, slowly stirring sugar into her tea. “I’m a tattoo artist, actually.”
“That’s really cool,” Anahera enthused. “I’m guessing you don’t work with Essar and Sellene?” His mom knew the two of them because he’d been going to Doranelle Ink for years.
“Nope, they’re actually my competition,” she laughed, offering his mom a wry smirk. “Though it’s mostly friendly competition - we all get along really well. I work for Petrah Blueblood at The Wastes.”
“Oh, yes, Asterin was telling us about your shop a while ago,” Tane interjected. “I believe she said she’s gotten her tattoos there?”
“Yeah, she has. I’ve actually done all of them.”
“You,” his mom breathed, “are incredibly talented. She was showing us pictures of her tattoos - they’re gorgeous.”
Vesta blushed again, and Connall couldn’t help the way pride swelled in his chest. “Thank you so much.”
Conversation carried on like that for a while, and he noticed that Vesta became more and more at ease in his home and around his parents the longer she was there. He didn’t know why, but that thought made him incredibly happy. Eventually, however, his mother darted off to answer the phone as it started ringing and Vesta excused herself to the bathroom.
His dad fixed him with a very knowing stare.
Connall stared right back. “Dad, don’t start.”
“Just let me say this.” When Connall nodded, he continued. “She’s good for you, son, and I know your mother would agree. She’s lovely and witty and engaging, and I can tell you like being with her. So, I know you’re not dating, but just… don’t let her slip away, okay? I think that would hurt you more than you realize right now.”
Connall nodded again, taking a moment to think over what his dad just said. Being with Vesta did feel good, and he liked being around her. “Alright, dad,” he finally responded. “I’ll be good to her and I’ll do everything I can to keep her in my life.”
Tane nodded, clearly satisfied with that answer. “That’s what I wanted to hear.”
That was all either of them could say on the matter, however, because Vesta walked back into the room at that moment. He smiled up at her, and she drifted her fingers across the back of his neck as she sat back down.
“Vesta,” his father started just as his mom walked back into the room, “you mentioned earlier that you have several orchids?”
“I do,” she agreed, a smile pulling at her lips at the mention of her flowers. Connall knew how proud she was that she’d managed to take such good care of them over the years. “I have three of them that I’ve had since I graduated college. They’re my favorite flowers and my parents got them for me as one of my presents.”
Anahera motioned to the door that led to the greenhouse. “My husband and I have a whole section of orchids out in the greenhouse. Would you like to see them?”
“That would be amazing!” She followed his mom through the door, and he and his father both got up to follow. His dad gave him another knowing look - Connall had a feeling he’d seen the way her fingers had danced over his neck earlier - and he couldn’t shake the feeling that he needed to make sure Vesta stayed in his life.
He realized then he would do anything to keep from losing her. And he also realized how happy that made him.
Vesta was so good for him - and he was ready to embrace that.
THREE YEARS, ONE MONTH, AND TWENTY-NINE DAYS AGO
Gavriel had been looking forward to this day from the moment he’d asked Lin out. She was sitting in the seat next to him in his truck as he drove down the forest road that led to his dad’s cabin. He and his dad had always been close, and he couldn’t wait to find someone he wanted to bring home to meet him.
As soon as he and Lin had started dating, he’d known that she was someone he wanted his dad to know. He knew that she was special, that she was someone who would be important to him for a long time, and he knew he wanted her to be a part of his family.
She’d taken him home to meet her mom just a couple days ago. The minute she’d told him what she had in mind, he’d called his dad and asked when he was going to be home. When he’d told him it was because there was someone he wanted to meet, he could hear the happiness in his dad’s voice.
“So,” Lin started, eyes fixed on the trees as they flashed outside the window,”we’re going to see your dad today?”
“Indeed, my love,” he agreed, fingers idly swirling over her thigh - he’d picked up a habit of resting his palm on her leg as he drove. The resulting habit on her part was that she’d usually play with his fingers.
Reaching down, she scratched her nails lightly over his knuckles. “What about your mom?’
Sighing, Gavriel took a moment to compose himself. They’d only been dating for two months, so it wasn’t surprising that he hadn’t mentioned his mom yet. “My mom isn’t exactly… in the picture, per se.”
It was silent for a moment, and he could tell Lin was watching him carefully. Eventually, she cleared her throat. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“No, no, it’s okay!” he soothed her, capturing her hand in his and brushing a kiss over her knuckles. “She and my dad were never really together - they were just fuck buddies who had no intentions of ever being anything more.”
“How did they go from that to having a kid?”
“Well, accidents happen.” He paused for a minute, and Lin reached up to run her fingers over his jaw. “Basically, she ghosted on him one day, and then showed up nine months later with me in tow.”
Lin sighed. “And then what? She just dropped you off?”
“Pretty much. They were just sleeping together, but they’d been exclusive. And that’s exactly what she told my dad. Then she told him that she wasn’t ready to take care of a kid and that she knew he’d be a great father. So she left me with him.”
She sighed again, and he could tell that she was trying to keep her emotions in check. “I know how I would feel about all of that, but I’m not saying anything until I know your thoughts on it.”
He appreciated that - Lin always made sure to ask how he felt about things that didn’t necessarily concern her. “I mean, it’s not great, but I did eventually meet my mom. We talk sometimes, but she’s not really a part of my life and I’m not really a part of hers. As far as most people are concerned, it’s just my dad.He’s the one who raised me, so he’s the only one who matters.”
“Then I’m even more excited to be meeting him today,” she murmured, leaning over to brush her lips over his cheek. “I’m honored that you’re bringing me home.”
“You are?”
“Oh, love.” Lin fell back into her seat, but she kept their fingers twisted together. “Of course I am. He clearly means the world to you - I’m honored that you want to include me in that side of your life.”
“Thank you,” he managed to choke out, his throat tight at the emotion in her voice. She was always surprising him, and he once again realized how lucky he was to have her. Shaking off his emotions, he rounded the final curve on the long drive that led to his dad’s place. His childhood home came into view - a simple log cabin that sat at the top of a wooded hill. It might have been simple, but it was larger than it seemed, and Gavriel had loved growing up there. Though it seemed like it was in the middle of nowhere, in truth it was only a few miles from the edge of town.
Pulling his truck off to the side of the clearing, he waved to his dad where he was sitting on the porch. “Well, here we are.” Looking over at his girlfriend, he watched the smile grow on her face as she took everything in. “Ready?”
She nodded and practically jumped out of his truck. Chuckling, he followed her, slinging an arm over her shoulders and guiding her to the front steps. His dad had climbed out of his chair when they pulled in, and he met them on the bottom step.
“Hey, dad!” Gavriel greeted, releasing his hold on Lin so he could pull his father into a hug.
His father returned the embrace, pulling away with a wide grin. “It’s good to see you, kid. And you,” he continued, turning to face Lin, “must be the lovely Lin I’ve been hearing so much about.”
“Indeed, I am,” she replied, taking the hand he’d extended for her to shake. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“You as well.” Tuning back to face his son, he asked, “are you going to introduce me, or do I have to do it myself?”
Grumbling good-naturedly at the fondness in his dad’s voice that cut any of the sting from his comment, Gavriel took Lin’s hand. “Lin, this is my dad, Aslan. And dad, you already know this is Lin, my girlfriend.”
“Now that we’ve got that all settled, why don’t you both come inside?” Turning, Aslan gestured them both inside. “I figured we could have coffee and chat for a little before I throw the steaks on the grill.”
“Sounds great,” Gavriel agreed, Lin nodding in agreement at his side. They followed his dad into the house, and he could see the wonder on her face as she took in the house he grew up in. The first floor was one big, open space, wood posts and beams supporting the second floor and serving to divide the space just enough. The front door opened into the living room, with the kitchen just behind it. The stairs were just to the left of the front door, and, though they couldn’t see it, there were two rather spacious bedrooms upstairs, along with a bathroom and an office for his dad.
“This is absolutely stunning,” Lin breathed, following his dad into the kitchen and taking a seat at the table. “It’s so peaceful here.”
“It really is,” Aslan agreed. “I wanted that for my son, a calm, peaceful place he could grow up. I think I managed okay.”
Sliding into his own seat, Gavriel gave his dad a wide smile. “You really did, dad. I loved living here.”
“That’s good to hear.” He paused, and Gavriel swore his dad’s eyes got a little misty. He knew his dad often worried if he’d been enough as a single parent, and he did what he could to always make sure his dad knew how much he loved him. “But enough about me, tell me about you, Lin,” Aslan finally said, smiling and pouring three mugs of coffee from the pot that had been sitting on the table. “Gav tells me you’re a champion archer?”
“Yes, I am,” Lin replied, taking a sip from the mug Aslan handed her. “I started competing when I was young, and for some reason I was just always really good at it. Now, it’s just become a part of my life. Actually, it’s because of archery that I even met Gav.”
His dad turned to give him a bemused look, and he nodded in confirmation. “It’s true. She came in looking for some new arrows, and we just… sort of hit it off.”
“Well, that’s absolutely wonderful.” His father leaned back in his chair, keen gaze watching the way Lin seemed to lean into him when he draped his arm across the back of her chair. He could see the happiness in his dad’s eyes - though he’d never said it, Gavriel had the feeling that his dad always hoped he would find someone who would be there so he wouldn’t live the life his dad had. “So, Lin, tell me - what do you do with yourself when you aren’t competing?”
“I’m the head mechanic at Main Street Automotive, actually,” she replied. “My dad taught me how to fix cars the second my mom thought I was old enough, and then I realized it’s what I wanted to do with my life.”
“That’s wonderful - and it’s impressive that you figured that out so quickly.”
Lin laughed, a happy sound that Gavriel never tired of hearing. “There’s just something so simple about being under the hood of a car. Like, even though there’s a problem, I can find a way to fix it and make it work again - I love that feeling. I went to college for business, and I’d often talked about opening my own garage, but I love the one I’m in now and I can’t imagine going anywhere else.”
Aslan dipped his head. “It’s always a good thing to love what you do. It seems like you love your job as much as Gav does, and I think that’s wonderful.”
“I really do,” Lin agreed, twining her fingers with his where they were hanging off her shoulder. “We’re both very lucky that way.”
Leaning in, Gavriel brushed his lips along her temple. “Indeed we are.”
They spent several hours just chatting with his dad in the kitchen, conversation only halting when his dad ducked out onto the porch to fire up the grill and make their dinner, and he couldn’t help but notice how well Lin fit in with his family, in his childhood home. She looked like she’d always been there, like she belonged there. His heart swelled, and he couldn’t help the way he leaned into her touch when her fingers drifted over his shoulder as she stepped out onto the back porch to take a phone call.
“She’s absolutely wonderful.” His dad spoke the minute the door shut behind her. “Thank you for bringing her here to meet me.”
Running his fingers through his hair, Gavriel replied, “of course, dad. It’s important to me that the people in my life get to meet you. And I’m glad you like her.”
“How could I not? I can’t actually tell which one of you cares for the other more - and that is always a good thing. She’s a keeper, kid.”
“Yeah, dad,” Gavriel replied, watching through the window as she leaned against the railing, the light breeze blowing a few strands of hair across her face, “I don’t plan on letting her go.”
He truly didn’t. Lin was a blessing he didn’t know he’d been aching for, but now that he had her, there was nothing he wouldn’t do to continue to be blessed by her.
He was certain of it.
TWO YEARS, TEN MONTHS, AND TWENTY-THREE DAYS AGO
Lorcan wasn’t entirely sure what had possessed him to do this. Okay, that wasn’t strictly true. Elide was incredibly important to him, and his mom was all he’d had for so long, but the thought of actually bringing his girlfriend home to meet his mother?
He was nervous as fuck.
He wasn’t one for bringing people home. It wasn’t necessarily that he didn’t date, although he wouldn’t call any of the relationships he’d had in the past serious. Essar had been nice, but he’d never felt the urge to bring her home, and he sure as fuck had never brought Maeve home. That would’ve been the equivalent of a natural disaster.
His mind wandered as he drove, his eyes scanning over the familiar lane in front of him. Turning onto the gravel path, he smiled at the familiar sight of the flowers lining the drive. His mother had a way with plants - they flourished and thrived under her care. He chuckled at that, and he saw Elide giving him a curious glance from the corner of his eye. Lorcan just waved her off and went back to his thoughts.
In the two months he’d been with his girlfriend, he’d discovered she also had an affinity for plants. She even had a little succulent garden on a tower bookshelf in her living room. Somehow, that similarity eased his nerves the slightest bit.
Pulling his truck off to the side of his mom’s shed, which sat just to the left of the cottage he’d grown up in, he turned to face Elide where she was reclining in the passenger seat. With her sock-clad feet on the dash and her dark hair tumbling from a messy bun to frame her face, wearing worn denim shorts and her Rolling Stones t-shirt, he thought she somehow looked like she belonged. She’d been much more dressed up than that when he’d arrived to pick her up that morning (she was just as nervous about meeting his mom as he was), but he’d been quick to inform her that he and his mother were not very formal people.
“So,” he started, clearing his throat when she turned her beautiful eyes to his face. “Ready to meet my mom?”
Elide nodded, and a chunk of hair slipped across her cheek. “I think so.”
He couldn’t help the tiny laugh that huffed out of his throat as he reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear. “She’s very excited to meet you. The second I said I had someone I wanted to bring home to meet her she started planning what she was going to make you for dinner.”
“That’s so sweet,” she cooed, even as she chewed on her lip nervously. “Lor, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
By the tone of her voice, he could tell it was something she was worried about asking him. “Erm, okay. You know you can ask me anything, right?”
“I know, I know,” she replied, taking his hand and pulling it into her lap as she swung her feet down off the dash and into her unlaced combat boots. “It’s just… a bit forward.” He motioned for her to go on, and she rubbed her thumb across his knuckles. “It’s about your dad. I’ve gotten the sense that he’s not exactly… around.”
“You got that fucking right,” Lorcan growled. He saw the way Elide’s eyes flashed at his tone, and he leaned over to kiss her forehead. “Sorry, love, I didn’t mean to snap. My father has always been a sensitive subject.”
She nodded, reaching up to run her fingers through his hair - he’d only pulled it half-up when he’d gotten ready that morning. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to pry - you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
“No, no, I want you to know.” Sighing deeply, he leaned back in the seat, his head thunking against the window. “He basically strung my mom along the whole time they were together.”
Elide leaned forward, dropping her elbow onto the console and propping her chin in her hand. “How do you mean?”
“He’d never commit to a relationship, or to her. It was just sex, he was adamant about that. He was with other women the whole time - she learned that later. My mom wanted a relationship and commitment, and he made it seem like one day he would be okay with that.”
“Not the case, I’m assuming?”
Lorcan shook his head. “Fuck no. Mom got pregnant with me - completely by accident, though she tells me all the time I’m the best thing to happen to her - and she told him, expecting that he’d help out in some way, even though he refused to commit. Instead, he told her that he’d never wanted kids with her and basically implied that the baby probably wasn’t even his. Claimed she’d been sleeping around on him the whole time, which was complete bullshit - he was the one screwing around. He basically called her a whore.”
“That’s awful,” Elide whispered, resting her hand on his knee. “I’m so sorry she had to go through all of that.”
“Me too,” Lorcan agreed. “Anyway, after he found out she was pregnant, he took off. I’ve never met him, and frankly I prefer it that way. I wouldn’t have anything nice to say to him if I ever did meet him.”
His girlfriend nodded, squeezing his knee. “After hearing that, I don’t think I’d have anything nice to say to him either. But he missed out on a really great guy, love. And your mom should be so proud of the son she raised.”
He felt the way his eyes prickled with tears, and he was once again incredibly grateful that Elide had quite literally walked into his life. “Thank you, my love. Thank you so much. That means… it means everything.” Cupping her cheek, he added, “alright, no more stalling - time for you to meet my mom.”
Nodding, Elide hopped out of the truck, bending over to lace up her boots. He followed, rounding the truck and linking their hands. “Her house is so quaint and adorable.”
“You should tell her that - she’s so proud of this cottage.” Though he was leading her to the front door, he said, “she’ll be out back in the garden.” At Elide’s confused look, he added, “it’s just outside the back door, so it’s easier to go through the house.”
As they walked through the front door, he felt a sense of peace settle over him that only his childhood home could bring. Although it wasn’t the grandest or most opulent of houses, he couldn’t imagine growing up anywhere else. Besides, it had everything he and his mom could have ever needed. The front door opened up into the living room, with the kitchen just visible through the archway in the back and a small room off to the left which served as a combined laundry room and mudroom. A simple wooden staircase ran along the back wall of the living room, which led to the two bedrooms and the bathroom on the second floor.
“Wow,” Elide breathed, eyes wide as she took the house in. Everything was rustic, with a one-of-a-kind, handmade feel, and there were plants on every surface. The living room, for instance, had one wall lined with bookshelves (each was different and Lorcan had loved the eclectic feel as a kid - he still did, actually), and he’d never been sure if his mom had wanted them to display books or plants. She’d always had an abundance of both. “This place is… perfect, Lor.”
“I’ve always loved it here,” he agreed, leading her through the kitchen and out the back door, which opened onto a beautiful meadow that led to the woods behind it, a small stream bubbling in the distance. Turning to the right, he led Elide to the rows and rows of raised planters, each one filled with perfectly planted rows of herbs and vegetables, all of which were perfectly labeled.
He addressed the figure currently kneeling to gather some basil leaves - for their dinner, if he wasn’t mistaken. “Hi, mom, he greeted, smirking when she jumped the slightest bit at the sound of his voice.”
“How many times do I have to tell you not to sneak up on me like that!” she cried, brushing the dirt off her knees as she stood.
Chuckling, Lorcan raised his hands in apology. “It’s not my fault you didn’t hear the back door open.” When she continued to give him that one-eyebrow-raised look, he relented. “Sorry, mom.”
“Still don’t know how someone as tall as you can be so stealthy,” his mom muttered, shaking her head and laughing. “It’s good to see you, Lor.” Standing on her toes, she pulled him into a hug, which he happily returned.
“You too, mom.” When he pulled back, he draped his arm across Elide’s shoulders and tucked her into his side. “This is Elide, my girlfriend. El, this is my mom, Giselle.”
“Oh, it’s lovely to meet you Elide!” his mom enthused, reaching out to shake her hand. “And I see you have excellent taste in music.”
Elide smiled, and Lorcan could see that she was beginning to feel more relaxed. “You as well - on both accounts.” She gestured at his mom’s shirt, and he realized she was wearing a faded t-shirt, the logo for The Who still visible on the front of it.
“Yes, well, this one had to get it from somewhere,” Giselle agreed, handing Lorcan the basket of vegetables and herbs at her feet. “Carry those inside for me, and I’ll get started on our dinner.”
He did just that, chuckling at the way she toed off her sneakers haphazardly but placed her gardening gloves into their drawer gently. They followed her into the kitchen, taking a seat at the island - where he and his mom always ate, since their kitchen table was tiny and usually covered in plants - while she started preparing the food.
“So,” Giselle started, pouring a cup of coffee for each of them, “how exactly did the two of you meet.”
“Well,” Elide began, stirring one spoonful of sugar into her mug, “the first time we met, I’d darted into his shop so I could avoid my uncle - the reason why is a long story that I’m sure Lorcan can tell you. Anyway, I knew Rowan and Fenrys, but I found this one instead.” She knocked her shoulder against his lightly, and he smiled down at her affectionately.
“Indeed she did. But, it wasn’t until five months later, when I saw her throwing axes like she did it everyday, that I finally got around to asking her out.” He saw the way his mom rolled her eyes at him - no doubt she thought he should’ve asked Elide out much sooner. “And I’m very glad I did.”
Elide leaned in and pressed her lips lightly against his cheek. “As am I, love.”
Lorcan could tell by the way his mom was watching both of them that she approved, and he felt all the nerves he’d been feeling suddenly just melt away. They were two of his favorite people, he should’ve known they’d get along.
His mom started chopping up carrots and onions as she said, “Lorcan tells me you own your own business.”
“I do,” Elide agreed, smiling brightly as she gestured to the bookshelves they could just barely see from their seats. “And judging by the shelves in there, I think you’ll like it. It’s a bookstore that sells new and used books.”
Giselle paused in her chopping to give Elide a surprised, happy look. “What’s it called? If it’s in town, there’s a good chance I’ve been there.”
“Lady of Perranth Book Emporium.”
Lorcan watched as his mom’s smile got even wider. “That’s my favorite bookstore,” she replied. “It’s so lovely! The book from last month’s local author was so good.”
“Oh, thank you!” Elide took a sip of her coffee, even as she nodded her agreement. “Wasn’t it though? When I read the description I knew I had to stock it!”
As his mom and his girlfriend started analyzing all the little details of the book, he couldn’t help but feel like this was the direction his life was meant to be moving in. He could tell that Elide was as fond of his mom as he knew his mom was of her, and it felt good to see them getting along so well.
That feeling was confirmed when Elide ducked down to tie her boot that had become unlaced and his mom mouthed, “she’s absolutely lovely.”
Nodding in agreement, he stood, kissing the top of Elide’s head before grabbing all the vegetables his mom had cut and sliding them into the pot. He’d figured out she was making his favorite - her homemade vegetable soup - and though he knew she’d never ask for help, she’d still appreciate it all the same.
As the sound of their voices filled the space, Lorcan knew he was listening to the rest of his life for the very first time.
Surprise! It’s me, back with another installment of my favorite story.
Summary: Welcome to Cadre Weaponry - the shop for all your weapons needs, both antique and modern! Join the boys of the Cadre as they become friends and tackle this thing we call life. Maybe, just maybe, they’ll even find love along the way. Let’s take a look at what happens when some of our favorite characters surprise the loves of their lives.
Warnings: Smut, language, you know the drill. NSFW. This one is also really long.
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TWO YEARS, TEN MONTHS, AND SEVENTEEN DAYS AGO
He couldn’t believe he’d done this. Well, no, he could (he did have a tattoo on his face, after all) - what he couldn’t believe was that he’d let his wife talk him into it. Like it did every time, the thought of calling Aelin his wife brought a smile to his face. They’d been married for just over a month, and he still couldn’t believe it.
Catching his reflection in his rearview mirror, Rowan caught a glimpse of his new piercing and just shook his head before climbing out of his Bronco and shutting the door.
Leave it to Aelin to finally talk him into piercing his nose.
She’d been telling him how good he’d look with one for months and months, and eventually he realized she had a point. Though she kept rambling about how good a little hoop would look, he knew from asking Fenrys that it was better to get it pierced with a stud - a fact that his cousin had confirmed when he’d gone to Doranelle Ink after leaving work for the day.
Sellene was all too thrilled with his decision, and she’d agreed that it would look better on the left side of his nose - the same side as his tattoo. Even though it wasn’t a hoop, he knew that Aelin would still be ecstatic.
And he had to admit, it was pretty fucking attractive.
Whistling to himself, he made his way into their apartment to the sound of singing echoing from their bedroom. Aelin had always loved to sing, had always loved music, and he found the tone of her voice haunting and a little ethereal. She always claimed she wasn’t good, but something about the feelings in her voice spoke to him.
“Ae,” he called, kicking his boots and socks off and tossing his keys in the bowl just inside the door, “I’m home, baby.”
She didn’t answer him, which didn’t surprise him - he figured she had her headphones on and hadn’t even heard him. Frowning slightly as his nose gave a throb a pain, he opened the door to their room and couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped him at the sight that greeted him.
Aelin was dancing around the room in a tiny pair of black spandex and a white t-shirt she’d stolen from him, a pair of his black crew socks outlining her very muscular calves. Her golden hair was piled up on her head in the messiest bun he’d ever seen, pieces of it falling out and framing her face.
She caught sight of him as she spun around, and the smile that lit up her face was breathtaking. She paused mid-twirl and launched herself at him, a squeal slipping between her lips. “Ro!” Wrapping her arms around his waist, she hugged him tight and nuzzled his chest as he kissed the top of her head.
“Babe,” he murmured, his own arms wrapping around her shoulders, “I’ve got a surprise for you.”
“Ooo, what is it?” Pulling away from his chest, she gave him an excited, curious look.
Rowan just stared down at her, a smirk growing on his face when her expression turned confused. She’d just opened her mouth, probably to ask him what was going on, when she caught sight of it. He knew the moment she saw his new piercing by the way her jaw fell open and she started bouncing on her toes.
“Oh my gods, oh my gods, oh my gods!” Aelin was giddy with excitement, her eyes tearing up in her joy. “You got your nose pierced, oh my gods.” Cupping his cheeks in her palms, she reached up to kiss the tip of his nose before pulling back enough that she could stare at the simple metal stud running through his left nostril.
Smiling down at the beautiful woman in his arms, he asked, “so, what do you think?”
“I think,” she murmured, lips brushing over his nose once again before ghosting over his lips, “that it’s very, very sexy.” Pulling her headphones off and dropping her phone on the desk, she kissed him deeply, their mouths moving slowly like they had all the time in the world.
Hauling her against his chest and lifting her off the ground with the force of his grip, he began walking her to the bed as she wrapped her legs around his waist. They were still kissing as he toppled them sideway onto the bed, both of them finally pulling away to laugh as they bounced with the impact.
“I love you so much,” Aelin breathed, her lips brushing his with her words. “I can’t believe you actually got your nose pierced for me.”
He chuckled. “It was a little bit for me, too,” Rowan admitted, and he felt her smile. “Okay, a lot - it was a lot for me. But still, I love you, too.”
Aelin was still grinning when she pressed her lips to his again, and he felt her hands dancing along the hem of his t-shirt as her tongue slipped into his mouth. She pulled the fabric over his torso slowly, pulling back enough to gently guide his shirt over his head, careful to keep from bumping his nose.
Rolling on top of him, she pulled off her own shirt and dragged her fingers over the planes of his torso. She leaned down, her lips touching the tip of his nose a third time before following the lines of his tattoo down the side of his face, over his neck, across his shoulder, and down his arm.
As she sat back up, his fingers skimmed her breasts gently before following the curve of her spine. Slipping both hands under her spandex. Rowan, groaning when he met bare skin instead of the usual lace of her underwear, palmed her ass, her skin warm and smooth to his touch. He squeezed once before pushing the fabric off her hips and down her legs, letting her kick them to the floor with the rest of their clothes.
His jeans and boxers were quick to follow, Aelin working them down his legs with a mischievous smirk as her fingers traced the ridges of his cock.
“Don’t tease me, my love,” he groaned, his own fingers slipping between her folds and teasing her entrance. “It’s a game you won’t win.”
Wrapping her hand around his dick and squeezing, she grinned around her moan. “Oh really,” she gasped as he thrust two fingers inside her, “wanna bet?”
“We could,” he replied, grabbing her hip with his free hand and shifting her until she hovered over his cock. “But I’d rather just fuck you now, if that’s okay?”
“Gods, Ro, baby, yes, please, now.” Her words all blurred together into one loud moan as he sheathed himself inside her pussy, her walls rippling around him. She pitched forward, moaning into his chest as he started pumping into her with lazy strokes.
Wrapping his arms around her waist, he helped her move against him. “Ae, love, you feel so fucking good, love you so much.”
They moved together slowly, hips rolling and chests pressed together. Aelin cupped his chin in one hand, tilting his head down so she could kiss him again. He gladly accepted, swallowing her moans and offering her some of his own in return.
It didn’t take long for her moans to get more desperate, and he knew she was close. Though they could have all the intense, rough sex they wanted to - and they enjoyed it - it was the soft, intimate sex that brought them over that edge with an earth-shattering intensity.
She began moving harder, hips rolling faster into his, and he slipped a hand between them to flick her clit in time with his thrusts. It wasn’t long until she broke atop him, crying into the skin of his neck with the force of her orgasm. He followed her soon after, spilling inside her still pulsing walls with a quiet shout.
Aelin stayed sprawled across his chest, one finger lazily tracing along his forearm. “So you like the piercing then?” he laughed, twining his fingers with hers.
“You mean the piercing that my husband was convinced to get because of me?” Tipping her head back, she pressed her lips to his jaw. “Of course I do, Ro - you’re gorgeous.”
“Not as gorgeous as my wife, but thank you.” Kissing the top of her head, he shifted them enough that he could pull the blanket over both of them. He felt her heart beating against his own, and he realized that his life was more amazing than he ever thought it would be.
TWENTY-ONE DAYS AGO
Lorcan just really wanted his wife to get home. He’d only had a half day at work, and judging by the time on the clock, she’d ended up staying late at the bookstore. He’d picked up takeout from their favorite restaurant and he’d queued up all their favorite movies so they could just have a relaxing evening together.
He was just untangling his arms from the pile of blankets he’d burrowed himself under to reach for his phone, shivering slightly when the cool air of their apartment hit his bare chest, when Elide walked in the door. “Hello, lovely husband,” she called, setting her bags by the door and kicking off her shoes and socks.
They’d been married for a couple weeks, and he already knew he would never be tired of being greeted like that. “Darling wife,” he responded, smiling at her from his blanket pile on the couch. “I was just about to call you to - wait, sneakers?” Lorcan had just realized what type of shoes she’d been wearing, and he was instantly on alert. She only ever wore sneakers when her ankle was bothering her. “Is your ankle okay?”
“Yeah, it’s good, love.” She smiled at him, tossing her jacket on the island and rounding the couch. “I just figured they’d be a good choice since I walked over to see Essar after work. That’s why I was so late.”
“Essar?” he questioned, looking up at her as she climbed into his lap and catching a flash of metal when she turned her head. “Holy fuck, you got your nose pierced.”
Giggling, she turned her head to show him the right side of her face. “Holy fuck, I did. You like it?”
Reaching up, Lorcan traced the bridge of her nose with his finger as he got a good look at the jewelry in her right nostril. It was purple - the exact shade of amethyst as her engagement and wedding rings. “It’s perfect - you look adorable and sexy and gorgeous.”
Elide leaned down to kiss him gently, her hands resting on his neck before sliding down his torso. “Are you shirtless beneath all these blankets, Lor?”
“Erm,” he mumbled, heat creeping up the sides of his neck. “I’m actually sort of naked - my sweats kept getting wrapped around my legs and I figured you wouldn’t mind.”
She gave him a look of pure need and total love, climbing off his lap and gripping the bottom of her shirt. “I most definitely do not.” Offering him a sultry little smirk, she pulled it over her head, pausing only to make sure she didn’t accidentally hit her piercing.
Even though she pulled the rest of her clothes off quickly, he couldn’t help but stare at her. She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen - and he was so lucky to have her. As Elide was shimmying out of her underwear, he slowly unwrapped the blankets so she could climb into his lap again.
It didn’t take them long to get wrapped back up under the covers, cuddling on the couch and watching movies. At some point they’d tipped over, Elide rolling delicately in front of him so she was facing the screen as well, and he pressed a kiss to the back of her neck - available to him since her hair was arranged in a simple bun on the top of her head.
She wriggled as he wrapped one arm around her waist and stretched the other out beneath her head, shifting back until she was tucked against his chest, a sigh leaving her lips as she began playing with his fingers. Lorcan dropped his nose against the back of her head, breathing in the lavender and cedarwood scent of her shampoo. It hadn’t changed in all the years he’d known her, and it was his favorite smell in the world. He found that it was all he needed to calm him after a rough day - because it was the scent of home and happiness and love.
He’d mentioned that to her once, and she’d blushed before telling him she’d come to feel the same way about the smell of teakwood and mahogany - his chosen shampoo fragrance.
Breathing deeply, he allowed the simple joy of her presence to wash over him, beyond happy with how his life had turned out. Shifting ever so slightly, he lifted his head enough that he could gaze down at her, his gaze quickly straying to her new jewelry. “You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, leaning down to kiss her cheek. “So incredibly beautiful, El.”
A smile tugged at her lips, and she reached behind her to trail her hand over his hip. “You always say the sweetest things.”
“That’s because you’ve made me soft.” He kissed her cheek again, and she giggled.
Rocking her ass back against him, she replied, “not all of you, babe.” She moved again, pulling a groan from him as she pressed against his suddenly very hard cock. “It seems like at least one part of you has definitely not gone soft.”
“No,” he agreed, lifting her leg so he could thrust slowly between her legs, “there seems to be one part of me that you have made very hard.”
Elide whimpered, her nails digging into his hip when he slid two of his thick fingers inside her already leaking pussy. He worked her open slowly, continuing to gently roll his hips into her as soft little gasps and whines escaped her throat. Eventually he worked a third finger inside her, doing everything he could to make sure she was ready for him.
Waiting until she was shaking in front of him, her thighs soaked from her arousal, Lorcan pulled his fingers out and replaced them with his cock, his piercing hitting all the right places as he filled her. She loosed a needy sigh, and he couldn’t help the moan that tore from his throat. She always felt amazing, her tight walls stretching and pulsing to accommodate him. Warm and wet and soft, she was everything his hard, aching body needed.
They began moving together, Elide rocking her hips back to meet his with every thrust. He wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that, wasn’t sure of anything beyond her folds fluttering around his cock and her soft skin against his. He lost himself in the feeling of having her in his arms, the small giggles that seemed to be her subconscious reaction whenever he leaned in to kiss her cheek or her jaw or her temple. Lorcan didn’t know anything other than the taste and the feel of his wife, only that she was giving him as much pleasure as he was giving her.
He felt her walls starting to flutter faster, felt the way her pussy started to clamp his dick a little tighter, and he knew she was close. Picking up his pace just the slightest bit, he pressed two fingers against her clit just as he drove deep inside her.
She came with a whimpered cry, her release completely taking over her body as she trembled in his arms. It only took a few more thrusts until he was following her over the edge, groaning into her shoulder as he came inside of her.
Elide turned her head so she could see him, offering him a soft smile. “That,” she breathed, still breathless for her orgasm, “was absolutely amazing.”
“I do what I can,” he chuckled, a full laugh escaping him when she elbowed him in the stomach. “You know you never fail to take my breath away, love.”
She cooed at him, happiness filling her eyes. “You’re the love of my life, Lor,” she murmured. “I love you so much.”
“I love you with my entire soul,” Lorcan replied, brushing his lips over her temple as he slowly slipped his softening cock out of her. “I’m blessed to know you, El, and I’m beyond blessed to be able to call you my wife.”
“I’m the luckiest girl in the world, to be able to call you my husband.”
Elide rolled over and rested her forehead against his chest, and Lorcan knew she was listening to his heart. Holding her tight, he began stroking his fingers over her spine as they snuggled deeper beneath the blankets. The beautiful woman in his arms was his entire world, and he would spend the rest of his life showing her just how much he loved her.
TWENTY-NINE DAYS LATER
Walking through the door of their apartment, Fenrys was met with the sight of his wife flushed and sweaty, her sports bra and leggings clinging to her in the best ways. She’d told him she was staying late at the gym she and Manon owned to get some rock climbing in, since she’d taken a break during their honeymoon. They’d been married for about three weeks, and he’d spent every day of their marriage completely blissed out.
Knowing that she was going to be late getting home, he figured it was the perfect day to put his plan in action. He’d texted Sellene as soon as he got to work, praying she’d have an opening when he got off work.
She had.
Fenrys had been planning on this for a while now, and he was thrilled that he’d finally done it, even as his nose throbbed sporadically. He’d had his nose - his right nostril, to be specific - pierced for years, having switched out the stud for a hoop ages ago, but then he’d decided he wanted another one on the same side. Thanks to Sellene, he now had two piercings - the second one just a stud for now until it had healed and he could switch it out. He knew that Asterin was more than amenable to the idea - she rambled about how sexy piercings were often enough - so he couldn’t wait to see her reaction.
“Hi baby,” she greeted, barely glancing in his direction as she peeled her sweat-soaked leggings down her legs and tossed them in the direction of their bedroom. She was left in just a sports bra and a thong, and he found himself distracted by how stunning she was. “I’m gonna hop in the shower real quick - I’m disgusting and I would very much like not to be.”
She walked into the bathroom before he could reply, leaving the door open as she turned the water on and shimmied out of the rest of her clothes. Kicking his shoes and socks off, he trailed behind her, figuring she wouldn’t have any complaints if he joined her in the shower. By the time he entered the room, she was already under the water, her frame creating a tantalizing silhouette behind the curtain.
Pulling his shirt over his head carefully, he let the material drift to the floor as he pushed his jeans and briefs down his legs. “Care if I join you?”
“Have I ever cared?” she quipped.
Chuckling, he shifted the curtain enough that he could see her and quirked his eyebrow. “No, but I like to make sure I’m not crossing any lines.”
“You’re sweet.” Asterin gave him a gentle smile, reaching her hands out and making grabbing motions out him. “Now, get your ass in the shower,” she whined. “I missed you.”
He obeyed with a happy laugh, pulling her to him and tucking her head under his chin. “I missed you too.” Pressing his lips to the top of her head, he tilted his face into the spray of the water, hissing slightly when he twitched his nose to keep water from running into it. It hadn’t hurt, it just hadn’t been pleasant.
Asterin pulled back to give him a concerned look. “What’s wrong, Fen?”
“Oh, nothing, baby,” he placated, looking down at her. “I just forgot new nose piercings hurt if you move your nose the wrong way.”
She cupped his face in her hands, standing on her toes so she could look at him. “Ahh, you got another one! I’d always hope you would, but I didn’t want to ask because I didn’t want you to think I was pushing you to change.”
“I would never think that,” he whispered, leaning down so he could look into her eyes. “I know how much you love me, Asterin - I know what you’ve been through and I know you would never ask anyone to change.” She kissed him quickly, and he trailed his hands down over the swell of her ass. “I take it you like it?”
“Fen,” she chuckled, “I think it’s been pretty well established that I have a thing for piercings. I love it! You look so fucking hot, baby.”
“Well, thank you. And I believe the correct statement would be that we both have a thing for piercings.”
“Oh?” she teased, smirking up at him.
He frowned down at her, a look of mock-disdain on his face. “Rin, you know I think your pierced nipples are hot as shit, but I will gladly show you again, if you need a reminder.”
Asterin pretended to think for a moment. “Mmm, I suppose I believe you… but you better remind me, just to be sure.”
Nodding down at her seriously, Fenrys hauled her into his arms as he sank down to the floor, the spray of the shower raining down around them. He settled her in his lap, her legs sprawled around him and her chest pressed to his. Taking a moment to relish in the feel of her tits brushing against him, he pressed a kiss to the hollow of her throat as he trailed his fingers down between her legs. He slid two fingers inside her, pleasantly surprised by how wet she already was for him.
She whimpered as he worked her open, her hips slowly rolling against his hand. Once he was sure she was ready, he slipped his fingers from her walls, gave his cock three quick pumps, and sheathed himself inside of her. Asterin moaned at the feeling, and he stilled himself, content to just enjoy the feel of her around him.
Reaching around her, he pulled a washcloth from the rail and soaped it up. When she gave him a confused look, he just murmured, “you said you wanted to get cleaned up - I’m just trying to help you out.”
Asterin shook her head at him, but she leaned into his touch as he dragged the soapy cloth over her neck. He took his time, making sure he cleaned every inch of her body. He kept his touch gentle, and he could practically see her relaxing in his arms.
Rinsing the rag out when he was finished, Fenrys made to hang it back up but was stopped in his tracks when she took it from his hands. “Your turn,” she whispered, grabbing the soap from behind him, rocking her hips once to remind him that he was still inside of her.
He groaned and nodded, leaning back and letting his absolutely sexy wife torture him in the best way possible. She was just as gentle as he’d been, her fingers lingering on his skin and tracing delicate patterns.
When she decided she was done, she tossed the cloth over her shoulder and leaned in to kiss him, taking care to tilt her head to the right so she wouldn’t bump the recently pierced side of his nose. He smiled at the gesture and slipped his tongue into her mouth, moaning as she began to roll her hips into his.
Gripping her hips, Fenrys started thrusting up into her, meeting every roll of her hips. He kissed his way down her neck as she threw her head back in pleasure, her moans echoing around the tile walls. His hands slid down to her ass as he wrapped his lips around a nipple, his tongue teasing her piercing as he felt her walls start fluttering around him.
“Gods, baby, I’m so close,” she whimpered, her nails digging into his chest and she started riding him harder. “Please, Fen, pleasepleaseplease.”
He knew exactly what she needed. Sliding one hand up her body, he flicked her unattended nipple in passing before wrapping his fingers around her throat. Squeezing gently, he shifted his hips, allowing his pelvic bone to brush her clit as he pumped into her.
Asterin came with a whimpered cry, her pussy clamping down on his dick as her head fell to his shoulder. Two more thrusts and he was joining her, letting go of her nipple so he could drop his head against the wall as he released inside of her.
Eventually she lifted herself up enough that his softening cock slipped out of her, but she settled back into his lap with a happy sigh, wrapping herself around him like an octopus. “Gods, baby,” she whispered, voice raspy from moaning. “I love you so much.”
“I love you just as much,” Fenrys replied, pulling her as close as he could. He would never get tired of living his life with this amazing woman by his side - and the thought of spending every minute with her made him happier than anything else in the world. Life was good with Asterin by his side - and he knew he’d spend every day making sure she knew that.
ONE MONTH AND EIGHTEEN DAYS LATER
Gavriel was sprawled out on his back on their bed when he heard his wife - they’d been married for two weeks exactly and he felt like he was floating - come home from work. He’d been in the same spot for about an hour, carefully avoiding any form of movement lest he cause himself any further pain, and he had no plans of moving any time soon. “I’m in here,” he yelled, listening to the sound of her moving through their kitchen.
“Be right there,” she called back. Lin had always been a creature of habit, though he supposed that was only natural since she worked in a garage and was used to coming home covered in oil and grease and the gods knew what else. He knew she’d leave her boots on the mat by the door and that she’d toss her socks and whatever shirt she’d had on under her overalls into the hamper they kept hidden in the hall closet. Then, she’d scrub her hands clean in the kitchen sink before running just enough water over one corner of the hand towel so she could wipe her face clean.
It was just one of the many things he loved about her.
Eventually she finished up and wandered into the bedroom - and he was struck dumb by how beautiful she was. Stripping over her shirt left her in a pair of worn out, faded jeans and a violently neon yellow sports bra. She’d pulled her dark hair up into a ponytail that morning, and it seemed that quite a few pieces had escaped from the hair tie during the day, since they were all framing her face.
“Baby,” she cooed when she caught sight of the less than thrilled expression he knew was sporting. “How are you feeling? I can’t wait to see it!” She’d climbed on the bed while she was talking, and she was careful not to bump his stomach as she leaned over him. “Oh, Gav, it’s stunning.”
Gavriel had finally been able to get the second half of his tattoo - he and Sellene had been planning it for months, doing everything they could to get it perfect. He’d taken the day off and spent the morning in a chair while Sellene extended his chest piece down over his stomach. The original tattoo had been a massive skull in the middle of his chest with filigree swirls engraved on it. A pair of crow’s wings extended to either side of it, and smaller feathers drifted as though on a breeze over his throat. The same filigree designs extended through the wings and drifted over the sides of his neck.
The new addition played on the swirling designs while bringing a new twist. The filigree patterns had always extended down over his sternum, but Sellene had added bleeding heart flowers that followed the lines, with petals dripping like blood down the planes of his stomach.
Lin was absolutely right - it was amazing.
It was also very sore.
“I’m okay,” he replied, “as long as I don’t have to move.” He chuckled at the way she shook her head at him, reaching out to tangle his fingers with hers. “It’s pretty tender, but it’s been steadily fading away now that I’ve finally relaxed.”
Leaning over him, she rested her hand on his neck and kissed him gently before curling into his side carefully. “Well, I’m glad you’re okay. You were pouting when I walked in the door.”
“If I keep pouting, will you kiss me again?”
Lin laughed at that, a loud vibrant sound that filled the room and bounced off the walls, but she did oblige him. Supporting herself on one elbow, she kissed him deeply, cupping his jaw with her other hand and slipping her tongue into his mouth. Pulling away just enough to speak, she murmured, “I suppose I can do that. Would you like me to do more to take that frown away?”
His cock hardened in his sweats at both her words and the sultry look she gave him. “I think,” he whispered, teeth catching on her bottom lip and making her whimper, “that you should do whatever you think you need to do.”
Humming in agreement, she pecked his lips once more before slowly kissing a path down to his jaw and over his throat. She dipped her tongue into the hollow at the base of his throat, teasing the sensitive skin there before continuing her path over his chest, shifting her body carefully as she moved her way down.
Gavriel couldn’t help the whine that escaped his throat as her lips closed around one of his niples. She took her time, her tongue slowly circling around before finally flicking against the side of his piercing. He’d always thought she was far too skilled at teasing what she she called the “hottest piercings she’d ever seen” for his own good - he felt like he was ready to burst and she’d only just begun her torture.
And torture him she did. She switched back and forth between his nipples, teasing both of his piercings until he was moaning with every flick of her tongue. Eventually, Lin started kissing her way back up to his mouth, pausing only to suck a mark into the side of his neck. When she finally reached his lips, she kissed him softly, grinning as she did.
“Frown all gone?” she asked, one hand trailing over his jaw.
Gavriel gave her a needy stare, his cock straining to be freed from the fabric still containing it. “It is, it is. But now I think there’s another part that needs your attention.”
“Is that so?”
When he just nodded, she nipped his bottom lip and climbed off the bed. Turning her very pointed stare on his readily apparent junk, Lin pulled off her bra and shimmied out of her leggings.
He didn’t think he could get any harder, and then he realized she was completely bare beneath her leggings - and she was practically dripping.
Climbing back on the bed, she straddled his lower thighs, giving him the perfect view of her tits when she leaned forward. She gripped the waistband of his sweats and began rolling them over his hips, pushing them down his legs and shifting so she could get them completely off his legs.
Smirking up at him, she grabbed his cock in one hand and started pumping slowly, perfectly timing each stroke with the movements of her other hand, which she was using to thrust two fingers deep inside herself while she flicked her thumb against the jewelry running through her clit. Lin kept up her actions until she felt they were both more than ready, and then she shifted up enough that she could sink down on his dick in one smooth motion, the warm walls of her pussy fluttering around him.
Gavriel groaned the feeling, his hands grabbing her hips. She cried out as she began riding him, her hips rolling slowly into his as he met her thrust for thrust beneath her. They rocked into one another with no apparent hurry, Lin sitting astride him so she wouldn’t accidentally brush his new ink and cause him any pain. Though he was incredibly grateful for that, he missed the feel of her chest pressed against his.
He wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that, moving together in perfect harmony, but he knew the instant Lin fell over that edge. Her walls tightened around him as her release practically dripped onto his thighs, and she threw her head back with a shaky moan.
He followed her soon after, the feeling of her walls rippling around him pulling his release from him with a groan. She shook at the feeling of his release spilling inside of her, and he groaned again as her hips rocked against his as the aftershocks coursed through her.
Smiling up at the peaceful expression on her face, Gavriel traced his hands over her thighs. “Thank you,” he whispered, a wave of sleepiness washing over him.
“For what?” Lin asked, lifting herself off of his dick and curling up beside him.
Eyes blinking slower, he replied, “for being amazing, and for this, and for being my lovely wife, and for being you.”
“Oh, Gav.” She stroked his hair off his forehead, and he felt himself slowly slipping into the dreamy world of post-sex slumber. “You don’t have to thank me, baby.”
“I know.” Words were getting harder the longer he kept his eyes closed, but he needed her to know how happy he was to have her in his life. “Love you, Linnea.”
“I love you, baby.” Dropping her head onto his shoulder, she kissed his collarbone. “Go to sleep, love.”
He mumbled some form of a response, but even he didn’t know what it was. He was too busy losing himself in the feeling of her fingers tangling with his and her lips moving over his skin. Gavriel knew he would be perfectly happy for the rest of his life as long he could sleep in her arms.
TEN MONTHS AND SIX DAYS LATER
Connall couldn’t wait for his wife to get home. She was supposed to have the day off, but she’d had a client make a last minute appointment the day before, and she’d ended up leaving right before he got home from his own appointment. Naturally, he’d told her he was going, but she didn’t know the extent of what he was getting done.
And now his leg was throbbing and all he wanted was for his beautiful wife of just over two weeks to walk through the door and make him feel better. She’d been gone for about three hours, so he was hoping he wouldn’t have to wait much longer.
Like his thoughts had summoned her, the door to their apartment opened and Vesta came walking in, a giant smile on her face. “Hi, Con,” she called, dropping her things and kicking off her flip flops. “How was your day? How’s Sellene?”
“She gets too much joy out of causing me pain,” he grumbled, stretching out to take her hand as she walked up to the couch. “My leg hurts, by the way,” he added, pouting. “How’d your appointment go?”
Vesta squeezed his fingers as she crouched carefully between his spread legs. “Sellene gets joy out of how good her work is - the pain is just an added bonus,” she giggled. “And I would think someone with tattoos and a septum piercing would be used to pain. My appointment went well - a delightfully steampunk skull and crossbones. Now, let me see, let me see!”
She’d been playing with the strings on his hoodie, her fingers twisting them into intricate patterns as she talked, and she tugged him forward to kiss him quickly when he nodded at her. Shifting slightly, he rolled his sweats over his hips and down to his knees carefully before turning out his left leg so Vesta could see the new addition to his tattoo.
She gasped, and tears welled in her eyes. The pattern of twisting ivy vines and barbed wire had been extended to wrap around the back and inside of his thigh. At the center of it all, in the middle of his inner thigh, almost as though it was being fiercely guarded by the wire and vines, was a single fire lily. “Con, is that… for me?”
“It is,” he nodded, cupping her jaw and catching her tears with his thumbs. He’d always said that fire lilies reminded him of her, and he wanted to have the love he felt for his beautiful wife forever on his body. “I hope that’s okay.”
Nodding quickly at his words, she pressed kisses to the inside of his wrists. “It’s absolutely perfect. I love it.”
“And I love you. I suppose your reaction makes the fact that it keeps throbbing worth it.” He winced as his leg gave another twinge of pain, and Vesta frowned up at him.
Suddenly, that frown turned into something mischievous, and then she was working his sweats off his legs. “I think I know something that might take your mind off of it.”
“Oh?” Connall barely got the word out before she leaned in and kissed the tip of his dick. “Oh,” he breathed, spreading his legs wider to give her more room to work.
Humming low in her throat, she worked her lips down his length, pressing kisses along the side of his cock before ducking down to run her tongue over his balls. He groaned above her, tangling his fingers in her hair.
“Fuck, Vesta,” he moaned, pulling on the red strands wrapped around his fingers.
Pulling away enough to grin at him, she wrapped her hand around his dick and began pumping as she spoke. “In a minute, baby. I just really want to suck your cock first.”
The noise that escaped his throat was not human. All he could do was nod - barely - and that seemed to be all the response she needed.
Vesta shook his hand out of her hair and pulled her shirt over her head, and her bra quickly followed, both of them joining his pants on the floor. He’d once told her that being able to see her tits bouncing in time with the bobbing of her head on his dick made him come harder than anything, and it seemed she wanted to use that.
Catching her head as she moved to wrap her lips around the head of his dick, Connall ghosted his other hand down her neck and over her collar bone. His fingers swirled over her breasts before settling around her left nipple, flicking gently against her piercing and pulling a soft whine from her throat.
Offering him a very dirty smirk, she leaned in and took his cock into her mouth, bobbing her head along his length until he was sitting deep in her throat. She held him there for a moment, the feeling of her throat rippling as she swallowed around him pulling quiet moans from him. He’d just started bucking gently into her mouth when she pulled back and slid her hand up to cup his balls.
She began moving, her lips sliding over his dick as she tugged on his balls, and he couldn’t stop the loud groan that left his lips. Vesta had always been extremely good with her mouth, and she was pulling out all the stops. She took him to the base every time, and when she pulled back, she always flicked her tongue over the head, making sure she didn’t spill a drop of the precum that was steadily leaking from his tip.
Eventually, after she worked him until he felt like he couldn’t breathe, she pulled off of his dick. Standing, she kissed him hard before shoving her jeans down her legs, her thong following not long after. “Sweatshirt. Off. Now,” she ordered, one finger swirling through her folds as she watched him.
She groaned, and he knew - even though he couldn’t quite see it as he worked his hoodie over his head - that she was getting herself ready for him. He figured she was flicking her clit in just the right way so that it tapped against her hood piercing with every touch - nothing got her as wet as that. If he listened carefully, he could even hear the sounds of her fingers sinking inside her pussy. “Fuck, you’re so hot,” he murmured, eyes locked on her where her hand disappeared between her legs once he finally tossed his sweatshirt over the back of the couch.
“I know,” she quipped, pushing on his shoulders until he got the hint and sprawled back, his head resting on the arm of the couch. “You look so sexy like this, all hard and waiting for me.”
“So get your cute ass over here and fuck me.”
Winking at him, she straddled his hips - backwards. Shifting above him carefully, she situated her legs outside his so she wouldn’t accidentally brush against his new ink. She tossed her hair over her shoulder, and he felt her grab his dick and line it up with her entrance, sliding just enough that the tip slipped inside her walls. That alone was enough to pull a groan from his lips, and she sank to the hilt with a groan of her own.
“Fuck,” she breathed, rolling her hips slowly. Vesta leaned back until her back hit his chest, and he banded his arms around her waist. “Uh, Con, fuck me.”
“Yes ma’am.” Taking just a moment to make sure his feet were braced, he began thrusting into her, the angle causing his dick to brush over that one spot with every single thrust. One of her hands came up to tangle in his hair, and his flattened over her stomach.
Connall groaned very brokenly when he realized he could feel his cock moving in her stomach under his hands.
He didn’t know how long they moved together, wasn’t aware of anything that wasn’t the feel of Vesta against his skin and the smell of her shampoo drifting over him, and he found that the blissful peace that came with being near his wife was infatuating.
Her moans eventually turned more breathless, more needy, and he realized she was close. Slipping one hand down her body, his fingers settled on her clit. He pressed down on the sensitive bundle of nerves just as he drove his cock deep inside her, and she came with a cry, her back arching up off his chest.
Thrusting through her orgasm, Connall felt his own release building as her walls fluttered erratically around him. She was like a vice when her release hit, and it pulled him over that cliff with her, his own groans echoing off the walls of their apartment.
Vesta shifted just enough that she could turn her head and press her lips to his jaw, and the intimacy in the gesture sent his heart fluttering. “I can’t believe you got a tattoo for me,” she murmured, lips brushing over his skin.
“Of course I did,” he replied, twining the fingers of both his hands with hers. “I love you so much it hurts, baby. You brought so much joy, so much beauty, so much love into my life - how could I not want something like on my skin permanently?”
“Oh, Connall,” she murmured, tears streaking down both her cheeks. “To know that you love me that deeply - that has always meant everything to me. And you, my darling, are my whole life. You are everything to me.”
Connall felt tears in his eyes, and he just pressed his lips to her forehead. The way they felt about each other didn’t need words to be expressed - he could feel it in the air between them. He’d never know why exactly he’d been lucky enough to find her, but he knew he would show her how much love he felt for her every single day.
He couldn’t wait.
ONE YEAR AND THIRTEEN DAYS LATER
His wife was sprawled out on the living room floor when he finally got home from work. They’d been married for thirteen wonderful days, and his favorite part of the day was getting to come home to her. And getting to wake up next to her. And getting to fall asleep beside her. Okay, so every part of the day that involved her was his favorite part.
Kicking off his boots and stuffing his socks inside them, he waved as she turned her head to look at him. “Hi love,” Vaughan greeted, tossing his keys on the counter and stealing a sip of the iced coffee she’d left sitting on the end table. “What’s up?”
“V, hi.” Sorrel stretched one hand out to him, pouting until he twined his fingers with hers. “I missed you - you took forever to get home.”
He chuckled as she continued to pout at him, but she eventually relented when he sat down next to her. “Not any longer than normal, baby. No work tonight?”
“Mmm, no.” She was still pouting, and he thought he saw a flash of pain in her eyes. “I decided today was a good day to take off. I’m so glad you’re home, though.”
“Sorrel,” he murmured, cupping her cheek in his palm, “are you okay? You seem kind of… nervous.” It was true - she tended to jump from thought to thought and get a little needy when she was anxious about something.”
She gave him a worried look. “Erm, well, there’s kind of something I want to show you.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah.” Sitting up slowly, Sorrel turned so she was facing him. “So, I kind of did something today. And I guess I just don’t know what you’ll think.”
Vaughan felt the confusion spreading over his features. “Okay?”
She huffed a laugh. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be so cryptic. Just… let me show you.” Taking a deep breath in what he assumed was an attempt to settle herself, she gripped the hem of her shirt in her hands and pulled it off slowly.
Though he’d been focused on the emotions shifting through her eyes, he was distracted by a flash of silver from her chest - her very bare chest, he noticed - when she lifted her arms to remove her shirt. He dropped his eyes, and felt his mouth drop in surprise when his gaze landed on her right breast.
“Is that… you got your nipple pierced?”
She gave him a nervous look before dropping her eyes. “Yeah, I did. Vesta and I had been talking about it for a while, and I finally decided that I really wanted it. So I went to see her this morning and that’s when she did it.” Pausing for a moment to look back up at him, he saw that traces of silver were starting to line her eyes. “And I really hope you don’t hate it because I really like it but I don’t want to disappoint you.”
Reaching up, he cupped her jaw in both hands and wiped away her tears. “You, my love, are so fucking beautiful.” He leaned in to kiss her softly, and she whimpered. “You could never disappoint me - I love you. Also, it’s your body - you can do whatever you want with it. And I will always be okay with that.”
Sorrel finally smiled then, and it was like seeing the sun after days of rain. “You really like it?”
“Babe,” he started, “if I wasn’t aware that you were probably a little sore right now and that it’s a horrible idea to play with piercings before they’re healed, I’d show you just how much I love it - and you.”
Though a spark of need had glimmered in her eyes, it was eclipsed by the briefest moment of pain as she winced when he mentioned that she was probably sore. “Not gonna lie, it doesn’t feel too great.”
“Is there anything I can do to distract you?”
“Well,” she giggled, fingers dancing over the button of his jeans, “I might be a little sore, but the fact that your eyes haven’t left my tits - or, well, one tit specifically - is pretty fucking hot. There’s probably something you can do about that.”
Vaughan nodded, a smirk pulling at his lips. “Oh, there most definitely is.” Placing his palms on either side of her neck, he leaned in and claimed her mouth with his. He kissed her deeply, his tongue tangling with hers as he stroked her jaw with his thumbs. Swallowing the moans she offered him, he couldn’t help but give her a few of his own in return.
Pulling back, he lowered her gently back onto the floor, swinging his leg over hers so he was straddling her thighs. He kissed his way down her neck softly, nipping at her smooth skin and smirking every time her breath hitched in her throat.
Lips dancing over her collar bone, he continued his path down until he reached his destination - her left breast. Since the right was currently off limits, he figured the best method of distraction would be worshipping the other one until she couldn’t remember her own name. His lips closed around her nipple, the peak hard and ready as he flicked his tongue over it, the ball of his tongue piercing tapping against it in perfect rhythm.
Sorrel moaned, a low sound that came from deep in her throat, and he couldn’t help the chuckle that slipped out of his mouth. She whined even louder, and he knew his plan was working.
He quickly settled into a rhythm, his tongue circling around her nipple and flicking over it - alternating between the flat of his tongue and the ball of his piercing, occasionally scraping his teeth over the stiff peak or using his lips to suck on the skin of her breast. His fingers skimmed her waist, goosebumps rising over her skin everywhere he touched.
Vaughan kept going until she sounded like she couldn’t breathe, until the only sounds she was capable of making were little gasping sighs, like she was trying to moan but her voice wouldn’t quite get there. Even he was breathless when he pulled away, and one look at her face was enough to pull a groan from him.
“Look at you,” he murmured, eyes ghosting over her lips - red and swollen from her habit of biting them to contain her pleasure - and the pure need practically swimming in her eyes. His cock throbbed at the way her chest heaved, and he realized he was straining against his jeans.
“Vaughan,” she whined, hips slowly rutting up into his. “Please… gods, please just fuck me.”
He pressed a kiss to the base of her throat. “Whatever my beautiful wife desires.” Grabbing the back of his shirt, he pulled it over his head and lifted himself just enough that he could start to work his jeans down his legs. His boxers followed soon after, and then he busied himself with removing the rest of Sorrel’s clothes, wrapping her legs around his waist once she was bare before him.
Propping himself up on one elbow above her, he slotted his cock between her folds with the other. He started sliding his length along her slit, covering himself in her juices until he was gliding with ease. Teasing her clit slowly, he worked her until she was writhing, one hand locked around his wrist, though whether it was to encourage him to keep going or to make him stop teasing her, he wasn’t entirely sure. When she grabbed two of his fingers and pushed them inside of her, he realized that she just wanted to be filled.
He could definitely help her with that.
Once he knew she was ready, he drove his cock into her in one steady thrust, and the cry that tore from her lips was almost his undoing. Her walls fluttered around his dick, and he pumped into her with steady thrusts.
Sorrel tangled her fingers in his hair and pulled his head down so she could kiss him, her tongue moving in his mouth in time with his cock moving inside her. Vaughan hovered over her, careful not to bump her new piercing, and she began rolling her hips into his harder as they stayed tangled together.
Though he didn’t know how long they’d been wrapped up in one another, he could tell that she was getting close. He shifted his angle just enough to hit that one spot deep inside her walls, and she came with a broken cry against his lips. It only took a couple more thrusts until he joined her, spilling himself as she continued to spasm around him.
Dropping off to her side as his dick slipped free, Vaughan couldn’t help but smile as he pressed his lips to her shoulder. “Feeling better?”
“Mmm,” she hummed, fingers stroking through his hair. “You’re so good to me, Vaughan. I love you, baby.”
“Just as I love you,” he replied, a low purr rumbling in his chest as she kept running her fingers through his hair. He didn’t know how he’d gotten so lucky in his life, but he knew that Sorrel was the greatest thing to ever happen to him.
When I said I would never be done with this story, I wasn’t kidding! I hope you like it!
The links to the other parts of this story, and all my other stories, can be found in my masterlist, which can be found in my bio!
Summary: Welcome to Cadre Weaponry - the shop for all your weapons needs, both antique and modern! Join the boys of the Cadre as they become friends and tackle this thing we call life. Maybe, just maybe, they’ll even find love along the way. So, we all know how it looked when our boys finally made things official with their girls, but we haven’t seen how the other boys reacted when they found out. Now, you’ll finally get to see what that looked like, complete with all the teasing we’ve come to love from our CW boys.
Warnings: Language and extreme fluffiness.
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FOUR YEARS, NINE MONTHS, AND TWENTY-TWO DAYS AGO
Rowan was whistling a simple tune as he walked through the front doors, vaguely realizing it was from The Breakfast Club. He was wholly unsurprised by that fact, given that he and Aelin had watched it the night before. Just the thought of his golden-haired girlfriend was enough to bring a huge smile to his face, which he did his best to contain. It wouldn’t do to wander into their meeting smiling like a fool - it would only make the teasing start earlier.
Not that he would mind the teasing - not at all. He still couldn’t believe how easy it was to be with her. After they’d decided they’d had enough of being at the bar, they’d headed for her house. Since Rowan had kept his drinking to a minimum, he was more than fine to drive, and he’d wanted to make sure Aelin got home safely.
He’d walked her to her front door, content to kiss her good night and leave her with the promise of more. However, when he’d pressed his lips to hers, she’d merely looped her fingers in the belt loops of his jeans and pulled him through the door.
“Stay,” she’d whispered, “just for a little.”
So he had.
They’d curled up on her couch, her head on his chest, his arms around her. They’d watched the movie and talked quietly until he’d noticed she was starting to fall asleep. Rowan had carried her to bed and tucked her in with a kiss on her forehead before locking up and taking himself home.
Shaking off his thoughts of the night before, he realized he was still grinning like a lovestruck idiot. Schooling his face into a more neutral expression, he showed himself into the backroom of the store. They’d decided to hold meetings there, since none of their offices were big enough to hold all six of them - well, comfortably anyway. There was a table set up in one corner, and his business partners were sprawled around it.
Early meetings had become common, since they’d all decided fairly early on that they didn’t love having to stay late, and holding them during business hours was just impossible. Gavriel seemed to be the most awake, but that was the standard. Fenrys and Lorcan were both clutching cups of coffee like they’d die without them, and the former actually seemed to be staring into its depths like that would solve anything. Vaughan had his feet propped on the table with his head resting against the wall, and Connall had actually pitched over sideways with his head resting on Vaughan’s lap.
“Morning boys,” Rowan greeted them, dropping into his seat and dropping the bag of doughnuts on the table with a solid thump. “Breakfast is served.”
Connall, who’d jumped slightly at the noise, opened his eyes and glared at him. “Prick,” he muttered, sitting up and reaching for the coffee that was sitting on the table in front of him.
“Yeah,” Vaughan added, placing his feet firmly back on the ground, “but at least he brought food.”
Gavriel just shook his head at the lot of them and handed Rowan the coffee he’d brought for him. “Seems some of us got a rather sleepy start this morning,” he said, gesturing to the others.
Lorcan groaned, shooting both of them a dark look. “We don’t all thrive on being awake before the sun.”
“It’s 7:30, Lor.” Rowan only smirked when Lorcan raised a dark brow at him. “The sun’s been up for at least an hour.”
Though he nodded, Lorcan was still glaring. “You’re an asshole.” The slight quirk at the corner of his lips took any of the sting out of the insult.
Rowan was just opening his mouth to reply when Fenrys heaved an absolutely massive sigh. “For the love of fuck,” he groaned, turning a shit-eating grin on Rowan. “Will you all shut it so Ro here can tell us all about his date last night?”
Rowan was suddenly the center of attention.
“Oh, that’s right,” Vaughan smirked, barking a laugh. “And who was the lovely lady?”
“Was it the one with the golden hair and the sword?” That was Gavriel, a knowing look in his eyes as he reminded Rowan of the day Aelin had brought Goldryn in for him to see.
Lorcan was chuckling now, his arms crossed over his chest. “Didn’t you say her name was Aelin?” he teased, knowing full well who she was.
“Holy shit,” Connall breathed. “How did I forget you were going on a date with Aelin Ashryver Galathynius?”
“Yes, yes,” Rowan replied, flipping all of them off. “You’re all very fucking funny.”
“Come on, man,” Fenrys said, all traces of joking gone from his tone. “Just tell us what happened - we really want to know.”
The rest of them nodded, shooting him encouraging smiles, and he relented.
“Well,” he began, and he could feel that silly grin slipping back over his lips. “It was perfect. She’s… fuck, she’s amazing. I, uh… I asked her out.”
“Like, on a second date?” Connall gave him a confused look.
Blushing, Rowan ran his fingers through his long silver hair. “Erm, not exactly. I asked her to be my girlfriend.” When they all just stared at him, he added, “and she said yes, by the way.”
They all stared at him for a moment longer, and then the room was filled with the sound of cheers and excited swearing. Fenrys practically leapt out of his chair in excitement to hug him, and the others were quick to follow.
“That’s awesome, Ro,” Gavriel said once they’d all given Rowan space to breathe again. “I’m happy for you, man.”
The others voiced similar sentiments, and Rowan couldn’t help it as his smile grew larger. The fact that the rest of the guys were so supportive of him just made everything better, and, even though he braced himself for all of the teasing that was sure to start, he knew it was done out of love.
Besides, getting to be with Aelin and knowing that his friends supported it made all the teasing worthwhile.
“So,” Vaughan started, a mischievous glint in his eye, “does she handle your sword as well as she handled Goldryn?”
Well, it made most of the teasing worthwhile.
FOUR YEARS, ONE MONTH, AND TEN DAYS AGO
Setting his helmet on the seat of his motorcycle, Fenrys pocketed his keys and made for the front door. Even though he wasn’t usually a morning person, he found that he was happier and more awake than he’d ever been that early in the morning. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and he was ready for another day of running his own business.
Oh, and Asterin Blackbeak was officially his girlfriend.
He could feel his cheeks heating up at just the thought of how good her lips felt against his, and then he was lost in memories of the night before. After he’d asked her to be his girl, she’d kissed him until he couldn’t breathe. Then she’d taken his hand and pulled him onto the dancefloor on the opposite side of the room, and they’d stayed pressed together until they both decided to call it a night.
He’d driven her home on his motorcycle, and the feeling of her legs pressed against him was even more comforting when he realized he was going to be experiencing it a lot more. She’d stayed wrapped around him even after he parked in front of her apartment building, only moving so they could both pull their helmets off. Starting at his neck, she’d slowly kissed a path up to his jaw and then across to his lips, pressing her lips to his gently before finally climbing off the bike.
The bell jingling as he pushed the door open pulled him from thoughts of her lips against his forehead before she’d walked to her front door, making him promise to call as she’d slipped inside the building. Trying to fix his face in a more neutral expression, he only barely managed to keep the grin off his face when he saw that the other guys were gathered by the sword display.
“Well, well,” his brother grumbled from his seat on the floor. “Look who finally decided to show up.”
Lorcan groaned from where he’d sprawled out on his back next to Connall. “Yeah, even though he’s the one who called the meeting.”
“And he even looks relatively awake.” That was Rowan, snickering at him as he motioned Fenrys toward the cardboard tray of smoothies on the ground - he must have stopped on his way in.
Reaching out, Fenrys grabbed the only one left in the tray and took a sip, sighing as the cold drink slid down his throat. “Thanks, Ro.”
Rowan nodded and looked like he wanted to say more, but Vaughan jumped in before he could. “Care to tell us why we all had to be here so early to look at our sword display?”
“Well,” Fenrys started, giving all of them a ridiculously happy smile, “I was thinking we could reorganize the Ironteeth swords so they were displayed by the three makes - I’m sure my girl would be more than happy to help out.”
Gavriel gave him a confused look. “Erm, how are we meant to separate the swords out when even we can’t tell the difference?”
“Yes, Gav, excellent point,” Lorcan interjected, “but first - did you just say ‘your girl?’”
They all turned their attention to Rowan when he swore. “Fuck, that’s right! Wasn’t your first date with Asterin last night?”
“Indeed it was, boys. Indeed it was.”
They all stared at him for several minutes, and he just kept smirking at them until Vaughan finally grabbed his shoulder and shook him a little. “Stop fucking smirking at us and just tell us already!”
He kept grinning at them until he couldn’t take it anymore. “I asked her to my girl and she fucking said yes!”
They were all cheering and then his twin was all but tackling him to the ground. He couldn’t help but yell along with them, though it came out a little breathless when the rest of the guys joined into the dogpile. They stayed like that until Fenrys couldn’t handle the five of them laying on him anymore. “Alright,” he finally managed to wheeze, laughing slightly when Rowan leaned over and knocked their foreheads together with a whisper of congratulations. “Get the fuck off me so I can breathe.”
Laughing, they climbed off the ground, and Gavriel extended a hand to haul him up. “So, back to the whole sword display thing - how exactly is Asterin meant to help us?”
“My girlfriend…” Fenrys trailed off as a grin drifted over his lips, only for Connall to smack him upside the head. “Ow! Don’t be a dick, Con.” He punched his brother in the arm before continuing. “Anyway, my girlfriend is a Blackbeak. As in Manon Blackbeak, the woman who owns Wind Cleaver, is her cousin - and one of her closest friends. Asterin can tell the makes apart.”
“Wow,” Lorcan breathed, and Fenrys noted that they all looked impressed. “Holy shit, that’s impressive.”
Rowan nodded his agreement, as did the others. “If Asterin would be willing to help, then yeah, I definitely think we should reorganize.
The others were quick to agree, so Fenrys reached for his phone to text her and ask for her help. “Make sure to tell your girlfriend that we’d be really grateful for her help!” That was Vaughan, smirking as he shouted to where Fenrys had wandered away from the rest of them.
The rest of the guys were chuckling, and he was pretty sure he heard at least two of them go, “ooo, his girlfriend,” and he thought he saw his brother making obnoxious kissing faces in his direction.
Chuckling, he shook his head at their antics and pulled up his messages with Asterin. Even though he knew they weren’t even close to being done with giving him shit, he didn’t care. She was worth it.
She would always be worth it.
THREE YEARS, THREE MONTHS, AND TWENTY DAYS AGO
He’d never been more grateful that he’d been scheduled to come in late. After waking up with Lin sprawled across his chest, they’d been slow to haul themselves out of bed, although she also had a job to get to - and one that started earlier than his.
As he climbed out of his truck, Gavriel started humming to himself, realizing belatedly that it was the opening title from the movie he’d turned on after dinner the night before. He didn’t bother to contain his smile or his humming as he walked into the shop.
After all, the boys were going to find out sooner or later - well, he was going to announce it loudly and repeatedly just as soon he could.
Lorcan, who was standing by the till, took one look at him as soon as the door swung shut behind him and just rolled his eyes. “The fuck are you so chipper for, Gav?” Though his naturally gravelly voice always sounded hostile, Gavriel saw the curiosity glimmering in his eyes.
“Oh, nothing,” he murmured, “just spent a nice morning with my girlfriend, that’s all.”
“Lin said yes, then?” When Gavriel nodded, Lorcan rounded the counter to clap him on the shoulder. “That’s great, man. The other guys are somewhere in the back, since I assume you want to go ramble about this to all of them.”
Nodding his thanks, he bumped Lorcan with his hip as he passed him, aiming for the door that led to their offices. The laughter echoing down the hallway told him that at least two of his friends were in Rowan’s office.
He knocked on the open door as he walked in, raising an eyebrow when he saw Rowan and Vaughan glaring at one another over a doughnut. “Erm, why?” he asked, not quite sure he wanted to know the answer.
“Last doughnut,” Rowan supplied, reaching for the plate.
Noticing what he was doing, Vaughan reached out and smacked his hand away. “Yes, and we both want it.”
Gavriel heaved a massive sigh. “For the love of fuck, Rowan, your fiancée owns a fucking cafe, just go get a doughnut from her.”
“Fuck, that’s right, she does!” Vaughan cried, grabbing the doughnut and taking a bite. “Thanks, Gav.”
“Yeah, thanks, Gav,” Rowan muttered, though he looked excited at the prospect of seeing Aelin. “So, what brings you in here, aside from letting Vaughan steal my doughnut.”
“Oh.” Gavriel blushed. “Well, boys, Lin said yes - she’s officially my girlfriend.”
They both jumped up from their chairs and hugged him, the goofy little argument over the doughnut forgotten. Gavriel hugged them both back before ducking out to go find Fenrys and Connall, the only two who he hadn’t told.
He found them in the back room, sorting out the new shipment of antique longbows that had come in the night before. “Morning, Fen, Con,” he said, stepping in to help Connall lift a box that he seemed to be having trouble with.
“Hey, Gav,” they replied in unison, taking a break from the boxes to face him.
Connall nodded at him. “Thanks for the help.”
“So,” Fenrys added. “What did she say?”
Gavriel felt himself beaming like an idiot, but he couldn’t contain it. “She said yes - she’s my girl and everything.”
Much like Rowan and Vaughan before them, the twins pulled him into a celebratory hugs, Fenrys’s enthusiastic enough that it nearly knocked him over.
They were all laughing when he pulled away, and Gavriel was reminded how grateful he was for his friends, all five of them, in that moment. He knew Lin was the one for him - he’d known it since that first lunch they’d had - but having the support of his friends just solidified those thoughts for him.
That was everything to him.
THREE YEARS AND THREE DAYS AGO
Lorcan took a long sip from the coffee he’d picked up on the way in, slamming his truck door behind him and sighing lightly at the rich taste of the dark roast. He found himself smiling at all the little things that morning, and he was absolutely certain it was because of Elide.
Just the thought of her name had his heart skipping a beat. At the end of their picnic the day before, he’d walked her to her car, their interlaced fingers dangling between them. She’d kissed him softly before climbing into her Jeep Cherokee, and her fingers had danced gently over the back of his neck as she’d smiled up in him.
Lorcan truly couldn’t believe how lucky he was.
The sheer awe must have shown on his face when he walked into the shop, because Gavriel just gave him a confused look where he was standing behind the till. “Morning, Lor,” he greeted, raising an eyebrow. “You seem… happy, this morning.”
“Erm,” Lorcan muttered. Even though he planned on telling all five of them, he wanted to share his news with Vaughan and Connall first. They were the only ones who’d actually known he had plans to take Elide on a date. “It’s nothing,” he finally settled on, offering Gavriel a slight smile as he darted into the hallway that connected all of their offices. “I’ll tell you later!” he called over his shoulder.
He heard Gavriel chuckling behind him, so he knew the man wasn’t offended by the way he’d dodged the question. Taking a moment to try to keep the grin off his face, he ducked into Vaughan’s office, relieved when he noticed Connall was there as well.
Apparently he hadn’t schooled his features like he’d hoped, because they both gave him shit-eating grins.
“So,” Vaughan started, gesturing for Lorcan to sit on the couch he’d recently set up along one wall in his office. “How did the date go?”
Lorcan flopped down on the couch, a dreamy smile sliding over his lips. “It was perfect. Elide’s amazing.” He wanted to say more, but the feeling of Elide’s lips on his jaw drifted through his mind and distracted him.
Connall raised his eyebrow and said, “is that all we get? You’re not going to share anything else with the class?”
“Sorry,” he mumbled, feeling a blush creep over his cheeks. “I just really like her, boys. Like so much - I like her so much.”
They both smiled at him in that way that said they were really happy with him, so he added, “I actually asked her to be my girlfriend.”
Both of them were very suddenly on the couch with him, very much in his personal space.
“And?” Vaughan breathed, Connall nodding from Lorcan’s other side. “What did she say?”
Lorcan gave the two of them the biggest smile he’d ever given anyone (other than Elide). “She said yes!”
“Fuck yeah she did!” Given that Connall had thrown himself on Lorcan in a giant hug, the loud exclamation was right in his ear, but Lorcan found he didn’t care.
Vaughan had thrown himself into the hug as well, somehow managing to squeeze himself behind Lorcan as Connall had pulled him forward. “That’s awesome, Lor,” he said, resting his chin on Lorcan’s shoulder and knocking the side of his head against Lorcan’s jaw.
“Thanks V, Con,” Lorcan replied, wrapping his arms around Connall and leaning back into Vaughan. The other guys, who’d most likely heard them cheering excitedly, wandered into Vaughan’s office a couple moments later, demanding to know what all the noise was about.
“Well, so, I took Elide out on a date yesterday,” Lorcan told them, trying to extricate himself from his friends and failing entirely. “And then I asked her to be my girlfriend and she said yes!”
The noise in the office doubled at his announcement, Fenrys burrowing his way into their hug and basically yelling in Lorcan’s ear. Rowan and Gavriel leaned in to hug him as well, though they did their best to keep from destroying his eardrums. “That would explain the smiling earlier, then,” Gavriel laughed, ruffling Lorcan’s hair affectionately.
They stayed like that for a couple minutes, until Vaughan seemed to realize that there were six very tall, very muscular men currently destroying his relatively new couch. “Alright, alright,” he muttered, pushing the lot of them, “get your asses off my couch before you kill it.”
Laughing, they all stood up, slowly untangling themselves. Lorcan was just ducking out of the office to head for his when he heard Rowan say, “it’s nice to know that even a grumpy bastard like you can get a nice girlfriend.”
He just flipped Rowan off over his shoulder as the others started laughing, but he found that he couldn’t keep his chuckles in either. Lorcan knew he was in for so much shit for the foreseeable future, but he found he didn’t have a care in the world.
Elide was the best thing to ever happen to him, and all the teasing from the boys just meant that they loved him and that they were happy for him.
Life was good.
TWO YEARS, NINE MONTHS, AND EIGHTEEN DAYS AGO
Connall’s morning was going incredibly well. It was a nice day, he was going to a job he loved, he’d had time to stop for tea (for himself and the rest of the guys) before work, and he’d been woken up to the feeling of his girlfriend pressing scattered kisses all over his back.
That was definitely a good morning by his standards.
He and Vesta had gone back to his place after laser tag the night before, and he’d be lying if he didn’t say the sight of both of their Wranglers parked next to each other in the parking lot didn’t make him ridiculously happy.
They’d gotten takeout once they’d gotten home - Chinese food and pizza because his lovely girlfriend had decided she was starving and he wasn’t going to deny her anything - and then spent the night watching movies. Both of them had actually fallen asleep on the couch, but Connall woke up as the credits were rolling and carried her to bed. She only woke up long enough to kiss his cheek in thanks and snuggle closer to him.
That probably had something to do with his good morning, too.
When he walked into the shop, none of the other guys were in the actual store, so he assumed they were probably in the back room. Following the sound of their voices, he found Rowan, Vaughan, Gavriel, and Lorcan seated around the table, talking quietly as they waited for the morning meeting to start.
“Morning boys,” he greeted, setting the tray of teas on the table. “Fen not here yet?”
“He’s in his office,” Gavriel replied, nodding his thanks along with the others as he reached for his cup.
Connall nodded back at them, grabbing his brother’s tea before heading toward his office. He knocked twice on the open door and then showed himself in. “Hey,” he greeted, offering the cup in his hand to his brother. “Tea?”
“Con, hey,” Fenrys replied, taking the cup from him and taking a sip. “Thanks.” He paused for a moment, giving his brother a look before saying, “so, you and Vesta seemed pretty close last night.”
Connall blushed, feeling the heat spreading over his face. “Erm, well, yeah - I mean, we are close.”
Sighing, Fenrys cut him a look that said he was very much done with his shit. “You know what I meant.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Connall offered his brother a small, happy grin. “I asked her to be my girl - officially and everything - and she said yes.”
Setting his drink down, his twin pulled him into a tight hug. “That’s awesome, man. I’m really happy for you.”
“Thanks,” Connall replied, letting his brother ruffle his hair before heading back out of his office. “Let’s go tell the others.”
He barely got the words out before Fenrys was tearing out of the office, the tea in his hand the only thing keeping from moving at an all-out sprint. “Guys!” he yelled, barrelling through the door to the back room. “Connall has something to tell you about Vesta.”
Connall walked into the room just in time for Fenrys to finish talking, and suddenly there were five pairs of eyes looking at him.
“Ooo, gonna tell us what was up last night?” Vaughan quipped, arching one eyebrow suggestively.
Rowan nodded sagely. “Yes, the two of you did seem pretty comfortable with each other last night.”
“Definitely more PDA than we usually get from the two of you,” Lorcan added.
“Mhmm,” Gavriel said. “So spill, Con.”
Connall sighed and set his tea down, figuring he was in for more hugging - which he didn’t mind at all, even though he’d never tell any of them that. “Well, you all know that we’ve been hanging out for a while now. So, last night I finally asked her to be my girlfriend.” He paused, and they all gave him desperate looks. “And she said yes!”
He was very glad he’d taken the time to set his tea down, because those words were all it took for all of them - even Fenrys, who’d already hugged him - to launch themselves at him, whooping and cheering in happiness.
As he stood there, jumping in place while his five best friends in the entire world congratulated him on his newfound relationship, he realized just how lucky he was.
He could get used to a life like this.
ONE YEAR, TWO MONTHS, AND TWO DAYS AGO
Smirking to himself as he climbed off his motorcycle, Vaughan couldn’t help but be excited for the day ahead. He knew the guys probably wouldn’t believe him right away when he told them he’d asked Sorrel to be his girlfriend, but he found he didn’t care.
After he’d asked her and she’d said yes (and after he’d cried from the sheer happiness he felt in that moment), they’d agreed to do nothing but stay in bed all day long. They had been blessed with the same day off, and they’d decided to take advantage of that fact. The only time they’d left the bed was to acquire food and when they’d realized they needed to shower.
Vaughan couldn’t help smirking some more when he remembered that they’d been in the shower until the water ran cold - they’d been too tangled up in one another to even notice.
He was so incredibly happy with everything in his life, but he did what he could to contain that feeling as he walked through the door - he didn’t need the guys knowing anything was up before he was ready to share.
However, he didn’t have long to wait, since the five of them were gathered around the till, going over the orders they’d received in the last couple days. “Morning,” he greeted, accepting the coffee Lorcan handed to him. “A lot of orders to fill today?”
“Yeah,” Gavriel replied, fanning out the papers on the counter so Vaughan could see all of them. “The shipment came in late last night and none of us wanted to stay, so now we get to fill all of them today.”
Fenrys piped up from where he was leaning from against the shelves behind the counter. “Yeah, so I hope you enjoyed your day off, because we’re gonna be busy today.”
“It was a pretty great day,” Vaughan replied, trying so hard to keep from smirking. “I spent most of it in bed with my girlfriend.”
Connall just groaned. “Ugh, we get it, you spent the whole day with Sorrel - we don’t need to hear about it.”
“Anyway,” Rowan interjected, shooting both of them a look, “as you can see, several of these orders are-.”
That was as far as he got before Lorcan cut him off. “Hold the fuck up. Vaughan, did you just refer to Sorrel as your girlfriend?”
“Indeed I did.” Vaughan slowly let the smile he’d been holding back spread over his face, and it only grew when he saw the confused looks on their faces.
“What the fuck?” Fenrys finally breathed. “Like, what the fuck?”
“You’re fucking with us,” Rowan decided, narrowing his eyes as he stared Vaughan down.
Connall hummed his agreement. “He’s right - there’s no fucking way.”
“Mmm, I don’t know,” Gavriel murmured. “He’s pretty smiley this morning - he might’ve actually done it.”
Lorcan shook his head. “I think he’s full of shit.”
As one, the five of them turned to stare at Vaughan, who just nodded. “I know, it surprised the hell out of me, too.” He took a breath before continuing. “But I’ve just realized over the last few months how much she means to me - how much I love her - and I realized that relationships aren’t the terrifying things I always thought they were.”
“We tried to tell you, V,” Lorcan said, and Connall nodded along.
“I know you did,” Vaughan nodded. “But I think I needed to experience it for myself. And once I had, I decided that losing her would be the worst thing in the world - especially after she stuck around for three years without once pushing me to make things official. So I asked Sorrel to be my girlfriend, and she said yes!”
“Holy shit!” Vaughan wasn’t entirely sure who that came from, because he was quite literally being passed from one of them to the next as they all hugged him. Gavriel patted him on the back before handing him off to Rowan, who squeezed his shoulders in excitement. Fenrys was next, and he settled for ruffling his hair when he pulled back from the hug. Connall dropped his forehead against Vaughan’s, knocking them gently together before stepping back and handing him off to Lorcan, who was tall enough that he dropped his chin on top of Vaughan’s head as he hugged him.
When they finally let him go, he saw that they were all staring at him with giant smiles. His own grin grew, and he couldn’t contain all the love he felt for the five of them, for the fact that, much like Sorrel, they’d put up with his shit for years and never once given up on him.
And that feeling, the feeling of loving and being loved? It was everything.
Surprise - I’m still writing CW! I can’t possibly get enough of my babies and I keep getting ideas for them, so I’m very excited to share this with you! Plus, finishing this means I can get started on a new project I have in the works.
Summary: Welcome to Cadre Weaponry - the shop for all your weapons needs, both antique and modern! Join the boys of the Cadre as they become friends and tackle this thing we call life. Maybe, just maybe, they’ll even find love along the way.
Let’s face it: our boys (and their girls) have fantastic hair. Well, they all know it, too. Of course I had to capitalize on that.
Warnings: Extreme fluffiness. And probably some language. Oh, and some implied smut because Vaughan and Sorrel are needy.
.
FOUR YEARS, EIGHT MONTHS, AND THIRTEEN DAYS AGO
He’d just wrapped the towel around his waist and stepped out of the shower when Aelin came barreling through the bathroom door. Though they’d only been together a little over a month, it had become abundantly clear that the two of them were very comfortable with one another. That was probably one of his favorite things about their relationship - it was easy to be with her.
Rowan turned to face her after walking over to the sink, his wet hair swinging over his shoulder and sending droplets flying. “Uh, good morning?” She hadn’t been awake when he’d climbed out of bed, so he was a little surprised to see her so alert.
“Morning, babe.” Walking up behind him, she wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek against the damp skin of his back. “You look good in a towel.”
He chuckled, letting one hand rest on hers as he reached for his brush with the other. “I’m so glad you like it. I think I’ll wear the towel to work today.”
Aelin giggled against his back, her breath skittering across his skin. “Hmm, no - I think this should be for my eyes only.”
“Oh you do?” He turned in her arms, leaning down to kiss her nose. “I suppose that can be arranged.”
“Good.”
Pulling out of her arms, he took a step back so he could start brushing her hair. Aelin just dropped onto the chair she’d insisted he start keeping in his bathroom so she could sit in front of the mirror when she wanted to do her makeup, content to watch him as he slowly untangled his hair. They stayed silent for a few minutes, both of them just happy to be together.
He’d barely set the brush on the counter before she was standing and pushing him into the chair she’d just vacated. “Aelin,” he muttered, raising one eyebrow at her when she pushed on his shoulders again, “what exactly are you doing?”
She huffed and rolled her eyes before walking around to stand behind him. “I thought I’d do your hair today.”
“Oh.” Rowan, though a little caught off guard by her words, wasn’t entirely surprised. She’d told him time and again how fascinated she was by his hair, and he knew she liked that his hair was long enough that she could actually do something with it. “Do your worst then, my love.”
Aelin chuckled slightly, but he could tell she was already focused on the task before her. Her fingers moved gently through his hair, sorting and weaving the strands together and humming lowly whenever something wasn’t to her liking. Eventually she tapped his cheek, a signal he’d come to realize meant she needed a hair tie. Slipping the one off his wrist, he handed it to her and went back to sitting still as she finished up her work.
“Done,” she finally chirped, kissing the back of his head before taking his hand and pulling him to the sink so he could look at her work in the mirror. She’d pulled the very top section of his hair into two little braids before pulling the rest of the hair on the top of his head into the hair tie, allowing the other half to remain down and free.
Turning back to her, Rowan leaned down and kissed her gently. “It looks great - thanks, baby.”
“Of course.” She kissed him again, cupping his chin when she pulled away. “Though, to be fair, I didn’t really give you much choice.”
He laughed loud enough that the sound echoed around the room. “It’s a good thing I like you when you’re bossy, then.”
“You’re damn right it is.”
~*^*~
The sound of his front door opening and all but banging off the wall behind it startled Rowan enough that he dropped the book he’d been holding. Craning his neck over the back of his couch, he saw his girlfriend kick the door shut behind her as she dropped her bag by the little mat just inside the door for shoes. Giving him a barely perceptible nod, Aelin heaved an angry sigh and stormed off into his bedroom.
“Aelin?” he called, trying to figure out if he’d done something to make her angry over the course of the day. “Are you okay?”
He heard her mumble something incoherent back, though he was pretty sure he made out a couple very colorful curse words. Deciding to wait until she came back into the living room, he settled back into the cushions and picked his book up.
Rowan had barely made it through a page before she joined him, and he felt his heart stop in his chest at the sight of her. She’d kicked off the jeans she had on for work, leaving her in a pair of lacy pink panties that left her perfect legs on display. She’d also swapped out her sweater for one of his old faded hoodies from college. He’d worn that particular hoodie so much that the sleeves had started to fray, meaning that they hung down over her hands.
“What’s wrong, love?” He tossed his book on the coffee table, reaching out for her with one hand when he saw her swipe a few tears from her eyes.
Shaking her head, Aelin just climbed into his lap, wrapping her arms and legs around him and clinging to him as tightly as she could. She pressed her face into his neck, and he could feel his heart tightening when he realized she was shaking in his arms.
Wrapping one arm around her waist so he could pull her against him, he twined the fingers of his other hand in her hair, slowly combing through the long golden strands. It was something he’d found comforted her, and he wanted to do everything he could to make her feel better. And, it meant that he could spend that time admiring the way the sunlight shifted over the vibrant tone of her hair.
He wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that, but his fingers never stopped moving through her hair. Eventually, she stopped shaking, and she lifted her head, pulling away from him enough to look into his eyes. “Sorry about all this,” she whispered, blinking away the few tears lingering in her eyes.
“It’s okay, baby.” Rowan cupped her cheek, stroking her jaw lightly. “What happened?”
“It was just a really long day.” She shook her head slightly before continuing. “Just a lot of little stuff that kept piling up, that’s all.”
“Do you want to talk about any of it?”
Aelin shook her head again. “No, not right now. I just want to sit with you for a while.”
He leaned in to press his lips to her jaw. “Of course, whatever you need, love.” Offering her a small smile, he pulled her against him again, laughly lowly in her ear when she burrowed her face against his neck.
Though it was mumbled, he could still make out the “thank you” she whispered.
His hand once again found its way to her hair, and he realized he would happily spend the entire evening sitting just like that if it was what Aelin wanted. He was completely gone for her.
FOUR YEARS AND TWENTY-SIX DAYS AGO
Fenrys was sprawled across the couch in his girlfriend’s living room when she finally climbed out of bed and graced him with her presence. He’d always been an early riser, so he often watched tv so he wouldn’t disturb her. She was wearing a pair of red spandex and a grey Blackbeak Gym hoodie, and he still couldn’t believe that he got to see her like that. They’d only been dating for around a month, and his days were always brighter when they started with her.
“Morning,” he greeted, his eyes lingering on her legs as she walked toward him. “Sleep well?”
Offering him a tiny smile, Asterin pulled herself onto the back of the couch, her heels kicking lightly against the back of it. “I really did - I always sleep better when I’m here.”
He lifted his foot, nudging her lightly in the side. “That’s because my mattress is just better.”
“No, you idiot,” she quipped, sliding down until she was sprawled on his legs. “It’s because you’re here - and because your sheets smell like you. It makes me feel safe.”
He couldn’t control the grin that stretched across his face, and he reached down to pull her into his arms. “That’s my sappy girl.”
‘Mmm,” she agreed, kissing the underside of his jaw before she was crawling over him. Fenrys had learned very quickly that, as much as she loved being held by him, Asterin also really loved when she could hold him. Though she’d sleep curled into his chest, she loved being able to wrap herself around him when they were sprawled on the couch.
She hitched a leg around his waist, her fingers starting to comb through his hair as she pressed scattered kisses across his shoulder. “You say I’m sappy - and yet here you are, practically purring the second I start holding you.”
“What can I say?” he quipped, his hand falling to her knee. “Being with you like this makes me happier than I’ve ever been.”
Asterin pressed her face into the back of his neck, and he squeezed her knee. “You make me happy too, Fen.” Her fingers never stopped moving through his hair, and he knew if he wasn’t careful she’d lull him back to sleep.
They stayed like that for a while, and he found it hard to focus on whatever was on the tv in front of him. Between the feeling of the fingers of her one hand scraping over his scalp before moving through his hair and the feeling of her other hand tracing lazy patterns over his stomach, he was fairly distracted.
Eventually, he managed to look at the clock, and he realized that he had to get a shower right then or he’d be late for work. Groaning low in his throat, Fenrys began untangling himself from his very tempting girlfriend.
He leaned down to press his lips to hers once, twice, three times, each kiss more lingering than the last, before he finally managed to pull himself away and head for the shower.
Asterin whistled at the sight of him walking away, and even though he shook his head, he couldn’t help but fall for her just a little more.
~*^*~
When Fenrys walked through his girlfriend’s front door after he was done working for the day, he was greeted with the sight of her sprawled on her back in the middle of her living room. “Erm,” he started, drawing up short as the door swung shut behind him, “what exactly are you doing?”
“Fen, hi!” She rolled on her side to face him, giving him a happy smile. “I was just waiting for you to get home.”
“I can see that.” She’d had a day off, and though she’d said she had some cleaning to do around the apartment, he knew she wasn’t planning on actually going anywhere. “Are you wearing a pair of my briefs?”
Asterin grinned at him a little sheepishly, standing so he could get a better look at her. Scanning her once, he realized he was right - she had stolen a pair of his briefs from the drawer she’d given him. Though he wore the ones that were cut like spandex, so it had been hard for him to tell the difference at first. “I just… they’re more comfortable.”
“Is that so?”
She rolled her eyes. “Fine. I may have missed you a little today, and I may have stolen them because they smell like your soap.”
He chuckled, though he did pull her into a tight hug. “That’s what I thought.” Stepping back, he grabbed her hand and pulled her over to one of her kitchen chairs. “Sit,” he directed, tapping her nose when she pouted at him.
“Why?” Even though she grumbled, she still sat.
“Because we’re going out with the guys later and I’m gonna do your hair for you.” That was all the explanation he gave her before his fingers were twisting through her long golden locks. They’d had plans for a night out with everyone since the week before, and Fenrys knew she loved when he did her hair, so he knew she would be fine with it. Plus, he’d be lying if he tried to say he didn’t love playing with her hair as well.
She hummed and settled into the chair. It didn’t take him long to braid a small section of the top of her hair back to the crown of her head, and he paused for a moment to smooth the rest of her hair into a ponytail.
Feeling what he was doing, Asterin held her wrist up for him, silently offering the hair tie she always kept there. He took it from her, securing her hair quickly and leaning down to kiss the top of her head.
He watched as her fingers drifted carefully over his work, and he twisted the ends of her ponytail through his fingers. There was something about the bright color of her hair that always drew his attention, and found his gaze following the strands as she turned in the chair to face him.
“Thanks, baby,” she murmured, kneeling so she was face to face with him. She lifted a hand to cup his cheek. “I really appreciate you doing that for me.”
“You got it, Rin,” he replied, turning enough that he could kiss her palm. “I like that you let me do it.”
She tilted her head up for a kiss, which he gladly gave her, sighing gently as she pulled away. “You’re sweet.”
“That’s because you make me that way.” He kissed her forehead before lifting her off the chair and into his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he started walking toward her room, and he met her eyes. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“And you’re the best thing that’s happened to me, my love.”
TWO YEARS, TEN MONTHS, AND NINE DAYS AGO
He awoke to the sound of rustling pages. Dating Elide meant that was a fairly common occurrence - she did own her own bookstore, after all - but, since there was still faint moonlight filtering through the curtains, he figured it wasn’t a normal morning.
“Baby,” Lorcan rumbled, rolling over and glaring in the lamplight streaming from the side of the bed she’d claimed as her own. “Why you up so early?”
She barely glanced at him, just offering him the barest hint of a smile before she was turning pages in her book again. “I forgot to pick a book for ‘Owner’s Choice’ this week, and I’m trying to decide if this one is a good one to choose.” That was one of Elide’s favorite parts of owning her own bookstore - she picked a book to highlight every couple weeks and showcase in the front window. “I think this is the one - I just have to be sure.”
Stroking his fingers down her spine, he leaned in to kiss her temple. “Well, don’t let me disturb you then.” He settled back down on the pillows, slinging an arm around her waist and listening to the sound of her nails scratching over the pages.
He wasn’t exactly sure how long they stayed like that, but eventually Elide huffed a sigh and dropped her head against her book. “I think I read too long.”
Lorcan chuckled as he opened his eyes to see his girlfriend staring at him. “And why would you say that?’
“Because,” she whined, pouting at him, “now I won’t have time to wash and dry my hair.”
“I think I might be able to help with that.” When she raised an eyebrow at him in question, he just motioned to her book. “Just keep reading, my love. I’ve got you.”
Shifting until he was straddling her back (hovering on his knees so he wouldn’t hurt her, of course), he reached for the hairbrush that was resting on her nightstand. He pulled it through her hair gently, careful to avoid pulling too hard whenever he encountered a knot.
Elide sighed happily as she turned a page in her book.
Once he’d untangled her dark locks, he easily parted her hair down the middle and began deftly twisting the hair on the right side of her head into a French braid. Having spent years doing the same to his own hair, he made quick work of it, tying a hair tie around the end of it before starting on the other side.
Like the first, the left side didn’t take long either, and soon Elide had matching braids falling down over both shoulders. He leaned down to press a quick kiss to the back of her head before flopping down next to her once more. “All done, baby.”
Closing her book, she rolled until her chin was resting on his chest. “Thanks, Lor. You really are the best.”
“You know I got you, El. Figure out if this is the book for the window?”
She hummed, her fingers dancing over his ribs. “Yeah! It’s the one. Thanks for giving me the space to think.”
Offering her a soft, content smile - one he only ever showed her - he pulled her a little tighter against him. “Of course - I love you, Elide.”
“And I love you, Lorcan.”
~*^*~
Elide was practically buzzing with energy when she waltzed through his front door later that night. She’d texted him as she was leaving work to tell him that she wanted Chinese food for dinner, and that it was his turn to call it in because she’d done the whole “being an adult, making phone calls” thing the last time they ordered takeout.
He’d only finished placing the order when he heard her key turning in the lock, and he’d tossed his phone on the couch and sank down into one of his kitchen chairs as the door swung open. “Food’s ordered, should be here in like forty minutes.”
“That’s great,” she chirped, breezing by him to drop the rather large box she was carrying on the counter.
“Erm,” Lorcan started, raising an eyebrow as she smiled, first at the box and then at him. “What’s in the box, Lochan?”
“Books!” That was all she offered before she disappeared into his room with a little squeal of excitement. He heard the sound of his closet door opening and then shutting, and clothes rustling, before she was joining him in the kitchen once more. She’d changed her work clothes for a pair of tiny black spandex and one of his tees, the white shirt practically dwarfing her as it all but hid her shorts from view.
“That’s a good look for you,” he commented, unable to help the smirk that grew on his face at the sight of her in his clothes. “That shirt looks better on you than it ever did on me.”
Elide laughed, twirling once to give him a better view. “It does, doesn’t it, Salvaterre?” Toying with the end of one of her braids, she walked over to stand behind him.
He leaned back into her as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “So, the box?” he prompted, sighing softly when she kissed the crown of his head and stood up.
“The box.” She began running her fingers through his hair, and he could feel her beginning to part his hair down the middle. Elide began weaving the strands together as she talked. “Remember that local author that came in about a month ago to see if I wanted to stock some copies of her new book? Well, it was absolutely amazing and people seemed to like it, so I asked if she had anything else - either hers or books from other authors she knew. And this is what she brought me. It’s a whole box of books - hers and some from friends she has that are authors. She asked me to read through them and pick the ones I want to stock.”
“That’s amazing,” Lorcan replied, feeling her tie off one braid before starting another. “Think you’ll stock any of them?”
She hummed. “Oh, I plan on stocking all of them. You know I love supporting local authors.”
“I know you do.”
They fell silent as she finished up the second braid. Lorcan loved being with her like this. It was so different from what he was used to, from what he expected for his life. The intimacy, the domesticity of it all - it was everything he never knew he wanted and everything he never wanted to give up.
“There,” she finally said, “all done. And now we have matching hair.”
He felt her fingers still dancing over the twin braids hanging against his shoulders, and he leaned into her touch. “Thanks, El.”
She moved until she was between him and the table, hopping up so she could sit on it and wrap her legs around his torso. His hands drifted over her thighs before he twined his arms around her waist. “You got it, babes.”
“What would I do without you?” He dropped his head so his cheek was resting on her thigh as he gazed up at her.
“Your own hair, probably.” Elide laughed at her own joke, and he couldn’t help but laugh with her, even as she stroked her thumb over his cheek. “I don’t know what I’d do without you either, Lor. You’re the other half of my soul.”
“And you’re mine, El. You’re mine.”
She leaned down to kiss his forehead, and he knew, then and there, that he wanted the rest of his life to be exactly like that.
TWO YEARS, EIGHT MONTHS, AND ONE DAY AGO
Gavriel was basking in the warmth of the sun streaming through the large bay window of his girlfriend’s bedroom when he heard muffled cursing from behind the closed bathroom door. Dog-earing the page of his book and setting it carefully on the massive window seat he’d been reclining on, he pushed himself up and crossed the tiny space, the blanket he’d been using pooling on the floor.
Knocking twice on the door, he asked, “you okay in there?”
More muffled cursing answered him, and he was debating whether or not to open the door when the choice was made for him. Lin whipped the door open and frowned up at him, gesturing at her dark hair, which was dripping down the front of her tee and clinging to her neck. “I hate you,” she grumbled.
“Me?” He gave her a confused look. “Erm, why?”
Lin huffed a sigh and thunked her forehead against his bare chest. “Because, you asshole, you just had to keep me in bed late and now my hair is too wet to do anything and I can’t leave it down for work!”
He tried to hold in his laughter, he really did, but one chuckle escaped him. “That’s not exactly how I remember it, love.” When she poked his side, he gripped both of her hands in his own. “You were the one who rolled on top of me and said you weren’t moving until you were good and ready.”
“You could have made me get up!”
He did laugh at that. “I tried! You just wrapped yourself around me like an octopus and wouldn’t budge!”
“Gav,” she whined, though he could hear the laughter lacing her tone. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”
“You’re right,” Gavriel agreed, tilting her head up so he could look into her eyes. “I’m a terrible boyfriend - I should have banished you from the bed the second your alarm went off.”
She was nodding along with him, and he could see the smile beginning to grow on her lips. “You’re the worst,” she replied, leaning up to kiss his chin.
“Well then,” he murmured, pressing his lips to the corner of her mouth, “let me make it up to you.” He gestured toward the window, whispering “go have a seat” as he ducked into the bathroom.
Grabbing a dry towel from the rack in the corner, he turned just in time to see Lin wrap the blanket he’d been using around herself and bury her face in the fabric, her shoulders lifting as she breathed in the scent of him no doubt still lingering on it. He smiled and walked over to her, shifting until he was on his knees behind her.
Carefully pulling her hair out from beneath the blanket, he wrapped the towel around it and began gently drying the dark strands. He continued like that until it was decently dry, eventually dropping the damp towel on the floor next to them.
Using his fingers, Gavriel began gently untangling the knots he came across. He smiled gently when he saw her eyes flutter closed as he leaned around to kiss her cheek.
Lin hummed lowly, a content smile pulling at her lips as he sat back and began working her hair into a ponytail. Gathering all the strands together, he slipped a hair tie off his wrist and twisted it until her hair was secured in a fairly neat bun on the crown of her head.
Trailing one finger down the back of her neck, he tapped her shoulder with the other hand. “You’re all good now, love.”
“Mmm,” she nodded. “You’re so good to me, baby.”
Standing, he pulled her up and into his arms. “I love you the way you love me.”
“Infinitely and eternally,” she replied, kissing him quickly before moving off to finish getting ready.
He smiled at her back, knowing that he’d just created a new morning routine for the two of them.
~*^*~
He knew he was being louder than usual as he made his way to Lin’s apartment, but he couldn’t find it in himself to care. He’d just gotten back from boys’ night at the bar, and he could still feel the drinks coursing through his system. Even though he hadn’t had enough to get himself drunk, Gavriel knew himself well enough to know that he was quite tipsy. Thankfully, they all lived within walking distance of the bar, so he didn’t have to bother Lin to come pick him up.
Fumbling only slightly to get the key into the lock, he let himself into his girlfriend’s apartment. He toed off his work boots without bothering to untie them, his socks following close behind. His only two concerns were getting himself some water and finding his girlfriend.
Just thinking of the love of his life had him turning in the direction of her room. “My lovely Linnea!” he called, wandering into the kitchen.
“I’m in bed!” she yelled back, and he heard the distinct sound of the sheets rustling as she moved. Grabbing a bottle of water from her fridge, he down half of it before making his way into the bedroom.
“Hello, beautiful girlfriend,” he murmured, pushing his jeans over his hips before the door had even shut behind him. He took her in as she held up a finger and tilted her head in the direction of the book in her hands. She was wearing a pair of his old grey sweatpants and a bright blue sports bra, and he thought she’d never been more beautiful. Her hair was still pulled up into the same bun he’d done it in that morning, and his heart swelled.
Putting her book on the nightstand, she chuckled as she looked up at him, and he had to laugh too. His jeans had barely pooled around his ankles before he was pulling his shirt off and stepping out of his pants. “Well hi. Have a good time with the boys?”
Gavriel nodded, flopping face-first into the bed next to her. “I always do.” Rolling himself onto his back briefly before turning over once again, he situated himself on his side with his head resting on her thigh. “But I’m very happy to be here with you.”
“Aww, aren’t you sweet?” she murmured, tracing a finger over his cheek.
“I mean it,” he confirmed, staring up into her beautiful eyes. “I’m so in love with you, Lin. And how could I not be? With your dark hair, and your stunning eyes, and your pretty smile…” he trailed off as she began brushing golden strands of hair off his face. “You’re just so amazing.”
Leaning down, she pressed her lips to his. “And you, my love, are a very affectionate drunk.” He pouted up at her, slightly hurt that she wasn’t returning his affection, but she just kissed it away. “But I’m very in love with you too.”
Grinning up at her once again, he rolled so his face was pressed to her thigh. He was about to say something else, but all thoughts flew out of his brain when she began working her fingers through his hair. The action was so soothing that he hummed and wrapped an arm around her knee just to feel closer to her.
Lin never ceased her movements, and he felt himself being lulled to sleep by her touch. Just before he drifted off, he heard her whisper, “you’re the love of my life.”
And you’re mine, he thought, his last conscious thought being that he needed to tell her that in the morning.
TWO YEARS, TWO MONTHS, AND TWO DAYS AGO
Knowing his girlfriend was a restless sleeper did nothing to ease the annoyance that Connall felt. He’d been trying, and failing, to fall back asleep for thirty minutes, thanks to Vesta constantly kicking his shin. He could usually tune out her movements - after all, she mostly just rolled so she could get closer to him or wrapped her arms a little tighter around his waist - but it had gotten ridiculous.
Finally cracking an eye open, he was greeted with the sight of her gorgeous eyes staring down at him. He groaned, throwing an arm over his eyes when she started giggling. “How long have you been staring at me?”
“About thirty-five minutes,” she laughed, brushing her fingers over his cheek. “I realized that staring alone wasn’t going to cut it after about five minutes - that’s when I started with the kicking.”
Connall groaned again, moving his arm just enough to glare at her. “Demon,” he muttered, which only made her giggle more. “The fuck did you want me awake for?”
Pushing her lips into the perfect pout, Vesta whined softly in the back of her throat. “Don’t you want to spend time with me, baby?”
He huffed and rolled until he was completely sprawled on top of her, practically squishing her as he kissed all over her cheeks and jaw. “Of course I do, love.” He kissed the tip of her nose, his arms sliding under her waist and pulling her against him. “I just wanna know why you wanted me awake at the crack of dawn.”
“Oh, don’t be dramatic!” she chastised, swatting him upside the head lightly. “Seven A.M. is not the crack of dawn.” He merely raised an eyebrow at her, and she knocked her forehead gently into his chin. “I just… well, I was hoping I could play with your hair? I’m going to have a very long day and it always soothes me when you let me - it’s just so comforting, getting to run my fingers through your hair.”
He felt the soft smile pulling at his lips before he could do anything to stop it - not that he wanted to. He loved that Vesta was so vulnerable with him. She put on this tough face to the rest of the world, but he loved that she could be whoever she wanted with him.
“You got it, my love,” Connall finally murmured, kissing her temple once before shuffling down so his cheek was resting just over her heart. He settled against her, and one of her hands rested on his hip as the other began carding through his hair, sifting the strands between her fingers and gently untangling them. The feeling was so soothing, to him as well as her, that he couldn’t help but nuzzle his nose into her chest.
He hummed into her chest, his lips just barely brushing the bare skin of her shoulder with kisses every minute or so.
Even though he’d planned on sleeping a little later, he would gladly get up as early as Vesta wanted just to have this time with her.
~*^*~
Connall was leaning against the island in his kitchen when his girlfriend walked in the door, muttering angry curses under her breath as she tossed her keys on the little table by his door hard enough that he heard it echo down the hall. She swept by him with barely a nod in his direction, still grumbling as she disappeared into his room.
Deciding to give her space for a moment, he busied himself with ordering a pizza for dinner. When he was done with that, he pulled two beers from the fridge, popping the tops off just as Vesta wandered back into the room - and stole the breath from his lungs.
She’d swapped her work clothes for a pair of his skinny black track pants - the ones with the white stripes down the side - and a dark green bra that was more lace than anything else. Though she was still frowning, he was captivated by how beautiful she was.
“Everything okay, baby?” he questioned. When she only fixed him with a piercing glare, he held up a placating hand. “Yeah, stupid question, I know. Want a beer?”
Offering him a terse nod, one that was barely a dip of her head, Vesta took the bottle he’d held out to her. She lifted it to her lips and didn’t put it back down until only a quarter of the liquid inside remained. “Sorry,” she murmured, setting the beer back on the counter. “Just a long fucking day.”
Nodding, Connall opened his mouth to reply, only for Vesta to cut him off as she kept talking. “I had a guy come in for a massive back piece that took like three hours - and it was good as hell, don’t get me wrong - but that shit is exhausting. And then I had a girl come in to go over a design I’ve been working on for two weeks, only for her to tell me that it was nothing like what she wanted and I had to start all over - never mind that it was exactly what she’d asked for!”
She heaved a massive sigh and dropped her head into her hands. Crossing the small space between them, he ran his fingers up and down her spine in a soothing motion. He felt her muscles begin to relax at his touch. “What can I do to help, love?”
Lifting her head enough to meet his eyes, she quirked her lips up into a small smile as she took his hand and began pulling him toward the couch. “You,” she told him, “can sit your ass on the couch and braid my hair.”
“Oh, I can, can I?”
“Mhmm.” She plopped down on the floor in front of his couch, tugging him into place behind her until she was sitting between his legs, one hand lazily tracing patterns over his foot. “I know you said you have a new one you want to try, and you always say how pretty my hair is.”
Connall hummed in agreement, since she was right. He’d mentioned a few days ago that he saw a braid he thought would look really good in her hair. He smiled as she saw some of the tension already slip from her shoulders, letting her settle back against his thighs as his fingers began weaving through the gorgeous red strands of her hair. He’d realized - before they’d even started dating - that braiding her hair, or even playing with it, was soothing for her - just like it was when she played with his hair. Whenever she was stressed or angry or sad, she’d just take his hand and rest it on her hair, and she’d let him braid it until she felt better.
And he’d be lying if he said he didn’t enjoy it himself.
They stayed that way for at least fifteen minutes, his fingers untangling and weaving the strands of her hair together, only pausing when he needed to dig hair ties out of the bowl on his coffee table to hold one section in place while he worked on another one.
She was right: he did think her hair was absolutely gorgeous. Something about the deep tones of her red hair always looked so captivating when they were twisted into a complex braid.
She didn’t move until he tugged on the bottom of her braid - his silent signal that he was done. Reaching up, she ran his fingers carefully over his work, her fingers working over her hair carefully so she wouldn’t mess up his hard work. He’d pulled her hair into three French braids on the top of her head that flowed into one fishtail braid that ran down her neck and settled on her spine. The work was precise, and he could tell she knew that by the smile she offered him over her shoulder.
“Work out the way you wanted it to, Con?” She turned to face him, resting her chin on his knee when he cupped her cheek.
Nodding, he leaned down to press a gentle kiss to her lips. “It’s a good look for you, Ves.”
He wanted to say more, wanted to say that it could’ve turned out horrible but he would still think it was perfect because he loved that she liked when he did her hair, but Vesta gripped his thighs, pulling him down into her lap and letting out a happy giggle at the surprised look he gave her. “Then I love it - just like I love you.”
“And I love you for that,” he replied, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I love how much comfort it gives you.”
Leaning in, she nipped the skin of his jaw. “And I love that you’re always willing to help me calm down like this. Thank you, I really appreciate it.”
“Anything for you, my love.” And he meant it too - he really would do anything for her.
ONE YEAR AND TWENTY-TWO DAYS AGO
Rolling away from the small shaft of sunlight that had managed to slip through his curtains, Vaughan came face to face (well, face to chest, really) with his still-sleeping girlfriend. Staring at the lines of ink that spilled between her breasts and over her stomach, he practically drank in the sight of how beautiful she was. The sheet had pooled around their waists sometime during the night - probably because they’d been too warm after Sorrel had woken him up at two in the morning because “baby, please, I need you to fuck me back to sleep right now.”
He never could resist her.
Her skin had pebbled in the cool air, and he couldn’t resist tracing his fingers lightly over the outside of her breast. Scooting closer to her, Vaughan dropped his head onto her chest, his face pressed to the skin in the valley of her breasts. “It’s too early,” he mumbled, lips ghosting over her skin with each word.
Startled awake by the sound of his voice, Sorrel jolted beneath him. “So you thought I needed to be awake, too?”
“Mmm,” he agreed, nuzzling her skin. “I missed your voice.”
He felt her fingers trail over his cheek. “You’re cute when you’re all sleepy and needy.”
Her hands drifted back into his hair, and he practically purred as she started scratching his scalp with her nails. Sorrel’s other hand slid over his back and into his hair, sifting the long strands between her fingers. “If you keep doing that, you’re going to be the only one awake,” he said. The feeling of her hands in his hair was one of his favorite things in the world.
“I can’t help it, love,” she murmured, her hands never ceasing their motions. “Your hair’s just so soft. And it’s pretty, too.”
“Thanks, babe.” Vaughan could feel the soothing action of her hands spreading through his body, the relaxation threatening to pull him back to sleep. “Wish I could stay like this all day.”
“I know you do.” Tightening her grip on his hair, Sorrel lifted his head until he was looking into her eyes. “But I know you - even if you didn’t have to get ready for work, you’d never stay like this all day.” When he just arched a brow at her, she elaborated, “with your face this close to my tits, you’d have me moaning and writhing beneath you in no time.”
He smirked at her, one hand sliding up her body to cup her breast. “Mmm, I could get you all soft and needy beneath me, stuff your tight little pussy with my cock like I know you need.”
“Don’t make me promises you can’t keep,” she whined, rolling out from underneath him even as her eyes flashed with mischief.
He flopped onto his stomach with his face buried in her pillow, blindly reaching out for her with one hand as he whined low in his throat.
“Sleepy you is so needy,” she giggled, wrapping her fingers around his and pressing her lips to the back of his hand. “Now, come on, love. Sit up.”
Rolling onto his back, he let Sorrel pull him to a sitting position even as he pouted at her. “I’m always needy for you.”
“I know you are - because I’m always needy for you, too.” She shifted to her knees behind him, once again sliding her fingers through his hair. He sat still as she worked, letting her comb the tangles from his hair as she pulled it into a messy bun on the crown of his head. Twisting a hair tie that he knew she always kept on her wrist around the bun to keep it in place, she slid her hands down to his chin and tilted his head back so she could look down into his eyes. “Okay, babe, time for you to get ready for work.”
Wrapping one hand around her neck and pulling her lips to his, Vaughan kissed her deeply. “You’re so good to me.”
“Guess it’s because I like you so much.”
~*^*~
Vaughan reached for his door, shaking the water from himself as he walked into his apartment. It had been his turn to stay late to do inventory at the shop, and it had started raining pretty heavily on his drive home. Kicking his shoes off onto the mat just inside his door and pulling his sweatshirt off to hang it on the hook, he turned to call a greeting to Sorrel - and stopped in his tracks.
His girlfriend was sprawled across his couch on her back, with her feet propped against the back of it, wearing nothing but a pair of his boxers.
“Decided to go topless today?” he asked, walking forward until he could bend over the back of the couch to press his lips to her forehead.
Lifting her eyes to his, she flicked his nose. “If you can wear nothing but shorts, then so can I.”
He let his gaze rove over her body, lingering on her chest when he heard the hitch in her breathing at his attention. “I didn’t say I didn’t like it, love. But, why my boxers?”
“They’re more comfortable than my shorts.” She smiled at him, taking his hand and trying to tug him over the back of the couch. “Plus, they were in your drawer and they smell like your cologne.”
“I see.” He nodded at her attempts to get her to join him on the couch, pulling away just long enough to pull his jeans off, leaving him in a t-shirt and boxers. Tossing them somewhere in the direction of his bedroom, he basically vaulted over the back of the sofa, catching himself before he could crush Sorrel. As soon as he was situated, he grabbed her by the waist and hauled her into his lap, both of them laughing.
“You’re a mess, baby,” she crooned, turning her head to face him. Her hair had come loose from the very precarious bun she’d had it piled in, and it tumbled around her shoulders as she looked at him. “But you’re my mess.”
“For as long as you’ll have me, I’m yours.” Vaughan pushed a piece of hair behind her ear, watching as she watched him with so much happiness in her eyes. “And you’re mine.”
“And I’m yours,” she confirmed, leaning in to kiss him. “Baby,” she murmured as she pulled away, “could you braid my hair?”
“Absolutely, my love.” He slid to the edge of the couch, allowing Sorrel to climb off his lap and settle herself between his legs. Tangling his fingers in her hair, he slowly combed out the knots, working through the curtain of her hair gently. As soon as he’d finished with that, he cupped her jaw and tilted her chin up so he could see what he was doing. Working swiftly, he braided the dark strands together, never faltering in his movements.
Once he’d finished twisting the strands together, he reached down to pull the hair tie off her wrist, tying it around the bottom of the braid. “All done, S,” he said, smiling at her when she turned and climbed back into his lap.
“Thanks, baby.” She kissed him gently as she settled against his chest, shivering slightly in the cool air of the apartment.
Vaughan chuckled as he felt the gooseflesh rising on her skin, giving her a fond look when she glared at him. “Getting cold, are we?” When she just nodded at him, he grabbed the giant fluffy blanket that always seemed to be on his couch, wrapping it around the both of them before toppling over sideways.
She shrieked in surprise at the sudden movement, though she snuggled happily against his chest as he pulled the blanket even tighter around her. Leaning up, she kissed him slowly, letting their tongues work lazily against one another as she tangled her legs with his.
Pulling back, Vaughan felt his breathing hitch as he saw the truly beautiful smile on her face. “What?”
“I just love you so much, Vaughan,” she answered, kissing his jaw. “So very much.”
He couldn’t help the way he hugged her tighter. “I love you infinitely, baby.”
I promised you guys new Cadre Weaponry content, and here it is! So the following scenes take place during the original chapters of the story, but they’re all put here in chronological order for you!
I had so much fun returning to this universe, and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!
Summary: Welcome to Cadre Weaponry - the shop for all your weapons needs, both antique and modern! Join the boys of the Cadre as they become friends and tackle this thing we call life. Maybe, just maybe, they’ll even find love along the way.
We all know our boys in the Cadre found their happily-ever-afters, but it wasn’t always smooth sailing. Here’s a look at the fights that almost cost our beloved boys everything.
Warnings: I’m pretty sure it’s just language in this one.
.
FOUR YEARS, TWO MONTHS, AND SIXTEEN DAYS AGO
Rowan woke to the feeling of nails scraping down his back, Aelin tossing and turning in bed behind him. Rolling over, he took in the tears tracking down her cheeks and the little whimpers she was making in her sleep - another nightmare. Though they’d only been together for seven months, he’d learned that her sleep was plagued by her past traumas - whatever they were.
That wasn’t a conversation they’d had yet.
Just as he went to reach for her, she shot into a sitting position, a heart-wrenching shriek tearing from her throat. The motion had been violent enough that she woke herself up, her shout cutting short as she realized where she was.
“Aelin?” he questioned tentatively, reaching out to push a strand of hair behind her ear as he sat up next to her.
She flinched at the contact, whipping her head around to face him. His stomach clenched at the broken expression on her face. “I’m sorry,” she said, though her voice was shaky, and she barely managed to get both words out before she was sobbing.
“Oh, my love, come here,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and pulling her into him. She buried her face in his neck, her tears warm against the skin of his neck. He tangled one hand in her golden hair, the other rubbing over her spine as he rocked them back and forth. “It’s going to be okay, love,” he murmured, pressing soothing kisses to her hair. “You’re safe, baby, you’re safe. I’ve got you, Fireheart. I’m right here.”
He continued rocking her and whispering quietly in her ear, and though it took her a few minutes to calm down, she eventually fell asleep with her head on his chest. He pressed one final kiss to her forehead as he pulled the blankets closer around them. Dropping his head onto his pillow, he felt the lull of sleep coming to claim him in only a matter of seconds.
Before he fell back into his dreams, he told himself that he’d ask Aelin about her nightmares in the morning.
~*^*~
Walking out of the bathroom, Rowan chuckled at the way Aelin’s eyes immediately flickered to the towel wrapped around his waist. She was lounging on her bed in nothing but an emerald green silk nightgown. The way she was reclined on the pillows had the lace at the bottom of the very short nightgown playing hide and seek with her thighs, and Rowan couldn’t keep his eyes from drinking her in.
She smirked at him, and he dropped the towel. He couldn’t help but chuckle at the way her eyes widened. “See something you like, Fireheart?”
“You could say that,” she replied, voice husky from sleep. Her eyes never left him, even as he got dressed for his day at work. “Though I preferred when you didn’t have all those layers on.”
He laughed, dropping next to her as he pulled a t-shirt over his head. “Sorry, but some of us have to go to work early this morning.”
“I know,” she sighed, pulling the blankets up to her chin. “And some of us get to stay in bed for another hour.”
Rowan flicked her nose, though he sobered up when he remembered her nightmare from the night before. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure, love. Anything you want.”
“Even if I want to know what your nightmares are about?” He watched her expression as he asked, and his heart stopped when her features closed off. “It’s just,” he added, hoping that she wouldn’t shut down the conversation like she always did, “they seem like they’re really bad, and I’m just trying to understand why. I just want to help.”
Aelin sighed again, though this one had none of the playfulness of the first, and she refused to meet his eyes. “It’s nothing, Ro. They’re just stupid dreams.”
Pinching the bridge of his nose, he stood up and stalked to her desk. “Stupid dreams don’t leave you sobbing in the middle of the night, Aelin. Nightmares do. And I’d say they’d have to be pretty traumatic ones, too. So, what is it? What are you keeping from me?”
“Rowan, I already told you, it’s nothing. Okay? It’s nothing.” He’d grabbed his phone and wallet from her desk by the time she’d stopped speaking, and he was halfway to her door before she protested. “Rowan, where are you going? Don’t just walk away from me! Talk to me - why are you so upset about this?.”
“Oh, you want me to talk? You don’t like it when I don’t tell you things?” He was practically snarling, and he watched the fire grew in his girlfriend’s eyes. “Now you know how I feel.”
“And what the fuck is that supposed to mean?” she spat.
“It means you’re always keeping secrets. It took you months to tell me that you and Chaol had dated, even though I don’t care that you’re friends with your ex, and I practically had to pry any information about Sam out of you.” He decided to ignore the fact that she’d only told him about that within the last month. She’d dated Sam Cortland all through high school, and they thought they’d last despite getting into universities on opposite sides of the continent. Meeting Chaol as a freshman had made her rethink her relationship with Sam, and it had destroyed her to end things with him. They’d ultimately agreed they were better off as friends, and remained so even now, but it had been hard on both of them. “I hardly know anything about your past because you won’t tell me. I’m so tired of the secrets, Aelin.” He was at the door, and the look she gave him when she saw his hand resting on the handle was a mix of anger and fear. “Look, I want to be with you, but I can’t handle all the secrets. I just can’t.”
“Rowan,” she huffed, “I just -.”
“No, Aelin. I don’t want excuses. I want the truth. But I don’t have the time to wait for you to give me it.” He pulled the door open. “I’m late for work.”
She tried to protest, but he’d slammed the door before she could get the words out. He stalked out of her apartment, his heart breaking as a big part of it stayed in the room with the woman behind him.
~*^*~
It had been a long day - one of the longest ones he’d had in a while. All Rowan wanted to do was go home and avoid the world for a while, but he knew he couldn’t. Fighting with Aelin wasn’t something he enjoyed, and he knew they needed to talk about this.
Aelin seemed to know it too, since she’d texted him and asked him to come over after work.
So that’s what he did. Even though they hadn’t been together all that long, he knew he loved her. So he parked his Bronco and climbed out, not sure what he was walking into.
When he knocked on her front door, he heard muffled cursing from the direction of the kitchen before she shouted that it was open and he could let himself in. He did, and was immediately greeted with the smell of food and the sight of his girlfriend swearing at something on the stove.
“Everything okay in here?” he questioned.
She just groaned and switched off the burner, pulling the frying pan onto a cool one. “Not exactly. I wanted to do something to apologize for this morning but nothing is working.” She must have caught the knowing look he was giving her, because she gave him a stern look. “And before you make any smart comments, just know I’m making you breakfast for dinner.”
He couldn’t help the bark of laughter that escaped him. Anyone who knew Aelin knew that, though she had many talents, cooking wasn’t one of them. She could usually manage breakfast food, but even that didn’t always work.
“Don’t laugh!” she cried, tossing the hand towel at him. “I really wanted this to be perfect because I’m so sorry about what happened. But the waffle batter didn’t mix right, the knob on the toaster broke so the toast burned, and the eggs are all rubbery!” She had tears lining her eyes, and he could see how frustrated she was. “I just - I was going to feed you and then explain my nightmares in this grand gesture because I hate fighting and I don’t want to lose you!”
“Fireheart,” he murmured, “come here.” Taking her into his arms, he stared into her eyes. “I love that you wanted to do this for me, but I’m the one who should be apologizing. Your past is yours, and I shouldn’t have pushed you to share it if you weren’t ready. I just want to help, but I want you to tell me because you want to, not because I’m a pushy buzzard.”
She laughed a little shakily, leaning her face into his palm when he wiped her tears away. “Well, you can be pushy, buzzard. But I want to share this - this very painful, very ugly part of my past - with you.”
His heart fluttered against his ribcage, hard enough that Aelin could probably hear it, and he smiled at her. “I’m honored, my love.”
She leaned up to kiss him once, twice, three times before taking his hand and pulling him toward the couch. As soon as he was sitting she crawled into his lap, legs stretched out and their hands tangled in her lap. “I don’t talk about this because it’s still painful, but I want you to know.”
Rowan watched her as she started talking, and he saw the way she rolled her shoulders as she settled into what she had to say. “I’m with you, Fireheart. To whatever end.”
Aelin nodded and offered him a small smile before the story spilled over her lips. “Okay, so I know I told you my dad was in the military, but that wasn’t all of it. He was actually in a very secret, very high-level branch of the army, and he was part of quite a few covert operations. Naturally, that meant he made some enemies - enemies who kept track of him even after he retired from the army and opened the business with my mom.” She paused to take a breath, and Rowan knew that the hard part of the story was coming.
He rubbed his thumbs along her thighs, and she seemed to draw comfort from the gesture. “One day, when I was visiting my parents at their office building, three guys came in with guns. I just thought it was a robbery, but they were actually some guys in a rebel gang that my dad had busted when he was in the army. I guess they knew I was there, because one of them grabbed me. I was sixteen and my dad had taught me how to fight when I was little, so that’s what I tried to do. The guy didn’t appreciate that - so he threw me into decorative mirror hanging in the lobby. I know you’ve seen the scars on my back. That’s what they’re from.”
“Holy rutting gods,” Rowan whispered, feeling his eyes widen in shock.
“Yeah, basically. And that was the exact moment my dad happened to walk in the room. He tried to get to me, so one of the other guys grabbed me and held a knife to my throat. That’s when the third one gave me that long scar that slashes across my back - he cut me with a knife because he knew my dad was watching. I was so terrified, and I was just bleeding from so many different wounds, and I just wanted my parents. The next thing I knew, there were gunshots echoing around me and I was covered in even more blood. Apparently my dad had pretty tight security, because he had three snipers take out the guys that broke in simultaneously.” She rubbed her eyes, shoulders slumping as she let out a deep breath. “And that’s what I have nightmares about.”
Rowan wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his chest as her head fell into his neck. “My love, I had no idea. Thank you so much for trusting me enough to share this with me.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead, lips lingering against her skin when he said, “although now I feel even worse that I freaked out when you wouldn’t tell me about this.”
“Oh, Rowan, no,” she cried, taking his face between her hands so he had no choice but to look into her beautiful eyes. “No, don’t feel bad about this for a second. I never shared it with you because I hate remembering how weak I was and I always thought sharing it would make me feel worse about the whole thing, but that’s not true. I feel so much better now that I’ve opened up about it - almost like I reclaimed the part of myself that was scared of it and it made me feel stronger.”
“Well, I’m glad I could help out,” he replied, nipping at her thumb when she ran it along his bottom lip. “I wish I could do more, though.”
“Buzzard, you’ve already done so much,” she whispered, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. “The fact that you’re here means more to me than anything else could.”
Rowan kissed her, a claiming kiss that was filled with his love and affection for the amazing woman in his arms. “You, my strong, brave girlfriend, are so absolutely amazing. Did you know that?”
“Yeah, well, your amazing girlfriend couldn’t even make you dinner like she wanted to.” Aelin giggled against his lips, breaking away only when he pinched her sides and she had to gasp for air as he tickled her. “How about we order takeout instead?”
“Absolutely not,” Rowan stated. He shooed Aelin off his lap and pushed her in the direction of her kitchen. “We’re going to make breakfast for dinner, just like you wanted to. We’re going to do this together, Fireheart.”
“That sounds perfect, buzzard.”
THREE YEARS, ONE MONTH, AND EIGHT DAYS AGO
Fenrys reached out and grabbed Asterin around the waist, hauling her back against his chest. She shrieked in surprise, although it quickly turned to laughter as she twisted in his embrace, her arms coming to twine around his neck.
He laughed along with her, his heart soaring as he took in the sheer happiness on her face. “Hi,” he whispered, pressing the barest hint of a kiss against her lips.
“Hi,” she murmured back, smiling when he pulled away. Rocking up on her toes, she kissed the tip of his nose. When he laughed, a deep chuckle that bubbled out of his throat, she pressed a kiss to his lips, her teeth catching on the bottom one as she pulled back.
Groaning at the sensation, Fenrys slid his hands from her waist to her thighs, squeezing her ass once, twice in the process. Lifting her into his arms, he started walking as soon as her legs had locked around his waist.
Asterin moaned at the feeling of being pressed against him, and he delighted at the pure need in the sound. With the way she was wrapped around him, he found himself panting with every step he took. She had started kissing him, her tongue twisting around his, by the time he reached the couch, though it was short-lived.
He practically threw himself onto the couch, and Asterin broke their kiss to squeal at the suddenness of the motion. She was giggling in the next second, Fen’s own chuckles ringing through the air to join hers.
“You’re so dramatic,” she laughed, one hand playing with a strand of his hair while she traced random patterns on his chest with the other. “And yet I love you.”
“And yet you love me,” he confirmed, “just as I love you.” She blushed at that, and his heart swelled with pride. “I love how, even after you’ve agreed to marry me, hearing that I love you still makes you blush.”
She grinned at that, though something about the expression didn’t look quite right. With a start, Fen realized that it didn’t reach her eyes. In fact, there were tears building in her eyes.
“Rin,” he started, reaching up to wipe a thumb under her eyes, “what’s wrong, love?”
“I just…” she sniffed, taking a breath to get her voice under control. “I just don’t understand why you love me.”
He could feel his jaw fall to the floor, could feel that he was staring at her with a confused expression, but there was nothing he could do to stop it as shock coursed through his system. “What?” he finally spluttered.
Tears were streaming down her face as she pushed off his lap. Stumbling back two steps, she sank down on the coffee table. “I’ve been thinking on this for a while, and I can’t understand it. I don’t see how you can love me when I’ll never be enough for you.”
“Asterin, what -,” Fenrys tried to protest, but she cut him off.
“Fen, please, just don’t.” She stood up, and he felt his heart breaking with every step she took toward his door. “I can’t do this,” she whispered. “I can’t be with you when I know I’ll never be enough. I’m not good for you, Fenrys - I’ll only let you down.” She stared at him for a moment and then she was gone, the door slamming behind her.
Fenrys felt his heart shatter when that door closed. He stared at it for a couple minutes, unable to comprehend what had happened.
When he finally got his wits about him, he knew there was only one thing he could do.
Barely taking the time to grab his keys and lock the door, he was sprinting down the stairs.
~*^*~
Resting his elbows on his knees, Fenrys dropped his head in his hands, the wood of Asterin’s door cool against his flushed skin, even through his t-shirt. He’d sprinted the five blocks to her apartment, praying he’d still manage to beat her there even after his five-minute stupor.
He’d sighed in relief when he didn’t see her car in the lot, but it quickly faded when he realized it was because he’d been right - she’d most likely had a breakdown in her car that had kept her from leaving right away.
He’d been sitting by her door for at least five minutes and he could feel himself getting anxious. He didn’t know what had caused her outburst, but he needed to get to the bottom of it. He couldn’t lose her. He just couldn’t.
He’d just dropped his head back against the door when he heard footsteps rounding the corner. Lifting his head just as she took notice of him, he watched fresh tears slide down her cheeks. He jumped to his feet as she gaped at him.
“What are you doing here?” she gasped, the tears making her voice thick.
“Fighting for the love of my life.” He watched her sob harder at his words, and he reached a hand out to her. “Please, baby - talk to me. Please. I can’t - I can’t lose you. So, please just talk to me. Tell me what’s going on. Please.” Fenrys was crying by the time he’d finished speaking. He loved this woman more than anything in the world and he couldn’t stand to see her so upset.
She mulled it over for several moments - he could practically see the gears turning in her head - before finally nodding and motioning for him to move so she could open the door.
Fenrys followed her inside, scrubbing the backs of his hands over his cheeks in an attempt to brush away some of his lingering tears.
“Okay, Fen,” Asterin sighed, slumping into her oversized recliner. “What do you want to talk about?”
He sat on the coffee table, caging her legs between his own. “I want to know what’s gotten into you. Why don’t you think you’re enough for me, or that you’ll just let me down?”
Watching the tears build in her eyes again at the question, he struggled not to reach out and take her in his arms. Asterin swallowed before finally answering him. “Because of my ex.”
She’d started crying as she said it, and Fenrys rested a hand on her knee to show her that he was there. He knew she’d had a relationship - a long one - that hadn’t ended well, but he’d never pushed her on it. He knew she’d talk when she was ready.
“I know we’ve talked about how I had a pretty bad break-up - that’s where this is coming from.” She dropped her hand on top of the one he had on her knee, her eyes fixed on her engagement ring. “I really thought he and I would be together forever. I was expecting a proposal - what I got was a broken heart. He came home one day and told me that we were done because he could never love me. He said that I was a disappointment and that I’d let him down - he said that I could never be enough for him.”
Asterin was openly sobbing by the end, and Fen climbed into the recliner next to her, pulling her into his lap as he did. “I’m so sorry, my love.”
She cried into his chest, one hand fisted in his shirt. ‘He told me I was just a mistake, and I don’t want to be your mistake too, Fen. It would kill me.”
Burying his face in her hair, Fenrys let her cry until she didn’t have any tears left. It killed him to see her like this, and he needed her to know that he was always going to be there for her.
Once she’d calmed down, Fenrys lifted her chin until her eyes met his. He slipped his fingers over her jaw so he could cup her cheek, and she pressed a quick kiss to his palm before meeting his eyes once more. “Asterin, I want you to listen to me, okay?”
She nodded, and he kissed her forehead.
“I love you, Asterin Blackbeak. Okay? I love you. You are, without a doubt, the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You could never let me down or disappoint me. I’m so proud of you every day. Every single day. You, my love, are so much more than enough for me - you always will be. You will never be a mistake - never. The only mistake would be not spending the rest of my life with you. Okay, my love?”
“Okay,” she whispered, a small smile on her face even though tears still sparkled in her eyes. “Gods, Fen, I love you so much. I”m sorry for all of this.”
“You don’t ever have to apologize for the way you feel, baby.” Fenrys pressed another kiss to her forehead. “Just, in the future, promise that you’ll come to me when you feel this way, instead of keeping it all inside?”
“Okay, I promise, Fen. I promise.” Asterin leaned up to kiss him, and he pulled her closer. When she pulled away, he was relieved to see that she was smiling - though the giggles that accompanied it were a little concerning.
“Something funny to you, Rin?”
“No,” she giggled, kissing his jaw. “I just can’t believe how lucky I got when I met you.”
Grinning down at her, he kissed her temple. “I’m the lucky one.”
TWO YEARS, SEVEN MONTHS, AND TWENTY DAYS AGO
Vaughan groaned as he threw himself down on Sorrel’s bed, her laughter echoing around him as he landed with his face pressed against her stomach. He chuckled against her skin, the cropped t-shirt she was wearing baring her smooth skin to him. Breathing in her scent, he enjoyed being able to just take the time to be with her.
Carding her fingers through his hair, Sorrel began humming, and he lost himself in the rambling melody. He was grateful for her - whatever she was to him, as they’d never defined it, never put a label on it - and moments like this reminded him why.
He lifted his head just as her tune came to an end, the last note hanging in the air between them. Grinning at the peaceful expression on her face, he rolled until he was next to her, their hands laced between them.
“You’ll never guess what happened today,” Sorrel said, her thumb trailing over the back of his hand.
Turning his head to look at her, he raised one eyebrow, causing her to giggle. “You’re right, I probably won’t. What happened, babe?”
“Well, I was at Crochan Antiques to visit Bronwen,” she started, “and Una - one of the girls who works for her - was talking about you.”
She cut herself off, and Vaughan prodded her in the shin with his foot. “And?”
“And, well, she kind of called you my boyfriend.”
He could see her lips moving, could hear the sounds coming from them, but he stopped processing what they meant. Sitting up abruptly enough that he yanked his hand from hers as emotions swirled in his head, he felt his face twist into something angry.
“But I’m not.” Vaughan interrupted whatever she’d been saying, the words practically ripping out of his throat.
She sat up, a confused expression on her face. He realized he’s spoken too quickly for her to understand.
“I’m not your boyfriend,” he growled.
“Vaughan, I know that, but -.”
“I’m not your boyfriend,” he repeated, “and you’re not my girlfriend. We aren’t a couple.”
Sorrel only stared at him, almost like she didn’t understand why he was so upset, and that made him angrier.
“I told you when we started this that I didn’t want a relationship, couldn’t be in one. I told you this would just be sex, nothing else. I thought you understood that. Clearly I was wrong.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” she cried, reaching out to poke him in the chest. “Of course I understand what this is, what we are!”
He snorted derisively, shoving away her hand. “Yeah? And yet you let all your friends call me your boyfriend?”
“No, Vaughan, if you would just listen to me -.”
He was standing before she could get any further. “No,” he spat, backing toward her bedroom door, “I’m done listening. I really thought you were different, but you’re not. You’re just like every other girl I’ve been with - you say you can handle sex without a relationship and then you can’t. You’re just another disappointment.” He could see the confusion on her face fade as it was replaced by anger and hurt, and he knew that it would bother him when he thought on it when he got home, but he couldn’t keep the words in.
Her bedroom door slamming behind him, Vaughan squeezed his eyes shut as he felt the pressure of tears building. He left her apartment, his thoughts whirling.
He’d always avoided relationships and commitments, too afraid of the pain they could bring. He was terrified of letting himself get that close to someone and then having them walk way. He knew he was protecting himself, but losing Sorrel was gutting him in a way he didn’t expect.
Vaughan felt the tears he’d been trying to keep at bay start spilling down his cheeks as he reached the elevator, but he never got the chance to wipe them away. Just as he lifted his hand, someone slammed into him from behind.
Stumbling forward a couple steps before he managed to regain his balance, he turned his head just enough to see dark hair tangled with his own, meaning that the person currently clinging to his back was Sorrel.
“Sorrel, what the hell?” he spluttered, trying to pry her arms from his neck.
Sighing at him, she jumped off his back, smacking the back of his head before he could turn to face her. “Okay, asshole, I’m going to talk now, and you’re just going to listen. Got it?”
He just nodded, the anger flashing in her eyes enough to keep him from saying a word.
“Who the fuck do you think you are, calling me a disappointment after two years?” She was practically shouting, but he couldn’t blame her. “We’ve been sleeping together for almost two years, and you call me a disappointment because someone else thought we were dating? That’s not fair, and you know it. I happen to like the arrangement we have, and I wouldn’t do anything to change it. Have I ever given you a reason to think otherwise?”
“No, you haven’t,” he answered, guilt rushing through him at the thought of all the things he’d said to her, “and I’m so sorry I said what I did. You’re not a disappointment - you never could be. I’ve been burned before by girls who said they were okay with this when they really weren’t. I didn’t want that to happen here and I overreacted. And I’m so incredibly sorry.”
“Vaughan,” she sighed, though she sounded less angry. “Did any of those other girls ever stay for two years?”
He shook his head, and was relieved to hear her chuckle a little in response.
“That’s what I thought,” she muttered, reaching out to cup his cheek. He heard her gasp when she saw the tears still shining in his eyes, and she swiped some from his lashes with her thumb. “Babe, are you crying?”
“Well, yeah,” he mumbled, a blush rising to his cheeks when she kissed his chin. “You’re important to me, Sorrel, and the thought of losing you hurts.”
She nipped his chin when he finished, glaring up into his eyes even as she looped her arms around his waist. “If you wouldn’t have been such a dick, you wouldn’t have needed to put yourself through all of this.”
He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pressed his lips to her forehead, his words muffled against her skin. “I know, I know. I’m so sorry - how can I make this up to you?”
Sorrel winked at him as her hands slid down to grip his ass. “I’m sure you’ll find a way.”
Groaning at the feeling of her hands, he lifted her into his arms and sprinted for her door, her laughter ringing through the hall.
TWO YEARS, FIVE MONTHS, AND TWELVE DAYS AGO
Lorcan pressed a kiss to Elide’s hair, smiling down at the top of her head when she made a contented noise in the back of her throat. His girlfriend just tucked herself tighter against his chest, her fingers skimming over his hand where it rested on her waist.
Squeezing her waist affectionately, he turned his gaze back to the movie they’d been watching, though his focus was still on the woman in his arms. Elide had brought so much joy to his life - a life he had been convinced he was going to spend alone. Though not all of his past relationships - if he could even call them that - had been bad, most had been. Figuring that he was just wired to make relationships fail, he’d resigned himself to being alone.
And then Elide had quite literally walked into his life.
She was everything he never knew he needed, everything he’d never dared to wish for. He felt so lucky - so incredibly blessed - to have found her, and even the thought of losing her caused him a sort of pain that left him breathless.
Blinking to clear his mind, Lorcan dropped his chin to rest on her head, losing himself in the movie as Elide pressed back into his embrace.
It wasn’t even five minutes later that his phone began to ring. Not taking his eyes from the screen, he fumbled for it, answering the call without looking to see who it was.
The voice on the other end turned the blood in his veins to ice.
“Lorcan,” Maeve purred in his ear. “I need a favor, sweetie.”
He felt Elide turn to look at him, probably because she’d felt they way he’d tensed beneath her.
“Isn’t that what Cairn’s for?” he retorted, not bothering to mask the anger in his voice.
It figured that just as he’d been thinking about his past girlfriends, the worst of them would call. He and Maeve had fucked around - he wouldn’t call it a relationship because they’d never really cared for one another - for two years soon after he’d graduated college. At the time, Lorcan really believed that he loved her, but all that changed when the truth came out and their relationship ended.
It turned out that the entire time they’d been together, she’d been sleeping with Cairn, a man she’d always claimed was just her best friend. That revelation had been ugly, and it had left Lorcan gutted.
Despite all of that, Maeve had never truly left his life. Lorcan had always been loyal, and that remained true even after their split. She would often call when she was mad at Cairn, and even though he would swear up and down that each time was the last time, he’d still go.
Maeve let out a low whine, clearly displeased with his hostility. “Cairn doesn’t understand me the way you do. And he wouldn’t understand this - he would think it’s silly.”
Lorcan sighed, his resolve already crumbling. “What do you need?” He felt Elide stiffen at his words, and she brushed away the hand he attempted to rub over her thigh.
“I got a lead in a new show, and I need help with my costume.” He could practically hear the pout in her voice. “I need your help, sweetie.”
He sighed again, even though he was already pushing off the couch. “Fine. But this is the last time.”
She started to reply, but Lorcan hung up before he had to listen to her simpering for another moment.
He turned to face Elide, and she cut him off before he could even try to explain. “You’re really going?”
“I have to, E,” he murmured. “But this is the last time. I promise.”
“That’s what you said you told her the last time.” Elide’s face was full of hurt, and Lorcan hated that he was the cause of it.
“I know, love. But -.”
She cut him off again. “And the time before that.” Elide fixed him with a hard look. “L, you can’t keep doing this. You can’t keep running every time she calls.”
“I know,” he repeated.
Elide rolled her eyes. “If you know, then don’t go. Show her that you aren’t bound to her anymore!” There were tears building in her eyes, and when he tried to reach for her, she pushed him away.
“I already said I’d go.”
A sob tore from her throat at that, but she still wouldn’t let him touch her. “Then go, Lorcan.”
“Elide,” he whispered, trying to find the right words.
She never gave him the chance. “Just fucking go. But know that I might not be here when you get back.”
Lorcan could only stare at her - her words had frozen him on the spot. Sensing his confusion, she added, “I won’t stand for this. So if you want to go, fine. But I want you to know that I might not stay if you choose to walk out that door.”
With that, Elide disappeared into his room, tears spilling down her cheeks. The sound of the lock clicking followed him out the front door.
~*^*~
Running his hands through his hair, Lorcan tilted his head back and stared at the crescent moon hanging in the sky. He’d been sitting on the same park bench for at least four hours, but he couldn’t bring himself to get up and go home.
He was petrified that he would open the door and find that Elide was gone.
He hadn’t even made it to his truck before his phone was buzzing in his pocket with a text from Maeve. He opened it to see a picture of Maeve in barely-there pink lingerie and ivory pumps. She’d sent the caption like what you see - it’s the first of many you’ll see tonight along with it.
He’d stopped in his tracks, feeling like the world’s biggest fool for falling for her bullshit again. A stunt like that meant she and Cairn were fighting and she was hoping to make him jealous when he found out Lorcan had been there.
Pinching the bridge of his nose as he’d tried to get his temper under control, he’d growled into the night air. Dialing her number, he’d started speaking the minute she’d answered, his voice cold. “That’s it, Maeve. I’m done playing this game with you. I should have done this years ago, but I’m doing it now. I won’t keep crawling back to you like some lost little boy. I won’t be bound to you anymore. Don’t call me - we’re done.”
She’d tried to protest, but Lorcan hung up before she could. He’d wanted to run back inside the second he’d slipped his phone in his pocket, but he couldn’t face Elide quite yet.
Instead, he’d made for the park the next block over - the same park he’d taken Elide to on their first date - and that’s where he’d stayed.
Still staring up at the moon, Elide filled his thoughts, and he realized just how long he’d been sitting there when he could have been begging for her forgiveness. He’d just practically leapt to his feet when a beat-up Jeep Cherokee came to a stop in front of him.
Lorcan didn’t have to wait for the driver to get out to know it was Elide.
“Lor!” she cried, sprinting around the front to reach him. “Are you okay?”
He blinked, not believing that she was really standing in front of him. “Elide?” he murmured, breath catching in his throat as she came to stop in front of him. “El, baby?”
She stared up at him, confusion flashing across her face as he just continued to stare at her. “Lorcan,” she said firmly, reaching out to grip his shoulders. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” He brushed off the other questions he could see she was desperate to ask with a wave of his hand, reaching out to cup her cheek with the other. “What are you doing here, baby?”
“Well, about thirty minutes after you left,” she started, pulling away from his hand as her face hardened, “I realized I’d never heard your truck leave, and when I saw it was still in the parking lot, I got worried. I tried to call you about thirty minutes ago, but you didn’t answer, so I came looking for you.”
Even though he could tell that she was still furious with him by the tone of her voice and her expression, Lorcan’s heart fluttered in his chest when he realized she’d been worried about him. Then his heart sank when he realized why she was so worried, and the words came pouring out of him. Everything that had happened that night, from the time he’d left his apartment to the moment she’d pulled up in front of him, spilled through his lips without any conscious effort.
“Anyway,” he concluded, his brain finally catching up with his thoughts, “I’m sorry I made you worry, and I’m sorry I didn’t answer your phone. Maeve’s been calling me all night since I told her I was done with her and after the sixth call I just stopped checking.”
Elide gave him a speculative look. “If you told her off four hours ago, why didn’t you just come home? It would have saved me a lot of worrying and you a lot of trouble.”
Sucking a deep breath in through his teeth as he felt tears building behind his eyes, Lorcan found that he couldn’t quite meet her eyes when he said, “I was afraid you wouldn’t be there. Right after I told her what I did, I knew you hadn’t left because I would have seen you, but I just wasn’t ready to face you. And then, the longer I sat on this bench, the more I thought you would be gone when I got home, and I couldn’t face the thought of walking into my apartment and finding that you were gone from my life.”
“Oh, Lorcan,” she sighed, looking like she wanted to say more, but he held up a hand to stop her.
“Elide,” he whispered, finally meeting her eyes as he dropped to his knees in front of her, a single tear spilling out as he took in her hopeful expression before he managed to get them under control. “I am so incredibly sorry for the way I treated you and I what I put you through tonight. I just - Maeve has always had this hold on me, and no matter how hard I tried I could never shake her. Frankly I think it’s because some part of me didn’t want to. At least, not until I had you in my life. Until I thought I might lose you for good, I never realized just how unimportant she was to me. She might have had a hold on me, but you have a hold on my mind, my heart, and my soul. The thought of losing you makes me feel like I’m dying. And I know this doesn’t even begin to make up for it, but I want you to know how sorry I am.”
He’d dropped his head after he finished talking, so he didn’t see when Elide reached out to run her fingers through his hair, though the action was soothing enough that he looked up to meet her eyes once more. “Lorcan,” she murmured, dropping so she was knee-to-knee on the ground with him. “Damn you, love.”
“Erm, why, exactly?”
“Because you make it so hard to be mad at you.” She laughed lightly, but sobered up as she reached out to cup his face. “I know she put you through hell, babe. I know how much of a hold she had on you. I’m sorry that I threatened to leave, but I wanted you to see that you didn’t need her, because I’m always going to be here for you. I wish you would just talk to me about your feelings instead of thinking you have to take on the world alone.”
Lorcan nodded, turning his head to kiss her palm. “I promise I’m going to work on that. I’m going to get better at talking to you and sharing what -.” He cut off as something dawned on him. “Wait, are you saying you forgive me?”
Elide laughed again, although he noticed it was a little watery. “Of course I forgive you, Lor. I love you.”
“I love you too, baby,” he breathed, the tears he’d been trying to hold back for so long finally sliding down his cheeks as he pulled her into his chest and buried his face in her hair. “So much, El. I love you so much.”
They stayed like that for a while, kneeling on the sidewalk and holding each other tight. Lorcan knew that he was beyond lucky to have Elide, especially after the way he’d acted tonight, and he couldn’t help the way he was sobbing into her hair. He figured she didn’t mind too much, given that he could feel his shirt getting damp as she sobbed against his chest. He wanted nothing more than to never let her go, but he felt the way she began shivering as the cool night air finally started to hit her.
Pulling away enough to meet her gaze, he swiped away the tears under his eyes as he asked, “How about we head back to the apartment, curl up on the couch with a bunch of blankets, and binge-watch something on Netflix - whatever you want?”
She nodded up at him, tears still sliding down her cheeks. “That sounds really nice.” Her tears thickened as she started speaking, and Lorcan wiped them away with his thumbs.
Leaning in to press a kiss to her forehead, he scooped her into his arms and carried her to the car, strapping her into the passenger seat. As he climbed into his side, she reached over to tangle their fingers. “Lor?”
“Yeah, love?” he asked, starting her car up and heading for his apartment.
“We still have to talk about this - you know that, right?”
Pressing a kiss to the back of her hand, he made an affirmative noise in his throat. “I know, I know. I was thinking we could do that over dinner tomorrow? I’ll even cook your favorite.”
He glanced over at her, relieved to see that she was smiling. “You’ve got a deal.”
Lorcan nodded, grateful beyond words that Elide was with him and that he hadn’t completely screwed everything up. He knew that, in the future, he would do whatever he needed to do to keep her - his absolutely amazing girlfriend - in his life.
ONE YEAR, EIGHT MONTHS, AND TWENTY-TWO DAYS AGO
Connall threw himself down on the couch in Vesta’s living room, burying his face in his hands as he listened to her angrily throw things around in her room. By the sound of it, she was changing out of the dress she’d been wearing for their date, muffled curses falling from her lips as he heard the thuds of her shoes hitting the floor in her closet.
He was in deep shit, and he knew it.
They’d been together for just over a year now, and he’d learned very early on in their relationship that guys were simply drawn to his girlfriend. He knew she was beautiful beyond compare, and they did, too. She was constantly being hit on no matter where they were, and though she begged him not to be bothered by it, he could never brush it off the way she did.
Tonight had been no different, and Connall had finally had enough. He usually got possessive, pulling her tight against him or kissing her a little inappropriately to show that she was his, but he’d come close to blows with some guy tonight, and Vesta was not happy with him.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, her bedroom swung open and she came barreling through it, eyes narrowed and a scowl on her face. “Connall, what the hell was that back there?”
Though he knew he should just apologize and get it over with, white-hot anger surged through him and he shot to his feet, meeting her halfway across the room. “He practically had his hands all over you, and I’m supposed to just let some guy touch my girl like that?”
“He had one hand on my arm - ONE HAND - and I was in the middle of handling it when you basically threw him across the room!”
Connall huffed at that, stepping forward until he was face-to-face with Vesta, his forehead brushing hers. “He’s lucky that’s all I did.”
“Connall, how many times do we have to have this conversation?” she cried, throwing her hands up in the air as she backed away from him. “I don’t need you to protect me!”
The laughter that poured out of his mouth then was not kind, and the hurt that flickered through her eyes barely registered before his next words were slipping through his lips. “Clearly - since you’re so quick to throw yourself at other guys. I guess I shouldn’t be so quick to protect someone who’s so eager to go.”
Her entire face crumpled. “What?” she whispered, hands falling limply to her sides as she backed away from him.
“You heard me.” Before she could respond, Connall had turned away from her and yanked the front door open. “I think I need some space.”
He heard her calling his name as he walked away, he heard the sobs in her voice, but he couldn’t bring himself to turn around.
So he kept walking.
~*^*~
He was more drunk than he’d been in a very long time.
Connall wasn’t sure of much as he staggered out of the bar he’d been sitting in for the last two hours and the only place he’d been since leaving Vesta’s, but that he was completely certain of. He knew he was in no shape to walk home, and he knew he needed to get a ride.
He also knew that he needed to apologize to Vesta, knew he needed to explain what had made him say all those horrible things to the woman who made his entire world better.
And then he needed to get down on his knees and beg for forgiveness, because his life would mean nothing without her.
Before he could register what he was doing, his phone was pressed to his ear and his heart was breaking all over again when her voice rumbled through the speakers.
“What the fuck do you want?” Her voice was scratchy, and she sounded like she was sniffling.
“V, babe, I really fucked up.”
“And?”
Connall sucked down a deep breath, desperately trying to clear his mind enough that he could get her to come pick him up. “And I know you’re pissed, and you have every right to be, but I’m fucking wasted and can you please come get me? Please baby?”
He heard some muffled choice words directed at him before she answered him. “Fine. But if you put one hair out of line, you can fucking walk.”
~*^*~
Vesta pulled up in front of the bar, gravel flying as she slammed on the brakes in front of him. The glare she cut his way as he climbed in beside her was icy, though he could see how red her eyes were from crying.
As she pulled out of the parking lot, Connall observed her quietly. Though she refused to look at him, he wasn’t shy as he stared over at her. She was still sniffling quietly, and her hands were shaking as they gripped the steering wheel. She was practically curled in on herself, and it was that thought - the idea that his beautiful, strong girlfriend was broken because of him - that sent him over the edge.
His breathing turned to panicked gasps, and sobs were spilling from his lips before he could even register what was happening. “Vesta,” he gasped, reaching for her and gripping her thigh when she moved her arm out of his reach. “Vesta, I’m so sorry. I’m so fucking sorry, baby.”
“Is that all you have to say to me?” Though her voice was cold, it broke on the last word. “That you’re sorry?”
Tears were spilling down his cheeks in earnest now, and he didn’t even care enough to wipe them away. Instead, they curved down over his jaw and dripped onto his jeans, the little wet spots like raindrops against his legs.
“No, baby, that’s not all. I know that’s not enough to make up for what I said - nothing will ever be enough for that. But I need you to know that I’m sorry - I’m so damn sorry - and I didn’t mean any of it. Not one single word.”
“Really?” she cried, tears dripping down her cheeks now. Thankfully, she’d pulled into the spot next to his in front of his apartment, so he wasn’t concerned about her concentrating on the drive. “Because it sounded like you meant it.” Dropping her hands into her lap, Vesta turned to face him, the hurt in her gorgeous eyes gutting him. “You basically said that I’d cheat on you. Do you really think so little of me?”
Reaching for her without even thinking about it, Connall cupped her jaw with one hand, thumb wiping away a single tear when she didn’t flinch away from the touch. “Of course not! You know I think the world of you. It’s myself I don’t think very much of.”
That seemed to catch her off guard. “What?” she whispered, blinking at him in confusion.
“I know that you’d never cheat on me - you’re too good of a person to ever do that. But… well, it’s complicated.” Connall sighed dropping his head back against the window with a bang.
It was Vesta who bridged the gap between them this time, her fingers dancing over his hand before she twined their fingers together. “Talk to me, baby. What’s going on?”
He met her eyes, more tears spilling over as he offered up the most damaged parts of his soul. “I’ve never been the guy that girls wanted to be with. I’m quiet, I’m sarcastic, and I can be a dick. Girls always wanted to be with Fen, and even when they wanted me, they only wanted me because they thought I could get them closer to my brother.”
“Are you trying to tell me you think I’m going to leave you for your brother?”
“No, of course not.” He couldn’t help but let out a watery chuckle at that. “But it wasn’t just Fen. Whoever my friends were at the time - be it high school or college - girls always used me to get closer to them.”
Vesta tugged his hand up to her lips, pressing a gentle kiss to his fingers before she answered him. “I’m so sorry, Con. That’s awful.”
He nodded, the flow of tears slowing. “I know it doesn’t make up for what I said, but I’m hoping it might explain it. Seeing other guys showing an interest in you, it makes me nervous. It makes me feel like I did in high school, watching the girls I liked walk away from me the minute the guy they really wanted showed the slightest bit of interest. I know you don’t need to be protected - you know I know you can handle yourself - and I know you would never do to me what they did, but I just get so afraid that I’ll lose you.”
Vesta gave him a watery smile, a spark of happiness lighting up her eyes as she took in his words. “You’re afraid of losing me?”
“Of course I am. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Vesta. Losing you would absolutely wreck me.”
Vesta practically leapt over the console to get to him, her knees bracing around his hips as she tangled her fingers in his hair. “Oh, Connall,” she breathed, her breath ghosting over his neck.
His own arms banded around her waist, holding her against him like he was afraid to let go as he pressed kisses to her head and temple. “I’m so sorry, my love. Can you ever forgive me?”
“Of course I can,” she murmured, pressing her lips to his neck one more time before she pulled away. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not still angry,” she muttered, flicking his nose and giving him a stern look.
“Understood,” Connall replied, something in his chest easing when he saw the slight smile pulling at the corner of her mouth. “Are we okay?”
“Yeah, babe, we are.” Leaning over to grab the keys from the ignition, she motioned for Connall to get out of the car. “Let’s get you to bed.”
Realizing how tired he was, Connall grinned sleepily up at her as he climbed out of the SUV. “That sounds like a good idea.”
“Yeah, I know it does,” she quipped, taking the hand he offered her as she climbed out after him. “Besides, you’re going to have a wicked hangover in the morning and I’ll enjoy giving you hell about this fight even more then.”
He laughed, though he knew she was serious. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he guided her toward his apartment, a relieved smile on his face. “Whatever you want, my love.”
As long as he knew that they would be okay, that they would make it through this, then it really was whatever she wanted. Even if that was to yell at him while he was hungover.
ONE YEAR, SIX MONTHS, AND TWENTY-NINE DAYS AGO
“Gav,” Lin whined, her legs curled underneath her as she perched on the counter, “would you quit worrying about your hair? We’re just going for a run.”
Grinning at his fiancée, Gavriel just winked at her as he continued to smooth out his hair as he pulled it into a bun. She groaned at him, and he couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped his throat. “What’s got you in such a hurry today, love? Like you said, it’s just a run - nothing pressing.”
She shot him a devious little smirk, and he felt his heart flutter in response. “Because,” she murmured, voice low and breathy, “the sooner we get back from our run, the sooner I can join you in the shower.”
Gavriel suddenly found he didn’t care about his hair anymore. “Linnea Sidero,” he said as he stalked toward her, “you will be the death of me.” He came to a stop in front of her, and Lin uncurled her legs so she could wrap them around his waist as he tangled one hand in her hair. His other hand came to rest on the side of her neck, thumb brushing lightly over her jaw as he captured her lips with his.
Using his grip to angle her head, Gavriel kissed her harder, his tongue sweeping into her mouth with a groan. Her hands were resting on his chest, fingers curling against the fabric of his tank top as she moaned into his kiss.
Pulling away with a gasp, he went to rest his forehead against hers when his attention snagged on the open envelope on the counter behind her.
“Babe, what’s the National Archery Conference want?” he gestured to the letter behind her at her confused look.
Lin was a champion archer, though Gavriel had noticed she hadn’t been competing as much recently. She also worked as a mechanic at a garage in town, and though he knew she had been picking up more hours there, he worried she was letting archery slip away because of him - because of their relationship.
“Oh, that,” she breathed. “They’ve invited me to join them for a two-month world exposition of all the champion archers.”
“That’s amazing, love.” Gavriel pressed a kiss to her forehead before grinning down at her. “When do you leave?”
“Well, it starts next month,” she said, not quite meeting his eyes. “But,” she continued, an unreadable emotion flashing in her eyes as she finally met his gaze, “I’m not going.”
“What?” Gavriel spluttered, his hands falling from where they’d been cupping her face as he stumbled back a step. “What do you mean you aren’t going?”
“I mean I’m not going.” Lin shot him a confused look, one eyebrow arching as she reached out to grab his hand. “What’s so hard to understand about that?”
He pulled his hand from hers, choosing instead to scrub it over his face. “No, I understood that perfectly. What I meant was, why aren’t you going?”
“Because it’s two months long, that’s why.” She dropped her hand on the counter behind her, sighing as she looked at him. “I have a job here. I have friends here. You’re here. I don’t want to leave my entire life behind for two months.”
Gavriel just shook his head as his worst feelings were confirmed. All of these thoughts and emotions were swarming his brain, but the only one he could vocalize was, “You have to go.”
“Oh, I have to go?” She was practically shouting now, anger crossing her face as she jumped off the counter. “Who are you to tell me what to do?”
He glared down at her. “I’m your fiance - that’s who I am. And I’m not letting you give up your dreams for me.”
That caught her off guard. All the anger slipped off her features, and a deep sadness filled her eyes as she looked at him. “What are you talking about? What dream am I supposedly giving up?”
“Archery. Being a champion archer. Traveling the world.”
“Gav, what? That’s not -.” Lin broke off as he backed away from her, shaking his head as she reached for him.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured, backing even further away from her. “But I won’t let you ruin everything you’ve worked so hard for. You have to go on this tour. And I - I have to go. I’m sorry.” Even as tears built in her eyes, Gavriel turned away from her, letting himself out the front door and walking away from the woman he loved.
~*^*~
1:48 AM. That’s what time the clock read when Gavriel finally stopped staring at the ceiling long enough to look at it. Groaning, he rolled onto his stomach, burying his face in his pillow as the events of his afternoon whirled around his mind for the millionth time since they’d happened.
He couldn’t believe it. He’d told Lin, the love of his life, the woman of his dreams, that she had to follow her dreams even if it meant leaving him behind. He’d meant every word of it to, but - walking out on her like that? That wasn’t the way he should’ve handled the whole situation, and he knew it.
Rutting gods, but he’d messed this up. Just as that thought, and a hundred others just like it, raced through his head, his phone started ringing on the nightstand. He reached out and answered it without paying attention to who was even calling, too caught up in his thoughts to care.
“Yeah?” he muttered, tears building in his eyes as Lin’s broken-hearted face flashed through his mind again.
“Gav?” the voice on the other end questioned, and he jolted up when he realized it was Lin. “Baby, I need to talk to you.”
He rubbed his eyes, trying to both wake himself up and push the tears away. “Lin, hey, is everything okay?”
“No, it’s not.” Gavriel thought he heard her sniffle through the phone, but he wasn’t entirely sure. “I’m going to talk, and I need you to listen, okay?”
“Of course, love.”
Lin took a deep breath before answering him. “Listen, I know you’re worried about me giving up my dreams for you, but that’s not true. Archery isn’t my dream - it never really was. Yes, I love it, and yeah, being a champion is cool, but it’s just something I do for fun. I like my life just the way it is now, and I’m not giving up my dreams to keep it that way. Okay?”
He nodded, and then realized that she couldn’t see him. “So, archery isn’t your dream?”
She huffed, and he could practically hear her frustration in that single noise. “No, my love, it’s not. In fact, I’m staring at the door of my dream right now.”
“Yeah,” he murmured, interest piqued, “and what is that?”
“Open your door.”
Gavriel didn’t think he’d ever jumped out of bed so fast. Heart racing, he practically sprinted through his apartment, pulling the door open before he’d even hung up the phone.
Lin was standing just on the other side of it, a handful of sunflowers in her hands. She smiled up at him, a small timid thing, and reached one hand out for the strings on his sweats. “You’re my dream, Gav. You, and this life we’re building together, and the future we’re going to have. You are everything I want.”
There was nothing he could do to keep his tears from falling as he reached for, barely remembering to take the flowers from her and set them on the table by his door before he was crushing her against his chest. He could feel her muffled sobs against his chest, his own tears soaking into her hair as he breathed in the scent of her shampoo. “I’m so sorry, baby,” he murmured, pulling back to kiss her forehead. “I’m so sorry and I love you so much.” He choked back a sob then, the awe he felt for the woman in front of him completely filling him. “I just - I just wanted -.”
Lin cupped his jaw in her hands, her thumbs brushing away the tears rolling down his cheeks. “I know, my love. I know. And I love you.” She was crying as she looked up at him, but she was smiling too, and he realized how lucky he was to have her in his life.
Sliding his hands under her thighs, Gavriel hauled her into his arms, her legs bracing around his waist as he held her with one arm. With his free hand, he reached for the flowers, carrying them to the kitchen so he could get them in water.
LIn laughed at him the whole time, since he refused to put her down, but he didn’t care. He’d spent the whole night thinking he’d lost her, and he wasn’t about to let her go anytime soon.
Once the flowers were in water, he made his way to his room, his mind finally calming enough that he could finally feel how tired he was. Gavriel crawled under the covers and situated Lin over his chest, barely giving her time to kick off her shoes in the process.
One hand tangled with his, it didn’t take long for Lin to fall asleep, and the steady rhythm of her breathing soon lulled him into slumber, a peaceful smile on his features as he drifted off.
.
And that’s that! Don’t worry, not all of the new CW stuff will be this angsty!
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