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.
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.”
Guess who’s back with more Cadre Weaponry content?? Surprise, it’s me! Okay, it’s time for some good old-fashioned fluff for all of our babies.
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 that our boys are crazy about their girls. Now let’s take a closer look at how they show how much they love their girls!
Warnings: Maybe some language, but I don’t even think you have to worry about that.
.
TWO MONTHS LATER
“Hey, Luca!” Gavriel greeted as he walked into the lobby of Main Street Automotive. “How’s school?”
He was a sophomore in college, but whenever he wasn’t in class he worked the desk of the garage. His father, Malakai, owned the shop, and Gavriel knew that Luca was taking business classes so he could eventually take over.
“It’s going,” Luca replied, grimacing at the snort that slipped through Gavriel’s lips. “I like it and all, but Business 220 is kicking my ass.”
“Darrow still teaching that?” Gavriel asked, remembering how much of a hardass the man had been when he’d taken the class. When Luca nodded, he gave him a sympathetic grin. “I know he’s tough, but just keep pushing. Do well in his class and he’ll be the best reference you could ever ask for.”
Luca just sighed, though he did mutter a quick “thank you” before a sly grin lit up his features. “I know you’re not here just to ask me about school,” he joked. “Could you possibly be here to see your wife?”
Gavriel felt a giant smile spread over his face, but there was nothing he could do to stop it. He and Lin had been married for almost a month, and every day still felt like a dream. “Of course I’m here to see my amazing wife.”
Luca just laughed at him and pointed toward the office/breakroom. “She’s back there somewhere. Just go on back.”
He waved and ducked around the counter, walking through the door just as Malakai came in from the garage. “Gavriel,” he nodded. “She’ll be right in - she was just under the hood of a ‘67 Impala.
Gavriel nodded at him, and opened his mouth to reply just as Lin walked through the door, a towel in her hands to dry them off. His voice died in his throat, and he heard Malakai chuckle at the awestruck look he felt slide across his face. Her dark hair was pulled up in a messy bun, pieces of her hair framing her face where they’d come free, and there was a black smudge across one cheek - probably from when she’d tried to brush a chunk of escaped hair off her face. She’d unzipped her overalls and left them hang around her waist, and the white tank top she had on underneath clung to her with sweat.
He decided he’d never seen anyone more beautiful.
Tossing the towel toward the laundry bin, she caught sight of him standing there. “Gav,” she smiled, eyes bright as she made her way across the room. She wrapped her arms around his waist and grinned at him. “What brings you here, husband?”
“You, my beautiful, forgetful wife.” When she gave him a confused look, he held up the water bottle in his hand, at least half a lemon sliced and floating inside it. Lin only liked lemon-water (she absolutely hated regular water), and he knew she’d be upset when he saw it sitting on the kitchen counter after she’d left that morning. “I thought you might want this.”
“Aww, thanks, baby,” she cooed, leaning up to give him a gentle kiss as she took the bottle from him. “You came all the way here just to bring me my water?”
“Lin, you work two blocks away from me,” he chuckled. “It’s not exactly far.”
“Still, your effort deserves a reward.” She winked at him, a happy laugh bubbling from her throat.
Gavriel pulled her closer, pressing his lips to her forehead. “Getting to see my gorgeous wife isn’t reward enough?”
Lin shook her head, though she did lean into him. “No, because not only did you bring my water, but I also got to see my wonderful husband. So, you get another reward.” She gave him a look that stopped his heart in his chest, and then she was kissing him like they hadn’t seen each other in weeks.
He cupped the back of her neck with one hand, bracing the other on her waist to keep her steady as she rocked up on her toes to kiss him harder. He tilted her head, allowing him to take control of the kiss, and he’d just swept his tongue into her mouth when someone cleared their throat behind them.
Breaking apart, Gavriel turned his head in time to see Luca leading Emrys, his other father and Malakai’s husband, into the room, bags of food in both of their arms. Emrys owned the Mistward Diner, which was right next to the garage. He’d been the one to clear his throat, though it was Luca who yelled “get a room” as he set his bags on the table.
“Breakfast is served!” Emrys announced, pulling every breakfast food imaginable from the bags. Malakai greeted him with a kiss and a smile before heading out to collect the rest of his employees from the garage, and Emrys turned his eyes on Gavriel. “You might as well join us, lad - you’re already here.”
“Yeah, just quit making out with Lin where we can see it!” Though Luca sounded disgusted, Gavriel knew he was happy for them.
Emrys smacked his son on the back of his head, making him wince theatrically.
Chuckling at their antics, Lin took his hand and led him to the table. They sat down just as everyone came in, smiles on their faces at the sight of the food Emrys brought for them every morning.
Lin reached for the plate of bacon, but she paused when Gavriel placed a hand on her shoulder, turning to give him an inquiring look. Dipping his napkin in the cup of water someone had placed in front of him, he used it to gently wipe the grease from her cheek.
She leaned into his touch, whispering “I love you” before pressing her lips to his palm.
“As I love you,” he murmured back, kissing her temple before turning back to the table, grinning at the soft looks everyone was giving them.
TWO MONTHS AND FIVE DAYS LATER
Lorcan breathed deeply as he walked through the door, the scent of books filling him with a sense of peace. He’d always loved to read, had always been calmed by just being around books, and he loved them even more now that he was married to the owner of a bookstore. Lady of Perranth Book Emporium was Elide’s pride and joy, and he loved everything about it. She’d used part of her inheritance from her parents to pay for college - she had degrees in business and marketing - and to buy and start her own business. And business was booming - she sold new and used books, which people loved.
Looking toward the till, Lorcan waved when he saw Ghislaine standing behind the counter. Another member of the Thirteen, she and Elide had become close when Elide moved in with Manon on her eighteenth birthday to get away from her uncle. She had always loved to read, and he knew she’d been thrilled when Elide had offered her a job.
“Hey, G,” he greeted, nodding at the book in her hands. “Jeffrey Deaver?”
“Lorcan, hey,” she replied. “Yeah, I thought it was time for a Bone Collector reread.”
“Always a solid choice. Any idea where Elide might be?”
Ghislaine chuckled. “Well, last I talked to her, she was checking inventory upstairs, so I’d start there.” Elide tended to multitask, which meant that she was all over the store all day long.
He just laughed as he made for the stairs. “Thanks,” he replied, her response echoing behind him as he climbed toward the second floor.
Catching sight of her as soon as he turned to face the room, he couldn’t stop the smile that spread over his face. Her dark hair was secured in a messy bun on the top of her head, most likely to keep it from falling into her face while she organized the books. She was halfway up a ladder, a box resting on the top of it as she made space on the shelves.
Setting the bag he was carrying on the floor, Lorcan wrapped his arms around her thighs from behind. “Hey, beautiful,” he murmured, pressing his lips to the strip of bare skin on her waist where her shirt had ridden up.
Though she’d tensed at his initial touch, Elide relaxed into his arms at the sound of his voice. “Hello, handsome,” she replied, turning to face him. She started to say something else, but it turned into a squeal when he lifted her off the ladder, sliding her down his body until her feet were on the ground.
“Hi,” he said again, lips brushing her forehead before he pressed them to her lips. Lorcan often thought that kissing Elide was his favorite thing.
When he finally pulled away, her cheeks were flushed. “Wow,” she breathed, shooting him a smirk. “What brings you here in the middle of the work day?”
He motioned to the bag on the floor. “Well, it’s my lunch break and I was hoping to have lunch with my lovely wife.”
Her eyes lit up, and he felt his own smile growing. They’d been married for three months, and Lorcan was convinced he fell more in love with her every day.
“Aren’t you the most thoughtful husband?” she replied, fingers dancing over his jaw. “If you brought what I think you did,” she continued, “then I will most definitely have lunch with you.”
“Sandwiches from Cafe Terrasen - made by Aelin herself because Lysandra was supervising every move and I harassed her into doing it - and your favorite desserts, too.” Lorcan laughed as she practically started drooling at his words. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders after grabbing the bag, he began leading her toward her office.
Tangling her fingers with his, Elide leaned up to kiss his cheek as they walked. “G!” she called as they walked down the stairs. “I’m taking lunch with my wonderful husband.”
Ghislaine just nodded from her spot behind the counter, more than used to their antics.
Ducking out from under his arm at the bottom of the steps, Elide grabbed his hand again and started pulling him along, a happy smile on her face.
Lorcan knew he was grinning like a fool, but he didn’t care. His heart belonged completely to this woman - his amazing wife - and he wanted to show her that every single day. As she opened the door to her office, he said, “I’m so in love with you.”
“I’m in love with you,” she responded, kissing him one last time before they sat down to start eating.
TWO MONTHS AND TEN DAYS LATER
The Keep was busy when Vaughan opened the door, though it seemed that most of the customers were gathered around tables instead of flocking to the bar. The restaurant was full of laughter and chatter, and he smiled at the relaxed atmosphere of the room. This had always been one of his favorite places in town, and not just because of the gorgeous woman tending to the bar.
He grinned as he watched her shake a drink, a wide smile on her face as the couple she was waiting on laughed at whatever she’d said. She caught sight of him as she was pouring the drink into a glass, and the smile on her face got even brighter. She finished what she was doing and made her way toward him, doing a quick sweep of the bar as she did. “Hey, babe,” Sorrel practically squealed as she rounded the bar. “What brings you here?”
“I can’t just want to see my beautiful fiancée?” They’d been engaged for just over two months, and Vaughan woke up in awe of that fact every single day. “But,” he continued as she saw what he was holding, “I will admit it’s not the only reason I stopped by. I know it’s a late night for you and I thought you might like some coffee.”
“Well, aren’t you just the sweetest?” she murmured, taking the cup he extended her way. A breathtaking grin lit up her face when she took a sip, and the little moan that escaped her throat made his breath hitch. “And you even remembered how I take it!”
She’d been leaning up to kiss him, her coffee resting safely on the bar behind her, but Vaughan pinched her lips between his thumb and index finger. “Really?” he murmured, voice low as her hands danced across his thighs. “We’ve been together for five and a half years now - did you really think I wouldn’t know your coffee order?”
She nipped at his fingers when he finally pulled them away, and he smirked at the gleam in her eyes. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant that you’re so good to me and I appreciate it.” She kissed him, just the softest brush of her lips on his, and Vaughan cupped her cheeks as he rested his forehead against hers. “Though it does make me curious about something.”
“And what’s that?” he breathed, eyes falling shut as she stroked her fingers over his spine.
“If you’re this good to your fiancée, how will you be with your wife?”
“My wife,” he replied, one hand tangling in her hair as the other slid down her body to rest just above the swell of her ass, “will be spoiled rotten.”
Sorrel didn’t have a chance to respond before he was kissing her, tongue sweeping into her mouth as he backed her against the bar. She fell apart beneath him, a gasp sliding into his mouth as he kissed her harder. Her fingers knotted in the fabric of his shirt when he tilted her head to kiss her with a deeper, claiming sort of fire. He forgot where they were - he forgot everything but the taste and feel of Sorrel as he lost himself in her.
“Vaughan, if you don’t stop distracting my bartender I’ll have to throw you out.” He was distantly aware of a voice talking to him, but it wasn’t until Sorrel pushed on his chest to break their kiss that he realized it was Edda who had spoken.
He took in the flush spreading across Sorrel’s cheeks before he lifted his head to smirk at Edda. “I don’t think your bartender would be too happy if you threw her fiancé out.”
“Okay, we get that you two are all ‘in love’ or whatever, but the rest of us don’t need to see it.” that was Briar, walking up to flick the side of his head. The two Blackbeak cousins owned The Keep Pub and Grille, and, despite their threats, he knew they found his relationship with one of their closest friends (and fellow member of The Thirteen) adorable. “So don’t tempt us - one of these days we’ll really do it.”
Giving her a hurt look, he turned pleading eyes on Sorrel. “You wouldn’t let them throw me out, would you, baby?”
She kissed his jaw quickly and walked back behind the bar, coffee in hand, before replying. “I just might - you’re very distracting.”
He winced theatrically and clasped a hand over his heart. “You wound me, baby.”
She just giggled and blew him a kiss before taking a lap to see how her customers were doing. He watched her work with a smile on his face, struck by how incredibly amazing she was and how lucky he was to have her.
Sorrel caught him watching her, and she tilted her head in a silent question at the look he was giving her.
Vaughan just shook his head, mouthing, “I love you.”
She smiled, the happiness in it bringing her eyes to life. “And I love you,” she mouthed, waving and holding up her coffee in a silent thank you as he turned for the door.
TWO MONTHS AND FIFTEEN DAYS LATER
Connall couldn’t help the smirk that crossed his face as he walked through the front door and saw the way Petrah narrowed her eyes at him. Petrah Blueblood was the owner of The Wastes: Tattoo and Body Piercing, and she loved to give him a hard time. Even though he was engaged to one of her artists, he’d always gotten his tattoos at Doranelle Ink, which was owned by Rowan’s cousin, Sellene. It was also where Essar worked, and she and Lorcan remained friends despite their past, so all of the guys had been going to both of them for years.
“This shop is for customers of The Wastes only,” Petrah quipped, chucking a balled-up piece of paper at him. “No Doranelle Ink patrons allowed.”
“I guess you’ll have to stop letting Elide get tattooed here then,” he replied, tossing her paper right back at her. “You know Essar did her first two.” Though Vesta did all of Elide’s ink now, Essar had indeed done the first two, since Lorcan had drawn them with Essar’s help.
“That’s different.” That came from Rhiannon Crochan as she walked out of her suite. She was the other artist who worked there, and, as she was Manon’s half-sister, she knew Elide and the Thirteen very well. “We’ve converted her - she’s ours now.”
“Oh, so that’s how that works?” He raised an eyebrow at the two of them. Rhiannon cracked, a chuckle slipping through her lips, but Petrah held firm.
“That’s exactly how this works.” She looked like she wanted to say more, but Vesta chose that moment to walk into the room.
“Okay, you two,” she started, red hair tumbling around her shoulders as she pulled it free from the bun it had been piled in. “Leave my fiancé alone.”
That was what finally broke Petrah, giggles falling from her lips. Connall laughed with her, grateful that Vesta had such supportive friends - and that they liked him. He had always been worried that he wasn’t enough for her, but he had started to believe he was when he realized her friends approved of him.
Once he finally stopped laughing, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. “Hey, baby,” he murmured into her hair.
“Hi, love,” she replied, her face against his chest. “How come you’re here?”
“Well,” he started, pulling back enough that he could see her face, “I know you have a late appointment tonight, so I stopped at The Keep and grabbed us some dinner.” He lifted his other hand to show her the bag he carried.
Vesta smiled at that, happiness making her eyes light up. “Thanks, my love - that was really sweet.”
“Well, anything for my future wife.” Connall watched a faint blush spread over her cheeks at his words, and he leaned down to give her a soft kiss. “All this time together and the thought of being my wife still makes you blush?”
“It’s because I can’t believe how lucky I am.” She was smiling when he pulled away, twining their fingers and leading him to the small kitchen at the back of the shop. “I really appreciate this, Con. I was just debating if I had enough time to run out and grab something.”
“I’m glad I caught you before you left then.” Connall was pulling food out of the bag as he talked, watching as Vesta grabbed silverware from a drawer. “How much time do you have?”
“She’ll be here in about an hour and a half.”
Connall pulled out a chair for her, making sure she was seated before he joined her. “Seems kind of late for a tattoo appointment.”
“That’s because it is.” Vesta took a bite of the burger he’d brought her before she continued. “But Kaltain is a friend from college, and we’ve been designing her tattoo for months, and we were both too excited to wait.”
He nodded at her words, a small chuckle escaping him. That definitely sounded like her - designing was her favorite part of the whole process and she was always so excited to see the finished tattoo. When she raised an eyebrow at his laughter, he said, “I’m glad you love the design process so much, because I have an idea.”
“Yeah, and what’s that?”
Connall grinned at the suspicion in her tone as he took her hand in his. “Well, I’ve been thinking that I want another tattoo, and since you are my fiancée and all, I was thinking you could do this one?”
He’d watched her eyes get brighter as he talked, and he couldn’t help but smile at the sight of tears beginning to pool in them as she realized what he was saying. “Really?” she squealed.
He nodded, and she launched herself into his lap, her face buried in his neck. “Oh, Connall, I’m so excited! And I’m so honored, baby.”
“I’m the one who’s honored, Vesta. You’re so talented. I’ve been meaning to ask for a while, but I wanted to find something perfect for you to design.” She kissed him before the words had finished leaving his lips, and he could feel her joy practically radiating from her.
The kiss was hard, and he was breathing heavily by the time she pulled away, though he noticed that she was, too, as she breathed “I love you so much, Connall Moonbeam” against his lips.
“I love you just as much, Vesta Iarann.”
She pulled back enough to look into his eyes. “Does this mean you have an idea?”
“It does.”
She squealed again, kissing him quickly before climbing off his lap. “Let me get my sketchbook and we can get started!” she called, already out of the room before she’d gotten halfway through her sentence.
Connall felt his smile grow as he realized, once again, just how much he loved her. And how much he couldn’t wait to be married to her in eight months.
She was his whole world, and he couldn’t wait for everyone to know it.
TWO MONTHS AND TWENTY DAYS LATER
Walking into Blackbeak Gym was a lot like walking into his college gym, though on a much larger scale. The main room, which was situated behind the front desk, was full of rows upon rows of equipment, treadmills lined along one wall and weights along another, with an open space in the back, the floor covered in mats. There was a hallway just to the right of the front desk that led to both locker rooms, and he could just make out the office door in the back corner. The second floor consisted of smaller rooms (equipped for the various classes taught in them) ringed by an indoor track. He knew the door to his right would take him to a huge climbing wall, and the one to his left would lead him to the pool.
It was the door on the left that Fenrys moved toward, waving to Imogen as she stood behind the desk, where she was most likely checking her appointments. As a personal trainer, her days were never the same. She waved back just as he walked through the door, and then his eyes immediately locked on the golden-haired figure moving through the water.
Asterin broke through the surface, hair slicked back and her black one-piece clinging to her in a way he could describe as sinful. She blinked the water from her eyes as she reached for the edge of the pool, droplets clinging to her lashes as she caught sight of him. “Hello, love,” she grinned. “I wasn’t expecting to see you!”
“I just stopped to admire the view,” he quipped, raking his eyes over her as she floated in the water. “Now I finally know why you guys have such a booming business - you look positively sinful, baby.”
Asterin scoffed and splashed water over his legs, though the giggle that escaped her mouth told him she was only playing. “I’ll have you know that people come here because our gym is awesome.” She’d started climbing out of the pool as she spoke, but she stopped at the top of the ladder to give him a look. “Getting to see me like this is an added bonus.”
“It certainly is,” he murmured, handing her the towel she’d pointed to and pressing his lips to her forehead. “It’s a shame none of them can ever have you now - you’re mine for life, lovely wife.”
“And beyond even that,” she whispered before continuing at normal volume, “I guess it’s a good thing I love you so much then, my husband.”
Fenrys chuckled at that, wrapping one arm around her shoulders as she began walking toward her office. They’d been married for a month and a half now, and their honeymoon stage was still going strong. “Well, you’re about to love me even more.”
When she only gave him a confused look, he held up the hand he’d been keeping hidden behind his back, allowing her to see the real reason he’d actually stopped in. “I thought you might want a smoothie after your swim.” She’d come into the gym early sometimes to use the pool before it got too full, and she always said smoothies were her favorite way to start her shift on those days. He knew she usually ran out to grab one, so he figured he’d surprise her.
Asterin beamed and took it from him, all but moaning as she took a sip.
He couldn’t help but laugh at her reaction. “People will really keep coming in if you keep making noises like that.”
“Shut up,” she quipped, leaning up to kiss him quickly before letting both of them into her office. “Thanks for this, baby - it’s exactly what I needed.”
“Glad to be of service, my love.”
She gave him an innocent little smirk, setting her drink on her desk before she pushed him down into the chair behind it. Climbing on his lap, she murmured, “let me thank you properly.”
Fenrys smirked up at her, a low whistle falling from his lips at the sight of her damp hair framing her face. “I don’t know what I did to get so lucky, Rin, but I’m glad I did.” He pressed a soft kiss to her jaw, heart fluttering when he saw tears spring into her eyes at his words.
“Damnit, Fen, stop making me cry when I’m trying to be sexy!”
“Baby, there’s never been a single moment that I didn’t think you were sexy.”
More tears spilled down her cheeks at that, but it didn’t stop her from kissing him once, twice, three times. “I love you so much.”
She kissed him harder then, tongue sliding into his mouth. He was losing himself in everything that was his amazing wife, hands settling on her hips, when someone flicked the side of his head.
“You know,” Manon drawled, one eyebrow arched, “some people are trying to work here.”
“That’s why you have your own office!” Asterin whined, dropped her forehead against his while he laughed at her.
“And how exactly am I meant to go over finances with you if I’m in my office and you’re in yours?” Manon gave her a hard look, though Fenrys could see the teasing glint in her eye.
Asterin sighted through her nose. “Send me an email and schedule an appointment.”
Even Manon laughed at that, their combined chuckles filling the office. Fenrys was still laughing as he stood, Asterin’s legs wrapping around his waist. Sliding his hands under her thighs to support her, he pressed one more kiss to her lips. “As much as I’d love to stay, I do actually have a job to get to.”
Untangling herself from him, Asterin pressed her lips to his chin. “Okay, babe. I love you.”
“And I love you,” he replied, hugging her and nodding at Manon on his way out.
TWO MONTHS AND TWENTY-FIVE DAYS LATER
He walked through the double doors to Cafe Terrasen, a wide smile on his face as the quaint atmosphere of the coffee shop washed over him. Aelin had poured her heart and soul into this place when she’d bought it, and he could see her love for her home and her history reflected in every single part of the building. Despite the fact that she’d never been the best cook - she tried, but something always seemed to go wrong - she managed to own and operate an incredibly successful coffee shop. Although, part of that was probably because Aelin only made the drinks, since she was an excellent barista - Lysandra handled the food.
Just as the thought crossed his mind, Lysandra came out from the back carrying a tray of muffins, the blueberry scent wafting through the room. She was whistling as she worked, waving to their regular customers as she slid the muffins into the display case. Looking up, she caught his eye and her face broke into a wide smile. “Hey, Rowan!” she greeted, wiping her hands on her apron.
“Hey, Lys,” he replied, resting his arms on the counter by the till, the duffel bag slung over his shoulder thunking gently against the wood. “Busy morning?”
She shrugged, a wry look on her face. “You know how it is. The early morning rush is a lot, but it’s slowed down now - gives me time to stock the bakery case.”
“And, let me guess,” Rowan interjected, “it gives Aelin a chance to take a chill pill?”
Lysandra only arched an eyebrow. “Have you ever known her to calm down?”
“Not really, no,” he chuckled. “Speaking of my frazzled wife, where is she?”
She waved a hand toward the kitchen. “She’s in the back, arguing with the espresso machine - well, I assume so, anyway. Maybe seeing you will get her to chill out.”
Rapping his knuckles twice on the counter, he nodded his thanks and walked around the counter, grabbing a cup from the shelf and pouring some of Cafe Terrasen’s signature dark roast into it. Stirring two spoonfuls of sugar into it, he snapped the lid into place and walked into the kitchen - and was greeted with the sight of his wife scowling at an espresso machine, just like Lysandra had said.
“Hey, baby,” he murmured, kissing her cheek as he walked up behind her. “Get into a fight with another piece of equipment?”
“Ro, hey.” She knocked her temple against his chin gently, her brow still furrowed even as she turned to face him. “Aren’t you supposed to be at work?”
Nodding, he handed her the cup of coffee in his hand. “I’m on my way there now, I just wanted to stop in to see you on the way.”
“Aww, that was sweet.” Aelin offered him a small smile, kissing him gently before turning back to her latest project. “And thanks for the coffee, love - you always know exactly what I need.”
He snorted, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder. “Well, I’d like to think that after three years of marriage, I know my wife pretty well. Now - why the frustration with the espresso thingy?”
She chuckled at that, which was what he’d been hoping for. “The filter just got clogged and I’m trying to clean it - I’m not even that frustrated with it. Lys just likes to be dramatic.”
“I know, baby.” Rowan kissed the side of her neck, working his lips up to her jaw and over to her lips, pressing soft kisses to her mouth, one after another after another. He didn’t stop kissing her until she was laughing against his lips, her own curled into a smile.
Aelin slipped her hands over his shoulders, pausing when her fingers caught on the strap of the duffel bag he was still carrying. “Why do you have a duffel bag?” she asked, pulling away to stare at him in confusion.
“Oh,” he murmured, almost forgetting the reason he’d decided to stop by the coffee shop on his way to work. “It’s yours, actually.”
“Mine?” Her nose scrunched up as she tried to figure out what he was talking about, and Rowan couldn’t help but laugh at how adorable she was. He leaned forward and kissed the tip of her nose, squeezing her sides gently when she swatted his chest.
“Yours,” he confirmed. “You remember our plans for this afternoon?”
She offered him a tentative smile. “Yeah, we’re going to The Gap to go hiking. What does that have to do with anything?”
“Well, Fireheart, I know I might have distracted you a little this morning when you were trying to get ready.” He broke off as she poked him in the stomach, the corners of her eyes crinkling as she laughed, and he couldn’t help but join in. He’d joined her in the shower that morning, and he’d kept her moans echoing throughout their bathroom long after the water had run cold. “Anyway, I noticed that you forgot your hiking boots when you left. So, I thought I’d drop them off on my way to work today.”
Though she’d looked a little upset about forgetting her boots, her face lit up when she realized he’d brought them to her. “You’re a lifesaver, baby - I can’t believe I forgot them.”
“It’s not a problem, love.” She cupped his cheek, rubbing her thumb over his bottom lip. Kissing the pad of her finger, he added, “I mostly just wanted to stop in and see you, and this way I have an excuse to keep the boys from giving me too much shit.”
Aelin pulled him into a hug, resting her chin against his chest even as she laughed. “They still like to tease you about going soft - just because you were the first one to get married?”
“Yeah,” he chuckled, kissing her forehead. “But if having you in my life means I have to go soft and get teased by the guys? I’d do it without a second thought.”
“Oh, love.” She kissed the side of his jaw, nipping him gently with her teeth as she pulled away. “You were always soft with me.” Kissing him with a kind of tenderness that promised so much more, she added, “it’s part of the reason I fell so deeply in love with you.”
“I love you so much, Fireheart.” Rowan kissed her again, this one lingering and and just a little teasing. “To whatever end.”
“To whatever end, Ro.”
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Okay, that’s that! Stay tuned for more new CW stuff!
If you want to be added to or removed from my tags, just let me know, and, as always, let me know what you thought! The links to the other parts of this story and all my other stories can be found in my bio.
Alright, so here is part two, as promised! I want to thank all of you who liked, reblogged, and commented on part one - your feedback means so much to me!
Don’t mind the bit with all the references to Supernatural - it’s one of my favorite tv shows and it just sort of happened.
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.
Warnings: Things are heating up a little bit in this update, so there’s still no actual smut. Also, there’s probably some language. If I’ve written it, you can always assume there’s going to be language.
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FOUR YEARS, NINE MONTHS, AND TWENTY-SEVEN DAYS AGO
Rowan was working the till when the beautiful woman with the golden hair came through the door.
Fenrys and Vaughan were out on a pick-up - some rare swords from Gavin’s era had come up as part of an estate sale - and would probably be gone until the afternoon. Gavriel and Lorcan were back in their offices, and Connall wouldn’t be coming in until later.
Unlike the customers who stumbled into the store not knowing what to expect, she seemed to know what she was looking for, despite the fact that Rowan had never seen her before. Content to let her browse on her own for a couple minutes, he went back to the order he’d just gotten, digging through their inventory to see if they even had what the customer was looking for.
By the time he looked back up, the golden-haired woman was standing in front of the knives, studying them with an intense look on her face. Stepping out from behind the counter, Rowan watched as she picked one up and weighed it in her palm, her eyes narrowing as she tested the feeling of the knife in her hand.
As he walked up behind her, she shook her head slightly and set the knife back in its place, her gaze already moving over the others displayed on the shelf.
“Is there something I can help you with today?” Rowan inquired, walking up to the shelf next to her.
“No, thank you,” she replied, turning her head to face him. Rowan was stunned by her eyes - turquoise with a ring of gold around the pupil. “I’m just looking for a new throwing knife and I’m trying to find one that’s weighted right.”
“A new throwing knife?” Rowan questioned, even though he’d learned long ago never to judge the people who came through the door - they were constantly surprising him. “Can I suggest this one here?”
Rowan handed her a smaller knife than the first one she’d picked up. “Uh, no offense,” she responded, “but this is smaller than my other knives. I was hoping for the same size.”
“Just try it and see what you think.”
She cut him a look, but she took the blade from his hand. Rowan watched as she held it in her palm, her eyes lighting up as it balanced perfectly. With surprising ease, she flipped the knife in the air, catching it without looking away from him. She grinned as her fingers wrapped around the handle. “Okay, you were right. This knife is perfect.”
“Well, I’ve been told I know a thing or two about weapons - it’s probably why they let me be a part-owner.” He smirked at her as he said it, watching as she rolled her eyes at him.
“Well then, owner, I appreciate the help. I’ll take this one.”
Taking the knife from her, Rowan began walking over to the till, stopping when he heard her gasp from behind him. When he turned around, he found she had her gaze fixed on the swords hanging on the back wall of the store.
“They’re beautiful, aren’t they?” He murmured, awed by the captivated look on her face.
She just nodded, transfixed. “They’re exquisite replicas - I’ve never seen any this good. Whoever made them must be very talented.”
Rowan couldn’t help it. His jaw was somewhere on the floor - no one had ever been able to tell so quickly that they were replicas. “Replicas?” he questioned, confusion lacing his voice. “How did you possibly know they were replicas from all the way over here?”
Turning back to face him, she quirked one eyebrow as she said, “because I know who has the real ones.”
Rowan figured he should have guessed that someone with an interest in weapons would know who actually owned the three most famous swords in the country. “I see you’ve done your research.”
Her brow furrowed. “No, that’s not what I meant. Damaris belongs to my best friend, and my cousin owns the Sword of Orynth.”
“Dorian Havilliard is you best friend, and Aedion Ashryver is your cousin?” When she nodded in response, Rowan continued. “And what about the other one? How do you know its owner?”
“Oh, Goldryn?” She inclined her head in the direction of the sword. “Well, that was the one that I knew immediately was a replica. See, I knew it couldn’t be here because it’s hanging on my wall at home.” When Rowan’s eyebrows climbed up his forehead, she added, “my name is Aelin Ashryver Galathynius, and Goldryn belongs to me.”
He just blinked at her for a moment, but quickly recovered himself. “Well, it’s an honor to meet you, Aelin. I’m Rowan Whitethorn.”
Aelin took the hand he offered her, smiling up at him as she shook his hand. “It’s lovely to meet you as well. You know, I’d be more than happy to bring Goldryn by for you to see, if you’d like.”
A grin lighting up his face, Rowan nodded at her as he set her knife on the counter. “That would be absolutely amazing.”
Chuckling at his enthusiasm, Aelin responded, “If you’ll be here tomorrow, I can bring it by then?”
Smiling, Rowan set about ringing up her purchase. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
FOUR YEARS, NINE MONTHS, AND TWENTY-SIX DAYS AGO
The sound of someone knocking on his office door pulled Rowan away from the new designs he was drawing up for the website. “Gavriel, what’s up?”
“Hey, man,” Gavriel smiled, a mischievous glint lighting up his eyes. “There’s a girl out here looking for you?”
“Tell her I’ll be right out,” Rowan replied, nodding in Gavriel’s direction. “And wipe that look off your face!”
Gavriel just chuckled as he walked out the door, causing Rowan to shake his head. Taking a few breaths to calm himself, he stood from his desk and made his way out into the store.
Aelin, who’d been browsing their selection of short swords, looked up as he walked into the room, and the grin that lit up her face practically took his breath away.
“Hey, Aelin,” Rowan called, walking across the store to meet her. “I’m glad you could make it.”
“Anytime,” she replied, placing the sheathed sword she’d been carrying on the counter. “Well, there she is. Go ahead and take a look.”
Rowan wrapped his hand around the hilt of the sword, his fingers slipping into the crevices that had formed over years of use. Resting his other hand on the sheath, he pulled the sword free, drawing in a breath as he beheld Goldryn for the first time. His eyes traced over the blade, taking in every detail of the sword, from the finely honed edge to the beautiful etchings on the pommel.
“Aelin,” he breathed, “this sword… it’s absolutely beautiful.” He was absolutely awestruck by how beautiful it was, even after all these years. Clearly, Aelin, and those who’d had it before her, had taken very good care of it.
“I know, isn’t it?” Aelin’s fingers danced along the engraving on the hilt. “I’ve always loved this blade.”
“Thank you for bringing it in.”
“Yeah, anytime. I could probably bring Damaris and the Sword of Orynth, too. I’d just need to ask Aedion and Dorian.”
Rowan chuckled. “Name-dropping is like a normal thing for you, huh?”
She laughed in response, her grin making her eyes shine. “When you’ve lived my life, it’s kind of hard not to.”
Taking a deep breath, Rowan looked up from the sword he was still holding until he met her eyes. “Well, I’d really like to know more about that life. Would you like to get coffee sometime?”
Aelin blinked, clearly not expecting him to ask her out, but the smile that spread over her face when she recovered was so beautiful that Rowan didn’t care. “I’d love that.”
FOUR YEARS, NINE MONTHS, AND TWENTY-THREE DAYS AGO
Rowan stared at the beautiful woman across the table from him, watching as she laughed at something he’d said. He couldn’t believe Aelin had agreed to go out with him, couldn’t believe he’d been so lucky.
They’d been in the coffee shop for almost an hour, and the conversation had never once halted. Things had never gotten awkward, there had been no moments when they hadn’t had anything to say. Aelin was clever and sarcastic, and charming as hell. She was sweet and adorable - and Rowan Whitethorn was absolutely smitten.
And this was just the first date.
There was one thing he’d wanted an answer to, so he brought it up as her laughter started to die away. “So, there’s something I’ve been dying to ask you about.”
Aelin turned her mesmerizing eyes back to his, the tears from her laughter still sparkling in her eyes. “Oh, yeah?” she smirked. “What’s that?”
He grinned. “So, throwing knives, huh?” When Aelin merely raised an eyebrow at him, he added, “how exactly does one get into that?”
“It’s my dad’s fault, actually,” she smiled, her whole face lighting up. “He was in the military for years, and he introduced me to weapons - firing a gun, shooting arrows, throwing knives. We used to go to the shooting range every weekend. I could hit the center of a target faster than any of the guys there before I could drive.”
Rowan chuckled at that. “Why do I suddenly have the image of you just completely showing up some guy who was hitting on you at the shooting range?”
“Because that happened like three weeks ago.”
Rowan tipped his head back and roared with laughter, the sound of Aelin’s chuckle mixing with his own in a beautiful harmony.
Taking a deep breath to calm her laughter, Aelin studied Rowan, a thoughtful expression on her face. “So, how exactly does one become an owner of a weapons store?”
Smirking at her use of his phrase, he swallowed the last of his coffee. “Well, I met the other guys - there’s six of us - in college. We were partners for a project in a business class, and this was the business we chose. None of us expected for it to become our future, but suddenly we were graduating and it was becoming a reality. And now here I am.”
“That’s actually really amazing.”
Rowan nodded at her words, suddenly noticing how empty the coffee shop was around them. “Hey, it looks like they’re getting ready to close up for the night.”
“So it does,” she agreed, looking around them. “How would you feel about heading to the bar across the street?”
“I feel like that’s a great idea.”
~*^*~
Rowan watched as Aelin tipped her head back, a shot of tequila sliding down her throat as easy as water. She slammed the shot glass down on the table, groaning as the alcohol burned - she had no chaser in sight. He grinned before taking his own shot, the whiskey hitting as the glass hit the table.
They’d been at the bar for a couple hours, and Rowan was incredibly glad she’d thought of keeping their date going by moving across the street, because the longer he spent with her, the more convinced he was that this girl was the right one for him.
As the night wore on, they’d slowly shifted closer to one another, and the little flutter he got in his stomach whenever her shoulder brushed against his just solidified that belief.
Tilting his head down to look into her eyes, he couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face as she grinned at him.
“Ro,” she whispered, leaning in so he could hear her, “I’ll be right back - ladies’ room.” Aelin hopped off her chair and made for the back of the bar, her hips swinging with every step she took.
The sultry grin she shot at him over her shoulder made him chuckle, even as she winked and turned away again.
Rowan had just hailed the bartender for another round when he felt fingers trailing over his shoulders and the back of the neck. Expecting Aelin, though surprised she was back so quickly, he turned, a witty retort dying on his lips as he realized who he was staring at.
Remelle.
He’d had a brief fling with her about a year back, but he’d ended it when he realized that they really had nothing in common. Remelle had never liked that he ended things, claiming that he’d never really given them a chance. So, whenever she ran into him, it was the same. She flirted, tried to win him back over and find her way back into his bed.
“Rowan, baby,” she cooed, her fingers sliding into his hair. “How’ve you been?”
Twisting his head to pull away from her fingers, he levelled a hard stare at her. “Remelle. I’m fine, thanks.”
“That’s good, baby. That’s really good.” She wrapped her hand around his arm, her fingers digging into his bicep. “I’ve missed you, Rowan.”
Shifting away from her, Rowan did what he could to pull his arm away from her, but she just dug her fingers in harder, her other hand fisting into the bottom of his shirt.
“Baby, what’s wrong? Don’t you miss what we had?”
He’d had about as much of her simpering as he could take, and he was opening his mouth to tell her so when another hand slipped around his neck, the fingers ghosting over the small hairs at the back of his neck as it did.
“Sorry love, there was a line for the ladies’ room.” It was Aelin, come to rescue him. Leaning in, she pressed a kiss to his temple before turning to face Remelle. “Who’s this?”
“I’m Remelle - Rowan and I go way back. Who the hell are you?”
Aelin widened her eyes at her words, a look of feigned surprise spreading over her face. “Oh, I don’t believe he’s ever mentioned you. And as for who I am -,” she paused there to pull herself into Rowan’s lap, his arm falling naturally around her hips as she wrapped hers around him, “I’m Rowan’s girlfriend.”
Remelle gasped and stumbled away like someone had shocked her. “His girlfriend!”
“Yes, his girlfriend. And I really don’t think he appreciates the way you keep touching him without his permission.” Aelin smirked as Remelle spluttered in rage. “Now, if you don’t mind, we’re on a date.”
Not giving Remelle time to reply, she just turned to Rowan and pressed her lips to his. He gasped into her mouth, and Aelin took the opportunity to deepen the kiss as Remelle huffed and stormed away.
Rowan felt himself come alive as Aelin moved her lips against his, her fingers twisting into his hair. He could have kept kissing her all night - he could already feel himself getting lost in it - but Aelin pulled away when she was sure Remelle was gone.
“Sorry about that,” she muttered as she jumped off his lap. “You just looked very uncomfortable and it was the easiest way to save you.”
“No, don’t apologize. Remelle’s an ex - if we can even call her that - who doesn’t know when to give up.” Rowan took a deep breath, trying to get his thoughts in order. “Besides, if that’s how you’re going to rescue me, you won’t hear me complaining.”
Aelin smiled at him, leaning in until her forehead knocked against his. “I guess I’ll have to rescue you again sometime then, since you liked it so much.”
“Actually, I have a better idea.” Pulling back enough to look into her eyes, Rowan took her hand in his. “If you would do me the honor of being my girlfriend, you wouldn’t need an excuse to do that.” He felt his smile turn sheepish, his nerves showing as he waited for her answer.
Aelin’s smile was brighter than the sun as she leaned in to kiss him once, twice, three times. “I would like that very much, my love.”
His own smile matching hers, Rowan just grabbed her by the hips and pulled her back into his lap, kissing her until he thought his lungs would give out.
FOUR YEARS, SIX MONTHS, AND NINETEEN DAYS AGO
Vaughan popped his head out of his office when the bell hanging over the door rang through the shop, alerting him to someone walking in. When he walked out to the front, he couldn’t help the nearly silent groan in the back of his throat as he took in the girl standing there.
From the dark hair piled on top of her head, to the oversized black shirt that practically hid the tiny shorts she was wearing, to the bright pink high top Chucks on her feet, she didn’t exactly look like their typical customers.
“Hi,” he called, walking further into the room. “Is there something I can do for you?”
She glanced over at him, her black eyes meeting his and allowing him to see that they were actually flecked with gold. “Yeah, I ordered a gun and I’m here to pick it up.”
Vaughan grinned, walking over to the shelf behind the till where they kept all their orders. “That’s definitely something I can help with. What’s the name?”
“It’s Sorrel. Sorrel Ferrum.” She leaned her arms on the counter, watching as Vaughan turned to find her order.
“Here it is,” he muttered, pulling a box off the shelf. He read over the papers attached it to make sure all of her background checks were in order before turning back to face her. “A Colt, huh? Are you sure your last name isn’t Winchester, and you placed an emergency order so you could hunt demons tonight?”
Sorrel laughed at that, a piece of hair falling from her messy bun as she threw her head back. “You caught me,” she got out between her giggles. “And here I was hoping you would just buy the story I was about to feed you.”
“Oh, and what was that?”
“That I collect old guns because my mom was one of the best sharpshooters the military had ever seen and I’ve always been intrigued by them.”
Vaughan chuckled, nodding once as he took in her story. “It’s a nice cover, but it’s weak. Next time, try this one: you saw me through the window and you wanted to impress me, so you ordered something you knew would do the trick.”
“Ah, is that what you think is better?” Sorrel arched a brow at him, a smirk growing on her face. “I hate to burst your bubble, but there’s one flaw with that story.”
“Oh, and what’s that?”
Her smirk grew wider, as she answered. “I wouldn’t have the first clue how to impress you - I don’t even know your name.”
“It’s Vaughan Osten,” he replied, picking up the slip with her order. “Shall I ring you up?”
“Funny, I don’t recall asking for your name.” She winked, a small giggle falling from her lips. “And sure, go for it.”
Vaughan chuckled as he started punching numbers into the till, Sorrel watching him with a hint of mischief in her eyes. “Is this cash or card?”
“Card,” she replied, sliding it across the counter to him, slate gray nails clicking against the card as he picked it up.
“Okay, just sign here and the Colt is yours - but only if you promise to take out a demon or two.”
She just shook her head as she signed the receipt, her lips pulling up at the corners. Sliding the paper back across the glass, she grabbed her box off the counter and made for the door, calling “I make no guarantees, but I’ll do my best” over her shoulder. “Thank you!”
He watched as she walked through the parking lot and climbed into a giant black Expedition. Vaughan couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped him - the car was somehow entirely her. Shaking his head, he looked down to put her receipt away when he caught sight of something written beneath her signature.
It was a phone number.
Pulling his phone from his back pocket, he entered the number and typed up a quick message before hitting send. Hey, I think you dropped your number before you left the store. - Vaughan.
It was only a few seconds later when his phone buzzed with a response. At least I know it’s in good hands. Maybe you can return it to me over drinks sometime?”
Vaughan grinned to himself as he answered. You’ve got yourself a date.
FOUR YEARS, FIVE MONTHS, AND TWENTY-NINE DAYS AGO
The feeling of Sorrel’s back pressed against his chest was better than Vaughan had ever imagined it. When they’d gotten to the bar, she’d ordered each of them two shots, and as soon as they’d taken both of them, she was pulling him out on the floor.
Her hips moved against his in rhythm with the pounding bass of the house music, Vaughan’s hands squeezing her hips. One of her hands was resting on his, their fingers intertwined, and the other had wrapped around his neck, pulling his head down to her neck.
Vaughan pressed his lips to her skin, her head falling back to his shoulder as his breath skittered across her skin. Arching her back, she pressed her ass harder against his crotch, and he moaned as he kissed his way up to her jaw.
Sliding his lips even further back, he pulled her earlobe between his teeth, biting down on it gently before soothing the small hurt with his tongue. Sorrel moaned in response to his actions, and Vaughan pulled her body flush against his.
Moving his hips quicker against hers, he was just getting ready to spin her around to face him when someone cleared her throat next to him.
Sorrel pulled away from him just far enough that he could turn to see who was trying to get his attention, and Vaughan felt the blood rushing to his face as he saw who it was.
Anya - a girl he’d hooked up with several times over the last year. Vaughan was known for being a bit of a player, and clearly that was coming back to haunt him tonight.
“Vaughan,” she murmured, leaning in closer so he could hear her, “it’s been a while.”
“Anya, hey,” he muttered, not liking the way Sorrel was slowly pulling away from him.
“We could fix that later, if you wanted.” Anya reached out to run her fingers across his jaw, and Vaughan jerked his head out of her reach. Her hand fell awkwardly to her side, and she gave him a confused look.
“Sorry, but I’m actually here with someone.” He pulled Sorrel back against him, listening as Anya huffed a breath before turning away, clearly irritated with the way he brushed her off.
“Who was that?” Sorrel questioned, her fingers carding through his hair.
“Just someone I used to know.”
She raised an eyebrow at him questioningly, but just pressed her body back against his as her hips started to sway to the music again.
They stayed like that for a while, their hips moving together as the music played. At some point, Vaughan shifted his leg between hers, and their dancing morphed into something a little less polite, Sorrel practically grinding her center against his leg.
Vaughan’s jeans had become uncomfortably tight by the time he leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Think we should get out of here?”
Sorrel just nodded, too breathless and keyed up to respond, so Vaughan wrapped his hand around her shoulders to guide her through the throng of dancing people.
~*^*~
They were barely through Vaughan’s door before Sorrel had his shirt over his head, her fingers scratching over his back.
He returned the favor, unzipping her dress and watching it pool around her feet. As soon as it hit the floor, she was kicking it out of the way as Vaughan lifted her into his arms, his hands gripping her ass as he carried her into his room.
He tossed Sorrel on the bed, his laughter joining with hers as he climbed on top of her. “You’re sure about this?”
Reaching down and popping the button on his jeans, she leaned up to press her lips to his, her tongue sweeping into his mouth. Vaughan couldn’t help the moan that escaped his throat when her fingers wrapped around his cock.
“Yes,” she whispered against his lips, her fingers slowly working him as he kicked his pants off. “I’m absolutely sure about this.”
Vaughan just grinned and pressed his lips to hers again, his hands skimming the outside of her breasts as he moved to undo the clasp on her bra.
FOUR YEARS, ONE MONTH, AND TWENTY-FIVE DAYS AGO
Fenrys looked up from the display of spears he was restocking as the bell above the door jingled and footsteps sounded across the shop. Standing up, he was confronted with the sight of a blonde woman in a pair of shorts-overalls and black Nikes.
At the sound of him walking up behind her, she turned, and he was taken aback by her eyes - they were a deep piercing black with little gold flecks in them. “Is there anything I can help you find?”
“Hi,” she started, gesturing to the wall of swords behind her. “I’m looking for an Ironteeth sword - one of Blackbeak make, in particular.”
“Well, all of our Ironteeth blades are going to be over here,” he said, gesturing to the cluster of swords off to her left. “But as for them being of Blackbeak make, that’s nearly impossible to tell.”
“For you, maybe. But I’ll be fine.” She inclined her head at him once before turning to the swords he’d indicated.
Fenrys just blinked at her. “Oh you will?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I will.” Her tone was biting, and her eyes flashed in warning. “I happen to be an expert of sorts, if you will.”
“Well, so am I, so how could you possibly know the difference when I don’t, and none of the other owners do, either?”
“Because I’ve seen Wind Cleaver with my own eyes. I’ve literally held it in my hands.”
Wind Cleaver. The most well-known and renowned Blackbeak blade ever forged. That this woman had actually touched it - Fenrys couldn’t help himself as his jaw dropped open. “How did you manage that?”
“I happen to be quite close with its owner.” When Fenrys only continued to give her a questioning look, she added, “my name is Asterin Blackbeak.”
“So that means…”
“Yes, that means Manon Blackbeak is my cousin.”
Fenrys swallowed, his face heating up as he felt his expression turn a bit sheepish. “And it would explain why you know so much about Ironteeth blades.”
Asterin smirked, one eyebrow perfectly arched as she studied him. “Yeah, it would.”
“You’ll have to forgive me - it’s been my experience that people who come in here claiming to know more about weapons than all of the owners are usually talking out of their asses.”
Asterin laughed at that, her expression lightening. “It’s alright, I know I can be a bit arrogant. And I know it’s incredibly difficult to tell the three makes apart.”
Fenrys nodded at her, his eyes widening with realization. “But you know how?”
She nodded, lips quirking to one side as she realized what he was about to ask.
“Do you think you could teach me?”
“It would be my pleasure.”
~*^*~
Fenrys was completely enraptured with Asterin. She’d spent the better part of an hour teaching him not only how to distinguish the slight differences of the blades, but the history of all three Ironteeth bladesmiths: the Blackbeaks, the Bluebloods, and the Yellowlegs. As it was a part of her family heritage, she knew more than any of the other weapons experts he’d ever talked to.
Finally having found a Blackbeak sword that suited her needs, she’d handed it to Fenrys and asked him to check it out for her.
Fenrys did so happily, and he had just handed the wrapped blade over to her when he said, “Thank you again, for everything. I was wondering if maybe you’d let me take you for drinks some time, as a way of showing my thanks?”
Asterin winked at him, already reaching for the notepad on the counter next to the register. “You know, if you wanted a date, all you had to do was ask.”
Fenrys chuckled at that, though his breathing turned shallow as she met his gaze. “Well, in case, would you like to go on a date with me?”
“That’s more like it,” she laughed, scribbling her phone number on the paper. “Text me and we’ll figure out a date?”
“You can count on it, pretty girl.”
Asterin blushed at that, and Fenrys couldn’t help the flush of pride in his chest as he realized she liked the nickname. Grinning at him, she grabbed her sword and headed for the door, making the “call me” motion with her hand as she walked outside.
Fenrys winked at her and grabbed the piece of paper with her number on it, already looking forward to their date.
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Thank you all so much for reading - part three comes out tomorrow night!
Here we are: the final part! Thank you all for showing this story so much love, and if you loved it as much as I did, don’t worry! I have some drabbles in the works that are a part of this universe, so we’ll be seeing out boys and their ladies soon!
To find the other parts to this story and all my other writing, check out my masterlist! There’s a link to it 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.
Warnings: Just the usual: smut and language.
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ONE YEAR, FIVE MONTHS, AND EIGHTEEN DAYS AGO
Gavriel practically choked on the whine that escaped him when he felt Lin’s hands sliding the zipper down on his jeans. He wasn’t as successful at keeping it back when she wrapped her fingers around his cock and slowly started pumping him in her hand.
She’d shown up at the shop right as he was locking the door and pecked him on the cheek as she headed for his office. By the time he’d followed her through the door, she was on her knees in front of his desk chair, grinning up at him with a mischievous expression.
He just smirked back at her as he took his seat, watching as Lin grabbed the front of his chair and started sliding him toward his desk, backing herself underneath it as she did.
And that was how he’d found himself with his fiancée’s hands wrapped around his cock as he tried to focus on his work.
“Lin,” he groaned, his hips practically jerking off the chair as she pulled him free from his pants and wrapped her lips around the tip. “Gods, don’t stop.”
She just hummed around him and slowly took more of him into her mouth, her tongue working over his tip every time she pulled back. His pen stuttered across the paper he was trying to fill out as she placed small kisses all along his length.
Lin kept up the same movements for a while, sliding about half of his length into her mouth and then pulling back to place kisses along his cock. He’d just gotten used to the rhythm her lips and tongue created when she took his entire dick into his mouth.
Gavriel dropped his pen and gripped the edges of his desk. He groaned, the sound echoing around the room as his tip brushed against her throat. Her lips brushed against the skin at the base of his dick, and it took everything he had to keep from releasing down her throat at the sensation.
Eventually he got used to being encased in her warm, wet mouth and continued on with his work. They continued on in that fashion for ten minutes, Lin sucking him off slowly as he finished his paperwork. By the time he was on the last one, Lin had pulled back until just the head once against rested between her lips, content to just hold him in her mouth as he worked.
Once he’d finished up the last of his work, he backed his chair up, pulling his dick from Lin’s mouth. She whined at the loss, though he had a feeling she’d get over it fairly quickly.
Laughing at the pout on her face, he reached down and grabbed her around the waist, hauling her into his lap. His cock ended up nestled between her thighs, and he gasped at the warmth around him.
Gavriel took a minute to just take her in, even as her fingers danced over the tattoos adoring his throat. She was wearing black leggings and a blue tube top, the thin fabric of her incredibly tiny shirt doing nothing to hide her tattoos and the stiff peaks of her nipples. Though he loved both of her sleeves, he was always entranced by the one on her right arm. It was a beautifully drawn wyvern, the body of it on her upper arm. Its wings flared over the front and back of her shoulder, and the head curled up over the top of her shoulder and onto her neck. The creature’s tail curled down around her arm, the tip of it encircling her wrist like a bracelet. It was set over a mountain scene, the inner portion of her lower arm completely covered in snow-covered peaks.
As he was drinking in the sight of her, Lin had been working his shirt up his chest, tugging at the material with a frustrated expression when he didn’t move his arms right away so she could remove it completely.
Pressing a swift kiss to her forehead, he grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled it over his head, tossing it to the floor behind him. It had barely hit the floor before her tongue was swirling around both his nipples, playing with the piercings in both of them until Gavriel was panting from the feeling.
Gripping her chin in his hand, he pulled Lin off his nipple and shook his head at her. “You’ll pay for that, love,” his whispered, his thumb catching on her bottom lip and pulling it down far enough to expose the tattoo on the inside of it - “get fucked.” Swiping his thumb over the ink before pulling his hand away, he leaned in and murmured “you’re about to get fucked hard” before lifting her onto his desk.
Gavriel wasted no time pulling her leggings off her legs, moaning a little brokenly when he saw she wasn’t wearing underwear - she was completely bare and wholly exposed to him. Spreading her legs so that he had enough room to work, he leaned in and flicked his index finger against her clit.
Or, more accurately, the piercing that ran through her clit.
She shuddered and dropped down on her back as he kept up a steady rhythm, alternating between tapping her piercing and her clit. The moans he wrenched from her were breathy and a little broken, and he only stopped when her legs were shaking and her moans were echoing around the office.
Leaning in even further, Gavriel wrapped his lips around her clit, sucking on it and flicking her piercing with his tongue. Lin practically screamed the sensation, her legs clenching around his head as she threw them over his shoulders. He chuckled at her reaction, the sound vibrating against the little bundle of nerves he was scraping his teeth against.
Every swipe of his tongue had her writhing beneath him, a high-pitched cry ripping from her throat each time his teeth grazed her clit. Her hands were threaded through his hair, her nails digging into his scalp as she pulled on the strands.
Gavriel slowly worked one finger inside her, his mouth never leaving her clit. He quickly worked a second finger in alongside the first, and the groan that escaped her lips had him pumping his fingers harder.
Lin pulled his hair hard enough that she actually managed to pull him off her clit. “Inside me,” she moaned. “Inside me now, Gav.”
He placed one final kiss to her piercing before pulling back and sliding his pants and boxers to his knees, hauling Lin onto his lap as soon as they were out of the way. She sank onto him as soon as she was in his lap, sheathing his cock inside her walls with one twist of her hips.
They both groaned at the feeling, and Gavriel began fucking up into her the second she was fully seated on his cock. The pace he set was fast and hard, but Lin met him thrust for thrust. She shifted on his lap until he was hitting that one spot inside her. Her head fell back as he started to hit it with every thrust, and Gavriel pulled her tube top down to cup her breasts and flick his thumbs over her nipples.
Sliding one of his hands down her stomach, he started flicking her clit once more, and it wasn’t long until the combined sensations became too much for Lin to handle. She tumbled over the edge, her orgasm ripping out of her with a scream. Her walls spasmed around his cock, clenching even tighter as her juices flooded him.
The sight of her pleasure dancing across her face only made Gavriel fuck up into her harder, his hips losing their rhythm as he release drew closer.
His orgasm crashed into him, his cock emptying inside her as he shouted his pleasure. Lin shook at the feeling of his release against her walls, and Gavriel sighed as she sank against him.
“I love you, baby,” he murmured, pulling her lips down to his for a sweet kiss.
“Mmm, I love you, too,” she replied. He was just starting to lift her off of him as she said it, but she clenched her walls around him. “Not yet,” she whined. “I like feeling you inside me.”
If he had a chance of getting hard again so quickly, Gavriel knew that’s exactly what would’ve happened. But he couldn’t, so he just held her against, the feeling of her smooth walls around him actually soothing him and helping to bring him down from his orgasm - which he knew it was doing for her, too.
He pressed light kisses to her head and face, enjoying the feeling of her humming into his neck as they sat together quietly.
ONE YEAR, TWO MONTHS, AND THREE DAYS AGO
Vaughan woke to the feeling of Sorrel shifting behind him, her lips pressing against his bare back when she felt him beginning to stir. Tracing her fingers up and down his ribs, she slid her lips even lower, pressing a kiss to the tattoo on his ass - a set of bright red lips. It was something she’d started doing soon after they started sleeping together, and something about the gesture calmed him. She was the only girl who’d ever done it, and now he thought of her whenever he caught a glimpse of his ink in the mirror.
Rolling over and opening his eyes, he gave her a soft smile as she blinked at him sleepily, her dark hair tousled and a small hickey visible on her neck from their activities the night before. She leaned and wrapped her arms around his waist, her head resting against his chest, right over his heart.
“Good morning, babe,” she murmured, pressing a kiss to his chest.
“Morning, love,” he replied, running his fingers over the bare skin of her back. He slid one hand down to cup her ass, enjoying her little giggle as she tried to wriggle away from his curious hands.
“Vaughan, no,” she laughed, rolling on her back to get away from him. “It’s too early.”
He just rolled himself on top of her, raining kisses down all over her face as she laughed. Sorrel wrapped her arms around his back, their legs tangling together beneath the sheets.
Vaughan couldn’t keep himself from staring down into her eyes, wondering how he’d gotten so lucky. This woman, this absolutely amazing woman, had stuck with him for so long, and he’d never once asked for a commitment. He saw the confusion flicker over her face as his expression fell, and he rolled away from her, throwing a hand over his eyes.
He felt her shift next to him, and when he looked through the gaps in his fingers, he found that she’d propped herself up on an elbow as she stared at him. “What’s wrong, babe?” she asked, concern lacing her voice.
“Sorrel, how long have we been doing… whatever this is?”
She thought for a moment, her brow furrowing as she did the math. “A little over three years, why?”
“All that time, and you’ve never asked me to commit to you, officially anyway. You’ve never asked me to officially make this a relationship.” When she only raised an eyebrow at him, he added, “why is that?”
“Because you’ve always told me you don’t do relationships, and I didn’t want to push you into anything you don’t want.”
Vaughan thought on that for a minute, trying to wrap his head around what he was trying to say. “So, it’s not because you don’t want to be with me or because you think you’ll get tired of me?”
“No, of course not!” she cried, shifting again so she was sitting up and leaning over him. “Vaughan, how could you even think that. I care about you so much - of course I want to be with you. If you asked, I’d be yours officially, but I don’t want you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable.”
He felt his doubts slide away at her words, and he couldn’t help the smile that broke over his face as he started talking. “Sorrel, I should’ve done this a long time ago, but I was too afraid of losing you. I’ve loved you for so long now, and I don’t want to spend one more minute not getting to call you mine. Will you be my girl, officially, for real?”
Sorrel was laughing as she slung her legs over his waist, and the smile on her face was worth any of the nerves he’d had going into this. “I really thought you’d never ask - of course I will!” She leaned to press a kiss to his lips, but pulled back to add, “I’ve loved you for years.”
Vaughan tangled his hand in her hair and pulled her face back down to his, crashing his lips into hers as he let the feeling of being loved by this amazing woman - his amazing girlfriend - wash over him.
NINE MONTHS AND TWENTY-SIX DAYS AGO
The strangled gasp that escaped his throat when he pushed open his office door was not entirely human.
Elide had breezed through the door just as Connall was heading out, greeting him with a quick hug before she was kissing Lorcan on the cheek and making her way to his office. She had been wearing a pair of light blue jeans so tight they looked like they’d been painted on and her signature Doc Martens. Her torso was covered by one of Lorcan’s dress shirts, the sleeves rolled up her arms and the bottom of the shirt tied around her waist. Her hair was tied in a messy bun on the top of her head, and Lorcan smiled at the sight of the tattoo behind her right ear. It was an intricate little sword - he should know, he’d designed it - that she’d gotten a couple months after they started dating.
Connall gave him a questioning glance, but Lorcan just shrugged and shut the door behind him, the lock clicking into place as he closed up the store for the night. It took him about ten minutes to go through the entire process of closing up at the end of the day, and he was surprised that Elide stayed in his office the whole time. She would usually hang out with him and give him a hand with the end-of-day work.
Sighing as he finished his work, Lorcan scrubbed a hand over his face as he walked toward his office. He pushed the door open - and drew up short.
Elide was sprawled in his desk chair, his shirt untied and hanging, unbuttoned, from her shoulders, leaving her full breasts on display as she was utterly bare underneath it. Her legs, bare as well, were slung over the arms of his chair, spreading her open and leaving every inch of her dripping folds on display for him.
“See something you like?” she purred, her fingers twisting and pulling at her nipples as she watched him.
“Fuck yes.” Before he’d had time to register that he was moving, he’d crossed the space and was on his knees before her, his face inches from her drenched center. “I’m going to worship you like the goddess you are,” he breathed, her hips bucking ever so slightly as his breath fanned over her core.
Not wanting to waste one more second on trivial things like words, he licked a stripe up her slit, swirling his tongue around her clit once before repeating the motion. Elide groaned above him, the sounds making his cock harden in the confines of his jeans as her hips rolled against his face.
Lorcan continued on at the same speed, allowing his tongue to dip inside her and draw more of her sweet juices out with every pass. By the time he’d worked his mouth around her clit, the lower half of his face was coated in her juices - something that only turned him on even more.
Elide gasped his name as he started sucking on her clit, her fingers tangling in his hair to keep his mouth exactly where it was. “Gods, baby, right there. Don’t - gods - don’t stop,” she cried, her hips bucking frantically against his face.
Her moans and cries only spurred him on, and he sucked harder at her sensitive nub, his teeth scraping against her tender flesh. Clearly she’d gotten herself worked up while she waited for him in his office, because it wasn’t long until her orgasm crashed through her.
Lorcan lowered his mouth to her entrance, drinking in the juices that poured out of her and working his tongue against her folds to draw out her orgasm.
Eventually she came down from her release, her hips stilling in the chair as her moans quieted. But Lorcan never stopped, his tongue still working inside of her, desperate for another taste of her.
He wrapped his lips around her clit once again, sucking harder when her cries started all over again, and much louder. While his mouth was busy with her bundle of nerves, he slowly rubbed her folds with his thumb as he slipped two fingers inside of her.
Elide cried out at the sensation, her legs falling from the arms of the chair to rest on his shoulders and wrap around his head. It didn’t take long for her hips to really start working against his face, her speed increasing as he slipped a third finger inside her.
A few more thrusts and his continuous sucking at her clit had her coming again in no time, Lorcan once again sealing her entrance with his mouth to catch her release. He worked her through this orgasm as well, his intentions to work her to another one after it with just his mouth and his fingers.
Elide, however, appeared to have other ideas, because he’d just wrapped his lips around her clit for the third time when her fingers tightened in his hair. She pulled his face up to her lips, kissing him hard before sliding her tongue over his jaw to clean her juices off his face.
“I’m not naked in your office because I wanted to spend all of my orgasms on you eating me out,” she groaned, licking more of her juices off his upper lip. “I’m here because I want you to fuck me, Lor. Now.”
“Fuck, babe, whatever you want.” His words were a broken moan, Lorcan nipping at her lips as he reached behind his head to pull his shirt off. Her fingers danced over the sleeves tattooed on both of his arms before sliding over the scrawling quote that covered his ribs.
He groaned at the feeling of her fingers, but he shook her off long enough to stand so he could shove his pants down his legs and kick them off, along with his socks and shoes.
Elide groaned at the sight of his hard cock. “Have I mentioned that I love when you go commando?” She slipped her hands over his length, her fingers flicking lightly against the piercing that ran vertically through the tip of his dick. “And that this piercing makes me so wet?”
Lorcan whined at her words, gripping her by the waist and hauling her into his lap as he settled himself on top of his desk. Her hands settled on his shoulders as he sank inside of her, the top of his piercing settling against that spot inside of her almost instantly.
She practically screamed when he started moving, his piercing tapping against that spot with every thrust. His thrusts were shallow, but every one struck hard and true, pulling moans and screams from deep in Elide’s chest.
It didn’t take her long to start bouncing in his lap, helping him to thrust deeper and harder, her walls clenching around him every time he was sheathed inside her. Lorcan had one hand wrapped around her back, the other on her hip to help guide her over his cock. He leaned down to take a nipple in his mouth, and it was the first scrape of his teeth against the sensitive peak had her tumbling over the edge for the third time that night.
She screamed as it shattered through it, her juices flooding over Lorcan’s cock and making it even easier for him to thrust up into her. Even as her body was shaking on top of his, she slid one hand behind her to cup his balls, and that was all Lorcan needed to fall apart with a shout of her name.
His release barreled through him, and Elide screamed again at the first feeling of his come against her sensitive walls.
Lifting her off his cock, he spilled the rest of his juices onto her folds, allowing his release to mix with her own. She moaned at the feeling, and Lorcan braced her against his chest so he could rub both of their combined juices into her folds with his fingers.
He brought those same fingers to his lips, sucking them into his mouth to suck their tastes from his digits. Elide groaned at the sight before sliding her tongue into his mouth to help clean him off.
Lorcan settled her back down on his lap, slipping his fingers from her mouth so he could kiss her fully, feeling all of his love for this beautiful woman in his arms pour into that kiss.
Elide sighed into his mouth, her fingers working over the nape of his neck and tangling in his hair. Pulling away from him with a gasp, she whispered, “I love you, L.”
“I love you, too, E.” He slid his hands over the skin of her back as he held her close, breathing in the floral smell of her shampoo and enjoying the feeling of her breath fanning over his neck. Lorcan loved this woman, his amazing fiancée, with his entire heart, and every day with her was an incredible blessing.
FOUR MONTHS, AND NINE DAYS AGO
Connall smirked as he accepted the card Lin handed him, tossing it on the ever-growing pile in front of him. His sense of humor lent itself well to Cards Against Humanity, evidenced by the laughter spilling from everyone’s throats and the fact that he usually won whenever this was the chosen game for game night.
Game night had become a tradition about two years ago, and everyone looked forward to it. Although - this wasn’t exactly a typical game night, and everyone but Vesta knew it.
Fenrys, finally recovered from his bout of laughter, swiped a tear of mirth from under his eye as he looked around the circle. “Alright,” he chuckled, “who’s next?”
“Vesta!” Elide yelled, both answering his question and attracting his girlfriend’s attention, as she was too busy laughing into Asterin’s shoulder to be paying attention.
Vesta pulled herself away then, sitting up straighter as she turned her attention back to the game. Grabbing a black card and tossing it into the center of their circle, she sat back and watched the chaos unfold - everyone scanning their cards for the one that would make her laugh the hardest and help them all in their endeavour to defeat him.
Connall took a deep breath - it was now or never. Grabbing the piece of white paper he’d been hiding in his hand, he tossed it into the growing pile of white cards, swallowing down his nerves as he did.
“Hey, Vesta,” Vaughan said, winking at Connall as he did. “I think your boyfriend’s trying to cheat with homemade cards.”
She looked down into the pile, eyes narrowing when she saw that one of the cards was actually not a card at all. “Really, Con?”
He raised his hands in defense. “It’s a card, I swear! The real one just got ripped because it gets used all the time because of how funny it is.”
“Oh, really?” she asked, arching an eyebrow at him.
“Yes, really,” he shot back, doing his best to hide the anxiety bubbling in his stomach. “In fact, it’s so funny that you should save it for the end so everyone else has a fighting chance.”
Vesta just shot him a look, but she did put his card on the bottom of the pile when she collected them.
Connall wasn’t really paying attention to the cards as she read them out loud, though he did his best to laugh along with everyone else. He was just trying to keep calm and not spoil the surprise.
“Okay, and now for Connall’s card,” she quipped, giving him a mock glare across the circle as she flipped it over. “Vesta, you are the love of my life. Will you-” she cut herself off as tears started to build in eyes, needing to swallow to keep them at bay. “Will you marry me?”
As she was reading, he’d shifted himself onto one knee, pulling a ring box from his sweatshirt pocket and holding it open. “Vesta, you are the love of my life,” he confirmed. “We’ve been dating for two and a half years - we’ve been together for three and a half - and I can honestly say that I loved you for most of them. The years I’ve spent with you have been the best of my life, and I don’t ever want to be without you. Will you marry me?”
Vesta was crying as she nodded, swiping under her eyes with her thumbs to catch the tears as they fell. “I would love to be your wife,” she whispered, a smile on her face. “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you!”
Connall stood, reaching across the circle to pull her to her feet as well. Grabbing her left hand in his, he slid the ring on her finger before pressing his lips to hers, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close.
He never wanted to let her go, and Vesta seemed to feel the same way based on the way she was clinging to him, but they didn’t have much choice in the matter. Their friends were pressing in around them in a matter of seconds, everyone offering their congratulations and pulling them into hugs.
Even though he had to pull himself away from Vesta, he knew getting to celebrate with his family was worth it.
ONE MONTH AND SEVEN DAYS AGO
The music shifted, and Lorcan felt his heart leap into his throat as Elide appeared at the back of aisle. There had never been a more perfect or beautiful bride - he was absolutely certain of it. Her dress was cut like a corset, leaving her arms and shoulders bare. He knew that the back of it, though he couldn’t see it, was tied together and laced up - he’d heard her complaining about how difficult it was going to be to get off quickly. The bottom of it was tulle, framing her hips nicely and stopping just above her knees. Her dark hair had been pulled up into an intricate updo, and she’d completed the outfit with - what else? - her signature Doc Martens.
He’d been so busy drinking in the sight of her that he didn’t realize she’d reached him until Manon was kissing her cheek and placing her hand in his. Lorcan smiled down at her, all the love he had for her pressing in on his chest until he felt like it would consume him - even though it already had. He was so stupidly in love with her that just the thought of it had tears pricking the backs of his eyes.
Elide beamed at him before turning to hand her bouquet to Aelin, and the sight of her tattoo on display for everyone to see had the tears slipping over his cheeks. It was a raven, intricately designed by Lorcan himself. The tail dipped down her spine, stopped just above where her dress started. Its wings stretched out over each of her shoulders, their tips just curling around the sides of her arms. Its head reached up onto the back of her neck, its beak stopping just below her hairline.
She’d told him she picked this dress and hairstyle specifically to show off her tattoo, and the thought made him so unbelievably happy.
Turning back to face him, Elide noticed the tears streaming down his face. “Oh, Lor,” she murmured, reaching up to wipe them away with her thumb. Her palms cupped his face, and he turned his head enough to kiss each of them before gripping her hands in his and pulling them between their bodies.
Lorcan barely heard what the officiant said, he focus solely on the gorgeous woman in front of him until it was time to say their vows - which they’d written themselves.
“Elide,” he said, voice smooth and sure even as more tears slipped down his cheeks. “You’ve made me happier than I always thought I had any right to be. You walked into my life - well, you were practically running - and you changed everything I’d ever thought about myself, my life, my future. I never thought I would need anyone - until I met you. One afternoon with you and I knew I’d never be the same again. You really are the one true owner of my ancient and wicked heart, and I couldn’t imagine sharing this life with anyone else - I wouldn’t want to. You’re it for me, and you’ve been it for me since you picked up that axe. I will love you every single day of this life, and I won’t stop in the next one. I am wholly yours, and I’m blessed to call you mine.”
He took the wedding band Rowan handed to him, a solid band of onyx with a thread of amethyst running around the center of it, and slid it on Elide’s finger. She stared down at it in happiness for a moment before she pulled her engagement ring off of her right hand and slid it in place above her wedding band, the amethyst nestling perfectly above the onyx band.
She raised her gaze to his then, and he saw the tears shining in her eyes as well. “Lorcan, I’ve loved you since the moment I met you. You saved me - and you didn’t even know you were doing it. You’ve always protected me when I needed it, and let me stand on my own two feet when I didn’t. You were the light at the end of a very dark tunnel, and meeting you was everything I never knew I needed. You showed me the world, and that is everything to me. This lifetime will not be enough to hold all the love I have for you - a thousand lifetimes would never be enough. But I will spend every day showing you just how much you mean to me, just how much I love you. I might be the owner of your heart, but you’re the owner of mine, too. I am yours, and now, you are mine.”
Reaching back, she grabbed the ring Aelin handed to her - a slightly larger version of the one he’d given to her - and slid it on his finger, her eyes never leaving his.
The officiant finished up the ceremony - Lorcan was too lost in her eyes to really hear what he was saying - and then he was telling him to kiss his bride.
Lorcan took Elide’s face in his hands, cupping her cheeks as he leaned down to press a kiss to her lips. Though it started out softly, her lips began moving more insistently against his, and he finally had to pull himself away with a barely stifled groan when he felt her tongue slipping into his mouth.
Elide, however, appeared to have other plans, because she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his lips back to hers, her tongue quickly sliding into his mouth. Deciding that it was his wedding day and that he could kiss his wife as inappropriately as he wanted, Lorcan kissed her back for all he was worth, his arms banding around her waist as he hauled her against him.
And, as he stood there, making out with his wife in front of all their friends, Lorcan realized that his life couldn’t get any better.
PRESENT DAY
As he walked out into the store to join his friends - his family, really - Vaughan still couldn’t believe how amazing his life had turned out to be. Rowan and Aelin had been married for almost four years, and Lorcan and Elide had been married for a month. Gavriel and Lin and Connall and Vesta were happily engaged, wedding planning definitely take up most of their time. Fenrys and Asterin were getting married in a week.
And, if everything went according to plan, he would be starting to plan his own wedding soon.
He never thought he’d say those words, but now they were some of the greatest ones he’d ever heard - his wedding.
Shaking his head to focus himself, he walked out just as Sorrel walked through the front door. Her face lit up when she saw him, and then she was running across the store, jumping into arms and pressing her lips against his. “Hey, love,” she whispered against his lips. “I missed you.”
He chuckled and kissed her one more time before setting her on her feet. “You saw me this morning, babe.”
Sorrel punched him lightly in the chest, though the smile on her face made up for it. Shaking his head at her, he wrapped an arm around her waist and steered her into the middle of their friends.
Everyone had sweatshirts on, and he could see the confusion on her face as she realized it. It was too warm outside to need a sweatshirt, and the shop wasn’t cold enough to warrant one, either. “Erm,” she started, giving him a confused look, “why does everyone have sweatshirts on?”
“That, my dear, is an excellent question.” Turning to their friends, he said, “hey, guys, what’s with the hoodies, huh? It’s not that cold in here.”
“So,” Asterin quipped, an excited expression on her face, “are you saying you want us to take them off?”
“Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m saying.” He nodded to confirm that it was time, and everyone turned away from them to remove their sweatshirts.
Vaughan saw Sorrel still sporting a confused expression, but he was too anxious to really take note of it. Once everyone was wearing just a t-shirt, they turned as one to face him and Sorrel.
Printed across their chests, one word on each shirt (with Rowan having a question mark on his), were the words “Will you do me the honor of marrying me?”
Vaughan heard Sorrel’s gasp as she read their shirts, and he lowered himself to one knee beside her, a ring in his hand and tears streaming down his face. “I know we’ve only been dating a little over a year, but we’ve been together for almost four. Relationships were never what I was good at, and I never really thought I’d want one - until I met you. I know it took me a while to ask, but you were everything to me and I was scared of losing you. I’m happier when I’m with you, and I love you so much it hurts. So, my love, will you marry me?”
Sorrel looked down at him, a watery smile on her face as she took in his tears. “Baby, stop crying - of course I will. Of course I’ll marry you. You’re everything I’ve wanted for so long, and I love you so much.”
He was on his feet before she’d finished speaking, sliding the ring on her finger as she leaned up to kiss him gently. She pulled back only long enough to wipe away his tears, and then she was kissing him again.
Vaughan sighed into her kiss as she twined her arms around his neck, the sounds of their friends congratulating them fading into the background. Even though it had taken a while to get where they were, there was nothing about this journey that he would ever dream of changing.
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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.
Warnings: Language, as always. There’s smut too - it gets pretty intense in this one.
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THREE YEARS, FOUR MONTHS, AND TEN DAYS AGO
This was it - this was the day he asked the woman of his dreams - the absolute love of his life - to marry him, and Fenrys could feel the nervous energy thrumming in his veins. He and Asterin had been together for ten months, and most people would think he was moving too fast, but Fen knew he wasn’t. He was certain that he wanted to spend his life with her, and he was ready to ask her.
He had everything all planned out, thanks to a serious amount of help from his friends and some connections they had at the local haunted corn maze.
Now, all he had to do was actually ask her and wait for her response. Well, and make sure that the entire proposal went off without a hitch.
Schooling his face into what he hoped was a neutral expression, he grabbed Asterin around the waist and pulled her back against his chest. They were all standing outside the corn maze, waiting for the woman at the entrance to let them in. He and Connall had shown up early to make sure everything was in order, and to go over the plan with all the actors. As such, Vesta and Asterin had driven together, the former making sure not to show up too early and thus ruin the surprise.
Connall and Vesta were standing to his left, not quite holding hands, though Fenrys did take notice of their intertwined pinkies - he would have to remember to ask his brother what was going on between the two of them. Rowan was holding Aelin on his back to their right, and both were deep in conversation with Gavriel and Lorcan. Vaughan was next to them, his arms tight around Sorrel’s waist as they stood chest-to-chest, completely lost in one another - evidenced by the fact that they each kept stealing kisses as they talked. Fenrys couldn’t believe the two of them weren’t actually dating - they certainly acted like they were.
Lost in thoughts about his friends and family, Fenrys almost missed the woman signalling that it was time for their group to enter the maze. Taking a deep breath, he linked his arm with Asterin’s and began pulling her toward the entrance, only pausing long enough for the woman to check that everyone who’d signed a permission slip allowing the actors to grab them and separate them from the group was wearing a wristband.
Fenrys had been worried that Asterin wouldn’t want to give permission for that - his whole plan depended on that exact thing happening - but he shouldn’t have been. She was incredibly into haunted houses and spooky things, so she’d agreed without hesitation.
As soon as everyone was all cleared, an actress in a bloody white nightgown appeared, beckoning them with a flick of her wrist to follow her. She led them through the maze, disappearing just in time for someone else to pop out and scare them, only reappearing after the shock had worn off and everyone was looking confused about where to go next.
Suddenly, the group came to a fork in the maze, a path disappearing to the right and one to the left. Fenrys saw Rowan look to their guide for direction, and it was as he was turning to face her as well that he heard Asterin let out a startled shriek from his left.
Turning back to her, he saw a man in a tattered convict’s jumpsuit pulling her down the path to their left. He heard the man laughing as she was dragged off, and then they disappeared around a corner.
As soon as they were gone, their guide broke character, whispering, “Okay, let’s go!” Motioning over her shoulder, she took off at a jog, Fenrys and the others following her through the maze as they headed for the clearing where Asterin was being taken.
After a few quick turns, they came to the open space they’d been heading for, and the actress ducked down the path on the other side of the clearing with a whispered good luck wish over her shoulder. Fenrys knew she’d be waiting to lead them out of the maze after the proposal.
Nodding at his friends, Fenrys centered himself in the loose circle they were all forming, Lorcan and Rowan standing in front of the path Asterin would be coming from so that she wouldn’t see him right away.
Connall walked up to him, handing him the ring box he’d stashed in his jacket pocket so Asterin wouldn’t notice it before clapping his brother on the shoulder and heading back to Vesta’s side.
Taking yet another deep breath, Fenrys dropped down to one knee just as he heard Asterin’s voice from the path behind Lorcan and Rowan. “Wait, why are you leaving me here - oh, thank the Gods, there you guys are!”
Fenrys listened as her footsteps grew closer, feeling his nerves rise as he realized how close she was to the guys when she said, “Why are you guys standing like that?”
With a snicker, the two of them stepped out of her line of sight, and Fenrys saw the confusion flicker over her face as she tried to figure out what she was seeing. He recognized the moment it hit her, because tears appeared in her eyes and she whispered, “Oh, love,” as a smile grew on her face.
Smiling at her as he felt pressure behind his eyes, he flipped open the ring box in his hands. “Asterin Blackbeak, you’re my entire world and my life with you these last ten months has been nothing short of amazing. I’m so grateful for you and I love you with every part of my soul. Will you marry me?”
“Yes!” she cried, the tears finally spilling down her cheeks.
Shouting gleefully, he stood up as she ran for him, his hands naturally sliding under her thighs as she jumped into his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist. She reached down and grabbed the ring box from his hands, sliding the ring on her finger before she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Fenrys spun her around a couple times before setting her on the ground and kissing her soundly. She giggled into his mouth, her hands tangling in his hair.
Their kiss was short-lived, since all their friends rushed them as a unit. Laughing, they were passed from friend to friend, though Fenrys didn’t take his eyes from the happiness shining in Asterin’s if he could help it.
Finally, they were side-by-side again, and Asterin took both his hands in hers just as their guide reappeared from the corn, a happy grin on her face at the happiness radiating from all of them.
As she was leading them out of the clearing, Asterin leaned up and whispered, “I love you so much, baby,” into his ear.
Pressing a kiss to the crown of her head, Fenrys whispered “I love you even more” right back, his hand tightening around hers as happiness flooded into his heart.
THREE YEARS, FOUR MONTHS, AND SIX DAYS AGO
Connall was finishing up some last minute paperwork after locking up the shop for the day when something damp and smelling of Vesta hit him in the face. The offending object fell into his lap, and when he looked down, it only took him a moment to realize it was her thong.
Looking up to where she was sitting on the other side of his desk, he groaned at the sight that met his eyes. Her dress was pushed to her waist, and she had two fingers buried in herself. Her breathing became shaky after just a few thrusts of those fingers.
“Get tired of waiting for me?” he groaned out, eyes glued to her dripping folds.
“Not really,” she breathed, her other hand drifting down her chest to her core. “Just got bored and figured I’d enjoy myself.”
As he watched, she began flicking her thumb against her clit in little upward motions that had the sensitive nub pressing against her hood piercing with every push. Every touch of the piercing against it sent her hips stuttering, causing her to grind her hips against her fingers.
Connall felt his jeans become tighter, and it took everything he had to keep from hauling her onto his desk and fucking her senseless. However, he decided to enjoy the view for a while before he did anything.
Leaning back in his chair, he crossed his hands behind his head and fixed his eyes firmly between her legs. “I guess I’ll just enjoy the show.”
Vesta smirked at that, although it soon fell from her face as the pleasure took over and she drove her fingers faster and faster.
Connall watched as her hips started bucking into her hand, a whine leaving his throat as she added a third finger. Her other thumb worked harder against her clit, pushing it more firmly against her piercing, and it was only a couple minutes until she was falling apart in front of him.
A keening whine left her throat as her orgasm raced through her. Vesta continued pumping her fingers even as she spasmed around them, only slowing when she’d stopped shaking.
Connall was so hard he actually thought he might burst through his jeans, and he could tell Vesta knew it. Though her eyes were still glazed with lust, they had a predatory gleam to them that meant she’d be on his lap soon enough.
Almost like she’d read his mind, Vesta stood from her chair and walked around the desk to him, dropping to her knees in front of him.
The smirk he shot down at her was no match for the one she sported. Vesta’s only grew when she popped the button on his jeans, unzipping them and pulling them down his legs. His underwear quickly followed, and Connall busied himself with kicking off his shoes and pulling his shirt over his head in the meantime.
As soon as he was bare before her, Vesta’s lips landed on the tattoo of ivy vines and barbed wire that covered most of his left thigh and curled up over his hip. She traced her tongue up the lines of his tattoo slowly, her lips continuing up his ribs to his chest and over his jaw before finally meeting his lips as she settled herself on his lap.
Connall felt her moan vibrate against his lips when he slipped his tongue in her mouth, though he soon lost himself in the feeling of their tongues twisting together. He ran his hands over her shoulders, slowly sliding them down her chest until he reached the edge of her dress. Gripping it between his fingers, he pulled it down her torso until her breasts were exposed to him, her nipples hardening in the cool air of his office. Her hands were tangled in his hair, and she pulled on it every time he rocked his pelvis up against hers.
She cried out and pulled away from his lips as he pinched her nipple between his fingertips. That was the reaction he was hoping for, because it allowed him to close his lips around her other nipple - the one with the piercing.
Her moans echoed around the room at the dual sensations. As his fingers kept working, his tongue flicked over the peak in his mouth, flicking against the ball of her piercing and making her shudder in his lap. He kept up his ministrations until Vesta was pulling him off her nipple with a strangled cry.
Connall chuckled against the skin of her collar bone, knowing without having to ask that she needed him inside her. She was so turned on that she was practically dripping against his cock.
Without any warning, he lifted her up enough to situate himself below her entrance, and then he dropped her back on his lap in one fluid motion. Vesta released a guttural groan as he sheathed himself inside her.
The feeling of her silken walls gripping his cock was like heaven, and Connall couldn’t contain the groan that slipped from his throat when she clenched around him. Giving her a moment to adjust, he shift just enough that his pelvic bone would push against her clit whenever she was fully seated on him. He’d found it was something she enjoyed wholeheartedly, as it allowed for stimulation from both him pushing against her and her clit pushing against her piercing.
Only when she was squirming in his lap did he lift her up and drop her back down again, using his feet for leverage to thrust up into her as she ground down against him. He set a quick pace, but she matched him thrust for thrust, their moans echoing around the room in harmony.
Pulling her flush against him, Connall pushed himself deeper inside her as he searched for that one specific spot that would send her over the edge. As she shifted, he looked down her back and was able to just see the barest hint of the orchid she had tattooed on her ass.
Smirking to himself, he smacked his hand right over her tattoo, causing her to shift him even deeper inside her. At the breathless moan that escaped her throat, Conall realized he’d found the spot he was looking for.
Feeling his own release building inside him, he fucked Vesta harder, making sure to hit that spot with every single thrust. It wasn’t long until he felt her walls tighten around him in a vice grip and she was flooding him with her release, the extra juices allowing him to slide into her even faster.
It only took him a couple more thrusts until his release barreled through him and he spilled himself inside of her. Vesta let out another moan at the sensation, her hips still moving slightly against his.
Pressing a kiss to her temple, Connall pulled out of her with a quiet groan, wrapping his arms around her even as he felt their combined juices dripping against his thigh.
Vesta just grinned against his chest, her fingers stroking absently along his sides. “Maybe I should visit you in your office more often.”
Connall chuckled, his hands tracing delicate patterns against the skin of her back. “I think that would be a great idea.”
THREE YEARS, THREE MONTHS, AND TWENTY-EIGHT DAYS AGO
Gavriel had just walked out of one of the storerooms in the back of the building when the bell jingled above the front door. Kicking the door shut behind him, he hefted the box he was carrying a little higher and walked toward the store and whoever had just walked in.
“Hello,” he called in the general direction of the entrance - he couldn’t exactly see over the box. “What can I help you with today?”
A woman’s voice answered him. “Yes, I’m looking for some new arrows and a friend told me this was the best place to go.”
“Well, I certainly hope we can live up to that glowing recommendation.” Setting the box on the counter, he turned to face the woman - and was immediately distracted by her stunning features. Her long black hair and olive skin really set off her eyes, which were a beautiful mixture of black and gold. Her fingers toyed with the sleeves of the red flannel tied around her waist, and her small white tank top and black leggings did little to hide the obvious muscles in her arms and legs. Arms that were, as Gavriel quickly noticed, covered in tattoos. The one seemed to be a mix of roses and chains, all in grey scale. The other looked to be a landscape with a wyvern, but he couldn’t be sure without looking closer. All of that paired with the black Doc Martens on her feet made her a very imposing figure. “The arrows will be right over here.”
The woman nodded and followed Gavriel to the shelf he’d indicated, her multicolored eyes flashing when she met his gaze again. “See something you like back there?”
“What, I can’t admire a strong, beautiful woman when I see one?” Gavriel flashed her a grin.
She laughed at that, though there was still a spark of mischief in her eyes. “Ah, you’re quite the charmer, aren’t you?”
Before he could answer, she’d turned to the arrows in front of her, eyes narrowing slightly as she took them all in. He watched her study all of them for a minute before asking, “Is there a certain type you’re looking for?”
“I’m a competitive target shooter, but I like to try my hand with arrows I haven’t used before.”
Gavriel thought for a moment before pointing to an arrow a few spots from the end. “Well, these are a relatively new design - most people haven’t seen them yet. Would something like that work for you?”
The woman picked one of them up, holding it in her hand to get a feel for its make. “Actually, yeah, these should be perfect. I’ll take six of them.”
Nodding, he plucked them off the shelf and headed for the register. “So, competitive target shooting?” he asked as he began ringing up her purchase. “You any good?”
She raised an eyebrow at him as she signed the receipt he handed her. “You could say that. I’ve been doing it for a while.”
“How long is ‘a while?’”
“You know,” she began, flicking him in the arm, “you ask a lot of questions for someone who doesn’t even know my name.”
Adopting a sheepish expression, Gavriel winced theatrically and grabbed his arm. “How you wound me, fair maiden! I do indeed know your name!”
When she only raised an eyebrow at him, his looked pointedly at the credit card slip in his hand. “Linnea Sidero, is it?”
“Guilty as charged, though most people just call me Lin.” Smiling up at him, she added, “and your name is?”
“Gavriel Lionheart,” he replied, sketching a mock bow in her direction. “Now, about my earlier question?”
Lin only winked at him. “Take me to lunch sometime and perhaps I’ll tell you.”
“It just so happens that my lunch break starts right now. Care to join me?”
Pretending to think, Lin twisted her hair around her fingers a couple times before finally replying. “I would be delighted.”
Taking her hand in one of his and her arrows in the other, Gavriel began pulling her through the door, yelling that he was leaving over his shoulder as he did.
~*^*~
Forty-five minutes later, Gavriel waved to Lin as she pulled out of the parking lot, her number on the piece of paper in his hand. Their impromptu lunch date had gone better than he’d hoped, and she’d given him her number with a suggestive wink.
They’d made plans to have dinner in the next day or two, and Gavriel found that he couldn’t wait.
THREE YEARS, THREE MONTHS, AND TWENTY-ONE DAYS AGO
Tipping the bowl in his hand, Gavriel slowly stirred the spice mixture into the sauce simmering on the stove. Raising the spoon to his lips, he tasted it to make sure everything was perfect. Once he was sure it was, he moved it to one of the cold burners to keep it from over-cooking and started to drain the pasta.
Usually he wasn’t incredibly particular about his dinner, but this was different. Lin was joining him tonight and everything needed to be absolutely perfect. They’d been talking and flirting for a week, and he planned on asking her out at dinner. Gavriel was absolutely smitten with her and he just hoped she’d say yes.
After he’d finished draining the pasta, he added the sauce to it and mixed it all together before dumping it all into a large serving bowl. He was just setting it on the table next to the bread when his doorbell rang.
Tossing the towel he’d slung over his shoulder onto the counter, he jogged to the door, opening it to the sight of Lin’s smiling face.
“Hey you,” he murmured, pulling her into a hug.
“Hey yourself, handsome.” With her face burrowed in his chest, it took Gavriel a moment to understand what she’d said, but he couldn’t help the smile that broke across his face when he figured it out.
Pulling back enough that he could see her face, he smiled as he took her in. “You look beautiful, as always.”
He saw the flush that crept up her cheeks at his words, though she ducked her head back against his chest to hide it.
Chuckling at her embarrassment, he pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. After a moment of just standing there and holding each other, he finally pulled away, only to wrap an arm around her waist to steer her to the kitchen. “I hope you’re hungry.”
“Starving,” she replied with a giggle. “It smells amazing - if it tastes half as good you’ll never get rid of me.”
“Well then, let’s hope it is.” Pulling her chair out for her, Gavriel squeezed her waist before seating himself and gesturing for her to start eating.
~*^*~
They’d finished their meal and had moved to the sofa, drinks in hand as a movie played quietly in the background. Lin had her legs thrown over his lap, and Gavriel found that he couldn’t keep his fingers from tracing intricate patterns on her thighs.
“Gavriel, seriously, that was absolutely amazing.” Twenty minutes later and Lin was still ranting about the food he’d cooked. “What do I have to do to get you to cook for me all the time?”
He chuckled, but he could feel his nerves sinking in. “Well, there is something I’ve been meaning to ask you.” When she only raised an eyebrow at him, he continued, “Lin, I’ve had so much fun getting to know you this week, and I was wondering if you’d like to be my girlfriend?”
Taking his drink from him and setting them both on the coffee table, Lin slung her leg over his lap so that she was straddling him. She cupped his face in her hands and leaned down so their foreheads touched. “It would be my pleasure, Gav. My absolute pleasure.”
Sighing in relief, he gripped her waist as she leaned down to press her lips to his. Gavriel slowly began moving his mouth against hers, his tongue soon sliding into her mouth.
They stayed that way for a while, just wrapped up in one another on the couch. Gavriel eventually found himself without his shirt, and he couldn’t help the moan that escaped him as her nails scraped over his sides.
It was only after Lin’s shirt joined his on floor that he realized just how quickly they were moving. He’d just pulled back to make sure Lin was still okay when she cut him off.
“Gav,” she whispered. “Take me to bed?”
Sliding his hands under her ass as she wrapped her legs around his waist, he stood up and began walking to his bedroom. “Anything for you, love.”
THREE YEARS, TWO MONTHS, AND SEVENTEEN DAYS AGO
Despite the fact that the store was still open for ten more minutes, Rowan was sitting at his desk in his office, his focus on cleaning one of his knives. It had come in with a shipment a while ago, and he’d instantly decided that it was going to be his. It was a fairly basic knife with a smooth, unadorned handle, but the balance was perfect, so he’d bought it.
He was concentrating so hard on what he was doing that he almost didn’t hear the bell from the entrance jingling as someone walked in. Setting the blade on his desk, he stood and made for the store, hoping whoever was here wouldn’t take too long - he just wanted to get home to Aelin.
Walking into the room, a wide grin split his face when he saw the love of his life standing just inside the front door. “Hey babe, what are you doing here?”
Aelin walked up to him, her eyes shining in the bright lights of the shop. “I missed you, so I thought I’d come surprise you.”
“Well, you certainly did - I thought you were a last minute customer and I was a little grumpy at the thought of being kept from you any longer.”
Giggling at his words, Aelin cupped his face in her hands, smoothing her thumb over the tattoo curling up the left side of his face. “Why don’t you lock the store and then I’m all yours?”
Pressing his lips to hers, Rowan hummed in agreement. “That, Fireheart, is an excellent idea. Go wait in my office - I’ll be there in five minutes.”
Nipping his chin lightly, Aelin made for his office, her hips swinging with every step she took.
~*^*~
Rowan walked into his office and discovered Aelin seated on his desk, her legs crossed and her shirt on the floor just inside his door. Her breasts were barely held in by her black lace bra, though the sight of them nearly spilling out just made Rowan harder in his jeans.
“Get a little impatient, did we?” he quipped, trailing his fingers over the back of her neck as he walked around his desk to face her.
“Just thought I’d help move things along.” She smirked up at him as her legs wound around his waist, pulling his rapidly hardening dick against her center. Rolling her hips against him, she pulled his face down to hers.
Rowan sighed into her mouth when she finally connected them, the feeling of her lips moving against his like coming home. It didn’t take long for her tongue to find its way into her mouth, and the feeling of it brushing his had him rolling his hips back against hers.
Aelin’s mouth started moving more insistently against his, her fingers sliding down from where they’d been twined in his hair to grip the hem of his shirt. Parting from him long enough to whisper “off” and tug the offending garment over his head, she tossed it behind her as she sealed her lips to his once more.
After a few minutes of this Rowan pushed her back so she was lying on his desk and he was hovering over her. Disconnecting their lips with a whine, he moved his lips down over her jaw and to her neck, sucking the sensitive skin at the hollow of her throat into his mouth. He only released the skin he was slowly working with his lips and teeth when Aelin was panting above him, her hips working against his in a steady rhythm.
Sliding his hands beneath her, he unhooked her bra and slid it off of her, tossing it to join their other clothing on the floor. Aelin mewled as the cool air of his office hit her nipples, and Rowan chuckled against her skin as he kissed and nipped his way down to the valley of her breasts.
Running his tongue between them, Rowan lifted both of his hands to cup her breasts, the rough skin of his palms creating a friction that had Aelin’s head thrashing on the desk.
Pinching one nipple between his fingertips, he took the other in his mouth, rolling the stiff peak with his tongue before sucking on it. As Aelin arched against him, Rowan bit down against her nipple gently, applying just enough pressure that she cried out and dug her fingers into his scalp.
“Rowan,” she gasped, her hips rolling erratically beneath him. “Baby, please, please, pleasepleaseplease.”
Flicking his tongue against her nipple one last time, Rowan pulled off the peak and slid his lips down her stomach, his fingers finding the button on her jeans. Unfastening them, he had them down her legs and on the floor in a matter of seconds, his lips settling just above the waistband of her thong.
Running his tongue down her slit, he nipped her folds once over the fabric before pressing one finger against her clit.
“Rowan!” she yelped, her nails digging into his back hard enough he knew she’d leave marks. “Stop teasing me, buzzard.”
Chuckling darkly against her stomach, Rowan slid her thong down her legs, barely getting it off her before he attached his mouth to her folds.
Aelin cried out at the suddenness of it, and Rowan slipped his tongue into her slit as she threw her legs over his shoulders. He worked her with broad stripes, licking from the base of her slit all the way up to her clit.
He repeated the motion until she was keening above him, and then he wrapped his lips around her clit, sucking on the sensitive bud as he worked two fingers inside of her. He pumped his fingers slowly, flicking his tongue over her clit in time with his thrusts.
He’d just taken her clit between his teeth when he moved his hand to get a better grip on the desk and felt it knock against something smooth. Feeling around, he realized it was the knife he’d been cleaning earlier - thankfully sheathed.
Pulling away from her dripping folds, he felt a smirk curving over his face as he got a delightfully wicked idea.
Picking up the blade, he ran the hilt of it through her folds before grinding it lightly against her clit. Aelin groaned at the new sensation before lifting her head to see what exactly Rowan was using to tease her.
Her eyes widened at the sight of the knife, even as she moaned when Rowan moved it against her again.
“Tell me if you don’t want it, baby,” he groaned, feeling like he was going to rip through his jeans at the sounds she was making.
Aelin gripped his wrist in what he assumed was a motion meant to stop him from using the knife. Instead, she pulled it up toward her face and took the hilt between her lips, sucking in the same way she would suck him off.
Rowan groaned deep in his throat at the sight. Pulling the knife from her mouth, he slid it down her torso and pushed it against her clit again, continuing his motions for only a moment before he was sliding it lower.
He slid the hilt of the knife over her opening once, twice, three times before slowly working it inside of her. Aelin cried out at the feeling of the cool metal against her walls, though it didn’t stop her from rolling her hips to get it deeper.
As soon as it was all the way inside her, Aelin was rolling her hips harder to encourage Rowan to fuck her. Obliging her wish, he began thrusting the hilt of the knife into her faster, Aelin grinding against it with every thrust.
Sliding the fingers of his other hand over her clit, Rowan latched on to the skin of her neck once again, working another mark into her skin as he fucked her with the knife.
Aelin began to cry out with breathless moans as her orgasm crashed through her, and Rowan sucked harder against her neck, his teeth digging in hard enough that he knew she would have marks.
She continued to roll against the knife even as she came down from her release, and Rowan kept working her clit, helping to draw it out even longer.
Eventually she stopped shaking against him and he pulled the knife from her folds, the hilt of it covered in her juices. He raised it to his mouth to clean it, but Aelin whined in protest, so he leaned down over her so they could clean it off together.
He groaned at the taste of her, and she let out tiny whimpers every time his tongue brushed hers. When it was finally clean, he tossed the blade on his chair and shoved his pants and boxers down his legs.
As soon as he’d removed the last of his clothing, he lined the head of his cock up with her opening before sheathing himself to the hilt with one thrust. Aelin nearly screamed as he bottomed out, and the groan he released at the feeling of her walls sucking him in was nearly inhuman.
He waited until she started rolling her hips up into him before moving inside her. He set a fast pace, thrusting into her with deep strokes that hit that spot inside of her every time.
With how sensitive she was from her first orgasm, he knew it wouldn’t be long until she tipped over the edge again. Thrusting into her harder, he slipped his fingers over her clit in time with his thrusts as he felt his own release building.
Aelin began rolling her hips faster, the cries coming from her throat not even words anymore, and it only took a couple thrusts for her to fall over the edge again, screaming his name into the office. Rowan kept thrusting through her orgasm, knowing his own was close behind.
“Baby, in my mouth,” she cried, her voice raspy from all the sounds he’d pulled from her. “I want you to come in my mouth.”
He groaned at her words but managed to pull himself from her walls, stroking his hand over his dick as she slid off his desk and dropped to her knees in front of him.
Taking the head of his cock between her lips, she gave him two swift strokes before taking him as far into her throat as she could. She swallowed around his dick and cupped his balls, pulling him over the edge as his orgasm crashed into him.
He cried her name as he released into her mouth in spurts, Aelin swallowing each one so she wouldn’t spill any of it.
Once he’d finally come down, he dropped to his knees next to her, pulling her in for a kiss. He could taste himself on her tongue, and he moaned into her mouth.
Aelin pulled back with a sigh, running her fingers lightly over his thighs. “Gods, I love you,” she whispered, climbing into his lap and wrapping herself around him as he toppled over onto his back.
“Though I think you might be the death of me, I love you, too,” he chuckled, entirely spent and completely satisfied.
Aelin just laughed at the content expression he knew he was sporting, her fingers running through his hair as they both tried to calm their racing hearts.
THREE YEARS AND FIVE DAYS AGO
Lorcan felt his jaw drop, and no matter what he did, he couldn’t seem to get it back in place - maybe the ridiculous thing had come unhinged.
They’d all decided to meet up at the shooting gallery/target range, and he was the last to arrive. Walking into the complex, he immediately located Gavriel and Lin - they were at the archery range and, from the looks of it, Lin was kicking his ass with every shot. Fenrys, Asterin, Vaughan, and Sorrel were at the shooting range, headphones in place as they lined up their shots. Rowan, Connall, and Vesta were taking turns throwing knives at a target.
None of that, however, was what had caught his attention so thoroughly.
No, that was Aelin, who was in one of the axe-throwing lanes. More specifically, it was the woman in the lane next to her, hurling axe after axe at the target in front of her with alarming precision.
Elide Lochan.
Her dark hair was pulled up into a high ponytail, but he’d recognize her anywhere.
Of course, it was as he was admiring her skills that Aelin happened to turn and catch sight of him.
“Lorcan!” she called, jogging over to him. “Don’t get any ideas in that brooding head of yours - my friend is not here for you to stare at.”
Elide turned at her words, a smile lighting up her face when she saw who Aelin was talking to. “Lorcan, hi,” she greeted, winking at him as she sidled up next to Aelin. “I was hoping you’d be here.”
“Wait, hold on,” Aelin interrupted. “You two know each other?”
Lorcan smirked at her. “Oh, we go way back - Elide came into the shop a few months ago.” Turning to face Elide then, he grinned down at her. “That’s quite an impressive throw you have there.”
“Thanks,” she replied, patting Aelin on the shoulder as she watched the interaction with wide eyes before shaking her head and walking over to join Rowan. “Don’t mind Aelin, she’s just overprotective. Let’s go see if you have any skills with an axe, shall we?”
“That would be great.”
~*^*~
After about thirty minutes in the axe-throwing lanes, Lorcan was even more impressed. While he had a decent amount of skill - owning a weapons shop did come with some perks - and could hit the bullseye with some regularity, Elide almost never missed it. Though she was tiny, she clearly had some serious muscles packed in that small frame. She had better throwing form than anyone he’d ever seen before.
“Well,” she murmured, leaning up to whisper in his ear, “I have to say - I was expecting better.”
Flicking her in the nose, he just shook his head at her. “I’ll have you know that when we come here, it’s usually not axes I’m throwing.”
When she only raised an eyebrow at him, he added, “I’m much better with knives.”
“Really?” She gestured for him to lead the way to the knife-throwing lanes. “Let’s see how good you really are.”
Sketching a bow at her, Lorcan made for the open lane, picking up the knives in front of him. He winked at Elide before facing the target again, throwing all three knives in quick, successive throws.
He heard Elide gasp as she realized that all three of them were in the innermost ring of the target. “Like I said,” he laughed, “this is what I excel at.”
“Okay, I’ll admit it,” Elide replied. “I’m impressed. Can you teach me to do that?”
Lorcan nodded and pulled her in front of him, his hand sliding over hers as she picked up one of the knives in front of them.
~*^*~
By the end of the night, Lorcan had successfully taught Elide how to throw a knife, and her precision with axes had clearly transferred, since she was hitting the bullseye a majority of the time.
“You’re a very quick learner, Lochan,” he whispered as he stood behind her.
Leaning back against his chest, she smiled up at him, something sparkling in her eyes. “That’s because of you Salvaterre - you’re an amazing teacher.”
He chuckled at her words, resting his chin on the top of her head as she turned back around to watch Aelin line up her last shot at the archery range. Slowly, he wound his arms around her waist, sighing as she relaxed against him.
“Lorcan,” she murmured, her fingers twining with his, “I’ve had a really great time with you tonight.”
“Yeah?” he questioned. “Maybe we should do this again sometime?”
Turning in his arms, she rested her hands on his chest. “I’d like that - although maybe it should just be the two of us next time.”
He smiled at her - a real, genuine smile. “Would you like to go out with me tomorrow then?”
“That sounds amazing.”
Lorcan couldn’t help himself - he pulled her into a hug, smiling even wider as he listened to her giggle at his enthusiasm.
They pulled apart just as everyone started heading for the exit, and he grabbed her hand to tug her along. As everyone headed for their cars, the two of them quickly exchanged numbers before heading their separate ways.
As far as he was concerned, their date couldn’t come fast enough.
