“Ow,” Nix moans, clenching hard to hold it in place. He was out for the good part. That won’t do at all.
“Ow. Ow,” Finn whines. “Not so hard. Sensitive.”
“Then be still. I’m enjoying my afterglow.”
There’s a low chuckle from beside him as a straw is pushed between his lips. “Drink.”
“Why do you never give me juice?” Finn whines, and there’s a splatter of apple juice on Nix’s face. When Nix opens his eyes, Finn has a wet face.
“You can’t say I don’t give you juice now.”
Finn frowns, looking at Nix, expectant of a shared sense of long-suffering patience. Frankly, Nix feels it for both of them.
“Why is he like this? Is he not getting enough hugs?” Nix hears the old joke in his mind and knows Finn has changed it fromWere you not hugged enough as a child?Because no, Gideon had not been hugged enough as a child, but Finn would never hurt his mate on purpose.
“I get enough hugs, thank you very much. In fact, I’d like one right now.”
Gideon scooches down so he can put his head on Nix’s chest. They must have released Nix’s wrists from the tie when he was out, so Nix could drop his arm down around Gideon’s shoulder. Finn’s knot finally deflates, and he falls to Nix’s other side so he can cuddle him with his other arm.
“This looks really good, Nix,” Finn says, waving a hand at the chandelier, the pillows, the lingering fog.
Gideon scoffs. “Figures our genius thinks literature instead of late-night TV.”
Finn squints. “Wait. This is the show you make us watch, isn’t it?”
Nix grins. “Mmhmm.”
“So you’re Jeannie?” Finn turns to Gideon. “So that makes you…Major Nelson?”
“Obviously,” Gideon says, smug.
Finn looks between them. “Then who the hell am I?”
“Oh, you’re not the goofy sidekick,” Nix says, all mock-seriousness. “I’d never do you like that.”
Finn raises a brow. “Then who?”
Nix’s smile turns wicked. “You’re always the brightest one in the room, so that makes you’re—”
Finn blinks. Then flushes.
Then he groans, just as Nix says “—the lamp.”
XIV
Everything is Magic When I’m with You
Grayson and Nix in the Art House.
Of course, it’s romantic. Would Grayson have it any other way?
This takes place after Nix is already well into his happily ever after, but has not—for a single moment—forgotten how lucky he is. Probably seven years after the end of Eternal Light.
I hope you enjoy the subtle hints at their life together.
Content Warnings
None
