Kalthekor’s gaze slid to Aristos. “Really, because if anyone asked me, I’d say that you are the biggest pest in our household.”
Leaning close to his mate, Aristos stole a kiss. “Then I guess you love pests.”
“Fate gave me you and Pyxlevir, of course I do.”
“Now I’m starting to think I’m terrible because of my Valzadari blood,” Pyxlevir commented.
“I think elves are definitely more horrid than any shifter,” Gramlithyn teased.
“You’re insulting yourself along with me,” Pyxlevir pointed out, resisting the temptation to poke Gramlithyn with his fork.
“I like to think my zebra makes up for the inadequacies of my elfness.”
“Keep telling yourself that.” Pyxlevir scoffed and rolled his eyes at Gramlithyn’s grin. Their little group ate their lunch while chatting about mundane things surrounding work, the weather, and their meal. Soon, Pyxlevir was walking out of the restaurant and riding up the elevator to his floor.
He waved goodbye to everyone, but Gramlithyn walked out of the elevator with him.
“This isn’t your floor,” Pyxlevir said.
“Yeah, I know,” Gramlithyn replied. “I wanted to talk to you for a minute before I go back to work.”
“Okay, anything wrong?”
“No, I wanted to invite you on a date with me on Friday,” Gramlithyn said. “After dinner with our roommates, maybe we could go play mini golf or something.”
“I’d love that. Thanks for inviting me. And your reason for asking me right now had nothing to do with spending another minute or two alone with my parents in the elevator?”
Gramlithyn chuckled. “Oh, I could’ve waited until later, but you’re right. I’d rather avoid any other awkward questions about my family, my life in the last six years, or any of the other topics on their minds.”
“Give me a hug and get upstairs,” Pyxlevir ordered.
The hybrid wrapped his arms around Pyxlevir, and once again, the elf reveled in Gramlithyn’s scent. He wished they wereat home so he could steal another soft kiss. They had shared a few chaste brushes of their lips since their first one, and Pyxlevir hoped they could experiment more soon. In the meantime, he had to keep from getting hard at the thought because his silk pants hid nothing.
“Have a good afternoon, Pyx,” Gramlithyn said, stepping back and hitting the button for the elevator.
“See you in a few hours.”
“Can’t wait,” Gramlithyn said as he stepped into the elevator.
Thrilled at how easily they were growing comfortable around each other again, Pyxlevir turned toward his office to start his afternoon.
∞∞∞
After dinner, Gramlithyn had volunteered himself and Dasan to clean up the table while Pyxlevir and the twins chatted in the living room about what they wanted to put on the television.
“Pyxlevir is in a good mood today,” Dasan said to Gramlithyn with a waggle of his eyebrows.
“He’s an optimistic person,” Gramlithyn replied noncommittally.
“Oh, shut up, you’re getting along well, and I’m excited.”
“Don’t start planning a matebond ceremony yet,” Gramlithyn said as soon as they were in the relative security of the kitchen so their roommates couldn’t hear their conversation. The last thing he wanted anyone to believe was that he was reluctant to be with Pyxlevir. But he was also a realist, and he had a lot to make up for thanks to his inability to have an adultconversation with Pyxlevir before he took off to whereabouts unknown.
“So, you’re already thinking about it,” Dasan hissed with excitement.
“It’s literally been on my mind since I was six and met him.”
“I can’t believe how fucking pretty he is. Like, how does Fate like you so much?”
