“You sucked my dick way too hard for me to find big enough words to have this conversation,” Gramlithyn muttered, smoothing his palm down Pyxlevir’s back and settling it on the curve of his ass.
“Then let me bitch about you for a second.”
Gramlithyn’s brows lifted. “What did I do?”
“Your pajamas are a disgrace. Larissa makes plenty of PJs for everyone; why are clinging to two old faded pairs that are barely holding together?”
“Because I haven’t been to my parents’ house to grab more.”
“But we were at D’Vaire.”
Gramlithyn kissed Pyxlevir’s nose. “I’m an idiot and didn’t think about what is in the closet or drawers in my room there. We’ll be there this weekend, remind me to grab some.”
Pyxlevir bit his lip. “This is the first time I’m not looking forward to our monthly D’Vaire weekend.”
“Why is that? You love being with everyone.”
“Because I’m worried about how to sneak into your room without getting caught.”
“Shit.” Gramlithyn closed his eyes. “Yuck, I don’t want to sleep without you.”
Stacking his hands on Gramlithyn’s chest, Pyxlevir rested his chin on them and stared at his relaxed mate. “I’ve been thinking, but maybe right now isn’t the right moment to bring this up.”
“Talk to me, Pyx.”
“What if we did something to help your relationship with your parents and prevent us from having to sleep in our own little beds at D’Vaire?”
“Do you mean tell people we’re mates?”
Pyxlevir nodded. “I know it’s a big step and you’re worried about how your parents will react, but we can’t avoid it forever. If it’s too soon and we need more time to build our relationship, then we wait. I’m fine with it. It’s just if we’re sure we know where this is headed…well, I’m keeping a secret from my family too.”
“How do you feel about us?” Gramlithyn asked. There was vulnerability naked in his gaze, but it was the caring in his eyes that made Pyxlevir smile. “Because I love you. Maybe we’ve moved fast. It doesn’t feel that way though. I guess because you’ve been such a big part of my life for so long. You’ve been in my heart since the day we met. Even before I knew Fate had tied our souls, I wanted a future with you. Not once did I picture anyone else at my side. I can’t fathom adoring anyone else the way I love you. But we don’t have to rush into anything. I’m not going anywhere.”
Not caring where his tears landed, Pyxlevir shifted to drop a kiss on Gramlithyn’s pliant mouth. “Thank you, that was beautiful. I love you too. No one else could fit me like you. All my life I wanted to find my mate when I was young. I was too damn scared to hope it was you. Thank Fate it’s you. Only you. That’s how I feel about us. Someday soon I hope to bind our souls completely and finally understand what everybody who’s had a shifter bite is bragging about.”
Gramlithyn cupped Pyxlevir’s cheek. “Then I guess it’s time for us to move forward and announce our matebond.”
“I know you’re frightened, but it’ll be okay. We’ll do this together.”
“I’ll face whatever I need to so that I can have a future with you.”
“Because you’re a wonderful mate,” Pyxlevir assured his other half. “What if we keep it relatively simple? Start with the most important people. Your parents. My family. I’d like to include Evlithar and Cadlyr too. They’re like my second parents and helped raise me. Plus, they understand being separated. Evlithar was so afraid of Cadlyr’s tribe that they spent two thousand years apart.”
“Good point, six years is a blink compared to that. If my parents want to murder me, I’ll hide behind Cadlyr. He’s intimidating and knows how to use a spear.”
“There won’t be any weapons around,” Pyxlevir said, rolling his eyes. “We’ll let the centaurs host, and everyone will be so excited to get together that no one will suspect we’re gathering them for a big announcement. Surprise attack.”
“I’m not allowed to fantasize about weapons being involved, but you’re referring to this whole thing as an attack, General Pyxlevir.”
“Hush, are you on board or not? Let’s see if we can get this done before D’Vaire on Friday.”
“It’s already Tuesday.”
“I already know my parents have nothing going on this week; we had lunch with them yesterday, remember?”
“Of course.”
“So, we ask them to do dinner on Thursday, and if anyone is busy, we figure out an alternative. Deal?”
