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“Isn’t that gonna sound suspicious?”
“The focus of this case is on our plans for Miss Hawthorn’s future,” Kelly said decisively. “That is what the judge will be making her decision on. We don’t comment on anything that is unhelpful to that end.” Jesse glanced at Emory, but he was looking at the wall, his eyes distant. Kelly glanced at him without reaction then back at Jesse. “All the depositions are after sundown, so we will all be together. I’ve won the motion to ensure Helena Hawthorn is not present.”
“Thank Christ,” Jesse said.
“No, you thankme, human,” Kelly said with a hard look. “Christ will be of no use to you in this situation.”
“It’s just an expression,” Jesse muttered.
“You’ll have to excuse me on that front,” the lawyer said, his jewel-hard gaze again on his files. “I never got used to this modern habit of taking the Lord’s name in vain.”
“Darragh,” Emory scolded softly.
“I would like to meet with you a couple of more times before the deposition,” Kelly said, gathering his files and standing. “I will help you prepare. But the most vital part of all this is you focusing on what’s important. That’s the baron and his daughter. Understand?”
“You don’t have to tell me Emory and Dim are important,” he said levelly.
“Work on the swearing,” Kelly said, then moved to the door. “Baron,” he said, inclining his head, then left.
Jesse bit his lip. “Is it really a good idea for me to do this?”
“You have to do it, my love,” Emory said, moving to join Jesse. “I’m sorry you do. But that doesn’t change things.” Emory smiled and ran a hand up Jesse’s arm. “But don’t worry. I’m certain you’re more than capable of handling a few human lawyers. Tell me, how are you feeling today?”
“Fine,” Jesse said, touching his forehead. “No pain left.”
“I didn’t mean your head.”
Jesse looked up, their words from the previous evening rushing back and closing his throat. “Fine. I think.”
Emory lifted his hand and kissed the knuckles. “Have you forgiven me?”
Jesse pulled his hand away. “You don’t need forgiving. I was being an idiot.”
“Is that so?”
Jesse waved a hand and turned his back. “I heard Tom when he told me about the biting. About how bad it is. I know I shouldn’t have asked. Maybe it was the Blood, I dunno. But I do this, Emory,” he added, quietly. “I…push things. I always have. I don’t like thinking there’s…edges to things. Boundaries.”
Emory ran his hands up his arms from behind. He pressed a soft kiss to his neck. Jesse shivered.
“There are no bounds to what I’m starting to feel for you,” he whispered against his skin. “It makes me ache that you can never truly know what or how I feel. Seeing you with Dimity, apart from anything else…” He smiled against Jesse’s skin, and Jesse’s heart fluttered. “It’s like a dream. But I’ve hurt people in the past…inflicted pain.” His grip tightened on Jesse’s arms. “It’s a part of myself that’s cost me a lot to change. I can’t go back.”
Jesse turned in his arms, grabbed his face and kissed him.
“I get it,” he whispered, kissing his lips and nose. “I get it, even when I pretend I don’t. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, love,” he said, kissing Jesse’s cheek. “Just be you.”
“I’ll try,” Jesse said with a crooked smile. “And I’ll do anything I can to make sure you keep Dim. Whatever it takes.”
“Thank you,” Emory said sincerely, rubbing his arms then moving to the door. “I have a meeting with Greenway. Then Dimity’s new school has agreed to a midnight video call. Are you going to bed? You should rest.”
Jesse shook his head. “I’m gonna try to adjust to being up later,” he said, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Try to be around more when you are.”
Emory was still for a moment. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to. Just like working nights, right?”
“I can’t let Dimity do that,” he said after a moment. “If you were hoping she would stay up, too…”
