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My friend held out his arms and Lorn jumped into them, clinging to Sy like a monkey as he cupped her ass. Syler disappeared into the room with Lorn, leaving me to follow after them and the sound of Lorn’s stunned gasp.
Candles littered every surface, and the tingle of his magick swirled through the room from the copious amounts he’d conjured. Each one flickered with a tiny flame, setting a warm glow around the darkened room. Rose petals covered the floor and king-sized bed, which he’d also created. The sliding glass door to the balcony was ajar, and there was a blanket with an assortment of food spread out over the wooden deck outside.
Holy shit. I’d never seen Syler get romantic about anyone before, but watching the glow in Lorn’s cheeks as she gazed around wide-eyed was worth every ounce of effort he’d put into this surprise.
Lorn cupped his scruffy face and ran her palms over the arches of his cheekbones.
“You did all of this for me?” she asked in astonishment.
Without his hands to sign, a common occurrence when he was around Lorn, I murmured the answer that pressed into my mind on a deep rumble.
“Yes.”
Lorn swooped down and kissed him soundly, and before she could pull away, he reached up and held her head to his. Their lips brushed softly, sharing silent secrets back and forth until they were both panting for air.
Syler’s happiness radiated through our connection, a perfect mirror of my own.
I couldn’t recall a time I’d ever seen the man more smitten.
Twenty-Four
Syler
“Ican’t believe you did all of this.” Lorn was awestruck, and I was happy about how easy it was to please my small mate.
She was tiny in my arms, effortless to carry around, and after she’d had a good chance to look around the bedroom I’d set up for us, I carried her onto the large balcony, enjoying the breeze that blew against our skin and made my mate shiver against me.
I wrapped my arms tighter around her, promising myself I’d keep her warm, fed, and happy tonight.
Reluctantly, I let Lorn down, only to tug her onto the blanket I’d spread out over the deck.
“You trying to make me look all unromantic?” Jolon arched an eyebrow at me, and I grinned.
I was going to give you credit as well, but you kind of jumped the gun. I was just finishing up when you found me. Not that I’m complaining.Lorn settled into my lap, and I bit my tongue to keep my cock from rising to greet her pretty round ass.
Grabbing a strawberry, I held it to her mouth, my restraint dying a little when she wrapped her lips around it and bit down.
“So how did you two meet?” Lorn stole another berry and popped it into her mouth while Jolon lounged back on the blanket, staring at the stars. He propped a hand under his head and turned to look at us.
You okay if I share some of our history?Jolon asked, leaving the decision in my hands.
It’s our story. If you’re comfortable sharing, I’m okay with it.
It might be our story, but we both know it’s weighted in your direction. We can tell her we’re not ready to revisit that part of our past…Jolon trailed off.
No.I shook my head slightly, and Lorn’s gaze bounced between the two of us, catching on to our private conversation.There’s nothing I’m willing to hold back from my mate. I trust her.
Jolon nodded deeply, the weight of that statement not lost on him.
“Sy and I were orphans together,” Jolon started.
“Is that how you became shadow touched?” Lorn inquired innocently, and I tensed, shaking my head to answer her question.
“No,” Jolon rumbled, reiterating my answer. “Sy’s father is in jail, and his mother bailed when he was a child. My parents are dead, but it had nothing to do with me. We grew up in the same shitty orphanage together, and other than bouts of foster care, we were never apart.”
How much more of our dark past we should share tonight, I wasn’t sure, but it was good to open up to my mate. Should I tell her about the abuse we suffered? How I’d lost the ability to speak? Where the scars that littered my skin had come from? Would she look at me differently if she knew? Women had been repulsed by the raised lines that crisscrossed my body in the past, but Lorn only gazed at my imperfections with a seriousness that spoke of her desire to know the story behind each mark. I had the uncanny sense that she’d soothe away the painful memories that lay with each one if I trusted her enough with the stories of my past.
I jostled Lorn as I signed awkwardly, wanting to be part of the conversation, deciding to give her just a taste. Tonight was about our future, not our past.
