“About four years ago.”
Kenji turned to face Qylar. “So, you’ve had four years to come up here, but instead you live in the basement. Why?”
Qylar’s jaw tensed. “I’m Cryss’s servant. I belong down there.”
“He told you that you can’t live up here?”
“No,” Qylar muttered. “He’s asked me to move up.”
“Yet you didn’t.”
“I was settled down there. Why move?”
“Don’t you think you deserve this view?” Kenji asked.
“I don’t,” Qylar snapped.
“Am I less than, like your basement bedroom… and all you deserve?”
“No!”Qylar moved closer, taking Kenji’s head in his hands. “Not even close.”
“I don’t want to be with a man who denies and belittles himself. I don’t want to feel like I don’t measure up, but he’s settling because he doesn’t think he deserves any better.”
“That isnotthe case. I’m not settling.” Qylar scoffed. “I don’t want to be with a man who doesn’t see his worth, either. Who doesn’t see that he’s gorgeous.” Qylar shook his head. “You are… the most stunning man I’ve ever laid eyes on. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again and again. Until you believe me.”
“Then I’ll say this again and again. You deserve better than you allow yourself.”
Qylar tugged him closer. “Well, when the top floor becomes open again, I’ll consider moving up. Until then, it’s yours.”
“Or we could share it,” Kenji said.
Qylar searched his face. “I offered you your own bedroom for a reason.”
“I’m well aware that I say one thing and do another. I’ve done it all my life, so why stop now?”
Qylar chuckled but grew serious again. “I’m trying not to squeeze.”
“Oh, stop. Like you didn’t squeeze until you got me under your roof. Are you really going to tell me this isn’t what you wanted from the start?”
Qylar fought a smile.
“What’s the point of pretending we’re roommates when we’ve already admitted we’re going to end up in one bed?” Kenji asked. “I can still storm and slam the door when you piss me off. I’ll just have to send you back to the basement when you’re a bad boy.”
“Okay,” Qylar said. “If you’re sure that’s what you want, I’ll move my stuff upstairs.”
“After we get back from Nefyria,” Kenji said.
“After,” Qylar repeated, his smile ebbing some.
“Well, we’ve now pushed the trip back a day moving me out,” Kenji said.
“We can still leave in the morning,” Qylar said wrapping his arms around Kenji.
“I thought you had things to prepare?”
“It’s all done already.”
Kenji glared up at him. “Why’d you say you needed a day or two?”
