They walked down the concrete path toward the waiting car.
“How didZara, the woman who wouldn’t even tell you how she felt after years of pining, end up snagging notonebuttwobeautiful women?” Iro said with a chuckle.
Arwen laughed and replied, “No idea. But she’s happy, so that’s all we care about.”
“And so are we,” Iro added and brought Arwen’s hand up to her lips to kiss.
Iro
“I can’t believe they’re moving to Chile,” Arwen said when they arrived at their new home, a cottage that was just large enough for the two of them and maybe a dog, should they decideto get one. “The list of Cassia’s properties was extensive. They had options.”
“It’s a massive home in the mountains, isolated. I’d say it’s a good decision for the next fifteen years or so. Every so often, we just have to disappear, which is whatwe’redoing.”
She moved behind Arwen, wrapping her up in her arms.
“You didn’t want to stay in one of Cassia’s homes that she left you?”
“No. I never want to stay in one of those houses. Zara, Alexia, and Sarah can have them as long as they want them, and I gave them the villa in Florence as a wedding gift. Why would I want any of those places?”
“She left them toyou.”
“In a will that she had a vampire friend write up one day decades ago, when I was trying to leave again. She wanted me to stay. That time, we were arguing about her hubris and how she took risks she shouldn’t have taken because she wasn’t afraid of dying. She responded by writing a will, saying that if she really thought she couldn’t die, why would she do that? It meant nothing. I’d sell them all, but they’re good for Zara and her wives to have. If they ever want to own them all, I’ll sign them over to them right away.”
“I kind of think they like that they’re Cassia’s houses; or, at least, that’s still how they see them. They’re getting revenge on her or something by using them.” Arwen laughed.
“We have our own homes around the world, including this one. I’d like to maybe christen it if my wife is interested.”
“Oh, yeah?” Arwen teased. “We just got here. I haven’t even seen the place in person. You’re not going to give me a tour first?”
Iro walked her over to the small eat-in kitchen while still behind her and said, “This is the kitchen and dining room. Over there is the living room with the fireplace that I will be lightingsoon to read you poetry by the firelight. Our bedroom is through there.” She pointed and kissed Arwen’s neck. “There’s also a surprise for you, if you want to see that first.”
“Is it the tight T-shirt I was promised?”
“No.” She laughed. “Come on.” She pulled Arwen by the hand toward a closed door next to the bedroom. “Open it.” Arwen pulled open the door, and Iro added, “I told you that this was a one-bedroom, but it’s actually two. I thought you could use this as your office and continue running your own law practice from here, if you wanted. Completely remote, but still making an impact.”
“Iro, thank you,” Arwen replied as she took in the room that Iro had left empty for her, wanting Arwen to be able to pick her own furniture.
“It’s smaller than it could have been; sorry. I wanted us to still have a hidden room, so I asked a contractor I trust to build us one in the closet and then told him to forget all about it. It seemed inconsequential to tell him to forget that he built it, after paying him a lot of money for it, but I have to keep practicing with my ability in case we really need it later.”
“What does hethinkhe got paid for?”
“Chimney repairs. Very expensive chimney repairs.”
“It’s perfect, Iro. The whole house. I don’t need much,” Arwen said and turned around to face her. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“How can I repay you for this gift?” Arwen asked with a lifted eyebrow as she unbuttoned and unzipped Iro’s jeans.
“Oh, I think you know what I like by now.”
“Yeah, I definitely know what you like.” Arwen leaned in, connected their lips for a second, and pulled back. “Me on our bed on all fours.”
“Oh, God,” Iro let out.
“You…” Arwen slid her hand inside her jeans. “Behind me. Taking what you want.”
“I thought we would go slow first, but I’m not going to argue with you,” Iro said.
