“I support you in all your artistic endeavors, mo cuishle.”
That word again.He could have asked.He didn’t.Let it stay a mystery, and he could fill it with everything he wanted it to mean.He wanted to mean so much to Declan.To be so much for him, even if he didn’t know how.
Right now, he mostly wanted to hold him.Declan seemed more than content with that.The rest could wait until morning.
WakingupwithDeclanin his arms was a major improvement on spending another restless night with the sluagh only a few feet away.Antonio’d been sick of cold showers before he’d finished the first one.
Better, so much better, to open his eyes to find Declan just there, and drag the sluagh on top of him just for the pleasure of skin against skin.Declan, no longer heated from sex, felt wonderfully cool.
Also, there were his thin black lips, waiting to be kissed.So Antonio did.And that filled a few minutes, the two of them tangled together, lazy affection kindling into lust, until the grumble of Antonio’s stomach set Declan snickering.
“I believe that’s my cue to offer you breakfast.”
Antonio ignored the offer in favor of running his hands down Declan’s spine and over the slight curve of his bare ass.For the first time, he felt like maybe he knew a worthwhile use for the next few centuries.
Again, the growl of his stomach.And, yeah, he was hungry for more than just Declan’s mouth.“We can come back to the room after, yeah?”
“I see no reason why not.Until my mother hears back from her contacts, we’re simply killing time.”
Right.Aisling.
“Your family going to be okay with this?”he asked, letting the sluagh sit up.“Can keep it on the down low if you need.”
“They would be.Would you prefer to keep this between us?”
Declan’s voice had gone quieter, no longer playful.Sometimes, Antonio wished the bond came with an instruction manual.Feeling someone’s emotions only got you so far when what you actually got was ‘drying flowers and faded ink.’
“I know what happens when fae moms catch their kids kissing humans, is all.”He offered a sideways smile as he pushed himself up on his elbows.“Not because of you, okay?I’m more than good with being out with you.”
There, that was better.Declan relaxed again, leaning in to nip at Antonio’s lips.
“Colm is doubtlessly expecting nothing less of his wayward younger brother.Eithne may attempt to wheedle any family recipes you have from you.”Declan slipped off the bed, toward his closet, and Antonio indulged himself by watching.“Father follows Mother’s lead, and she likes you already.Even if she didn’t, she tends to like people who likeme.What of yours?Dulce didn’t seem too worried when she asked if I kissed you.”
“Dulce asks everyone that.Last time it was our waiter.”
“Should I be jealous?”A question asked by a mostly naked sluagh, just stepping into his jeans.
“Hedidslip me his number.”Antonio made his own way to the closet, sliding his hands into the pockets of Declan’s not-yet-buttoned jeans.“You’re the only piece of ass I’m interested in, Murderpunk.”
“Lucky me.”
But he smiled, saying it, and that started them kissing again, so that they were both wet-lipped and laughing by the time they made it out of the room and down the stairs.Only, Declan stopped before they made it to the kitchen, head tilted and expression puzzled.
Antonio heard them then.Voices.One of them familiar: Aisling.The other was new.
“Eithne?”Declan asked, looking at Antonio like he’d know the answer.
Eithne.The sister who cooked.And maybe the banshee who walked in from the kitchen with Aisling’s toothy smile and her skin the pale green of new leaves.Other than the whole banshee thing, she looked straight out of some period piece.Not the fancy sort.The women in big aprons and loose pants sort.
“It’s certainly not Ma,” she answered, giving Declan a quick once over.“You look significantly less dramatically morose than when I last saw you.Love the extra bits of crackle.Ma said you–Oh,how did I miss you?”Those huge black eyes blinked at Antonio.“You’re my new brother, then?Or whatever it is they call additional legal familial connections where you’re from.”
Much as he wanted to, Antonio didn’t rub at his tattoo, trace the protection of nettle at his wrist.This was Declan’s sister.And they’d said they weren’t going to hide things.And that meant Antonio couldn’t hide.
“Humans haven’t come up with a word for ‘brother’s magical bond, yet,” he said, stepping up so he and Declan stood shoulder-to-shoulder.“I’m Antonio.”
“I’m sure you’ll both think of something,” Eithne said, her wide smile twisting into a smirk as her gaze flicked between them.“A pleasure, Antonio.I’m called Eithne.Do you like bagels?I made bagels.”
“Why did you bring bagels?”Declan asked as he leaned into Antonio, affection radiating off of him like the heat from a bonfire.Antonio traced his thumb over Declan’s spine, while the sluagh bantered with his sister.
