Ross kept a careful eye on her, but they both seemed pretty happy where they were.Still, it was getting beyond late and Ross feared what might happen if Dunham fell asleep with Imani still on him.“Mama?”
She lifted her head and smiled at him, a sunny smile that she only wore when tipsy.“Did you know his fur was so soft?”
“I did, in fact.I’ve had to haul him out of tricky situations in wolf form before.Maybe stop petting Dunham, and let’s go to my house, where you can sleep?”
Both of them howled in protest.
Ross rolled his eyes.Why, exactly, was the youngest person in the room the adult?“It’s three in the morning, you two.Let’s sleep, yeah?”
“We be not allowed to sleep ’til Solstice,” Dunham informed him.
Imani nodded in rapid repetition.“Exactly.When’s Solstice?”
“Tomorrow.Afternoon?”Dunham sounded unsure on this point.
“Oh, then we have lots of time!”Imani sounded thrilled with this idea.She went back to petting Dunham with one hand, leaning against his side as trustingly as a child would.“Dunham, you’re so soft.You can come home with me after.”
“Go home witha pretty lass who has amazing hands?Sold.”
Ross eyed the two with mixed emotions.Were they flirting?Or just that drunk?
A pair of hands latched onto his waist and drew him away.Ross went, but protested even as Glenn led him towards the study.“No, I really shouldn’t leave her alone.”
“She’s fine, astór.The clan has accepted her wholly, and she’s obviously comfortable with all of us if she’s using Dunham as a body pillow.There’s no reason at all to fret.And with people dozing, full of cheer and food, we’re not likely to find a quieter time.Let’s curl up in front of the study fire and just cuddle a while.”
Oh.Oh god, that was the best offer Ross had possibly had all year.To be off his feet, cuddled in with a hot boyfriend, with nothing more challenging than watching flames crackle in a fireplace.Ross may have whimpered from the mental image alone.“But what about the Lord of Mischief?Isn’t he supposed to keep everyone up and awake until tomorrow afternoon?I guess afternoon, since we’re past midnight.”
“He understands that if he interrupts me, death and dismemberment awaits.”
Glenn did not sound like he was kidding.
And you know, when it came down to it, Ross might actually pitch in and help.Because after the events of the past few days, he hadearnedhis rest with Glenn, dammit.
They slipped into Glenn’s study, and when the door shut, it muted the sounds of the party still going on throughout the house.Ross breathed out on a sigh, relaxing as he entered this cozy sanctuary.
Glenn threw another log on the fire before settling in to the large chair in front of it.Ross toed off his shoes and slung his suit coat off before curling into his side, pillowing his head on the man’s shoulders.As he did, all the weight he’d been carrying sloughed off and he relaxed utterly with a sigh of pleasure.Glenn snugged him in a little more, brushing a kiss against his forehead.
Perfection.
Someone else could adult for Ross for the rest of the year, please and thank you.He was done.
Incident 9: All You Need is a Bedsheet
Ross was not claiming this year as his.Frankly, he’d tried that last year, and it had rather bitten him on the ass.
Granted, he now had a very nice paying job and a fantastic boyfriend, but still.Minor (and major) heart attacks on a weekly basis.Being trapped in a burning gas station.Coming out to his mother.Twice.Being kidnapped by a lunatic high wizard.Acquiring a henchman.And—worst of all—meeting Glenn’s mother.
Yeah, no.He was going to ease into this year quietly and try not to touch anything.Maybe it would be nicer to him.
School had started up almost two weeks ago, and he’d gotten back into the swing of things readily enough.Homework hadn’t gotten crazy yet, at least.His schedule was such that he took one morning class on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, then on Tuesday and Thursday he had three classes back-to-back, ending after noon.That way he was still awake and could manage clan responsibilities.It did mean going to sleep at midnight, which cut into his time with Glenn.But there was no other way to work it and him still have enough hours during daylight to manage everything.
As Ross drove back to his house, he contemplated this.Would it be safe to maybe take Glenn out of town on a little romantic getaway?Just for three days or so?Or would that be tempting fate?
His lips pursed in thought as he debated how much Murphy he was calling on just thinking about it.With his mother coming over regularly to the clan—suspiciously regularly, like she was up to something—and school demanding his time, he just wasn’t getting enough one-on-one time with Glenn.He’d been spoiled by having all hours a day with his lover.
Helikedbeing spoiled, dammit.
Getaway.Definitely.Ross demanded uninterrupted snuggle time.
