***
At first, there had been nothing but silence, then a whoop of congratulations from Casen and Darren, hugs all round, a few handshakes and even some silent nods with confused looks.
Lachlan didn't mind the conflicted options, because he knew they'd sprung the whole thing on them at a minute's notice. What mattered most was that Grayson and Konnor were already talking about making a special dinner, from scratch, that was more than just the barbecue and buffet style food they'd been indulging in until now.
“I'm talking a full Sunday roast dinner, with all the trimmings,” Konnor insisted, flicking through a cookery book while Grayson checked the fridge and freezer. “We might have to head into town to get some ingredients, but it wouldn't take long. And this is important,” he said, as though his own engagement and all the other things they'd had to celebrate and rejoice over for the past week were nothing in comparison to Lachlan's news.
“Maybe,” he said, as he stood from the main table and crossed to Konnor's side, “we should have one simple celebration on our last night, just to be happy that everyone is together and we're all leaving in one piece,” he suggested, whispering that last addition to his best friend, who grinned.
“I guess that's a good idea. That gives us more time to prepare and get things organised,” he agreed, though with a glance at Grayson that suggested his fiancé had recommended the same thing.
All three laughed at how silly it was, and Lachlan was about to say something when Cormag caught him around the waist and kissed his cheek. “Can I steal you away for a while?” he asked, as though there was any risk that he'd say no.
“Of course.” Lachlan flashed a grateful smile at his best friend, then followed Cormag out of the main room and into their bedroom.
“We've waited so long for this...” Cormag muttered, turning on him the moment the door was shut. A kiss grazed his cheekbone, making him smile. “You've been so patient...” he continued, in a breathy voice that told him exactly what his husband wanted for the rest of the afternoon. “Thank you for believing in me, baby. Thank you for fighting to get us this far.”
Lachlan wiped away an unexpected tear, as he remembered how much that hurt. To see Cormag completely in pieces, an emotional wreck and believing awful things about himself all because he'd thought their relationship was over. To remember what it was like to fight for them and what they could have if Cormag only let them. He shushed his husband and met his lips in a slow, lingering kiss. “I'll always fight for us,” Lachlan promised, a little surprised when Cormag leaned in to kiss his eyelid. His eyes closed and his mouth opened with a gasp at just how sensual that felt right in that moment.
When he was slowly backed towards the bed, he didn't think anything close to a protest. He wanted this as much as Cormag did and he wasn't going to put it off, just because their friends were in another room nearby. Lachlan kissed his husband softly, sliding back onto the bed and feeling the weight of the man he loved slowly cover him.
With a sigh, Cormag nipped his chin and hummed when Lachlan instinctively tipped his head back to allow access. “You do realise that we'll have very little time to indulge in each other from now on,” he warned quietly. “You're going to have less time to write, I'll have to cut back on my hours and our entire lives are going to change drastically.”
“Yes.” He nodded, knowing all of that. “We knew what we were getting into. It will be hard, but I'll never regret it. Not for a second.” He sighed heavily at the admission. Lachlan had wanted children his entire life and never thought it could happen. Now that he knew how beautiful Nicholas was inside and out, he couldn't wait to finally be a father and live that dream to the full.
Cormag kissed his other eyelid, then followed it up with a tender kiss on his forehead that forced out a few more tears. “I know we'll never regret it, because being parents is the biggest, most rewarding journey of all. But I worry about you. That the change will hurt your career,” he admitted.
Blinking in surprise of that concern, he carefully pushed himself to sit up and stared at his husband. He didn't know whether to reassure him or whether to be angry that Cormag thought his career was more important than their lives and their need to be parents.
“I'm not saying that you won't cope or that you won't love every minute of being a doting father,” Cormag insisted, with a deadly serious look in his eyes that said he was going to keep saying it until he believed him. “But you told me before that waiting a year between books can be deadly to an author, especially if those books are in a series. Do you have enough set aside to tide you over this first year? Because, you do realise it will be the hardest on both of us?”
Nodding, Lachlan let those calm, rational words deflate his frustration and confusion. “Yeah. It's going to be crazy. But I know, with my whole heart, that it will be worth it. We can do it, love. We can be superheroes for a year,” he vowed, with a cheeky smile as he reaching out to brush his husband's floppy fringe from his eyes.
“Then we have to have back up, if we need it,” Cormag decided, his voice changing from a hard, serious tone to one that was almost playful. “We can rope in the boys as babysitters, if we need time away. And the folks will be itching to get in grandparent-hours,” he admitted, a hint of laughter in his voice.
“Yeah, and that's going to cost us dearly!” he agreed with a laugh of his own, rolling his eyes at how many times they'd have to fend off their parents when they wanted grandparent-hours, when Lachlan and Cormag were least willing to give them. He didn't doubt that they'd spend most of the first year or two glued to Nicholas' side, learning all about him, helping him grow and sharing their world with him.
Lachlan couldn't imagine putting that off or willingly giving up time with Nicholas to do other things, even if their parents were on hand to help out.
Almost as though he could read his mind, Cormag smiled at him softly. When he leaned in, all Lachlan could do was lift himself until they met halfway in a long, glorious kiss. Cormag slipped his tongue into his mouth, clearly eager to continue the non-vocal discussion, so he grasped his hair and held him close, in encouragement.
A soft bite on his lower lip joined a hand slipping between their bodies that began to undo his jeans. There were no words needed for a moment like this, though a thousand of them swam through Lachlan's mind. This would be their last carefree fuck, their last whimsical, spur of the moment tumble in bed that didn't run the risk of being interrupted by a baby.
The next few moments, as Cormag stripped them of their clothes, was nothing but a blur of movement and quick kisses whenever they were close enough. He gasped when his aching cock was clasped so tenderly and a tongue slipped into his mouth. The combination was both unexpected and beautiful; Lachlan had been far too preoccupied with being in the moment to notice how far it had progressed.
When his husband broke away, he almost complained. “I love you so much, Lachlan,” Cormag whispered with a smile. He was kissed again, softer than before, then the glorious weight of a familiar body settled over his and he stopped thinking.
Thinking was overrated.
