We’re at the Heathens’ mansion. Technically, no one lives here anymore except for Kill and his girlfriend, Glyn. The rest of us just show up to strategize, which pisses Kill off because he’ll have to spend time with us instead of his girlfriend—hence his stance by the door.
Jeremy is mostly with his girlfriend, Cecily, in a secluded renovated cottage on the island. Nikolai can be found in the penthouse with his boyfriend, Brandon, and Gareth in his own mansion with his ex-professor.
And I…well, I’m always in our home—the one I bought because I wanted to have Yulian all to myself, shielded from the world, where no one can see us or take him from me.
I still feel that urge sometimes, wanting to shield him, to hide him, especially when people start flirting with him in fucking public. Often while I’m standing right there.
Do I start shooting lasers from my eyes and actually contemplate shooting them? Sure. I blame Yulian for being irresistible.
Not that he encourages the behavior, but he does love seeing me get jealous just so I’ll pull him possessively by the waist, so everyone knows I own him.
He’s mine. Not theirs.
I figured it was about time I introduced him to the guys and come out while I’m at it.
I dislike being labeled as bi or gay or anything else.
All I know is that I love Yulian. And I always will.
I lace my fingers through Yulian’s and settle our joined hands in my lap. I’m perched on the armrest of his chair instead of taking one of the empty seats by Gareth or Jeremy—or even by Niko, who shot to his feet the moment he noticed the gesture.
Doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. I’ll never get tired of holding Yulian’s hand in public, rubbing my thumb across the back of his hand, letting the whole world know that we’re together.
I know it means so much to him as well. He waited so long for me to stop hiding, denying, and hurting him, whether unintentionally or not.
He grins up at me, squeezing my hand tighter, and my heart thuds in my chest.
Seriously, why does he keep becoming more…gorgeous? He’s dressed in leather—we both are because we rode his motorcycle here. He looks fucking delicious in the open jacket that reveals a skin-tight white shirt, hair finger-raked by me just earlier when I kissed him senseless before we stepped into the mansion.
But it’s mostly his eyes that seem to shoot an arrow to my chest. They’ve been brighter, the blue lighter, the brown shimmering. Since we vowed to spend the rest of our lives together, he’s been getting more beautiful by the day.
Or maybe I’m falling in love with him a bit more every day.
“You know what this means?” Niko asks, grinning. “V is now part of the fun dick alliance as well. Woohoo! I was the blueprint, just saying.”
“Get over yourself,” Gareth says.
“Nah, you bitches are following in my footsteps. I feel like a proud papa.”
“I’molderthan you,” Gareth protests.
“Details, details. Anyway, Jer.” Nikolai pats his shoulder. “You’re, like, the straight token friend of the group.”
“Thanks?”
“Nah, that wasn’t a compliment.” He shakes his head. “My condolences.”
“I’m happily straight and even happier with Cecily, Niko. Stop making it into a drama.”
“I’m just saying.” Niko grins up at me. “So Yulian, huh? Knew you had a boner for him when you kept asking about his preferences at that camp.”
Yulian raises a brow as if he’s a dog with a bone. “You were asking about my preferences?”
“Niko was the one who brought it up,” I grumble. “And he said you weretotallystraight.”
“Tiny mishap in my gaydar. I was young at the time, so technically it doesn’t count,” Niko says. “Bet it broke your tiny queer heart back then, V.”
“Shut up, Niko.”
