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“We wanted to see the backyard,” Daphne answered cheerfully. She raised her voice pointedly. “Luke, darling, what a lovely piece of property you have here.”

Luke laughed in spite of himself. No one here ever behaved in any way that made sense, did they? “Syrus, let them in. It’s fine.”

Syrus huffed but stepped back. Either he trusted Luke’s judgment or he’d decided for himself that the threat was minimal.

Sybil and Daphne entered, both looking perfectly put together, as always. Daphne, true to her word, held a plate of croissants, some plain, some filled, and who was Luke to begrudge an early morning visit when Seth’s delicious pastries were involved?

Daphne’s gaze landed on the island in the middle of Luke’s kitchen. “Oh, stunning,” she cooed. “Your own work?”

Luke flushed with pleasure at the compliment. “Yes.”

“We’ve been remiss. We should have been commissioning you ages ago.” She turned, now taking note of the cooling plate of eggs. “Ah, but we’ve interrupted breakfast.”

Luke shrugged. “Colby doesn’t mind them cold.”

As if summoned by his words, Colby toddled in, shyly keeping back behind Luke’s leg, and there was some delighted fussing from Daphne about how handsome he was in the morning, and how good he was to eat his eggs no matter the temperature, which ended in Colby himself taking Daphne’s hand and leading her to the living room, the rest of them following behind.

Luke sat on the carpet and fed Colby his eggs and bites of croissant while Syrus glowered in the corner and the ladies explored, examining his interior decorating with discerning eyes while making the occasional compliment.

“The bathroom is very white,” Syrus eventually complained grudgingly, his arms still crossed tightly over his chest.

“Oh, but that’s easily fixed,” Daphne told him brightly. “I can send over some paint samples. We hardly have a white wall in the entire house.”

Naturally the resident vampires would send over paint samples so Luke’s merman boyfriend could redecorate without permission. Naturally.

After some minutes of all this, Luke cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, but I need to get Colby to day care now.”

“Ah.” The two women exchanged a look. “Do you mind if we keep Syrus behind?” Daphne asked. “We’d like details. Everything your scientist said about the institute, no matter how inconsequential it seemed.”

“It wasn’t much,” Syrus told them.

Sybil shook her head. “All the same.”

“That’s fine,” Luke told them quickly, ignoring Syrus’s irate look. Maybe some time alone—even fifteen minutes in the car without Syrus being handsome and helpful and devoted—would help Luke clear his head. He could come up with that list of questions and concerns, which he knew he had, but kept forgetting every time Syrus did something charming or helpful. He could practice saying, “We will not be having sex until you answer these,” out loud until it came out believable, even at the risk of sounding like some harried fishwife.

Syrus narrowed his eyes at whatever he saw on Luke’s face. “And you’ll come home directly after?”

Luke avoided his gaze as he grabbed Colby’s lunch and stuffed it in his backpack. “I might run a few errands.”

“Luke…”

“Syrus…”

They were at a standoff, which was only broken by Sybil’s restrained—but audible—whisper. “Such delicious tension.”

Syrus glowered at the room in general, but seemed to recognize the futility of his objections when he was outnumbered. “I’ll walk you to the door.”

Luke grabbed Colby’s backpack, and Colby proudly waved his goodbyes before leading the way to the front door. Syrus stopped them there, cupping Luke’s face in his hands while Colby hung onto Luke’s pant leg.

“You’re displeased with me,” Syrus said softly, his dark eyes deep and searching. “But that will change.”

He kissed Luke, and it reminded Luke of the very first one between them. Gentle and coaxing, almost tentative. Luke’s lips parted without his permission, but Syrus kept it brief, not even trying to be sly and slip Luke his tongue. His hands stayed on Luke’s face afterward as he murmured, “Don’t hide away too long, or I’ll come find you.”

Luke licked his lips and tried for stern. “Sometimes people need space.”

“You can have your space at home with me.”

Syrus said it like it was the most rational statement in the world, and Luke laughed. He couldn’t help it. He tugged Syrus’s hands away and let his head fall forward into Syrus’s chest, just for a moment.