19. Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Dating. We’re dating.

I sat on the floor in front of Fyn. Kal and Seth were on the couch directly across from us. Kal had his tail wrapped around Seth’s ankle and an arm draped over his shoulders. We were in their apartment, and it was the same as the last time, besides Lucy. She was hiding. That fucker. God, I’d planned to make faces at her. She was too cute.

Maybe I could convince Fyn to get a pet? That would be fun. I could play with them, kiss them, snuggle them, and… Perhaps not. Not all animals saw me, and if I couldn’t interact at all with the pet—it would upset me, to say the least.

Something flashed in the corner of my eye, making me peek out the window. I caught sight of someone fluttering in the distance. A drakcol that had black hair and dark gray scales. I was pretty sure I’d seen him before around the greenhouse when Seth was hanging out, but I couldn’t be sure.

“Mother is requesting a piece of your art?” Sunshine asked, his tail swishing in and out of my thigh. His voice pulled my focus back to the matter at hand.

“Yes,” Kal replied, carding his fingers through his silvery-blue hair. “She has decided to—”

“Patron,” Seth supplied in English.

“Yes. That. She has decided to sponsor drakcol artists to decorate the palace. She wants to honor creator souls, and she placed me in charge of the project, starting with hanging a painting of mine in the front entrance,” Kal said, dragging Seth even closer. Their eyes connected, and they both fell silent.

I didn’t think it was a staring into each other's eyes moment, but more of a silent conversation moment. I wondered what it would be like to speak to Zoltilvoxfyn like that. Did Seth sense Kal or was it like a phone call? I kind of wanted to ask, but somehow, I figured it would fluster Seth.

“That’s amazing, Pest.”

Kal gave him a slight smile that rang false.

“What did she pick?” I asked.

He gestured to the half-finished painting behind him on an easel. It was of Seth in bed. He was asleep on his stomach, sheets twisted over one leg and tucked under his other thigh, exposing the swell of his ass. One hand was next to his face on the pillow and the other was stretched out on the bed. His expression, from what had been sketched, appeared relaxed, and his hair artfully fell over his forehead.

It was like the Renaissance paintings where a woman had her boob hanging out for no reason while she read or some shit. Artistic nudity for nudity’s sake. I’m sure there was an artistic reason, though, but I didn’t know it. A boob was a boob, and an ass was an ass, but whatever.

Seth turned a deep red, covering his face. “I can’t believe she chose it.”

“I can.” I really could. The relaxed position made Seth appear oddly entrancing. I perceived the love, care, and peace of their relationship. “It’s truly lovely.”

“Thank you,” Kal said, looking in my general direction.

“At least your cock’s not in it, Seth,” I quipped. Fyn choked on his drink but said my words, which made Seth sputter.

Kal pressed against Seth’s cheek and whispered loudly enough for me to hear, “While every part of you is lovely, Husband, I wouldn’t have allowed her to display such a painting, because I know you wouldn’t have liked it.” His voice dropped even more, making me move closer to hear. “Though you have a lovely cock, and it would definitely add to the front hall.”

Seth’s blush deepened.

Kal apparently liked to tease his husband, but from the pleasant look Seth gave him, I didn’t think he minded. I sat down again and scooted until I was pretty sure my back brushed Zoltilvoxfyn’s knees if his shiver was any indication. His tail swished toward my thigh, brushing me.

God, I wished I felt him. Anything. Even pressure would be nice. But I refused to be bitter about it. I was here with him, and that in itself was a miracle. Like it really was! I’d died years ago on Earth, and now, I was here with him on an alien planet across the universe.

“I wished she’d picked something else. Like one of your abstracts,” Seth commented.

“Did you show Mother the abstracts?” Fyn asked.

Seth nodded. “She complimented them, but she chose this one. Kal was working on it when she came in.”

“You can refuse her.”

Seth looked at his lap. Kal caught his eye, and another silent conversation took place between them. I glanced at Fyn over my shoulder, and he raised his eyebrow. I didn’t know what the problem was either. While I’d observed Seth, I didn’t actually know him.

That thought oddly stung. The emotion had actual weight, prickling and uncomfortable. For a moment, I swore my heart clenched. But as quickly as it came, it fled, and I was left with my usual nothing. I peeked at my fingers, and while the tips were gray, they were solid.

“Well, I like it,” I said to break up the tension. “You’re very attractive.”

My Sunshine hesitated before he translated my words in a rough voice. His tail thrashed, and I didn’t know why. I reached back to touch what I thought was his thigh.

“Thanks,” Seth replied, his blush returning in full force.

“Are you coming to hand-to-hand combat class today?” Kal asked.

Zoltilvoxfyn hesitated. I hoped he would say yes. Personally, I thought it was good for him, and I enjoyed leering at him when he worked out. When I was alive, I’d enjoyed hiking, kayaking, and other outdoor activities. Martial arts had never been my thing. For me, physical activity had been pointless unless there was some sort of exploration involved.

“You should,” I told him. “Then I can stare at you.”

“I will come.”

Kal’s shoulders loosened. “Good.”

I lay on my stomach, gaze on Fyn. He and Kal were both drinking water after their workout. I’d enjoyed watching Sunshine as much this time as last time. His deep green gaze kept flicking in my direction, and I didn’t bother to look elsewhere.

I swear death had stolen all of my shame. Embarrassment didn’t come easily for me anymore, especially not for something as simple as enjoying watching my boyfriend workout.

Boyfriend. Shit, that thought alone made me roll around, grinning like a weirdo.

“Where’s Seth?” Fyn asked as he came to sit beside me. When we met Kal at the class, Seth had been nowhere to be seen.

Kal raised his eyebrows at him sitting on the floor versus the couch, but he didn’t comment. “My mate is with Wyn and Urgg this afternoon.”

“I missed Urgg again,” I shouted. Fyn had told me about Urgg’s visit while I was with Tinlorray, and now, Wyn and Urgg were hanging out with Seth? Ugh, I needed to meet the barbarus; we were going to be the best of friends.

Fyn flicked his tail through my arm, lending silent comfort.

“It’s a miracle Kal’s not stalking him. They barely left each other’s side on the Admiral Ven,” I commented. Sunshine smirked at my comment but didn’t relay it to his brother, which was probably best. I hadn’t intended the remark for Kal anyway.

Once again, Kal raised his eyebrow, probably about Fyn’s rare smile. He glanced at the door, tail whipping. “I should check on him.”

“He can’t go a single day without Seth,” I remarked. “Not even a day. Like an hour is too much.”

I grinned when Fyn smirked again.

Kal said a quick goodbye and darted off to find his husband. I chuckled at his departure, rolling onto my back. Seth was fine, but Kal was ridiculously overprotective.

Fyn leaned over me, his long white hair surrounding us. “What would you like to do today?”

My gaze flicked to his full lips. Making out would be nice, but that wasn’t an option. His eyes darkened. “I wouldn’t be opposed to a physically romantic activity, though we would need to have a conversation first.”

Of course, he wouldn’t be. It was probably a good thing I couldn’t touch him or else I would be all over Zoltilvoxfyn constantly. I would make Kal seem positively normal in his clinginess. “Is there anything you have to do today?”

“No,” he answered. “The next Cohort meeting is in a month, and I have no charity boards or anything. I’m all yours.”

“I like the sound of that.”

“It’s the truth.” Fyn stared at me with his deep green eyes.

How in such a short time had I claimed him? I didn’t understand, but I was grateful. We were starting out, and yet, whatever lay between us was more significant than the beginning of a relationship. This bond felt permanent.

“So,” he started in his deep voice, “what do you wish to do today, my Caleb?”

“Spend it with you.”

“Easily accomplished.”

“What should we do?”

“Whatever you want.”

“What do you normally do?” I wanted to learn everything about Fyn.

“Working in my greenhouse or in the garden.”

“We can do that.”

Slowly, he cupped my cheek. I didn’t feel it, but Fyn’s lips quirked, and that was enough for me. “I wish to do something to please you,” he said, voice low.

“Being in your greenhouse would make me happy. I want to see your life and spend time with you. That’s all. We’re dating ,” I said, then amended in Drakconese, “courting.”

“Yes, we are.”

“In English, you would be called my boyfriend .”

His forehead crinkled in the cutest manner as he tested the word out. It was difficult to understand him because boyfriend sounded more like a groaning engine than the actual word. Sunshine repeated it a few times, perfecting his pronunciation.

“I’m your boyfriend,” he said.

“Yes.” I traced his lips with my fingertip, and he shivered.

“I like it.”

“I do too.” I truly liked it. More than I should have. There was no happy ending for us. No future. But here and now? It was enough. It was more than enough.