25. Roman

"Are you sure you don't want to stay longer? I can fly home and come back for you later."

Turning into Perry's chest, I snuggle into him and slide a leg through his.

"I don't want you to leave without me. That would be too hard. But I'll make plans to come back here soon."

Josie's early labour threw a wrench into my plans, but we'll see her again this morning now that she and baby Alex are being discharged. I'll make sure they're settled at home and then we'll get back to our life. Even Duke. Who I actually kind of miss.

Along with the routine that Perry and I had gotten into. The couple-y, domestic stuff from watching TV on the couch together to cleaning the kitchen up side by side. The things I said I'd never do are now small things I crave. And apparently miss even above spending time with my new nephew, who bears my name.

"Perry." I kiss his neck and watch a bit of this lip curl into a sleepy smile. "I miss you."

"What do you mean? I'm right here."

"I miss us. Home. I miss the damn cat."

His body shakes with laughter, and he rolls over, pinning me to the bed. No longer a sleepy smile, but one that's just for me all the same.

"You hate the cat."

"I don't hate him! He's okay when he's not stealing my spot next to you or biting my feet. I miss home. Our home."

He leans in and kisses me. Slow and deep, our tongues sliding next to each other's, and it's overwhelming in the best way.

"You referred to my house as your home. You know you never have before."

"I haven't?"

"No. You always call it Perry's place or my place. You've never called it home."

I brush my palm over his cheek and run my fingers through his short beard.

"That means a lot to you?"

"Yes. I want it to be yours. I want you to…to always come back to it."

His blue eyes swim with so much emotion, I pull him back to me and press my mouth to his. "I'll always come back to you," I whisper across his lips.

We get lost in one of my favourite morning activities: slow sex. Perry is the most sensual in the morning and I love that about him. Not that I don't love it when he gets all bossy on me and our sex is a battle of wills.

But him like this, all tender with both of us just letting hands and lips wander to make each other feel good, is fucking amazing. Perry is the most thoughtful lover I've been with. So much so that I trust him with anything. I give up control for him and I don't even mind.

Perry's rough palm grips my morning wood with a squeeze before he slides down my body. His beard scratches my skin as his lips nip and caress down my body and I lose myself to his hands on me. His mouth. His fucking everything. Every inch of him brings me pleasure, and when his tongue laps at my hole, the garbled sounds from my mouth don't even sound human.

"Perry…come…come back here. I want to kiss you."

He doesn't even hesitate. He just slides back up my body with no complaints and kisses me.

"What else do you want, gorgeous?" He trails his lips back to my neck. "How do you want it?"

His breath, warm and silky, makes me shiver.

"I want…I want to kiss you. I want to feel your cum on me."

Perry rolls us on our sides to face each other and presses close so our cocks touch. He rolls his thumb across the head of mine, gathering the leakage and drawing a sigh from me.

"Want lube?"

"No." My voice is already raspy as I stare into his eyes and kiss him again. "Just like this."

I don't know how we seem to work so well together, but we do. Our hips move and our hands stroke. Our mouths never leave each other. I could drown in his kisses; they've become one of my favourite things. Perry kisses me with so much passion it makes my head spin.

"I'm close, baby."

"Yeah?" I speed up my hand and bite his lip. "Make sure you do that sexy groan when you come. I love that."

"I didn't know I had one."

His hand on my cock slows and he tenses. The low groan as he comes has me chasing his lips again. "That's the one." The splash on my abs as his orgasm runs through him is heady. Again, something I never knew I liked. Until Perry did it. It's like he brands me as his every time he comes on my skin or leaves a bite mark. And I love it.

Perry knows this, and he runs his hand through the mess, smearing it across my belly and onto my swollen dick.

"I like you all painted like this. You do too." He dips his head to suck an area of skin on my chest. "I love making you mine over and over."

"Fuck. Yes…Perry…"

That sweet feeling of bliss floods over me as I come over his hand. I'm spent. More from the enormity of feelings swelling in me than from the physical exertion. There's been so many ups and downs since we got here, it feels like it's finally catching up to me.

"Shower with me. I'll run to the corner for coffee and that muffin you like while you do the packing."

"Yeah. Okay."

He tips my chin with his spunk-covered fingers, and I don't even mind.

"Are you okay?"

"Very okay. Just a little twisted up, but I'm okay."

"I trust you to tell me if you're not."

"I will. Now get off me so we can get the day started."

He pushes off, laughing, and I lie there for a moment longer to calm my emotions.

And think about home.

My old childhood home, now Josie and Violet's, along with my new nephew Alexander, explodes with baby stuff. So much so that it's hard to recognize what was supposed to be the living room.

"This outfit you made Alexander is perfect, Roman. We love it. You're so talented."

"Isn't he?" Perry chimes in as he carries grocery bags into the kitchen for Violet. My cheeks heat as my sister smirks.

"What's that look for?"

"Love looks good on you, little brother. He's wonderful."

Perry smiles into the living room again as he goes outside to reload. After arriving at the hospital with the baby outfit and filling my phone with a jabillion pics of the little dude in it, Perry offered to do a grocery run when Violet tried to offer us a drink and found the fridge incredibly bare.

This is the first real alone time I've had with Josie all week. Not that I'm complaining. The baby comes first. And Violet. But I miss her and our talks fiercely. The last month was so busy with my sewing and her nesting, we haven't talked as much.

"He's amazing, Jos. So fucking amazing." Alex snuffles and squirms in her arms and I smile. "He might want to take this little guy fishing or hiking or any number of outdoor things I'm not keen on. Just to be prepared for that, I couldn't help myself and I bought something at the mall yesterday."

Handing her a tiny shoe box, she shakes her head.

"Accessorizing him already?"

"Damn right. He doesn't need the hideous boots I wear."

"Hey!" Perry calls from the doorway. "I heard that, and they aren't hideous. They are functional and exactly what you need in the springtime."

Laughing, I shoo him off and he heads to the kitchen to help Violet put groceries away.

Josie opens the box to find a tiny pair of red Hunter-brand rubber boots. He'll likely never wear them, but I couldn't resist the cuteness.

"These are too cute, Ro. Thank you. I never thought you'd dress my kid in plaid and rubber boots. You've changed."

I huff a small laugh. "I have. But not every part. I'm still an obnoxious asshole. Perry will confirm that if you need it. But I saw this kid at the lodge and as much as I hate how much they wear plaid like a religion in that town, the kid looked so cute in this tiny little plaid coat. And Perry always wears these plaid lounge pants I love and…"

My sister listens with a soft smile, and I give her the finger.

"Shut your mouth, Jos."

"I didn't say anything!" she chortles, and I'm self-conscious for the first time in forever.

"You're about to. I was preemptively telling you to shut up."

"I love that you're happy, Roman. It's all I ever wished for you. You've spent too long closed off to a real life."

"Just because I never wanted love doesn't mean my life was empty. I have no regrets about it."

"No, it wasn't an empty life. You did well and kept doing well. But there was always something missing with you. You're thriving now. He pushes you out of all your preconceived boxes."

"He does. Surprisingly, I don't even hate it. Most days."

We both laugh again and Perry comes in. He sets a glass of water next to Josie and smiles at Alex before passing me a glass. The citrus aroma has me sip to confirm before turning to Perry. "You got me the lime tonic?"

He nods and I press a kiss to his cheek. "Thank you."

"I had an ulterior motive."

"And what might that be? There's not much I don't give you without plying me with my favourite drink first."

He grins. "That's true. But I wasn't sure about this one."

Perry watches Alex sleeping with a fond smile.

"Where did you get the plaid from to make his outfit?"

Damn. I was hoping he wouldn't notice.

"If you're asking me, you already know the answer."

"Well, I don't," Josie adds. "I'd like to know what this is about."

I was honestly hoping Perry wouldn't notice. Stupid me for thinking he'd ever forget one article of plaid clothing in his wardrobe big enough for a small army.

"I wanted a unisex outfit since we didn't know if it was a boy or girl. And it's for a baby, so I wouldn't use the most expensive lace I had either. Plus, that stuff is hard to work with sometimes, because…uh…"

Perry has the grace to laugh and blush a little. "Yeah, I get it."

"So I raided your closet and picked a shirt that looked like you hadn't worn it in a long time. It's a flannel and babies like soft stuff. It's like a hug, really. And you give good hugs. And it's the plaid I hate the least since it's kind of Christmas-like? So, I guess the answer is I stole it from your closet."

"Aw, Roman, that's the sweetest thing ever." Josie mists up as she gazes at Alex in his plaid-trimmed onesie. It's not entirely plaid but the feet are and there are ruffles on the bum along with plaid cuffs and half the body. The other half is plain white cotton.

When I made it, I was only thinking about it being something to keep to remember where I was and what I was doing when I made it. Gifting my first niece or nephew with high-class Italian lace underwear didn't seem like the best choice, so plaid was the winner.

"You could have just bought some, though. Why mine?"

"Because…" Swallowing, I glance at Josie, who will never give us privacy right now. Perry waits, still gazing at Alex and I figure, fuck it. "Because I know this baby will always be a part of my life. Just in case you and I parted ways, or worse, I wanted a piece of you to be with him. Just like a piece of you will always be with me."

"Oh my god, Roman." Josie sobs. "Don't say shit like that in front of the postpartum woman!"

She wipes at her eyes and finally grabs a nearby baby blanket to dab at her face. Perry says nothing. His throat bobs and he runs a hand down his face before finally turning to me. Our gazes lock and he lifts a hand to my cheek.

"Thank you."

I want to say something back, but Alex chooses that moment to cry, and the moment is lost. Violet comes to take him to be changed and Josie excuses herself.

"Sorry I stole your shirt."

"I don't mind one bit. We should probably get going, though."

"Yeah, we should. I want to go home."

His face fills with a giant smile that takes my breath away.

"Me too."