Chapter 29

T he nerves that had festered in Roman's belly the entire day were history. As he walked off the yacht with Grant at his side, he internally preened at how he'd pleased his mate. Romance was lovely, but what Roman had wanted most was to ensure that Grant had an experience to treasure as he looked back on the night they made the decision together to bind their souls.

Happiness glowed in Grant's green gaze, along with a tenderness usually reserved for their passionate nights together. Roman led Grant to the Dérive station so they could teleport home and kissed him softly.

"Tell me, Calixtus, am I teleporting directly to our bedroom to strip?" Grant asked.

"Is your memory faulty? No, I have some things to show you."

Grant's eyes raked Roman's body from head to toe as they came to a stop inside the Dérive station. "I've seen every glorious inch of you, and I'm eager to reacquaint myself with your delicious taste."

"Big surprise that romance makes you horny," Roman said. "Meet me in the living room."

"Like I can't get naked in there," Grant remarked as he released Roman's hand and shimmered away.

"Like I don't want him getting naked everywhere," Roman muttered to himself before he joined Grant at home.

Roman discovered his mate gently cupping a ranunculus flower in the gigantic bouquet Killian and Dravyn had created for them. The large flowers ranged from a buttery yellow—reminiscent of the big kernels in the bowl of popcorn next to the black-and-silver vase—to a vivid green and pleasant blue.

"These are gorgeous," Grant whispered.

"Designed for us by Killian and Dravyn. We'll use them again at our matebond ceremony. Those are indestructible, so you'll have to find a spot in our condo for them to live," Roman told Grant as he strode over and hugged him from behind.

"This popcorn smells like limes."

Roman rested his head on Grant's shoulder. "Yep. Brynn made that for us. It's lime-infused popcorn."

"I don't know how either of us is going to top this night."

"Good news. We don't have to. Tonight, we agreed to bind our souls. Little or nothing should compare to that. Well, I suppose the night we actually complete our matebond will rank pretty high too."

Grant shifted so he could turn in Roman's embrace. "I love you, thanks for making this special."

"I didn't do the love confession right, so I wanted to wow you. You deserve that. To be swept off your feet even if it's not usually our thing."

"You know what is my thing?"

Roman brushed their lips together. "Tell me."

"You. You are my thing. I love all this extra stuff, it's a pleasant surprise, but what I most want is to be yours."

"Oh, you are mine, baby."

"Is it weird that I've felt like that from the moment we officially met?"

Roman's brow creased. "I was scared. It was awful walking into a relationship with a secret…and a nagging fear that it might not work."

"How quickly did that fear disappear?"

"Pretty damn fast," Roman said with a grin. "You're fucking incredible."

Reaching down, Grant grabbed Roman's ass and squeezed. "So are you, but you have way too many clothes on."

"Don't you want some of this popcorn Brynn made us?"

"It'll make a great snack afterward," Grant said, pulling away and dragging a willing Roman to their bedroom. "We should work up an appetite first. I still have steak and ice cream in my belly."

Roman's dick was ready to oblige Grant as it hardened behind the zipper of his new jeans. They arrived in their bedroom, and Roman rolled his shoulders as he rid himself of his sport coat. Across from him, Grant's jacket also fluttered to the ground.

Before Grant could tug off anything else, Roman stepped closer to him and sealed their mouths together. For one blissful moment, he drank in nothing but Grant's bright lime scent. Roman's fingers found their way to the front of his pinstriped shirt and went to work on the tiny buttons.

Grant smiled into their kiss and did his best to do the same to Roman's button-down as they leisurely tasted one another. Passion didn't sizzle beneath the surface when they touched. It burst into fireworks whenever they focused intently on one another. Roman had dearly wanted such a spectacular connection since he'd first learned about sex.

For countless decades, he'd searched for someone to make him burn from the inside out. Although he'd shared plenty of orgasms with his partners through the centuries, nothing came close to what Grant did to him.

It was as it should be. Their souls were two halves of the same whole. Roman tugged Grant's top upward, then drifted his palms slowly across Grant's impressive pecs and slid his shirt down his muscular arms. He wondered idly how completing their matebond would intensify their desire for each other.

Goosebumps rose from Grant's skin as he shivered beneath Roman's touch. Roman continued to tease him with his tongue as he caressed the firm muscles of his belly and unbuttoned his jeans. Using his knuckles to torment Grant by bumping his hardened cock, Roman took his sweet time unzipping his mate.

Grant clutched at Roman's side but made no protest as Roman slid his hand into Grant's boxers and gently squeezed his dick. Unwilling to be impeded by the confines of Grant's clothing, Roman tugged Grant's pants and underwear out of the way so he could wrap Grant's length in his fist and slowly jack him.

Swaying, Grant moaned into their kiss and dug his fingers into Roman's back. There was no question Roman could make him come with a few sure strokes. But they both deserved better than that tonight.

"Onto the bed, baby," Roman ordered softly.

Grant didn't hesitate. He shoved his jeans to the floor and was fully naked, including losing his socks, in about five seconds flat. Clambering onto the bed, Grant sprawled across the center of their mattress and wiggled enticingly.

Forcing himself to move slowly, Roman peeled off his clothing and allowed each piece to fall onto the area rug. Roman climbed onto the bed and crawled over the gorgeous man gliding his hands along Roman's flanks. Their mouths met, and Roman grinned at the way their minds were in sync as Grant spread his legs.

Grant bent his knees, and Roman lowered himself to his mate's hardened body. Their cocks brushed, and they both groaned in appreciation for the way that contact sent waves of delicious passion thundering through them. Roman dipped his tongue between Grant's lips as his other half sank his hands into Roman's hair.

It took a little effort, but Roman wanted to hold Grant close as they made love. He shoved his arms beneath Grant and finally gave in to the growing urge inside him to find some fucking friction for his poor cock. Roman rocked against Grant without restraint, and Grant groaned happily.

They'd been down this road before, and it was a glorious one. It took little effort now to find a rhythm that suited them. Within seconds, they were racing together toward a destination they craved. Grant's hold on Roman's tresses tightened, and Roman's balls grew heavier with anticipation.

He dug his knees a little farther into the mattress to deepen his thrusts and thanked Fate that they had enough pre-come between the two of them to lubricate their almost-frenzied movements. There was no sound but their heavy breathing, but it was music to Roman's ears.

Electricity surged along his nerve-endings, and Roman's control was in tatters. Grant was a fervent dream beneath him, and the flicks of his tongue were driving Roman out of his mind. Roman's muscles tightened, and he sucked in a deep breath.

Grant tore his mouth free and called out Roman's name as he tensed. Delighted that Roman had survived long enough to allow Grant to find his orgasm, he let himself go fully. His seed spurted between them, and he shuddered with the force of his climax.

"Gonna need a lot of popcorn to recover from that," Grant mumbled breathlessly.

Roman chuckled and held Grant tenderly as he peppered his face with kisses. Neither of them would forget the incredible night when they'd agreed to bind their souls for eternity.

∞∞∞

Grant sailed through the door of Redmilla's and greeted the owner. As Roman chatted with Redmilla, Grant's gaze landed on the thin band shimmering from silver to black in the low light of the bar. Two weeks had passed since Roman had treated them to a dinner cruise complete with gorgeous merpeople, but Grant was still awed by it all.

Roman handed Grant a beer, and they weaved through the crowd to a table in the back where two sentinels and a pair of fallen knights awaited them.

"Where are Drystan and Conley?" Albrecht asked, his smoky voice easily cutting through the din of conversations flowing around them.

"At some fancy thing for Council leaders," Arvandus told his mate and kissed his cheek despite the cloak covering his face.

"Which is why I made sure I dragged Roman here before I stripped his clothes off," Grant told their friends.

"Are you finally asking us to help you plan your matebond ceremony?" Samson asked.

"Plan it?" Grant asked, turning to Roman, who shrugged. "We're doing it at D'Vaire. You said they'd do everything."

"Why are you two so bad at this?" Arvandus asked. "I thought you'd already be mated by now. Who takes two weeks to put together a ceremony?"

"Again, what the hell do I have to put together?" Grant demanded.

"Grant's busy," Roman said. "The parade takes a ton of planning, plus he has all his other normal work."

"Yeah, and? I'm not waiting until after the fucking parade, Roman. That's six weeks away. What the fuck?" Grant asked, annoyed at the man he loved. He had never agreed to postpone their ceremony, and that was not okay with him.

"You didn't say anything, so I thought we were waiting," Roman replied, his blue gaze wide with shock.

"They really are terrible at this," Brynnius commented quietly.

"For Fate's sake, pick a date," Samson remarked. "We'll fucking plan it."

"We can do it," Grant replied. He glanced at a still-stunned Roman. "Right? We can handle it, right?"

Roman lifted a hand to massage his forehead. "When do you want to do it? I'll make sure everything is perfect."

"I can help," Grant insisted.

"You better let Grant help," Arvandus said.

"They honestly have little to do, but they must pick a date," Albrecht added.

"Two weeks," Grant stated firmly, then kissed Roman's cheek. "We didn't even talk about it. I guess we do suck at this stuff."

Roman's smile was relieved, and he leaned close for a deeper brush of their lips and tongues. "Sorry, I assumed we'd plan it together at some point."

"Why did you not discuss it the night you agreed to be mates?" Albrecht asked.

"We were busy enjoying the romance of the night," Roman defended, resting his palm on Grant's thigh and squeezing it affectionately. They had both erred in not bringing the subject up, but Grant decided it didn't matter. Soon, they would be mated. That was everything Grant wanted.

"It must have been very nice," Brynnius stated, his usually gentle voice tight and clipped.

"B, you said you weren't mad," Samson exclaimed.

"Sentinels cannot lie," Albrecht said. "He is not mad."

"No, I am not," Brynnius remarked, his tone still embittered. "I am sure Roman and Grant enjoyed their dinner cruise and lime-flavored popcorn."

"You kinda sound mad," Grant commented to the brown-haired sentinel.

"Why would I be mad?" Brynnius asked. "Sammy rushed me into creating a treat I was saving for your matebond ceremony. I am disappointed, not angry."

"Plus, he gave Roman the idea for a night on a yacht that Sam had planned for the two of you," Albrecht added.

Brynnius nodded. "Yes, I would have liked to see merpeople and try new desserts on a yacht."

"Sentinels really do hold terrible grudges," Grant said to Roman.

Samson crossed his arms. "How about you help me make it up to my mate instead of criticizing him?"

"Dude, I would totally love to, but we already established that Roman and I are totally lacking in the romance department. We didn't even plan our fucking matebond ceremony. Do you really want my help?"

Brynnius glanced at Samson and gave him a small smile. "Perhaps they are not the best couple to aid us in planning a nice night."

"Have a picnic," Arvandus suggested, cupping Albrecht's head and kissing him again. "Spread a blanket on the floor of your bedroom and have a nice, romantic meal with easy-to-eat finger foods."

"Then strip and go wild with each other," Grant added.

"Although I do not wish to sound like Bax and speak of my sex life, that is my favorite part of picnics," Albrecht stated.

"I will make some chocolate chip cookies for our picnic, Sammy," Brynnius stated firmly.

Samson grinned and wrapped an arm around Brynnius. "And I'll find some new treats for us to taste, B."

"Great, glad that is solved," Grant said. "Now, do you guys want to help us with a project?"

Samson's mouth curled in annoyance, and he glared. "I think at some point you're going to have to figure out your own romance issues."

"As soon as we get this matebond thing done, we'll be golden," Grant vowed with a wink for Roman. "No, it's not of a romantic nature. We're going to be sleuths. I want to investigate and discover what I can about the end of my life."

"Are you sure you are prepared for the truth of your demise?" Albrecht asked. "Sometimes searching for answers does not bring you the peace you believe it will."

"I think I'll be fine whether we reveal the truth or not. There is no emotional connection for me. No matter what happens, I'm not that guy. I won't relive it. I can't. It's impossible. But I'm a fallen knight who was human less than a year ago. What happened to me? Did someone end my life? Justice is unlikely, but I'm too fucking curious to accept it without exploring," Grant explained. "Don't get me wrong. I'm satisfied with my fate. Beyond satisfied. My life is wonderful, and it keeps getting better. I have an incredible partner who loves me exactly the way I am. We have a beautiful home, and I have a fulfilling career. But if someone murdered me, I at least want to know who the fucker is."

"I would like to help you," Brynnius replied. "I believe you deserve to know the answers. But we have no guarantee we can find the information you seek. The humans will not aid us."

"You may count on my help too," Albrecht promised.

"The six of us can do our damn best to get to the bottom of what happened to human Grant," Arvandus added, giving Albrecht's neck an affectionate squeeze.

"Where do you want to begin?" Roman asked.

"With the lawyer," Grant said. "He knew me. Supposedly, I loved the guy, at least at some point. Wouldn't he want to know what happened to me? Maybe he already does. He must have a connection somewhere with the private investigator named Grant. That'd be me. Then we can find out my old last name and use it to refer to my past self instead of calling him human Grant ."

"He was a human, Grant," Brynnius pointed out.

"Don't argue with him on semantics," Arvandus advised. "Remember, sentinels are always literal."

"It is a strength for us to take things literally," Albrecht told his mate.

"Apple, you're fucking perfect. I'm just saying these other fallen knights sometimes bitch about the way sentinels see the world."

"I'm not one of those fallen knights," Samson argued.

"Can you please alert the D'Vaires that you plan to have your matebond ceremony before you focus on solving this mystery?" Brynnius pleaded.

"I will call Rafe and Aleksander in the morning," Roman promised.

"Are we adding the RKs to our team?" Arvandus asked.

"Let's keep it just us for now," Grant replied. "I'm not sure how our bosses will feel about us nosing around in a case related solely to humans, even if it is an investigation into my former life."

"Knowing Drystan and Conley as we do, they will probably advise you against it," Albrecht said. "I wish to add that if at any time you change your mind, we will stop pursuing leads at your request."

"Thanks, I know that no matter what we find or how this plays out, I can count on you guys."

"Did you enjoy the lime popcorn?" Brynnius asked.

Grant glared at Samson. "I told you it was good."

"Which I told B, but he worries because he wasn't done fussing with the recipe," Samson retorted.

"I will keep improving it until your matebond ceremony."

Roman shook his head at Grant. "I guess it's no use telling him it was perfect and that we loved it."

"Apparently not," Grant said.

"Good is not the same as perfect," Brynnius protested.

"I think we all need another round of beer," Arvandus said, standing up. "I'll go get it."

"You'll need help," Grant commented, springing out of his seat. He had a matebond to look forward to and an investigative team dedicated to aiding him in unraveling the truth. The next few weeks would prove interesting.