Chapter Thirty-­Six

Chapter Thirty-Six

Cecelia

T obias slides into a freshly tailored Tom Ford that arrived sometime after I slept by way of bird messenger, no doubt for this very reason. He tugs the cuff of the shirt to button it, his eyes catching mine in the mirror before a smirk graces his face. I'm turned on beyond comprehension as he surveys me in nothing but my black lacy bra and panties while I run a hot iron through my hair. I'm indecisive at the moment on whether to fuck him or kill him, but I'm pretty sure this will be the norm as long as we're together.

But the reason for my fraying nerves at this moment is because I'm readying myself to travel to D.C. to meet. The. President.

He played me, yet again with his plotting and scheming, making more plans I wasn't aware of, and disguised it as a "surprise."

"This isn't deception," he assures me, his voice even. "This is my plan B, my Hail Mary."

"It feels a lot like manipulation. And you have yet to tell me what's going on."

"You locked the door on me," he says, gathering his cufflinks, "so I'm opening a window."

"Meaning? "

"You'll know soon enough." My eyes drift down to his fingers as he secures his cufflinks and lifts a brow. "Is your hair supposed to be smoking?"

I pull out my hot iron and am relieved to see my hair didn't come with it.

"Stop distracting me," I snap.

His lips twitch. "Trésor is cranky when she hasn't gotten her full eight hours."

"Don't blame it on sleep deprivation, Frenchman, I haven't had a full night in weeks."

"Those were moans that kept you awake, not objections."

"You smug bastard."

"Ton salaud." Your bastard. He moves toward me, the fit of the suit enough to have me salivating. Though he's denied it, he's still every bit the arrogant King I fell in love with. The buzz in my veins no longer exists due to gin or the endless orgasms from hours earlier.

It's him.

This buzz is all him, us .

He reaches me in two confident strides and slowly lifts the form-fitting dress I chose from the hanger, unzipping it for me to step in. I do before he pulls it up and lifts my hair to press a kiss to the nape of my neck.

"This is just a house call. Don't think too much. I'll explain on the ride in." He turns me in his arms and backs me into the dresser, his eyes dipping.

"Don't even think about it," I warn.

"Against this dresser or in the back of that limo, your choice."

"Dream on, pal, back in the doghouse you go."

"It's a surprise," he reminds me as I grab my purse. He follows me out of my bedroom, tipping his chin at the raven charged with housesitting Beau. There's a spring in his step, and if I'm honest, in mine too, but I refuse to let him see my elation because once again, I have no idea what his plans are.

After locking the front door, I turn with Tobias at my back to head toward the limo, and he stops me, blocking me, his eyes intense.

"You locked it."

"Yeah?" I stare up in confusion.

"You locked it three times," he rasps out, emotions swirling in his eyes. "You locked it three times , Trésor. You didn't even realize it, did you?" He pushes me into the door and presses his forehead to mine before exhaling and looking down at me, swallowing repeatedly.

"Tobias—"

He shakes his head gently, running his nose along mine. "I'm... fuck, Cecelia. I asked you if you thought being happy was possible for me, but that wasn't fair, and you couldn't answer that," he says softly. "But I can. I am. You make me happy."

The emotion in his voice brings me to fast tears.

"I would get on my knees right now and ask you to marry me if I could."

Gaping at him, he grips both my hands in his. "Sometimes, I wish I could be as selfish with you now as I was before."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing," he says softly. "But I do want to say this, and I never thought I would ever say this." He exhales a slow breath and peers down at me. "I'm glad that you loved him, and I'm glad he knew what it felt like to be loved by you before he died, and it's because of the way you love , Cecelia."

"Tobias—" he captures my lips and kisses me until I'm gasping, then he pulls away. "Nothing above you," he assures with brief eye contact before he grabs my hand and whisks me toward the limo while my head swims with his confessions. When the driver opens the door, Tyler steps out, a blinding smile on his face as he surveys the two of us.

"Oh my God, you've been here the whole time?"

"Hey, beautiful girl," he says as I leap into his open arms. "What the hell took you two so fucking long?" he asks, his chin digging into my shoulder before he releases me. "I was getting too pissed off to properly surprise you. "

I nod over my shoulder. "Blame him. He's the one who took half an hour to dress."

Tobias cuts his eyes to me. "I spent fifteen of those minutes spelling my name with my tongue, first, middle, and last," he announces unabashedly as my cheeks heat.

Tyler shakes his head with a chuckle as I glare at Tobias. "What are you, a fifteen-year-old boy?"

"Would you two freaks get in the limo, please? We're going to be late."

Tobias ushers me in, and I hear their hushed exchange, their legs still in view.

"Guess things are going better?" Tyler muses.

"Thank God. I was this close to starting on a Dad bod and researching lawnmowers."

"I heard that," I snap, and they both pop their heads in the limo to see my narrowed eyes. I can't help my laugh at their collective "busted" expressions before they slide in. I'm thankful I'm in the seat opposite Tobias so I can admire him in the suit. Not only that, I'm graced with the sight of Tyler, who only gets better with age. His warm brown eyes are slightly jaded by a lot of living, the small crinkles around them not doing a damn thing to detract from his appeal. All of his boyish good looks are gone, sculpted features taking their place, but his dimple still peeks out when he smiles, and for that, I'm thankful. There's more wear in his muscular posture since the last time I saw him.

Seeing them together like this is jarring. Added with knowledge of who they are, where they've been, and what they've accomplished together makes it all the more fascinating.

If the world knew their story, they wouldn't believe it. I still have a hard time believing it.

"Don't be nervous," Tyler speaks up as I fidget. "Preston will love you. So will Molly. She's good people. You look beautiful, Cee."

"Well, I was about to say the same to you. You look incredible. Are you seeing anyone?"

Ignoring the flaming jealous glare my compliment and my question earns me, I keep my eyes on Tyler. He shakes his head slightly, his eyes dulling with a flash of pain. "No time right now."

He's not ready. Even after all this time. It's been years since Delphine died, and he wants no part in trying to move on yet. Sadly, I understand it, because I felt the same. He lost the only woman he considered his true love and not by choice, not due to selfishness, fear, or any other idiotic reason that keeps people apart. A long silence ensues. I share a look with Tobias, and I know we're thinking the same thing.

"You two finally realizing what idiots you've been?" Tyler chimes in. "Because I seriously fucking begrudge you both for it."

"We are," Tobias says, keeping his eyes on me.

"As long as we know who the bigger idiot is," I point out.

"Glad to see you two so happy," Tyler interjects. "You deserve it." He gives me a pointed look. "I was charged with checking in on you every so often. I was pissed you didn't come back raising hell a lot sooner."

"Should have told me I had a good reason to come back."

"Couldn't. I had a psycho for a boss."

"Eh? What are you going to do?" I shrug, and we share a sad smile. "But we aren't the only ones who deserve to be happy."

He winks in response, but I can feel the plea in his eyes not to press the conversation any further. I don't want a loveless life for his future, that much I do know. I hate the thought of it.

After a few minutes of chit chat, Tyler rolls up the partition and checks the clock. "We have about eighty minutes until we pull up."

"Speak freely," Tobias says, and Tyler nods.

"I can tell you pretty much everything, but I'd rather Preston explain it, so you don't have to hear it twice."

"Please don't make me wait," I ask between them, noting the fact that Tyler calls the President by his first name. The reality is, I'm on my way to meet the leader of the free world. The President that my gorgeous soulmate and lover helped put into office with a scheme they cooked up when they were teenagers. And I'm afraid I won't be paying close enough attention to details once I get there. I don't let my nerves get the best of me often, but this is a big fucking deal. Eyes roving from Tobias to Tyler and back, I can see the hesitation.

"I'm going to legitimize us," Tobias says simply.

"What?" It's the last thing I expected him to say.

"To an extent," Tyler adds.

"Meaning?"

"Meaning no more hiding from ‘Big Brother' and we'll no longer be at risk for doing felony or any other type of time."

I dart my eyes between them. "You're serious?"

They both nod.

Tobias leans forward and takes my hand in his as I speak up. "This is your plan B, your window?"

"It has to happen, Trésor."

"But... this goes against everything you stand for. Why would you..." I shake my head, "Oh, no, hell no , you don't get to use me as an excuse to do this."

"I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."

"But this is... Tobias. This is conformity !" I shriek. "No." I snap at him before turning to Tyler with another emphatic, " No ."

"Told you she would hate it," Tobias says, a barely perceptible smile on his lips.

"Monroe is only going to be in office for seven more years at most ," I remind him, "and then what?"

Tobias shrugs. "Then we'll have a lot to accomplish during that time. This can't last forever."

"And what about the others, what about—"

"They'll come around, or they can kick fucking rocks," Tyler speaks up. "This isn't selling out, Cecelia. This is next level. It wouldn't be a new CIA or anything. Don't jump to conclusions. But if there's a way for us to evolve without further risk, then it's worth exploring. We want to change and work with a government we can trust. That's the whole point of all of this. And if it's temporary, which history guarantees it will be, we'll do what we can, while we can. If I didn't think it was a good idea, I wouldn't have put it on the table. Right now, we're in the position to write our own rules."

"I don't understand. Why now ?" But I know the answer. I look to Tyler, widening my eyes at him, and mouth, "what the fuck?" His features remain impassive as he stares back at me.

"It will work out. Trust me."

I shake my head and turn my attention to Tobias. "Don't do this. You don't have to."

"We do have to, Trésor."

"I'm not a fucking treasure, or a delicate rose, or a shrinking violet or a damsel in distress, or a fucking mouse! I'm just as capable as either of you and as soon as I'm able, I'm going to kick both your asses!"

They burst into laughter as I cross my arms, fury rolling through me.

"Spoken like a true queen," Tobias muses.

"Please don't do this for me ," I beg. Angry tears threaten. "Neither of you will be my fucking hero for this."

"Again," Tobias points to his chest, " villain ."

"Yeah, such a horrible man. How much will you lose for me?"

"Everything," he says without hesitation. "But this isn't about losing."

"Please don't put this on me."

"Okay, I won't."

Hope springs inside of me.

"I'll do it for Sean. He's got another baby on the way." All my objections cease. He didn't deliver the news with the intent to hurt me, but the long look we share tells me he's afraid it might.

"Cecelia," Tyler says, taking my attention away. "I promise you. This is a good thing."

I swallow and stare at the two of them, knowing it's happening with or without my support.

"You've worked your whole lives—"

"To change the rules," Tobias states. "And we are. "

I chew over his words as we ride in amicable silence before Tyler speaks up.

"You're all grown up, Cee."

I look over to him and see him staring at me with warm eyes.

"You're just..." He shakes his head. "When I met you, well, you were... it's just wild, the changes."

"I could say the same about you."

He turns to Tobias. "Are you going to put a ring on this woman or what?"

Tobias gazes on at me, completely silent, without any intention of replying. He asked me if I wanted children, and not even an hour ago said he would marry me if he were selfish, which only confused me further. Breaking our gaze, I stare out the window. "He's barely managed to get through six weeks of domesticity, Tyler," I smirk. "Let's cut him a break."