Chapter Twenty-Four

I woke up slowly to the sensation of fingers stroking my bare back. Squinting at the sunlight coming in through the window, I smiled when I saw Duncan sitting cross-legged on the bed beside me, shirtless and sleep-rumpled in a pair of briefs, a bit of extra beard shadow on his jaw. His light brown hair was extra messy since it was wet when we went to bed. I spotted a couple silver hairs here and there amidst the brown, and I liked it. I liked his age, his sweetness, his sometimes strangeness, his crazy fucking sexiness. I liked him. And I loved him.

“Good morning, old man.”

He smiled. “Morning, my nymph. You look boggled. Like you can’t remember where you are.”

“I’m naked, so I knew I was with you.” I chuckled into the pillow. “I think we’re at that forest place where Corey’s getting married.”

“Yes.”

“But it wouldn’t matter. Long as you’re here.”

Duncan leaned over and kissed my temple. “Corey and Angelo went for a walk in the woods out back. I brought breakfast to the room for us.”

I sat up, scratching my head. A tray sat on the table nearby, full of food and juice and coffee. “How do you always do that? Make food magically appear without waking me up. I guess I should be glad you’re actually here this time and I’m not waking up to just the food.”

Duncan reached around and pinched my ass. “Did it ever occur to you that you’re a really heavy sleeper?”

“No.” I chuckled. “Am I?”

“Oh yes. When you’re out, you’re out. Remember the first night you stayed over my place?”

I rolled my eyes. “Of course. I woke up to cold scrambled eggs and a note.”

“In my haste to get make sure you had everything you’d need before I had to go, I accidentally knocked the lamp off the bedside table. It was loud, and you didn’t even flinch.”

I smiled. This was nice. So nice, waking up with Duncan, who looked relaxed and more content than I’d ever seen him. Particularly nice since I told him last night I was in love with him. And he’d said it back. There was no regret in his eyes, no tension in his posture. He just looked…happy.

“I had a dream,” I said. “That we were fucking in the lake, and you said you love me.”

Duncan laughed, and I thought how much I fucking loved his smile. The way his eyes danced with humor, crinkling at the corners. I saw a blush rise on his cheeks. I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen him blush before.

He squeezed my thigh. “I had a very similar dream,” he said. “So it wasn’t just the wine talking? When you said those words?”

“No. I meant them, Duncan. Did you?”

“I certainly did. So…” He shuffled over and leaned against the pillows, hugging me from behind and resting his head on my shoulder. “You really want to be part of my life? I’m a bit odd, you know.”

“I noticed,” I said, my eyes closing, enjoying his warmth. “Your enchanted forest club kind of gave it away. That and the skull on your table.”

Duncan chuckled and squeezed his arms around me. “Oh my sweet one, that’s the least of my oddness.”

“You sure you want me in your life? I can get a little twitchy and possessive sometimes.”

“You already possess me, so I think I can handle that. I think I’ll even enjoy it. I’m honestly amazed I’m here with you after you told me to go fuck myself that morning.”

I snickered. “I didn’t say that! I was quite respectful as I recall.”

“I’m glad you did it. Woke my ass up.”

I turned around so I could face him. “So me saying I couldn’t see you anymore made you fall in love with me?” I poked his ribs with my finger.

He grabbed me and kissed me, letting it linger before pulling back. “I already was in love with you. I’m sorry I fought it so hard.”

“Long as you’ve stopped fighting, and you plan on keeping me, I’m happy.”

He smirked. “I’ve stopped fighting. And I plan on keeping you forever.”

My lips parted and I took in a breath. “Forever?”

Duncan winced. “That part slipped out. Too much?”

I shook my head. “No. I’m good with the part that slipped out.” I climbed onto his lap, straddling him. “I’m good with all of it.”

His brows rose. “What do you say we shower, eat, grab the two love birds after their hike, then go shopping?”

“What are we shopping for?”

“Well, we do have to design you a new work costume.”

“I agreed to wear the elf ears, last night, remember? Please don’t make me wear anything too weird beyond that.”

“There’s a tee shirt shop I like on the way back. I thought we’d pick up a few things there.”

“Is that where you got your unicorn shirt?”

He laughed loudly. “You recall that detail, huh?”

“I recall every moment I’ve spent with you. And I love you in your unicorn tee shirt.”

Duncan squeezed my ass then wriggled out from under me. He climbed off the bed and took my hand. “Let’s go shower.”

“You know what happens when you and I get in water together,” I said.

“I do. And I like it.”

We had slow, sensual sex in the shower, Duncan pressing me against the wall and making me come hard, his teeth on my neck, his name on my lips, and it was powerful now that I knew he was mine. We managed to get clean as well, but the entire ordeal took longer than I realized, and when we finally made it outside and found Corey and Angelo at the front of the building, I could see by the glimmer of amusement in Corey’s eye that we were in for a ribbing.

“There you are,” Corey said. “We’ve been waiting forever. Thought we were gonna have to call for a rescue squad to go check on you. Go easy on him, Zach. He’s old.”

“Corey!” Angelo chuckled. “I’m sorry, guys. He’s full of shit. We actually just finished our walk five minutes ago.”

Duncan ruffled Corey’s blond hair. “Did you eat?”

“Yeah. Did you?”

“We did. I’m going to run in and say goodbye to Penny, the owner. I’ll meet you at the car.” Duncan gave me a kiss on the cheek, then made his way back to the front doors.

“Zach,” Corey said. “Take a quick walk with me?”

I glanced at Angelo, who nodded. “It’s okay. Go ahead. I’ll meet you guys at the car.”

“Okay.” I watched Angelo walk away, then turned to Corey. “Am I about to get yelled at?”

“Quit trying to make me sound like a monster.” He wrapped an arm over my shoulders and we started walking toward the beach. “Just want to talk to you for a minute. Don’t know how soon we’ll get another chance.”

I slid my arm around his waist as we walked. Corey smelled a little sweaty and intimately familiar. I still loved this Stengel too, I realized. But in a completely different way now than I used to. In a completely different way than I loved Duncan. But it was sweetly satisfying, being able to touch him like this, and be comfortable.

When we got to the water’s edge, Corey picked up a stone and skimmed it across the surface. “So I’m getting married here.”

“I heard.”

He brushed his hands off and grinned at me, wrinkling his nose. “I’m getting fucking married, Zach.”

I laughed. “Has it sunk in yet?”

“It’s starting to.” He glanced up at the venue, then back at me. “I just want to make sure you know I’m just joking around. When I tease you about Duncan.”

My brows rose. “So no more…” I imitated him, shuddering and rubbing my arms.

Corey snorted a laugh. “That part I still have to get used to.”

“Maybe stop thinking about that part.”

He nodded, grinning. “I’m trying. But really, Zach. I’m glad you’re with Duncan. He looks so happy.”

“Thank you. I’m happy too. And I like you and Angelo together.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. I can’t believe I’m about to say this to you, but you guys have good energy together.”

Corey’s head fell back and he laughed. “You,” he pointed, “used to make fun of me when I talked about good and bad energy.”

“Because you’d get so mad.” I grinned. “It was fun winding you up.”

Sighing, Corey stared at the sand, then glanced up at me. “Can I say I miss you, without it getting weird?”

I chuckled. “Well, what was it you said when I asked if you ever miss Stewart?”

“Right.” Corey glanced down, smiling. “I don’t have to miss him, because we see each other all the time.”

“I get the feeling you and I are going to be seeing a lot of each other from now on,” I said. “And for the record, I miss you too.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Let’s head back.” Corey put his arm around me again as we walked off the beach. “Thank you, Zach. And I apologize.”

I frowned. “Apologize for what?”

“For needing to hear you say that you miss me. For making it about me one last time.”

“It’s all right,” I said. “I needed to hear it too.”

“Good. Shit, I can’t believe I’m happy you’re my uncle’s boyfriend.”

“I can’t believe I am your uncle’s boyfriend. I also can’t believe your childhood nickname is Cookie.”

“It’s not. And if you ever call me that I’ll cast a spell on you while I’m meditating.”

“I’ll cast a spell back on you.”

“Vegetarians can’t cast spells,” Corey said. “You need animal blood. Turnips don’t work.”

“I’ll use a blood orange.”

Corey laughed and we disengaged from each other as we approached the car. Duncan and Angelo turned toward us. “Everything good?” Duncan asked.

“Yeah.” I smiled. “Everything’s great.”