EPILOGUE
Harry was fast asleep when there was a quiet knock on the door.
Adam was tempted to ignore it, reluctant to extricate himself from Harry’s embrace, but the knocking didn’t stop.
Adam brushed his lips against Harry’s. Harry smiled in his sleep. Adam forced himself to pull away, giving Harry a pillow to hug in his stead. A little frown appeared on Harry’s face, as if he wasn’t fooled by the replacement, but eventually his breathing evened out again.
Adam slipped into a shirt and a pair of sweatpants before heading for the door.
His relaxed mood changed immediately when he saw the man who stood on the other side.
“You aren’t taking him away,” Adam said, blocking the doorway. He knew his voice was tight and cutting. He didn’t care what Harry had said; this man was the one who’d taken Harry away from him, the reason Adam hadn’t seen him for a year.
Ksar’s strange silver eyes met his. They were impossible to read. “I’m the one who delivered him here. Did you think I would let him go to this planet alone in his state? He was barely coherent. He could barely walk or talk.”
Adam had to remind himself Harry was fine now. Harry was sleeping in his bed, healthy and happy. Harry was fine. Harry was his.
“He’s better now,” Adam said, his voice clipped. “You can return to your planet.” Even saying that was still fucking strange. “I’ll take care of him.” He’s mine to take care of.
Ksar looked him in the eye and said nothing.
“Get out of my head,” Adam said, accentuating every word.
Ksar didn’t look fazed in the least. He nodded. “I’ve already seen everything I needed to see.” He turned to leave but stopped and looked back. “He’ll be with you for the time being. The political situation on our planet is very unstable right now. I’ll come back for him when everything settles.”
Adam went rigid, his fists clenching.
“He has a home and a family,” Ksar said. “The scandal will die down eventually. He can’t hide here forever. It’s going to be difficult, but he will be reintegrated back into the society. He’s a scion of kings, not a coffee shop boy.”
Adam met his gaze dead-on. “I’m not letting you take him away again.”
“I won’t take him away from you—if you keep treating him right.” Ksar smiled. The smile didn’t quite touch his eyes. “You don’t want to know what I’ll do to you if you don’t.”
Adam shot him an unimpressed look. “You don’t need to threaten me. If you just read my mind, you know I’d kill for him.” He wasn’t even exaggerating.
“I know,” Ksar said. “If I didn’t, I wouldn’t leave him here.” For the first time in their short acquaintance, Ksar gave him a look that almost passed for friendly. Almost. “Make him happy,” he said stiffly.
“I will,” Adam said.
Ksar nodded and touched his own wrist. Immediately, a strange, nearly transparent fog swept over him, thickening into an impenetrable white blur.
And then he was gone.
Adam stared at the empty spot Ksar had just been and then chuckled. Fucking aliens. He couldn’t believe this was his life now.
His mind was still reeling as he crawled back into bed.
Harry mumbled sleepily, “Who is it?”
Adam gathered him into his arms. “Your brother,” he said, his fingers stroking the smooth skin of Harry’s back. “He’s already left.”
Harry blinked his eyes open and peered at him. “You look off. Was he an ass?”
“No.” Adam gave a chuckle. “I just… I saw him literally vanish into thin air, Harry. Like, actually seeing it… made it all real, I guess.”
Frowning, Harry bit his thumb. “Does it bother you? That I’m not human—that I’m an alien?”
Adam laughed.
“I don’t understand,” Harry said with the cutest pout. “It’s a serious question. Why are you laughing at me?”
“Because the answer should be obvious.” Adam met Harry’s eyes steadily. “Haz, I don’t give a damn if you’re a coffee shop boy or a prince from another planet.” He leaned in and kissed Harry’s nose and then his soft pink lips. God, he fucking adored him. “You’re Harry. You’re mine. That’s all I care about.”
“I like this answer,” Harry said, burying his fingers in Adam’s hair and kissing him back hard.
They kissed for what felt like hours until Adam felt nearly dizzy with love and want and happiness, and Harry was panting and whispering breathlessly I love you between the kisses. Fuck, this was... insane. This feeling.
“So,” he said hoarsely, looking into Harry’s glazed eyes. “I’m curious. Are there really aliens with large gray heads and creepy black eyes?”
Harry sighed.
“I have a confession to make,” he said hesitantly. “That’s actually what we really look like. We just mess with humans’ minds and make you think that we look like you. It’s an illusion.”
Adam stared at him.
A giggle escaped Harry’s lips before he burst out laughing.
“You little shit!” Adam jumped on top of him and started tickling him. They rolled around on the bed, laughing and then kissing again. Fuck, he couldn’t get enough.
When they finally stopped laughing, Adam pressed their foreheads together. “How do I say ‘I love you so much’ in your language? Asking for a friend.”
Harry chuckled. “Your friend will never be able to pronounce it,” he murmured, rubbing his nose against Adam’s. He gave Adam a small, happy smile. “But tell him it doesn’t matter.”
Perhaps it didn’t.
The End