MAGNUS
Christmas Eve - Five Months Later
The flames blazing in the ten foot long fireplace cast a golden glow about the large, open space. My eyes travel around the room, taking in the sight of Lucy and her entire family spread out on the large couch. Chase and Cameron are also here. Having all the people I’ve come to care about with me makes this the best Christmas since my grandmother passed away. I smile as I think of how much she would’ve loved Lucy. She would have fit right in with Gram and her propensity for brutal honesty.
Raising the glass of whiskey to my lips, I finish off the final sip before placing it down on an end table. Catching Lucy’s gaze, my stomach rolls when her emerald eyes meet mine. Crooking my index finger, I call her over. Rising to her feet, she excuses herself from the ongoing conversation.
My heart thumps harder with each step she takes in my direction. When she reaches me, I clasp her hand and I’m convinced she must be able to hear the pounding beats.
“What’s wrong?” Her expression is filled with concern.
I smile and squeeze her hand reassuringly. “Nothing at all. I want to show you something in my bedroom.”
She snorts and pokes me in the stomach. “I’ve heard that one before, Mister.”
I chuckle and we move toward the back of the house where my bedroom is located. “I really do want you to see something, but I like the way you think. I’ll ‘show’ you whatever you want after everyone’s left.” Her answering giggle tells me she’s on board.
Once we step inside my room, I close the door behind us. She raises a brow, looking from the door to me. “Are you sure you didn’t bring me in here for nefarious purposes?”
I grin. “No come here,” I direct as I lead her across to the other side of the room. We step inside my large walk in closet.
“Are we going to have sex in the closet?”
“Nope.” I smirk. “What do you think?” I question, gesturing at the empty shelves and racks on one side.
“Wow, what happened to the rest of your things?”
“I cleared it out and donated it to charity.”
“That’s really great, Magnus. Now you have all this space to fill up with the stuff you get from photo shoots.”
“Actually, I have something else in mind for these shelves.”
“You do?”
“Mhm. What do you think of filling them up with your clothes?” Her eyes open wide with surprise. “You didn’t expect me to say that, did you?”
She shakes her head. “What are you saying?”
“I want you and Jeremiah to move in with me.”
“Magnus, I know you love me and J, but having us around twenty-four-seven is a huge step.”
Releasing her hand, my palms raise to cup her cheeks. “Lucy, I’ve been thinking about this for months now. Do you want to move in with me?” Please say yes.
A large smile creeps across her face. “Yes, I do.”
A whoop of celebration slips out of me as my arms go around her back and I draw her tight against my chest. “I love you and Jeremiah more than anything. Thank you for saying yes.”
“As if there was any other option. You were my go to celebrity crush that I used to fantasize about and now your mine. I’m never letting you go.”
“Tell me more about these fantasies you had about me.” I wiggle my eyebrows and she giggles. “There is one more thing I have to show you.”
“I’ve already seen it,” she jests.
“Get your mind out of the gutter, woman. Well, get it out of there for now and come with me.” With my hand between her shoulder blades, I lead her back to the hallway. We retrace our steps toward the front of the house and I stop when we’re two doors down at what used to be one of the guestrooms. I flip the light switch as we step inside and Lucy gasps.
“You did this?” she asks, her voice hoarse with a combination of surprise and happiness.
“I did. Do you think he’ll like it?” I question, wondering if Jer will approve of his new superheros themed room.
“He’s going to love it.” Her gaze darts around taking in all the details. There are large green hands that look like they’re busting out of the wall and a bat symbol that lights up the ceiling.
“I hired a designer to come in and add everything he could want.” The two overflowing toyboxes and the large television mounted to the wall, might be overkill in Lucy’s eyes. “Is it too much?”
She spins to face me and I notice the tears in her eyes. “No, it’s perfect.”
“Can we show him now?” I question, keyed up with anxiety.
“Yeah, let me go get him.”
My fingers rake through my hair as I pace, nervously. If Jer doesn’t want to move in then I know Lucy won’t try to convince him. But it won’t matter to me because I’m never letting them go. Hell, I’d sell this place tomorrow and show up on her doorstep with a suitcase full of clothes in one hand and Sybil in the other. One way or another we’re going to be together as a family.
Jeremiah enters the room before Lucy. His eyes couldn’t possibly open any wider than they are as he takes it all in.
“J, how you do feel about living here with Magnus?” Lucy questions.
“Will you be here too?” Jer asks.
“Of course, we would both live here with Magnus.”
“And Sybil?” Jeremiah asks. A hint of a grimace teases her lips when he mentions the cat. She and Sybil have come to some sort of an agreement. Lucy tolerates her because Jeremiah loves her so much.
“Yes and Sybil.”
Jeremiah unexpectedly launches himself at me with a happy shout. I pick him up in my arms and kiss his forehead. “Does this mean I can call you Dad?” he asks, innocently.
My eyes dart to Lucy and notice her wiping tears from her cheeks. I swallow past the golf ball sized lump in my throat. “You can call me whatever you want.”
“I heard mommy call you daddy. Why did she call you that?”
Lucy’s eyes bug out of her head and she flushes a brilliant shade of red.
“Your mom was just kidding. You know how silly she can be.” I smirk at Lucy. And mouth the words you owe me.
“Can I go tell Auntie Ave and Wes that we’re moving in?”
“Sure,” Lucy says, anxious to end the awkward moment. Jer runs from the room and she looks at me. “Are you sure you’re up for this? You see what it will be like. No privacy and ears hearing things they have no business hearing.”
“Come here,” I order, pulling her against my chest. “I’m one hundred ten percent sure that I want you both here with me, every second of every day. I don’t want you to ever doubt that.”
* * *
“Are you coming to bed?” I ask, as she steps inside our room.
“Yep. I just went to check on Jer one more time. He’s sound asleep and I can’t remember him ever going to bed so willingly before.”
Lying there with my hands clasped behind my head, I stare up at the white ceiling and think about my grandmother. I hope she’s looking down and sees how happy I am.
“I have another present for you,” Lucy calls out from inside the bathroom.
“If it involves you naked that would be the best gift I could ask for.”
She steps into the bedroom naked and my dick is instantly hard. Placing a knee on the mattress, she crawls over. When she’s next to me, I flip her on her back and hover above. “What’s this all about?” The tip of my index finger trails between her breasts.
“Well, I wanted you to know that Wes might be my best friend, but my loyalty isn’t divided at all.”
“Why are we discussing Wes while we’re in bed naked?”
She giggles. “Cam and I came up with a new design for your merchandise.”
“You did?”
“Yep. Want to see it?”
“Not if it involves you getting out of bed. Can it wait?”
“I don’t need to go anywhere.”
“No you don’t. I need you right here, right now.”
“I haven’t shown you your surprise, yet.”
I groan deep in my chest. “Show me.”
She rolls over to her stomach and glances over her shoulder at me. “What do you think?”
My mouth goes dry when I see the temporary tattoo on one of her perfectly round ass cheeks.
#TeamMagnusForever.