Page 75 of Emeric

“Holy fuck,” I eventually got out.

“You can say that again,” Oleander added.

I wasn’t sure how long we lay there in each other’s arms, our breaths evening out, my mind blissfully silent. I wasn’t just happy; I was content, loved, in love, and at peace for the first time in I didn’t know how long. It was a wild feeling; one I could get used to.

“Is this what I have to look forward to in our future?” I asked.

“I hope so,” Oleander replied.

If I had any energy, I’d swat at him. “That wasn’t what I meant. Don’t you feel it?” I opened my eyes to find Oleander’s on me.

“Yeah.” He rubbed his hand over his chest. “Right here.” Then he tapped his temple. “Here too.”

“You two are so sappy,” Sylvan mumbled. “I love it.”

“Sylvan?” I asked.

“Yeah?”

“Would you mind if I looked for a house for you? I want to contribute something. Oleander has spent so much time and energy to find who was causing all of the problems, and then he helped handle them. I want to help in a different way. I can find an already built home, or empty land, or a home I can have torn down and rebuilt however you want it. Whatever makes you happy, I want to do it.”

He lifted himself onto his elbows and turned so he could face me. His sandy blond hair was a mess, going every which way. It endeared him to me even more. “On two conditions.”

“Name them.” I would do anything he wanted.

“The first is Oleander has to agree to condition two.”

Oleander nodded. “I can do that.”

“You don’t even know what it is yet.” Sylvan chuckled.

“Doesn’t matter. You want it. It’s yours.”

Shaking his head, Sylvan said, “I want you both to live with me in the home. You don’t have to answer me right now. Think about it. Don’t just readily agree. It’s a big step for us.”

“I’m in,” I told him with as serious a face as I could make. He needed to know there was no doubt in my mind this was what I wanted.

“Me too,” Oleander agreed. “I do have a question.”

Sylvan sighed. “Neither of you thought about it.”

“Didn’t need to,” Oleander replied. “But how’s this going to work? I can’t be far from here for work. Jordan calls on us at all hours of the day and night. I have to be able to get to him and Vail. You don’t want to live in the city, which we understand. I don’t want to pressure you to do so.”

“I’ve been thinking about it. Well, trying to think about it without spiraling into a panic attack about a million what-if scenarios. Can we find a place that’s not too close to here but not too far that you can drive here… safely… when need be? Maybe somewhere on a not-so-busy street?”

“Are you sure?” I asked. It wasn’t meant to question what he suggested, but rather he was certain this was what he wanted. “This between us is for life for me.”

“Ditto,” Oleander said. “I don’t want anyone else.”

“You think I do?” Sylvan asked. “I’m in love with two amazing men. They’ll have to pry my cold, dead hands off you two to ever get me to go away.”

I patted his hand. “Let’s not talk about you dying, love.” It was bad enough I worried about Oleander every time he was out with Jordan or Vail. I didn’t need to add Sylvan to the list of reasons my blood pressure went up far too often. At least there was a doctor living in Jordan’s building if I ever needed one quickly and didn’t feel like going to the emergency room. Damn, I was getting dark with my thoughts. I’d been around the guards talking about violence too often. They didn’t bother buffering their words in front of me. They knew I’d never go against them in court and would always have their backs. Although, sometimes I wished I knew less.

A sweet grin spread over Sylvan’s lips. “You both really want to live with me?”

“And each other,” Oleander stated. “Em will find us a great place, but we all have to agree on it.” He winked. Only I could see it since Sylvan was facing me. Oleander’s words weren’t required. That wink meant I could find something for Sylvan. Oleander and I would live there without hesitation because of how important Sylvan’s comfort was to us.

“Okay, let’s do this,” Sylvan said.