Page 36 of Shelf-Made Man
They ended up snuggled together beneath the blankets, languidly stroking each other as if they had all the time in the world. Their breathing synchronized as if they were joined in song. And weren’t they, in a way?
Tobias’s mother had taught him long ago that although Solstice festivals varied in their specifics, they tended to share a common theme: light emerging from the darkness. The hope dawning—quite literally—as people emerge from the longest night. A celebration of having survived thus far and an optimism that now the world will slowly improve. The triumph of life over death.
In that case, the joining of his body with Alfie’s wasn’t simply a carnal act but also a holy one. A sacred rite.
“I love you,” Tobias murmured into Alfie’s ear.
“And I you. Whether I have a few hours to live or many decades, I shall love you to my last heartbeat.”
“I’d prefer the many decades.”
Alfie chuckled softly. “As would I. In truetroll fashion, you have captured me, Tobias. I never want you to release me.”
And there it was. Like an unexpected and wonderful gift discovered beneath a Christmas tree, the formerly tricky facets of the original plan resolved in Tobias’s mind. He didn’t know whether it was a good and viable plan or if it would bring success. But itwasa plan, and that was something.
He wrapped Alfie in a tight embrace. “Release you? Never.”
Chapter
Sixteen
The morning dawned slowly, the shy sun tentatively rising behind a veil of clouds above the East Bay. Tobias had been awake for some time already, and he’d crept into the kitchen to scrounge leftover bread and cold pork roast, which he carried to the bedroom for breakfast. He’d already eaten his share, but Alfie still slept, his inhumanly long eyelashes fanned across his cheeks, his lips curled into a small smile.
There was really no hurry to get on with things. Aunt Virginia said they were safe here. But they couldn’t keep themselves caged forever, and the longer they stayed, the harder it would be to go.
Besides, if Tobias was honest with himself, there was a certain part of him—likely the very trollish part—that itched for a fight. He wanted to confront Snjokarl, tell him what a fuckwad he was, and do hisbest to kick his ass. He could almost feel his hands connecting with flesh and hear the broken cries of his prey. And this morning, these feelings didn’t even scare him. He would embrace these aspects of his psyche and try to use them for good.
He thought about the previous day, which had been a roller coaster for sure. But it had ended with the best holiday celebration he’d experienced in years, followed by the best lovemaking he’d experiencedever.
“It’s a lovely view.”
Tobias turned to see Alfie sprawled in bed, ogling him.
“Can I ask you something?” Tobias said.
“Anything.”
“You said that trolls are, um, disagreeable loners. But they reproduce, right? I mean, here I am. Does that mean they have families?”
Alfie sat up, yawned and stretched, and gave a nod. “I’m no expert on the matter. But my understanding is that most trolls do find mates and that they are loyal to their mates and protective of their children. I don’t know if they experience love the way that humans and elves do, but on reflection, I have no reason to assume that they don’t.”
“All right.”
After a pause, Alfie got out of bed, padded naked across the floor, and placed his hands on Tobias’s chest. “You know you’re capable of love. You loved your mother, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” Tobias whispered.
“It seems to me that adults, regardless of species, should be able to decide for themselves how they want to be. Perhaps we are limited in some aspects—I can’t cross between worlds on my own, for example—but that still leaves us much leeway. I can decide not to be a spoiled, judgmental ass. You can decide to be a family man, if it pleases you.”
“It does.”
Alfie stroked Tobias’s cheek. “Then we shall consider ourselves family, even if our time is short.”
Tobias sniffled a little but didn’t cry.
Eventually Alfie ate his breakfast and got dressed, and they emerged together from their room. Aunt Virginia sat in the parlor, dressed in jeans and an elegant cream-colored sweater, her white hair held back with a golden headband, a book in her hands. She’d opened the curtains wide and set potted plants on the windowsills. “I hope you spent a good night,” she said. She didn’t bother to suppress the sparkle in her eyes.
Alfie bowed to her and Tobias dipped his head in greeting. He only blushed a little. “Thank you for such a good evening, Aunt Virginia.”
