Page 34 of Damian & Jun: Episodes 5-8
Richard gave him a proud smile. “I’ll have him back in a few minutes. Warm water, please. Collin will show you the kettle.”
Richard followed Damian toward the bathroom.
Collin stretched and yawned. He crawled out of Émeric’s lap, going back in to press his cheek against Émeric’s and then padding toward the hallway to the kitchen. “We have an electric kettle. It doesn’t take long.”
“Who has kettles that aren’t electric?”
Collin chuckled ruefully. “I’d never had one until I came here. It’s more of an Asian thing, but I guess it’s catching on here, too.”
They entered the kitchen. Collin showed him the kettle and where to get more drinking water. He left Jun to fill it up and started putting together a tray.
Jun saw how many cups Collin was pulling out and filled the kettle to the top. It didn’t matter. Warming water, even if the kettle was full, was still going to take less time than Damian showering off.
“This is Damian’s favorite mug.” Collin held up a large one with the face of a Boxer dog’s head. “But he never drinks from it in front of company. If we have people over, then he drinks out of one of these.” Collin reached into the cabinet and showed Jun a corporate-blue mug with zero personality.
Jun nodded, memorizing the difference and the cabinet.
Collin held up another, this one hand cast with a color gradient in greens and browns. “This is mine. And this one”—he hefted a glass stein—“is Richard’s.”
“What does Émeric drink out of?”
Collin retrieved a delicate teacup with a gold rim and flowers painted on it. “For tea. If it’s just warm water, then a thick glass. He has the proper receptacle for each type of drink.”
Jun shook his head, half smiling. “Your dom is particular.”
“He’s French.” Collin grinned and shrugged. “I like it.”
Jun smiled back. “I respect it.”
Collin blushed and dropped his eyes, looking for all the world exactly what he was, a man besotted with his beloved. Then he shook himself and rubbed his face. “What kind of mug do you like? We need to get you your own.”
“Do you have anything blue that’s not…”
“Corporate?” Collin finished for him.
This man had his number.
Collin rifled about in the cabinet. “What about this one?” He held up a dark-blue mug inscribed with knot work in the form of a dragon. “It’s from Ireland. I haven’t been there.”
Jun nodded in approval. “It’s not boring.”
They made five mugs of tea together, Collin showing him the household collection of tea, which spoke to a breadth and depth of taste.
“I’m still learning.” Collin shrugged. “I didn’t grow up drinking tea except those vitamin C hot drinks for when you have a cold.”
“Those taste good.” Jun breathed in the aroma from his mug. It was light, flowery, with something green beneath it all. He approved.
They carried everything out on two trays. Damian and Richard weren’t back yet, but Émeric thanked them for the tea and instructed them to go ahead and drink.
“You and I will get some sleep, kitten,” Émeric said, looking at Collin, “just as soon as Richard and Damian are settled.”
Collin bit his lip but nodded.
He didn’t want to be separated from his brother. Jun mulled the thought around in his head. He’d seen the size of the bed in their bedroom, and now that he thought of it, there had been a second small bed off to the side.
If I wasn’t here, they’d all curl up together.
He couldn’t even be mad about it. If anything, he wanted to tell them to go ahead and do it.
