Page 41 of Snapped
Rian shook his head, grinning. “Nope, go right ahead.”
Maya stood, a more serious look on her face than moments before when they were all joking around. “You know what? That’s actually quite perfect, Maeve. We can do the christening in the morning, then have the wedding in the afternoon.” Pausing, she looked around the room as if she expected someone to disagree, but no one did. “Perfect.” She clapped. “Come on Maeve, let’s go find Ari and figure out all the details.” The two women left the kitchen, heads together, whispering conspiratorially.
It was late by the time Raven made it back to his, Tanis, and Apollo’s rooms that night. Tanis had fallen asleep with the lamp on, a book on his chest. He crossed over into Pol’s room; the little guy had passed out in almost the exact same position as his father. Standing in the middle of the bathroom, Raven looked left, right, and then left again. He could see them both from where he stood and took a few minutes to watch the boy and the man that were alike in so many ways. Blond hair, blue eyes, enigmatic personalities, fierce, loyal and loving…and they were his. Raven quietly walked over to Pol’s bed, taking the toy horse from his hands carefully, not wanting to wake him. He set it on the table and bent to kiss the sleeping toddler on his forehead.
“Good night my sweet boy; sleep well.” Pulling the blanket up and tucking it tight, Raven stood and flipped off the lamp, leaving the room as quietly as he came in and closing the door behind him. Back in his and Tanis’s room, he went about his nightly routine, not realizing his husband watched him as he did…until he moved closer to the mirror and caught the man he thought was fast asleep staring at his ass with hazy blue eyes.
Turning, Raven sauntered over to the bed and climbed in, slowly crawling up Tanis until he reached his lips. The kiss was soft, sensuous and full of innuendo. Once they were both hard and desperate, Raven rode Tanis until they both reached their peak. Afterward, he lay wrapped in his lover’s arms and shared the conversation he’d had with Rian and the others in the kitchen.
“I completely agree, babe. I know a lot has happened, but when is it ever dull here?” Tanis said jokingly. “The palace is full—there are people here from every House, and a wedding has been promised. I think a christening for Ian followed up with a simple ceremony for us will satisfy the people of House Gaeland. We should be celebrating life right now, sweetheart, not hiding from it.” Tanis watched him, anticipation in his eyes. Perhaps he thought Raven might argue with him, but he wouldn’t.
Smiling and nodding, Raven ran his hand through Tanis’s sweat-soaked hair and pulled him close for one last kiss. “Of course babe, you’re all right. I’m still worried about Rian, emotionally. What happened to him…I don’t know if I could handle it if it were me—I don’t know how he does it.”
Of course, Rian didn’t expect Raven or his children to keep things from their spouses. So he told the three of them just that, to tell their partners. “Marriages should never have secrets,” he’d said.
Sitting up, Tanis reached down and wiped the ever-present stray strand of purple out of his husband’s eyes. “You most certainly could get through it, Raven, and you know why? Because you’re a strong man, just like Rian. And because you have a husband who loves you unconditionally, a husband who would move the heavens and earth for you, just like Rian. Love, compassion, trust and commitment aren’t just words, Raven. They are feelings that live and breathe because of the people that share them.”
“Wow.” Raven cupped Tanis’s cheek in his hand. “Just when I think I can’t possibly love you any more than I already do, you show me I can.”
