Page 116 of For Your Heart
“The other three rooms are so each couple has their own space. I’m assuming there are some things we’ll want privacy for.”
Zarek nods. “Like when I slap your ass until it’s red?”
Declan rolls his eyes. “Ehsan, we all know that’s not what really happens behind closed doors. Especially since we can all see which of us is wearing the evidence of that.”
With a huff, Zarek presses his face into Declan’s cheek. “Are you going to want to get married right away too?”
My brother shrugs his shoulders and shakes his head. “I’m indifferent as to when. Yes, I want to marry you. I want you to take my last name. I want to own every fucking inch of your body. But like my brother said, I don’t need a paper to say that you’re mine. I just need you to agree that you’re mine and never take that back.”
There’s that open vulnerability again that makes me want to reach for him.
Zarek picks his head up and looks at Declan. “Dec, I’m yours. Always. I don’t want to live without you ever. I’m going to agree to this weirdness because I can’t wait to spend every single day with you for the rest of my life. And Iwantkids with you. We can discuss the last name thing later.”
“There’s no discussion. You’re going to be a Whitaker.”
Zarek huffs.
“Your initials don’t even change. I’ve seen your signature. I don’t think you even have to change that. As long as you’re legally Zarek Whitaker, I don’t care what you sign.”
“You’re barbaric,” Zarek says, rolling his eyes. Not bothering to hide his smile. “And when we have kids?”
“I’m not sure what you’re asking. When we’re ready for kids, we can talk about it in more detail. I think right now, we need to concentrate on selling our many properties and finding a house together,” Declan says.
“With an enormous shower,” Simon muses as he glances at our bedroom. “Ours is big, but we can’t fit six bodies in there.”
“Might as well make a locker room communal shower,” Sage says. The way his fingers bounce on my back, I can feel his excitement.
My man is going to have a big family who will love and take care of him. Just what he’s always wanted. What he’s always deserved and been denied. I’m going to give him everything.
“Oh!” Simon says. “Yes. But fancy.” He twists in Stommer’s lap to face him. “Can we do that?”
Stommer smiles, a look that I know all too well. Complete adoration. “Anything you want, sugar baby.”
I glower at the words and turn my attention back to Zarek and Declan since Sage’s face is still in my neck. I don’t think Sage really cares. All he wants is to be loved. The more people who love his affection-starved soul, the better for him.
“What else?” Declan asks, pressing soft kisses all over Zarek’s face. Zarek lets his head tip back, allowing Declan access to more skin, which my brother takes advantage of. “What other questions, my love? Tell me.”
Zarek shivers. “You promise you love me? You really want me forever?”
Declan pulls his face back up and kisses him until he’s breathless and we’re all fucking hard watching that display of filthy tongues. Asshole.
“Until my last breath, Zarek Whitaker. I will never,everlet you go.”
Exactly. I couldn’t have said that better.
Thirty-Seven
DAMON
Four months later
I stepinto our house and drop my gym bag in the entry closet. I don’t bother to take off my shoes since we’ve been in and out for the last two days with boxes. The floors are going to need deep cleaning before we stop wearing shoes. It’s to be expected when you move; especially considering it’s six of us moving in.
There isn’t any noise coming from deeper within the house, despite half of us being home to continue unpacking. So I move through the rooms until I find someone and then stop to stare.
Simon stands in the living room, his hands on a picture frame. It’s a large square—ten by ten inches. It was always on the dresser in our bedroom, even in our condo. But he sets it atop the mantle, his fingers lingering on it. It’s the last professional picture that his family took before he lost his parents. When his mother was still healthy, and his father wasn’t an alcoholic. Simon is eight, I think. Almost nine maybe.
Before I can go over to comfort him, Zarek walks in with a handful of throw pillows. He pauses when he sees Simon and then drops the pillows on the couch before approaching.
