Page 112 of For Your Heart
My brows knit together, even as my heart races. “I don’t want to take your time with Simon,” I say.
He smiles. “Don’t worry about that right now. Trust me when I tell you, he doesn’t want you anywhere around your mother. And he likes you around. He loves to see you, Sage.”
I’m not going to lie. Simon’s been incredibly accommodating. I’ve stayed here ever since Damon took me from my house after my mother’s recent visit. He doesn’t appear to mind. In fact, when he came home, it was obvious Damon told him a little because he wrapped his arms around me and told me he was happy I was here.
It made me feel good. I expected to feel like a burden, but they’ve all made sure I haven’t.
But what he’s suggesting now…? “You want to marry me now?” I ask, the words barely audible.
“It’s sooner than we planned. I get that. But I meant what I said: I’m never letting you go, Sage. You’re mine. A piece of paper saying so doesn’t change that. We’ll have a small ceremony. Just the six of us. And your friends if you want them there. When we’re ready for a bigger one, I’ll give you the wedding of your dreams.”
I’m really not a crier. Seriously, I’m not. But his words filled my eyes with tears and took my breath. “Okay,” I whisper.
“Good. Once your house sells. Once it’s all closed and the check has cleared—all of it—we’ll apply for a marriage license. We’ll get married.”
“We can do it in my backyard if you don’t want to go to the courthouse,” Zarek says. He touches my neck lightly, wrapping his hand around it before letting it fall back to my chest and over my heart. “And we can dress you all pretty, too.”
I laugh, hearing how watery and filled with emotion it is.
“I guess we can even give you a couple nights to fuck without us,” Declan says with a dramatic sigh.
Zarek must have pinched him or something because Declan flinches before laughing. “Don’t be a pain in the ass. We can have our own things, too.”
“I know,” Declan says quietly. “I like our own things. But I really need us to be together more. Is that okay?”
“The four of us or the six of us?” Zarek asks.
I hear the sound of light kisses above my head. “Both, Ehsan. I need my brother. I need Simon. I need both. Please understand how much I fucking love you, Zarek. No matter what I feel for someone else, nothing will ever touch what I feel for you.”
“You love me,” Zarek says and I realize it’s the first time he’s heard the words. I smile and pull Damon’s mouth to mine, trying to give them their moment without it being incredibly obvious that they’re sharing it with us.
“Yes,” Declan says. “Jesus, Zarek. I love everything about you.I can’t live without youany more than I can without Damon or Simon. You’re my person. My life. I’m keeping you, so you better fucking accept that I love the fuck out of you.”
Zarek doesn’t answer, though I can hear his shaking breath. His hand on me is tight, though I don’t think he realizes it. “I love you too,” he whispers.
“You better,” Declan says. I hear a slap, and then Declan shakes with his laughter.
We lay quietly for a while before Zarek says, “Yeah, okay. We can give them a couple nights to themselves and then we can have a groupie again.”
“Don’t pretend you don’t like to fuck together,” Declan says. I grin against Damon’s mouth.
“Of course, I do. I like this; the four of us. It’s a little weird with Simon and Quin because you can’t keep your hands to yourself.”
“Like we keep our hands to ourselves when it’s the four of us?” Declan counters.
Zarek doesn’t answer. “I’m still a little…”
“I know,” Declan says. “Look, let’s compromise for a bit. We’ll keep the bigger group sleepovers fewer for now as long as you agree to spend time together as a bigger group more often. It’s really imperative that you and Simon get along, Zarek. As much as it is that you and Damon get along. Ican’tlive my life without either. And Ican’t livewithout you.”
I don’t hear anything at all. But Zarek sits up, his hand pulling from me. Worried that he might be upset, I pull my lips from Damon and shift to look at him. He’s not upset, but he’s still frowning slightly. He studies Declan’s face before looking at me. “Come on, Sage. Let’s go hang out with Simon.”
Declan’s face splits into a wide smile as Zarek rolls his eyes and climbs from the bed. Damon kisses me before I follow. We’re allowed underwear only. That’s apparently the dress code in this house. I grumble about Quin being allowed to wear sweats, but leave the room on Zarek’s heels while we look for Simon.
He’s in the kitchen staring at the stove. There’s a pan there with pieces of bacon in it. The counter is strewn with all sorts of things. It’s a mess, but the only thing on the stove is the pan of bacon. It’s not even on.
“You know that cooks better when you turn the burner on, right?” Zarek asks as we join Simon.
Simon smiles demurely and takes a step away from the stove. “I hate cooking,” he says, giving the raw bacon a glare.
