So today, I could stop worrying and focus on having a little fun with all the new inventory I had.
And hopefully Isiah would be here to join in soon.
Chapter 24
Raphael
Waking up with Laz in my arms was quickly becoming my favorite part of the day—as long as he wasn’t having a nightmare.
Today was a good morning, or at least he wasn’t showing any outward signs of having one at the moment.
I nuzzled into the back of his neck and placed a kiss on his warm skin as I wrapped around his back more securely. He didn’t stir, but I felt Izzy stirring on the other side of Laz, and I smiled as I held out one of my hands without looking. It only took a moment before Izzy slid his hand into mine, and I sighed in relief. Having both of them right here, connected to me, was the best, and most natural feeling in the world.
And I was sure Izzy could feel how content our magics were, even more so than when it was only us. I hadn’t realized we’d been missing anything until we’d found our Laz.
It made me wonder if Laz could feel it, too. He was human, so he wasn’t as in tune with things like that as Iz and me, but maybe he could feel it without knowing what it was. I hoped so, at least.
As I began kissing Laz’s neck, nuzzling him, and humming, I felt Izzy tense up and try to pull away, but I didn’t let him. Without opening my eyes, I pulled his hand up and pressed a lingering kiss to his palm. He sucked in a breath, and I placed his hand on my cheek with my own covering his, and I hummed again before going back to kiss Laz’s neck. My hold on Iz’s hand was light, so he could pull away if he wanted to, but I held him enough to show that I didn’t want him to.
Through our link, I could feel Izzy’s emotions swirling around in a confused mess, but what I felt most was his love and devotion to me. He was confused by my actions, but he was also reluctantly enjoying them.
I kissed his wrist, then hummed into Laz’s hair and kissed his nape before pressing my lips to Izzy’s wrist again. I went back and forth a few times, and even though Laz didn’t move or say anything, I could tell that he was awake. With Izzy’s hand still on my cheek, I leaned up to pull Laz’s earlobe between my teeth.
Both Laz and Izzy gasped loudly, and after hesitating for a few seconds, Izzy snatched his hand away.
Blowing out a frustrated sigh, I leaned my forehead against the back of Laz’s head as Izzy rolled out of the bed and quickly said, “I’ll start on breakfast.”
He was out the door before Laz or I could utter a word.
Stifling another sigh of frustration, I said, “Good morning, baby.”
“Morning.” His voice was breathless, and maybe a little worried.
Focusing on him entirely, I wrapped my arms tight around him and rubbed his stomach and chest. “What’s wrong, love?”
“N-nothing.”
“Mhm.” I couldn’t keep the amusement out of my voice. “You can tell me anything.”
He blew out a harsh breath, but still hesitated for a minute before saying, “I’m okay. You don’t have to worry about me.”
Well, that wasn’t ever going to happen. “Not possible.” I kissed the shell of his ear and decided to give him a bit to wake fully before I started in on my questions. Plus, holding Laz was no hardship, so I hugged him tight, buried my nose in his hair, and breathed. We lay there for a long time, so long I was worried he’d fallen back to sleep, but he hadn’t.
“Did you sleep okay?” I asked.
“Yeah, actually, it was a good night.”
“That’s good to hear. Are you worried about going into work again today?”
“No, I’m actually excited to finish the inventory in the back.”
I snorted. “Only you could be excited about inventory duty.”
“As if you didn’t find a few things you liked.”
I thought about it and finally nodded, admitting, “Yeah, okay. You’re right. You had some awesome stuff.”
“See? It’s fun.”
Leaning up on my elbow to better see him, I ran my thumb over the worried crease developing on his forehead. “Then why the face?”
“It’s nothing.”
I moved a little, but only so I could roll Laz onto his back and under me so I was lying over him with my leg over his hip, nudged between his legs. “You know Izzy likes you, too, right?”
Laz’s eyes widened. “Wh-what do you mean?”
I sighed, not really knowing whether I should be saying this to him or not, but in the end, I decided that I needed to know Laz’s thoughts on the matter. “He finds you attractive.”
Laz swallowed thickly. “Um… okay.”
“And he likes you. A lot.”
Laz’s eyes shot off to the side as he licked his lips. “Why, um, why are you saying this to me?”
“Because—”
“Breakfast’s ready!” Izzy yelled up the stairs. “Come on down so we all have time to shower before work!”
I sighed and rested my forehead on Laz’s chest, and he patted my back comfortingly. As soon as I opened my mouth to continue the conversation, Izzy yelled, “Come on, guys!”
With another sigh, I kissed Laz’s chin, cheek, and lips, then rolled out of bed before pulling Laz with me. He laughed as I stumbled back with him, and then we made our way downstairs.
Izzy was already setting the table, and we wound up in what I’d call our regular seats; Laz at the head of the table with Iz and me on either side. With a grin, I bumped Izzy’s foot with mine, saying, “Thanks for cooking.”
“Yeah, thank you, Isiah,” Laz added with that sweet smile of his.
Izzy waved us off. “Just eat. We only have another hour before we need to leave, don’t we?”
“No, about an hour and a half,” I said.
“Whatever. I thought we had to get there early this morning.”
Laz shook his head. “We don’t have to. Normally, when I have a lot to do in the back, I’ll go in early before I open up to get some of it done, but with you guys being there, we really don’t need to.” He took a bite of the breakfast sandwich Izzy made and groaned. “This is so good.”
Iz grinned. “I’m glad.”
The three of us were quiet for a few minutes while we stuffed our faces, and when we were done, Laz carried the plates into the kitchen. Izzy frowned and followed him. A moment later, my soul-pledge’s voice reached my ears. “Let me do that, treasure.”
“You cooked, so I can clean up,” Laz responded, making me smile.
“No, I’ve got it.”
“Izzy…”
“Seriously, go take a shower and get ready. You take longer than me, so I can go last,” Iz said.
I heard Laz sigh. “I feel bad that you’re always cooking for me and never letting me clean up.”
Izzy was quiet for a long moment before he said, “This makes me feel like I’m… doing something… for you, I mean. I enjoy helping take care of you, even if you don’t really need me to.”
If Laz responded, I couldn’t hear it, but I had a brush of contentment push through my bond with Iz, so I was pretty sure they were hugging, which brought another smile to my face.