Declan squirmed in his lap, probably trying to face him, then settled for just leaning his head back. “Are you sure you want to get me all of this? I mean, it’s amazing and I’m really grateful, but it’s a lot of money and I don’t need everything right now.”
Geir tightened his suckers all at once, the small teeth inside biting into Declan’s skin. Declan drew in a pained gasp and then relaxed completely against him, the phone dropping from his hands.
Geir nuzzled into his neck. “Does it make you happy?”
“You make me happy.”
Geir ran one broad hand over the ridge in Declan’s shorts. “So I see.”
Declan whimpered and tried to thrust up against him, which was always Geir’s clue to hold him tighter. Declan turned toward him, and he gave him a languorous kiss, his hand still moving gently over the scrap of denim.
When they were both breathless, he pulled back, patting the couch blindly until he found the errant phone. “What else do you need?”
“You.”
“I think you were going to order a computer. Wasn’t that next on your list?”
Declan groaned.
They’d been playing this game since Geir had a satellite dish installed this morning. The representative had said he’d need to wait a week, but when he’d ask to speak to a manager, it turned out to be one of the People. She’d left immediately to install it herself, and less than an hour later, they had internet.
She’d also reminded them of the party tonight, where apparently the two of them would be guests of honor. Tier had called yesterday to extend the invitation.
Geir wasn’t so sure that he wanted to go, but Declan had accepted immediately. And when Declan looked so happy, he couldn’t say no. He wasn’t looking forward to all of those people, though. Especially if it meant Declan leaving his side.
Right now, he was very happy where he was. And Declan, who was tapping around on the small, bright screen of his phone, seemed to be happy, too.
Since this morning, Geir had been subjected to pictures of angry babies, many inexplicable images with large, white letters on them, and cat videos. The cat videos he understood, at least.
Declan had also called Rohahen, and Geir discovered what a matchmaker he had on his hands. He wished he had understood that much, much sooner.
Now they were going shopping. This kind of shopping, he decided, was much, much better than anything they could do in the city. Because Declan was on his lap, his clean skin sweet with arousal, and Geir didn’t have to let him go.
“If I buy a crappy computer because you can’t keep your hands out of my pants, it’s going to be all your fault,” Declan huffed.
“My hands aren’t in your pants.” He slid the tip of one tentacle in instead, knowing it would make Declan laugh.
And he did, joyously and freely. “That’s cheating, Daddy.”
He wriggled the tentacle in further, glad that his limbs were so flexible. Declan’s shorts were so tight that his hand would never have fit.
And was that…? “You didn’t tell me you were wearing lace,” he exhaled. He didn’t think he could be any more turned on, but Declan was always surprising him. Sometimes he didn’t know who was teasing who.
“Shhhhh…” Declan scolded. “I’m trying to buy a computer.”
Geir opened the button then carefully lowered the zipper, making sure to lift the fabric so that it didn’t catch. Blue lace peeked out, with Declan’s cock smooth and pink beneath it. He covered the leaking tip with the end of one tentacle, absorbing the bitter taste through his skin.
Declan moaned. God, he was breathtaking.
“Go ahead and order your computer.” He stroked gently, enjoying the contrast between heated skin and the rough designs covering it. Declan shuddered in his arms.
When his own phone rang, he decided to ignore it.
But Declan, though panting and writhing, wanted to see who it was.
He never should have charged the stupid thing anyway.
“Who’s Vig-dis?”
“Vigdis,” he corrected, his voice dropping on the V, swallowing the EE sound of the first vowel, and making the second syllable short. “She’s my sister.”
“Oh my God! I want to meet her.” Declan connected the call and Geir dropped his head back on the couch. This being-friends-with-everybody thing was going to take some getting used to.
“God dagonly, Geir,” she greeted him.
“God dagonly,” he replied automatically.
Declan looked at him quizzically. “She’s saying good day. You can talk to her in English.”
That was apparently all the invitation that Declan needed. Geir wouldn’t even need to introduce them. “Hi, Vigdis!” He got her name close enough. “I’m so excited to meet you. I’m Declan and I need you to tell me all of the embarrassing stories about Geir when he was growing up.”
Geir grabbed the phone, but since it was on speaker, it didn’t matter. Vigdis’s laughter rang through the tinny speakers.
“If you’re older, that is. Are you older? He never told me. Did you guys even grow up together? You guys could be, like, hundreds of years apart, right? And he says you’re his financial manager. Is that your full-time job, or is it like a side thing? Where do you live, anyway? Has it been thirty years yet since you saw Geir? Do you want to come visit?”
Vigdis seemed to be laughing so hard that she couldn’t breathe.
She finally drew in a few breaths, punctuated by more laughter. “Anytime you want me to visit, I’m there.”
Declan turned his head. “How come her speech is more modern than yours?”
Geir shrugged.
“It’s because I go out in the world,” Vigdis answered for him. “Maybe you can get Geir to go out and live a little, too.”
Declan nodded, even though she couldn’t see. “I’m working on it! We’re going to a party tonight, though. With our neighbors. They’re…” He looked to Geir for confirmation. Geir nodded because she already knew. “They’re shifters. And Geir and I rescued some of their kids a few days ago so now we’re heroes.”
Geir groaned. Vigdis was never going to let him live this down.
“Oh, my brother is a hero, is he? I’m sure you were both very brave.”
Declan shuddered. “It was terrifying. I thought I was going to die.” He laughed as he said it, though.
Geir gripped him tighter. He’d thought Declan was going to die, too, and he still wasn’t over it.
“Tell me all about it,” Vigdis gushed.
It sounded like this was going to take a while, so Geir laid down on the couch, pulling Declan on top of him. All the fear from that night was transformed into humor and exaggeration as Declan retold the story, getting Vigdis to gasp and laugh at all the best parts.
Geir let the words drift over him, soaking Declan in with all of his senses and listening to a voice he hadn’t heard in so long.
He missed Vigdis, he realized. He’d forgotten how funny and animated she was. “When are you coming?” he asked.
Declan gave him a crazy look and the phone was silent.
“Did I interrupt?”
Declan nodded, still looking surprised.
“Did he just ask me to visit?” Vigdis asked. She shouldn’t have sounded that shocked.