Chapter 24
The savory aroma of breakfast lulled me awake.
As my body attempted to reboot back to consciousness, I tried to shake the sheer level of sleep I'd managed to achieve.
It felt like I'd slept like a rock left unattended.
Shaking my head from side to side, I opened my eyes and tried to train them to take in my surroundings.
I remembered showering from the night before and then falling into bed. Memories of the warehouse came back to me, more as a source of recognition than feeling like I was reliving it. It happened, and I was ready to leave it in the past.
Laying next to me was my brother. Troian was sleeping with his mouth open, slightly snoring in a t-shirt and boxers. We hadn't slept in the same bed since we were kids, but he still held the same innocence we had back then. It brought a slight shift to my lips, smiling at his undisturbed form.
My brow furrowed as my head whipped to my closed bedroom door where the smell of breakfast persisted.
My bets would have been on Troian making food, but if he was asleep next to me, I felt the urge to investigate which of my houseguests was kind enough to cook food in my apartment.
I slid down the bed so I didn't disturb my brother and made my way to the bedroom door.
I turned the doorknob and made my way down the hall from where my bedroom was and emerged into the combined living room and kitchen area.
Surprise was knit into my eyebrows as I saw Qwill standing over the stove, tending to a skillet full of scrambled eggs. I couldn't help but smile. He looked so cute in my kitchen.
He hadn't noticed me yet, so I silently walked up behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist, setting my head on his shoulder. Qwill jumped slightly until he bent to see that it was me. A smile lit up his face as he twisted over to place a quick kiss on my lips.
“Did you sleep well?” He asked me, melting back against my touch as the spatula in his hand twirled into the scrambled eggs.
“I did.” I replied, turning to see the rest of the stove, seeing that he was also making the sausage patties I had completely forgotten were in my freezer.
Judging by the amount, he wasn't cooking for himself, or even for just him and I for that matter.
“You didn't have to make all this food for everyone.”
“I wanted to.” Qwill nodded. “I thought waking up to a hot meal might start your day right, after everything.”
He set down the spatula and faced me, feeling both of his hands on either side of my jaw. He stared down at me, and as our eyes drank each other in, it was like I could hear his thoughts, asking me if I was truly okay. When I gave a simple nod as my eyes filled with tears, Qwill softened.
“I…I know we haven't known each other long, Thayer, but I really care about you. Knowing that you were gone was awful.” Tears danced in Qwill's eyes and it only made my heart lurch more than his words already did. He retracted his hands and ran a hand over his dark brown hair.
I hated that I'd worried him, but there was a sliver of my heart that warmed at the same thought.
Seeing how genuinely afraid Qwill had been for my well being both hurt and healed me.
I'd never had someone so concerned about my safety before.
It was a new experience, one that felt really nice.
My heart swelled like it was growing sizes as I regarded his earlier statement.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, smiling briefly as Qwill wound his arms around my waist, hovering just above my waistband.
“I’m sorry I worried you.”
He shook his head. “You have nothing to apologize for. I'm just glad that you're home safe.”
I nodded. “For the record, I really care about you to, Qwill.” I gave him a small smile. “So much.”
Qwill leaned in and kissed me. Savoring the feel of him, I felt his tongue against my lips and then we were kissing with more intent, like he was feverish to express to me just how much he cared for me in return.
My hands tangled in his shirt, gripping at the scaled flesh underneath.
He was still wearing his clothes from yesterday, a black shirt with black shorts that had frayed edges.
He always wore the same outfit every time I'd seen him.
But I was just in my underwear, and my dick was pressing into his thigh hard.
As our kiss heated the air between us, I wished more than anything that we were alone in the apartment.
“We better stop,” Qwill chuckled, glancing down at our mutual boners as they jutted out against the respective fabric keeping them from being free. “Don't want your brother or your friends walking in on us.”
“Definitely not.” I nodded with a cold-showered sigh from his words, but I held his gaze as I said, “But for the record, I'm horny as fuck and looking to satiate that soon.”
“Duly noted.” Qwill smiled, claiming my lips again before he went back to tending to the breakfast.
I was wondering if I could sneak him into my bathroom without waking Troian up, but the door to the guest bedroom opened and shattered my chance to attempt it.
A sleepy version of Bas in yesterday's clothes came groggily into view with Kroven following behind, who looked much more alive and preened for wearing day old clothes.
His eyes were a cloudy gray, the vision from his previous feeding nothing more than a memory.
I was impressed with how well he seemed to navigate my apartment without the sense of sight aiding him.
I did see him reach out and place a hand on Bas' shoulder as they approached the bar of the kitchen.
Thank goodness our boners had deflated.
“Morning.” Kroven smiled. “Who's cooking?”
“I am, but Thayer is politely supervising.” Qwill answered with a quick smile in my direction, plucking the sausage from the pan to the assigned plate he’d pried from the cabinet. “How'd you two sleep?”
“Wonderfully.” Kroven answered with another smile at the same time Bas grumbled. Kroven beamed at his boyfriend with the shake of his head.
I couldn't help but laugh at the couple, looking at Qwill's confused face at my friend's reaction. “Bas just needs his coffee is all.”
Qwill tilted his head toward my coffee pot. “It's fresh.”
Bas lit up like a freshly decorated Christmas tree. He pointed at Qwill and looked between Kroven and myself. “I like him.”
Kroven covered his mouth as he laughed and I joined him easily, laughter filling the room until my twin emerged from the hallway.
“What the hell is so funny this earlier in the morning?”
Bas glared over at him and nodded. “Troian gets it.”
“Calm down, I’ll get you guys some coffee.” I scoffed playfully. I quickly grabbed enough coffee mugs for everyone and set them next to the coffee pot. “Actually, make your own coffee. I'm shirking my host duties.” I smirked.
Bas checked the fridge, taking a quick detour to assess its contents.
“No lemonade?” He scoffed, but I could detect the playful nature in his uneven tone.
“This apartment has really fallen apart since I left.” I shook my head as he closed the door to the fridge and stood in front of the mugs once more.
“Coffee will have to do.” As laughter rolled off of us, he nodded, moving underneath his boyfriend's grasp to pluck one of the coffee mugs off the counter and quickly pouring himself some java.
Qwill was finished cooking and started plating food for the group.
“I’ll get your coffee,” Bas announced to Troian. “You take your brother and get dressed. There's company and you’re in underwear.” He rolled his eyes, but I knew he was joking and putting on the err of absorbing my shucked position of host.
I walked over and gave Qwill a quick kiss on the cheek before I decided that Bas was right and I started heading back to my bedroom.
Troian followed me, and when we were back inside my bedroom, he closed the door to cut off the stirrings of conversation coming from the kitchen.
As I sauntered over to the dresser close to my bed, Troian cleared his throat.
I gave him my attention while I pulled open the drawer full of the pair of black jeans I was looking for.
“So I called Madison last night while you were asleep.”
That simple sentence set my teeth on edge. But I wanted to know what Troian thought his next move should be just as much as he did.
“And?”
“She hasn't gotten back to me yet.” Troian admitted. “But as soon as I hear back from her, I'll let you know what's going on.” He paused, his expression changing to something I didn't recognize. “Did Kroven tell you anything this morning? About the Rhodes family?”
My face imploded with uncertainty. “Why would he?” As far as I knew, Kroven didn't know a single thing about the Rhodes family.
“We were talking last night, and he said that his friend Exo works for the ORBIT board in D.C.” I nodded as he spoke of Exo, only knowing the name because of Bas' connection with Kroven.
I knew that he'd met Exo before, and I knew Exo was a sangamar like Kroven, but beyond that I didn't know much about him since my context was by proxy.
“Police in D.C. just arrested one of the Rhodes siblings last night. She was behind the petrylle kidnappings.”
“So one of the Rhodes siblings outed themselves as the petrylle kidnapper the same day that Casper & Cheyenne kidnapped me?"
Troian nodded. “I’m not sure if it's connected other than perhaps Warren giving the go ahead at the same time, but it's something to bring up to police here, which I'll take care of.” Thank goodness because I didn't think I had another police visit in my system.
“After Kroven’s insight, I called Madison and relayed everything to her and she said she needed to confirm things and she'd call me back.”
That was good. At least he'd been able to explain everything to Madison. What I hated was that we were back at square one.
“So we just have to keep waiting to hear back from her.”
Troian let one of his hands roam over the buzzed dome of his head. “I know it's not ideal, but you don't have to worry about this part. I've got this. You just keep pushing through and I'll take care of everything on the back end.”
I gave him a smile. “Thanks, Troian. I really appreciate everything that you're doing.”
Troian walked over and wrapped his arms around me in a hug. I reciprocated as he said, “I’m always going to be here for you, Thayer. I promise.”
Squeezing him tight, I reveled in the fact that for the first time in the several years that had been built between us, I could rely on Troian again.