34. Azrael
THIRTY-FOUR
AZRAEL
D uke came home the following day after getting the all-clear and promising his doctor he’d take it easy from now on.
“I’m not planning on being held at gunpoint again if that’s what she was implying,” he muttered in the car on the way back to the sanctuary.
I eyed him from the driver’s seat, and he rolled his eyes.
“I can’t take it easy. I’ve got a bunch of creatures relying on me.”
I chuckled.
“I think you’ll find you won’t have to lift a finger for a while.”
“Huh?” He frowned. “What do you mean?”
I shook my head, refusing to answer his question. As soon as we pulled up at the sanctuary, it became obvious. There was a large group of people, led by Pastor Antonia, waiting by the door with flowers, food boxes, and cakes to boot.
“What is all that?” he asked as I turned off the engine and unhooked my seatbelt.
“That’s all Pastor Antonia.”
“But you knew about it?”
I shrugged.
“Maybe.”
He looked out at them again and bit his lip as if full of guilt before he took his seatbelt off and jumped out of the car. I followed behind him as he approached the group of people and greeted them all.
“You…you shouldn’t have. That’s too much food for one person,” he said at all the offerings.
“Then we’ll eat it,” said a tall, full-figured woman next to Pastor Antonia. “I’m sure we’ll get hungry after all the work we do.”
“What?” Duke asked. “What work?”
“That’s why we’re here, silly boy,” said the same woman, flicking her long silver-blond hair back and pinching Duke’s cheek. “Your sister’s going to put us to work while you rest up and take it easy for the next few days, weeks, months, years, whatever.”
“Liza! I can’t ask that of you!” He huffed. “That’s too much. You’ve got lives of your own.”
Liza!
She must be Pastor Antonia’s wife. I hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting her yet, but she was already living up to her reputation when she brushed Duke off with a hooked eyebrow and a tut.
“What my darling wife here is trying to say,” Pastor said. “Is that it’s our pleasure to offer our services where they may be needed for as long as needed. My entire parish is happy to help, and there’s enough of us it won’t hinder anyone’s life or job. Charity is in our blood. Real charity.”
I didn’t miss the way she emphasized the word real, probably so Duke understood that there was no expectation of anything in return or, even more so, they weren’t planning on using him and his sanctuary for evil.
“I…I don’t know how to thank you,” he replied.
I stepped closer to Duke, put my arm around his shoulders, and held him close.
“You can thank us by taking your hot boyfriend inside and putting the house together for your baby’s arrival.” Liza smirked.
He looked up at me and blinked as if he was only just realizing that with the imminent danger gone, Noah would be staying with us.
“Thank you all,” I said to them. “And, Liza, it’s so good to meet you. I can’t wait to properly talk with you, but I think I’ll follow your advice and take my shocked prince inside.”
Liza laughed, and the group parted like the Red Sea to let us get to the door. Just as we went inside, Penny arrived in her car. No doubt, she’d be putting them to work straight away.
Clover and Max greeted us as soon as I closed the door. Duke took his time to properly hug them both, and they followed us upstairs to his bedroom and onto the bed.
“You know, you can tell me if it’s too soon. We don’t have to do it straight away,” I told him.
He frowned.
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“Noah,” I said. “He doesn’t have to move in now. My family is happy to have him, trust me, and?—”
“Azrael, shut up. As if I’m going to keep you from your son. I know you’re a package deal.”
I smiled and took his hands.
“Good. I’m glad. But if it’s still intimidating, we can take it slow.”
“Where is this coming from?”
I shrugged.
“You looked shocked when we were outside, that’s all. I don’t blame you. It seems our relationship is moving very fast. You’ve got every right to be overwhelmed.”
He shook his head and then bumped it against mine.
“I wasn’t shocked, silly man. I was overwhelmed, but only because I didn’t think it would happen so soon, and I was—I am actually excited for it to happen. So it was good overwhelm if that makes any sense.”
I breathed a sigh of relief and nodded.
“It makes perfect sense. Because that’s how I’m feeling too.”
And after everything that had happened in the last forty-eight hours, I would pick that kind of overwhelm over anything else.
“I know Noah isn’t my son, but I really love him. And I love you. And I know it’s too soon for all this, but…I don’t know. Maybe I’m encouraged by the fact that Hwan and Parker knew they were meant to be from the get-go. And all your other friends.”
I smirked.
It was true. It was encouraging that so many of my old teammates had found love and homes in Mayberry Holm in record time, but that wasn’t why I wasn’t scared.
“I’m not scared because I know how I feel about you is real. Because when you were taken, I felt like I’d die if something happened to you. Because when you told me to stay in San Diego, it was as if you took half my heart with you and I couldn’t breathe. Because when I think about you, I can’t help but feel like I’m flying.”
Duke blinked.
“You’re such a poet.”
I narrowed my eyes and poked his chest.
“Don’t mock me while I’m expressing my love for you.”
“I’m not!” he whined. “Well, maybe just a smidge.”
I pinched his nose between my fingers, and then I kissed him. Our lips found each other like magnets, unable to keep apart.
I may not know what would happen in the future, how everything would turn out, how we would stop the evil corrupting our lives and this island, but when I was with him, kissing him, loving him, I knew everything would be okay. Everything was going to be more than okay. Everything was going to be perfect. Because perfection was the only thing possible in Duke’s world.
“Which room should be Noah’s?” he asked and looked into my eyes.
“How about my guest room? It’s close but far enough away that he won’t hear all the naughty things I do to you when he’s older.”
Duke gasped.
“You mean you’re not going to do naughty things to me now?”
I laughed.
“Of course. But he won’t know what’s happening.”
Duke shook his head with an exasperated look.
“You’re such an idiot,” he said.
“An idiot who loves you.”
“And that makes me an idiot by association.” It was my turn to gasp. “But I’d rather be an idiot with you than clever without you.”
“I’m not sure if I should be offended,” I said.
“I would. I don’t think that was much of a compliment.”
I squeezed his face and kissed him as payback, and when I let him go, I cupped his face.
“You know…he might not be your son, but that doesn’t have to always be true.”
He nodded.
“Let’s cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, he can be Noah, and I can be Duke.”
I took a deep breath and took comfort in the warmth that spread from my heart to my limbs.
“That sounds like a plan.”
He leaned in and kissed me, and then, with a determined sigh, he clapped his hands and stood.
“Right. I need to get the hospital and stench of crime and death off me. Would you mind checking my appointments and letting me know how much catch-up I’ve got to do?”
I raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
“You know when we said to take it easy, that meant take it easy, right?”
“Yeah, with the duties around the farm. I can’t take it easy with my clients. They rely on me.”
“And that’s why you have Pen. She can take care of them for a few days.”
He put his hands on his hips and bit his lip.
“She also went through hell. I can’t ask her to do that.”
I pulled Duke back to me, opening my legs so he could take place between them, and I looked at him.
“Yeah, but she’s not fighting cancer.”
He huffed. “Okay. You may have a point, but…I’m still seeing my clients, and I won’t take no for an answer.”
“Fine. Fine.” I patted his butt, and he glared at me. “But if you’re gonna go against doctor’s orders, you might as well teach me how to ride Calliope.”
Duke exclaimed and took a step back.
“Whoa, dude. I told you! Bestiality is wrong!”
“I hate you.” I sighed.
“I know you do.” He smirked and sauntered into the en suite. Just before he closed the door, he leaned against it and grinned. “I don’t have to take this shower alone, you know.”
My jaw dropped as I stared at him for a moment before I shot out of bed.
I’d never run faster.