Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Elijah was still blushing on the drive back to Isaac’s home.
When he and Alistair had gone to look at the work the contractor had done, he’d hoped he could take advantage of their alone time.
And the idea of a blowjob had always been intriguing.
He hadn’t expected to be that mind-blown from the act, however.
It took him way too long to come to his senses.
By the time he was alert enough to think to reciprocate, Alistair was already up and getting dressed, asking him what he might want to pick up for dinner on their way back.
While he was disappointed he couldn’t try the same thing on Alistair, he couldn’t exactly regret what had happened. Alistair’s mouth was just as amazing as the rest of him. Elijah still felt like he was floating an hour later.
The act did make him curious about what it would be like to do more.
Before tonight, Alistair had seemed determined to take it slow.
He didn’t want to lose that momentum and risk another week before he could get his hands on the man again, so he asked as they left the city, “Are you free to come over this weekend? I can cook for you.”
Alistair smiled in that way that made Elijah’s stomach flip, the tilt of his lips holding so much affection and desire. At least, it did for a moment before they turned down into a remorseful frown.
“I can’t this weekend. I’m going home to see my kids. My ex is bringing them to my grandmother’s.”
Disappointment flashed through him, but he shoved the feeling away. Alistair had mentioned his kids a few times. He was obviously a loving father. Elijah was glad he got to visit them, as he was under the impression the visits were few and far between since Alistair returned home from the military.
It did mean a lonely weekend for Elijah.
He’d loved being at Isaac’s, down the hall from his boyfriend and able to share meals with his closest friends.
Even Maverick had become something of a friend, sharing in the woes of buying a home that worked best for their specific needs while still remaining close enough to Spellbound to make the commute to the office.
It wasn’t exactly the same, but it was similar enough for them to bond over the experience.
Going back to his quiet home with only Helios as company was depressing, but he didn't want Alistair to feel guilty for going to see his kids, so he kept that to himself. He could survive one weekend–
“Do you want to come with me?”
Elijah’s head whipped around from where he’d been staring out the window at the passing greenery. “Really?”
Alistair hummed, nodding, his eyes still on the road as there was some traffic still to contend with.
“Isaac and Maverick will be coming along, and it’ll be a safe space for you to let your magic go a little.
Since you never use it against others, I doubt anyone would notice unless they went looking.
The forest is so soaked in magic, it’s hard to differentiate where it’s coming from sometimes. ”
He’d never thought of that. He’d spent so long trying to hide his magic, he hadn’t considered going somewhere so filled with magic that people might not even glance in his direction. Still, the idea of meeting Alistair’s family made him nervous. He’d never met a boyfriend’s family before.
“Are… Are you sure? This is your time with your kids. I wouldn’t want to intrude…”
Alistair gave him a reassuring pat on his knee. “I wouldn’t have asked if I thought you’d be intruding. They’re both ten and as outgoing as Isaac. They wouldn’t mind meeting someone new. And if you’re uncomfortable with them, you can hang out with Isaac.”
While he appreciated the out, he didn't have a problem with children. He’d hoped to have his own one day, though he’d always wanted to adopt.
For one thing, he wasn’t interested in making them the old fashioned way, as women didn’t do it for him, but he also didn’t want to pass on the curse of his magic to a new generation.
Living his life so isolated from others was hard enough.
He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he passed that on to an innocent baby.
“Um… Okay, sure. I’d love to. I’ll need to leave Helios with my parents…”
Alistair waved that away before he could consider the logistics. “Bring him. My kids love animals and my grandmother had a cat for years. She wouldn’t mind you bringing him along for a visit.”
“Alright…”
Apparently, he didn’t have anything to worry about.
Returning home or not, Alistair was determined to keep Elijah with him and was willing to include Helios as well.
Elijah was a little curious to meet the people who raised this man who couldn’t seem to help being perfect.
It seemed he was now going to get that chance.
By the time the weekend came around, Elijah’s curiosity had morphed into anxiety that was unrelenting.
He went through three different outfits, hoping to make the best impression he could, only to give up entirely and put the first outfit back on.
He flopped onto his bed, pouting at Helios when he hopped onto the bed.
“What do you think? Is this outfit decent?”
It honestly didn’t surprise him when Helios looked him over critically. He swore the cat understood every word that came out of his mouth. When he climbed onto Elijah’s chest and started purring loudly, he took that to mean Helios approved and let out a sigh of relief.
“This is a big deal,” he murmured, stroking his fingers along Helios’s fur. “I’ve never been in a relationship before. Meeting the family has never crossed my mind. What if they don’t like me?”
Helios blinked lazily at him, and not for the first time, Elijah wished his telepathy allowed him to understand animals as well as people. Helios was sometimes the only person he talked to in a day. It would be nice if he could talk back.
“I’m glad Alistair said you could come with me. You’ll stop me if I say something awkward, right?”
Whether he was agreeing or acting cute for treats, Helios graced him with a nuzzle under his chin and a loud purr.
Elijah leaned into it, scratching Helios’s favorite spot behind his ear.
A cuddle with his cat made him feel a little better, and by the time Alistair arrived to pick him up, he was more or less ready to meet the family.
Like the gentleman he was, Alistair came to the door to fetch him and took Helios’s carrier from Elijah’s hands, greeting him with a chaste kiss and a smile.
Elijah melted at the sweet greeting and let himself be herded into the front seat without protest. Alistair carefully set Helios’s carrier in the back before sliding into the driver’s seat and starting the engine.
Elijah couldn’t help leaning over the center console for another kiss, humming a happy sound against Alistair’s lips when he leaned into it and took his time before pulling away.
“What was that for?” Alistair asked as Elijah finally convinced himself to sit back and buckle up. “Not that I’m complaining.”
Feeling his cheeks heat a little, Elijah shrugged. “I missed you.”
To his surprise, Alistair let out a heavy sigh, his shoulder slumped exaggeratedly and his chin hitting his chest. Elijah stared at him wide eyed and confused.
“It was going to be hard enough to keep my hands to myself with you looking that cute. When you say sweet things, it makes me want to drag you to the nearest empty room and have my wicked way with you.”
“O-oh…” If anything, that only made Elijah blush more. He wasn’t intentionally trying to seduce his boyfriend. The fact that he could do it so effortlessly was a heady thought.
Chuckling in that low, sexy way that made Elijah shiver, Alistair reached over and squeezed Elijah’s knee.
“Let’s get going. We need to go to the portal station, and it’s busy on weekends.
Thankfully Isaac and Maverick flew there.
They’ll meet us at the portal with the carriage so we won’t have to wait around. ”
Elijah cocked his head with a frown. “Carriage?”
Alistair glanced at him before focusing on reversing out of Elijah’s driveway. “Have you ever been to another realm before?”
He shook his head slowly. “No. My parents live a few hours north of here. I’ve never needed to go to another realm.”
“The silver realm, where my family lives, doesn’t allow anything through the portal that can damage the environment.
No cars, no planes, not even invasive species of plants like grass can go through the portal.
I think some plastics can be brought in, but it’s rare and most people don’t bother.
Electricity is all magic driven, and if the magic of the forest finds anyone causing true damage, they’ll be cast out and banned by the magic of the realm.
We use carriages to move around, as they do the least amount of damage. ”
Eyes wide, Elijah listened on with fascination. He’d always been curious about other realms, but he didn’t feel comfortable going somewhere he wasn’t invited and he didn’t have any friends until recently that might bring him somewhere new.
“Are all realms like that?”
Alistair shook his head. “No, though there are only two that I’m aware of that you can drive straight through the portal.
It costs a lot of magic to move something so big, so most places can’t afford to transport something like that back and forth.
Most families have a second vehicle on the other side of the portal to preserve portal energy. ”
He spent the drive asking Alistair about the different realms he’d visited and ones he was familiar with.
He was well traveled because of his career in the military, and he had a few favorites he wanted to visit again in the future.
Elijah was sure at one point Alistair would get annoyed with his constant questions, but there was a steady pulse of encouragement and affection coming from the man, and Elijah couldn’t help but let his tongue run away from him, fascinated by the differences each realm held.
By habit, he drew his magic inward as they pulled into the parking lot of the portal station, wanting to minimize his affect on people as they passed through a crowded area.
People still noticed, despite doing his best to keep his magic to himself, and gave him a wide berth, but he tried not to let it bother him.
Alistair didn’t mind his magic. And he was finding more and more people in his life who felt comfortable around him as well, like Isaac and Avery.
He didn’t need the whole world to accept him.
He was happy with the progress he’d made in just the last week alone.
And it was all thanks to Alistair. The beautiful man came into Elijah’s life and immediately stood at his back, supporting and accepting him just as he was.
Not only that, but he demanded others accept him as well.
Elijah was grateful Fate saw fit to bless him with this man, because life was so much better with him around.
He would do his best to give as much to Alistair as Alistair had given him.
He felt he might never be able to do nearly as much as Alistair had, but he was determined to try.
Starting with getting Alistair’s family to like him.