Chapter 36
36
S o it’s just past twelve-thirty,” Cass says, tugging on his jeans, “and Desi isn’t coming home until tomorrow morning. As such, I propose a schedule that includes going back to the house, shower sex, laundry, and bedroom, in that order.”
JJ looks like he’s fighting back a smile. “Can I assume that the bedroom involves more sex?”
Cass pretends to consider this. “I mean, I guess we can take a nap if you’re tired. But we should definitely get naked at least one more time while we have the house to ourselves. Who knows when we’ll have another opportunity like this?”
“I agree with all of the above,” JJ says, pulling on his shirt. “But I would also argue that we should add a lunch break to the schedule?”
Belatedly, Cass glances over at the forgotten bag with their picnic lunch. “Well, the sandwiches are already done,” he says, grinning. “So maybe we can just make some hot cocoa to go with them?”
JJ’s eyes light up. “I’ll always say yes to hot cocoa.”
“Good,” Cass whispers, and he leans forward to press a gentle kiss to JJ’s lips.
And he plans for it to be a quick kiss?—really, he does?—but it proves impossible to break away when JJ lets out a contented sigh and melts into Cass’s arms. He loops his arms around Cass’s neck and presses his body against Cass’s like they’ve already done this dozens of times, hundreds of times.
Like they were always meant to end up here. Reluctantly, Cass pulls away. “So, ah,” he says, and he clears his throat. “Do we want lunch before or after shower sex?”
JJ looks a little dazed from the kiss, but he makes a valiant attempt to rally. “Maybe before? Shower sex sounds complicated. Not something I want to try on an empty stomach.”
“Don’t worry,” Cass says, and he intertwines his fingers with JJ’s. “I’ll handle all the little details.”
JJ smiles. It’s a wider smile than usual, a more relaxed smile. A smile that Cass likes to think might be just for him. “Thanks, Cass,” JJ says softly, and he leans over to touch a kiss to Cass’s cheek. It’s light and tentative, barely even a peck, but it still makes Cass’s heart twirl with delight.
They can really do this now. They can really have this now.
It feels like a dream come true. “Entirely my pleasure,” Cass whispers back, and he hastily snaps open a rift before he can be tempted to summon their cozy blanket and have his way with JJ again right here. “Shall we?”
JJ squeezes Cass’s hand. “Always,” he says, and they step through side by side.
The living room of Cass’s safe house is as familiar as ever, but as his eyes adjust to being back indoors, it feels like he’s seeing it in a new light. The stuffed animals strewn across the couch cushions, the cracked-open paperbacks on the armrests, the half-forgotten cups of tea on the coffee table??—
Everything makes it feel more like home. Their home, Cass’s and JJ’s and Desi’s, too.
And with JJ by his side, fingers still threaded through his own, Cass knows that it’s everything he never knew he wanted. “So I vote that we eat our sandwiches while cuddling on the couch,” he announces, strolling towards the kitchen.
“Is there any other way to eat a sandwich?” JJ asks, following in his wake and leaning his hip against the counter while Cass sets up the teakettle. “And can we have the hot cocoa with mini marshmallows?”
“You humans and your mini marshmallows,” Cass says, but he obligingly adds a few to JJ’s mug. “So you know we’re going to have to explain this to Desi, right?”
“That we’re together now?” That same carefree smile tugs across JJ’s lips, like he’s just as pleased about their new relationship status as Cass is.
Nostringvadha alive, Cass is so in love with this man. “Yep.”
“I think she’ll probably be happy that we’re happy,” JJ says, “but beyond that…” He shrugs. “Not much is going to change. We already live in the same house and spend most of our time together. The only thing that’s really going to be different is the kissing.”
“And the sex.”
JJ wrinkles his nose. “Yes, but I’m specifically referring to things that Desi might witness, which I’m hoping will be strictly in the realm of kissing. Does your bedroom door have a lock?”
“No, but I’ll be sure to remedy that situation as soon as possible. Probably set up a permanent soundproofing spell, too,” Cass says, and he herds JJ back against the refrigerator, pressing their lips together. “For now, though, I’m noticing a distinct lack of Desi anywhere in the house. So, hypothetically, the bedroom and the lock and the soundproofing aren’t imperative at the moment.”
JJ shivers, snaking his arms around Cass’s waist to pull him closer. “I thought the plan was lunch and then shower sex, in that order?”
“We can always modify the plan,” Cass says, kissing his way down JJ’s pulse and feeling a thrill when JJ arches against him. “So do you want to know the best part about having a demon boyfriend?”
“I?—?” JJ moans when Cass nips lightly at his skin and soothes the same spot with his tongue. “I’m noticing a lot of perks already, but what’s the best part?”
“I don’t need to breathe,” Cass says, and he drops to his knees, getting to work on JJ’s belt. “And I really want to know what you sound like while I’m blowing you.”
JJ buries his face in his hands. “And you continue to be a menace.”
Grinning, Cass tugs on JJ’s belt loops. “C’mon, JJ. Don’t do that. I want to see your beautiful face.”
If anything, the words make JJ’s hands tighten even more. “Are you just going to say sappy things to embarrass me all the time now?”
A little bit of Cass’s playfulness wavers. “Hey, hey,” he says, squeezing JJ’s hip. “Look at me?”
JJ takes a deep breath before lowering his arms. His lips are pinched together and his shoulders are hunched unsurely. “Yeah?”
Cass doesn’t drop his gaze. “I mean every word.”
JJ’s eyes widen. For a long moment, he stares down at Cass, searching his face.
And then he looks away, laughing shakily. “You’re gonna be the death of me, Cassius.”
A spark of pleasure dances down Cass’s spine at the sound of his full first name in JJ’s voice. “Your soul may briefly leave your body,” Cass drawls, and he starts dragging down JJ’s jeans, pressing a kiss to the soft strip of skin just above his waistband. “But??—?”
And he promptly jerks away when a sharp ringtone blares out, cutting him off and completely killing the mood in the process. “Oh, come on,” he complains, pushing himself to his feet. “Don’t they know we’re busy?”
JJ is already scrambling to pull his pants back up, swearing. “Sorry, sorry, that’s?—that’s Roma’s ringtone,” he says, and he digs his cell phone out of his pocket, swipes into the screen, and presses it to his ear. “What’s up, Gutierrez?”
Even without the speakerphone, Cass can hear Roma’s rapid-fire reply. “Jayj, where are you right now?”
JJ’s voice sharpens. “At home. Why? Is something wrong?”
“Not quite wrong, but?—but something happened, and we need to?—??” She cuts herself off. “Could you rift me to you? I don’t want to say too much over the phone.”
JJ’s eyes snap up. “Cass?”
Cass bites back a grimace. Even though JJ trusts Roma with his life, Cass still wanted to know her a little better before inviting her into his safe house.
But, at the end of the day, she did help him rescue JJ from the Sanctum. That counts for something. Counts for a lot of somethings, actually. Cass leans forward, raising his voice so Roma can hear him. “Where are you now?”
“Dead-end alley just off the Courtyard. The one next to Falafel Express.”
Cass quickly flits through his mental map of Redwater, picturing the alleyway in his mind. “All right. I’ll open a rift just behind the dumpster. Make sure no one sees you.”
“On it,” she says, and the call disconnects.
Just before Cass opens the rift, he meets JJ’s eyes. “You sure we can trust her?”
Immediately, JJ nods. “I’m sure. She’s had my back for over a decade. She’s not about to stop now.”
“Good enough for me,” Cass says, and he snaps the rift to life.