Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Emory
They were back at the safe house, and Emory watched Julien, who had gone back to his laptop. Bain and Alaric were outside, but Emory doubted they were needed now.
The attack hadn’t been very well coordinated, which told him it had been a last-minute thing.
They had obviously been watching this house, so they’d known as soon as they left.
He could only surmise they were trying to stop Julien from forwarding that information and now that they knew he had Xavier and his entire staff on his side, they would move their focus to Xavier.
Good luck with that.
When he’d pinned the red-haired wizard to the street, the preternatural had hissed words at Emory.
“You can’t stop what’s happening.”
He was wrong. Xavier was the most powerful sorcerer he’d ever met, and there wasn’t a preternatural out there who didn’t know that.
And their internet guy, Daniel, was pretty fucking sharp.
Between the two of them, they’d dig in and figure out what the fuckers were trying to resurrect.
And with all the powerful preternaturals on Xavier’s staff, they would stop it.
But if those wizards came back—though he doubted they would—he’d be ready. He wasn’t letting them get close to his soulmate again.
He kept his eyes on the big man currently focused on his files. He’d thought Julien would drive him crazy, but he hadn’t understood that it would be a good kind of crazy. All his reservations were just…gone. Because a life without Julien wouldn’t be a life.
He needed to call both Ivor and Dax and tell them.
No, he’d tell them in person. He wanted to see the expressions on their faces.
He’d told Julien that the preternaturals at Protective Solutions were his family, and they were, but not like Ivor and Dax.
He’d been best friends with them for over two hundred years, and they knew him better than anyone else.
Knew he’d never wanted this and would be highly amused over his complete change of mind.
He looked back to Julien to find the man’s attention zeroed in on him. Something decisive passed over Julien’s face, his brows drawn together, his lips tight. He closed his laptop and stood to face Emory.
“We need to talk,” Julien said.
“Okay,” Emory drew the word out. He studied the fierce determination on that gorgeous face, and his lips twitched because there was also a hint of trepidation—something he hadn’t seen on Julien’s face before.
“I’d like you to move in with me,” he announced.
Emory lifted his brows. That, he hadn’t expected.
Julien went on. “I don’t know where you live or if you’re attached to it, but my home has plenty of space for two. I know it’s fast, and we talked of dating. I’m aware I sound crazy, but I don’t care.”
Amusement curled in his chest. “Is that what you’ve been sitting there thinking about?”
“Yes.” Julien took a step closer. “I can’t concentrate. This thing between us feels so big, it’s taking over my mind. Are you attached to your home?”
Emory smiled. “Not particularly.”
“We can still date. Still learn about each other. But I want you in my bed and in my home. I want to see you in the mornings and fix you tea.” He took another step.
“I want quiet evenings with you, and I want nights filled with passion. And days filled with passion. I know we’re still stuck here for now, but when it’s over, I’d like you to live with me. ”
Emory studied him, taking in the hint of vulnerability that Julien was allowing him to see. His heart turned over. He opened his mouth, but Julien held up one hand.
“I told you I’m difficult, and I’m warning you that’s true. I’m not an easy man.”
“It’s a good thing I am, then.” Emory straightened off the wall and walked to this man he loved. “Julien, I like you just the way you are. I’ll probably drive you nuts because I’m disorganized and can change my plans on a whim. I’m used to being alone.”
“So am I.” Julien wrapped his fingers around Emory’s biceps. “I thought love would bring chaos, but I was wrong. I don’t want to be alone anymore. I want to spend my life with you.”
“It’ll be a long life, so you need to be sure about that.”
“I am.” He pulled him close, then wrapped his arms around Emory’s back, his fingers brushing Emory’s wings. “So… Will you?”
“Yes, Julien, I’ll move in with you.” He kissed Julien’s jaw. “But you’ll have to put up with my television.”
“I was thinking of getting one anyway.”
Emory kissed his neck. “It’s big. Huge. I like my movies on a big screen, and I like surround sound.”
“No problem. I do like movies, but like I told you, I just usually watch them on my laptop.”
Emory shuddered and pulled back enough to meet Julien’s eyes. “I’m turning your living room into a theater. And… We’re going to need more comfy furniture.”
Julien gave a sharp nod. “Done. You can even pick it out.”
“We’ll pick it out. Are you sure you’re up to changes like that? I’m talking major changes here.” Emory studied him closely because this was the man who had moved a candlestick to its exact former location.
“My life could use a little shaking up.”
Emory lifted an eyebrow. “Really? After what you told me about your parents?”
His face fell. “That’s right. You’ll be taking on that chaos when they show up. They’re going to drive you crazy, so I’m sorry ahead of time.”
“I look forward to meeting them. Sort of. I’m still angry over what you told me about them, but they’ll be my family because you are my family, Julien. From here on out.”
Julien stared at him for several moments, his blue eyes full of emotion. “I love you, Emory. I’ve never loved anyone before. Didn’t even think I was fully capable of it. But I do. And even if we didn’t have this long lifetime you told me about, I’d still want to be with you for as long as I live.”
Warm affection surged up through Emory, and he couldn’t stop himself from leaning in to press his lips to Julien’s before pulling back again to stare into those beautiful blue eyes. “I predict years of getting on each other’s nerves, then making up rather spectacularly.”
“I can live with that,” Julien whispered. “And I do mean right away. Not weeks away or even days.” He cleared his throat. “From now on, I don’t want us to sleep apart.”
“Being kind of insistent, aren’t you?”
“It’s a part of that difficult I warned you about.”
Julien was truly worried. Emory could hear it in his voice and see it on his face.
He’d known Julien long enough to understand this wasn’t something he usually felt.
He was a decisive man, used to making big decisions in his work and life.
The fact he was showing this more vulnerable side to himself told Emory his feelings ran very deep.
The day he’d met him, he wouldn’t have thought Julien capable of such deep feelings, but now he knew differently.
Julien needed him.
And he was showing that to Emory. Sharing this part of himself. Emory felt humbled all of a sudden. He’d somehow earned the love of this reserved man who normally hid his emotions. Kept them private. This wonderful man who had made Emory realize he did want a forever love.
“Julien,” he said quietly. “I’ve been alone a long time, and I thought I liked it that way.
What you make me feel changed that.” He shook his head.
“No, that’s not exactly right. What you make me feel made me understand that I did want more.
Fuck, I’m actually giddy with the knowledge that I get to spend my life with you because I want you.
With everything I am. I want those quiet nights and those times of passion.
I want the days we’ll argue about where the candlesticks go.
I want it all, and I want it just with you. ”
A dazzling smile settled onto Julien’s face. One that completely transformed him. One that Emory knew he was going to want to see as often as possible over the many years he was committed to spending with Julien.
“So, you’re definitely moving in right away, then?”
“Yes,” Emory said as he leaned in and kissed the corner of that smile. “I’m moving in and we’re going to have a long lifetime together. You and me. A lifetime of disagreements and spectacular making up moments.”
“I’m really looking forward to those,” Julien murmured.
Emory framed Julien’s face with his hands. “It’s you and me, Julien. Soulmates for life. And I have no doubt that that life will be filled with love.”
“It’s hard to believe this is real. That I got so lucky when I’ve never believed in luck.”
“I’m pretty sure I’m the lucky one.” Emory kissed him, then chuckled. “But this isn’t luck, it’s fate. Fate brought us together, and I couldn’t be more happy about it.”
Julien gave him another one of those brilliant smiles.
And Emory knew that fate had chosen right for him.
His entire life had changed, and he welcomed that change wholeheartedly.
Julien made him feel complete. And he was going to spend the rest of his life making sure he made Julien feel the same way.