What’s Next? A Kairo & Izzie Short Story #2
“How do you always know what I need?” Izzie murmured as he watched Kairo silently work.
He might adore the Christmas decoration Kairo specifically prepared for his arrival, but it was this moment right here, preparing his tea—something Kairo had done for him dozens of times in the past two years—that made him fall in love all over again with this man.
“Hot tea makes you feel safe and cozy,” Kairo replied, a gentle grin pulling up the corners of his lips. “It’s easier to get you to talk about things bothering you when you’re feeling safe and cozy.”
Izzie melted in the seat. How had he ever lived as long as he had without Kairo? Could that have been called living? More like existing. Life hadn’t been bad prior to meeting his boyfriend, but it had become infinitely better since he’d had Kairo kidnapped, forcing their lives to come together.
Kairo moved to the other side of the counter and wrapped his arms around Izzie, pulling him in close so that Izzie was resting his head on Kairo’s shoulder.
He politely asked about his trip to Greece and work, making small talk as they waited for the water to boil, giving Izzie time to pull his scattered thoughts together.
After a couple of minutes, Kairo kissed his forehead and released him so he could pour the water into the mug, steeping the tea.
Izzie stared down at the mug in his hands, watching the water turn from clear to brown, as Kairo poured himself a glass of water.
“This time apart…it got me thinking. About us,” Izzie began slowly.
“I can’t decide whether that sounds ominous or not,” Kairo said. His voice was light and teasing, but Izzie didn’t miss the faint undercurrent of worry.
Izzie’s head snapped up and his hands tightened on the mug. “No! It’s not bad. At least, I don’t think it is. I…we…we’ve never talked about the future and what we want. We’ve been together for two years—”
“Two amazing years,” Kairo broke in, making Izzie smile.
“But we’ve just sort of jumped from one thing to another without a plan for the future. We traveled and explored my different properties. We started this vineyard together, but I don’t think either of us planned for that.”
Kairo stepped around the counter and dropped onto the stool next to Izzie.
“I think that’s because we’ve spent the past two years enjoying being together, learning more about each other.
We didn’t need a plan. But if you want to talk about the future, I’m fine with that. The only future I want is with you.”
Izzie shot Kairo a repressive look. While incredibly sweet and romantic, he wasn’t entirely sure he bought it.
There had to be something else that he wanted.
Or maybe not. Maybe Kairo was like Alexei and Soren in that he didn’t want or need marriage and kids.
Were those two things that Izzie could give up and still be happy in his life with Kairo?
“Okay. But what about marriage and kids?”
“That sounds like two different conversations to me.”
“Fine. Kids. Do you want kids?”
“Yes.”
Izzie blinked at Kairo, stunned speechless.
He hadn’t expected to get such a quick, blunt answer to that question.
He hadn’t even needed to think about it.
Rather, it was as if he’d spent all the time he’d needed thinking about it and had just known the answer already.
Yet, he hadn’t given Izzie a single hint in the past two years that he had a preference one way or the other.
“You do?” Izzie asked, still stunned.
“Yes. And so do you.”
Izzie’s mouth bobbed open and closed several times, but no sound came out.
Kairo chuckled. “Isidore, I don’t know of anyone else in the world who melts faster at the sight of a baby.
You’re always the first one to jump in and play with kids or talk with them.
You’re the first one to always help when it looks like a parent might be overwhelmed.
There’s so much love in you. It can’t be limited to me, Athena, and our friends. You need to have kids.”
There was nothing he could say. His breath was trapped in his throat.
He didn’t think he’d ever felt so seen in all his life.
Kairo had noticed these things about him and said them with such confidence that it was overwhelming.
How had he known these things and yet he hadn’t noticed them about Kairo?
“But you…I didn’t know you…”
Kairo leaned in and stopped his stammering with a sweet kiss. “I keep things close to my vest, baby. It’s an old habit from my days in the CIA.”
That was true. For most things, Kairo seemed relatively indifferent. The only thing he was clear about was his feelings for Izzie. That he never attempted to hide.
Kairo caught his hand and stood. He gave his hand a little tug. “Come with me.”
Izzie followed Kairo down the hall to the private office Kairo kept.
While most of his time was devoted to the winery and his travels with Izzie, he still took the occasional mercenary hacking job.
Izzie was always welcome to enter Kairo’s office, but Izzie didn’t when Kairo wasn’t there, preferring to give his boyfriend both privacy and space.