Chapter Thirty-Six
Isley
Isley muttered and cursed his own silly behavior when he hated cleaning and had no clue how to get chocolate out of his carpets. He cast a crestfallen look at Laken as he came out of the bedroom with the dirty linen in his arms.
Isley should be ashamed, shouldn’t he? It really looked like someone had taken a crap all over his apartment. Then he vividly recalled how Laken had looked at him, and he threw up his hands in defeat. He’d do it all over again to hear Laken laugh so freely.
“You’re gonna need a professional carpet cleaner to get rid of those marks,” Laken observed, looking very flustered with his pink cheeks and sheepish grin.
“I’ll find one tomorrow. I’ve picked up the lumps.” Laken laughed uproariously, and Isley ran over what he said, then sniggered. “Yeah, with how it looks it could have been poop. I’m gonna have to explain this to whoever I get to clean it.”
Maybe Laken could do it?
When Laken finished putting the linen in the washing machine and switching it on, Isley practiced a pleading look.
Laken held up his empty hands. “No, no. I mean it, don’t look at me like that, I’m not doing it.”
Seeing as he didn’t sound at all confident in that, Isley didn’t alter his expression.
“Fuck, alright but you’ll owe me.”
“I’m good with a barter system.” Isley perched on one of the kitchen stools, pleased with himself. “What do you want?”
Laken rested his hands on the countertop wearing a thoughtful look.
His hair was slicked back and damp from the shower.
He exuded masculine authority with the sternness of his features, but Isley knew beneath that tough exterior was a heart that wanted—needed—unconditional love.
“I’ll need to give that some thought. Pick just the right thing. ”
They had spent most of the day in bed, making up for the week of lonely nights, only venturing to the kitchen for food.
They’d gotten up an hour earlier to shower and get ready for dinner.
Isley’s nerves were kicking in, regardless of the fact he knew both of Laken’s parents well enough to call Lane a friend.
This just felt… different. Immense. He’d only twice before dated someone who took him to meet the parents, and neither relationship had lasted much longer afterwards.
This is different, he reminded himself. Laken might not have spoken words of love, but his actions spoke for him. “How would you feel about coming to meet my parents?”
Laken’s expression didn’t alter, but Isley was too attuned to his moods not to miss the quick flicker of doubt in his eyes before it disappeared. “Are you sure?”
“Of course. They are nice like Lane and Derick, you’ll like them.”
The nod Laken gave might have seemed curt, but Isley knew what a big deal this was. “Thank you. I’ll call my parents later to see what works.”
“Okay, you ready to go?” Laken asked, eyes brooding.
“Yep, let me grab the chocolate I bought for Lane.”
Laken groaned and adjusted his cock as he came around the counter. “I don’t think I’m ever gonna be able to think about chocolate and not get hard at the image of eating—”
“Gods, stop! Don’t do this when I’m meeting the parents!” Isley hissed, marching to grab what he needed, his own cock twitching. Which should be an impossibility with how many times they’d had sex. Isley’s ass sure wasn’t up for another round.
Laken laughed all the way to the car, teasing him in a way that had Isley struggling not to stare at the newness of experiencing this side of Laken.
If he’d thought that Laken would be nervous, Isley was mistaken. They pulled into the driveway, and before he could get his own nerves under control, the front door opened and Lane appeared, leaving Isley no choice but to get out of the car.
The man looked so much younger than his sixty years.
His eyes were bright and brimming with mischief, like usual.
He wore cream slacks and a brown sweater.
His smile was wide and welcoming as he came to, Isley pulling him in for a hug, squashing the bag Isley held between them when he’d not had the foresight to drop his hand.
The chilly air didn’t seem to worry Lane.
Isley gripped the bag with the chocolate, his smile a little more forced than he would have liked, even as he assured himself that this was Lane and not an ogre.
“Lovely to see you, Isley. I’ve been baking some of your favorites, I hope you brought an appetite.”
Laken made a choking sound, and Isley threw him a warning look as he retrieved a bag from the backseat.
Isley’s breath ghosted the air, revealing his anxiety.
“I bought you some chocolate. The ones I made, I’m not sure they’d be as good, so I got this Dubai chocolate with a pistachio and shredded plant—can’t remember the name—that is delicious,” he waffled, blushing while shoving the bag at Lane when Laken once more made a choking noise.
Large shoulders shook with silent laughter as Laken made his way into the house in front of Lane and Isley. Lane had slipped his arm through Isley’s, guiding him inside. “Did Laken take you to a chocolate making class?”
“Yesterday, it was so much fun. It would be a great day out for the PAs for Christmas instead of having a party.”
“Now this I can get behind.”
“What are you cooking up now, my love?” Derick stood next to Laken in the hallway, eyeing what he was wearing. “Didn’t you have a sweater on when you left yesterday?”
“It got covered in chocolate.” Isley gave Laken an innocent smile. “Laken’s a messy eater.”
Derick chuckled while slapping Laken on the back as he coughed loudly.
“There’s a story there, I’m guessing,” Lane giggled, looking youthful.
Isley ignored the warning look Laken aimed at him like a dart. “Laken, show your parents your chocolates.”
“What’s going on here?” Jupiter came down the stairs wearing what could only be described as the ugliest pair of overlarge pyjamas.
The neck was fairly fitted, but the top looked like it would fit three people in and the pants—well, the legs were so wide they flapped like wings as he walked.
All in a hideous orange that didn’t suit Jupiter’s skin tone at all.
“Did you lose a bet and were forced to wear the present that you got from secret Santa last year?” Laken questioned, through several barks of laughter.
“Was it you?” Jupiter cast an accusing eye at Laken. “And yes, I lost a f—fecking bet with Booker.”
“Good catch,” Derick said, patting Jupiter on the shoulder and grimacing as he glanced at the outfit. “I think maybe Isley could do with a drink, to survive the evening.”
Isley gawped at the wink Derick aimed at him before walking off in the direction of the dining room.
Lane pulled Isley with him. “That’s a good idea.”
“Where are you going?” Laken said behind him.
Isley glanced back to see that he was talking to Jupiter, placing a hand on his shoulder and shaking his head. “You aren’t joining us.”
“Behave,” Lane called out, not stopping and forcing Isley to keep going or trip over.
“See, I am.” Isley could hear the amusement and didn’t need to see that Jupiter was smirking as he shot Laken down. “I’m starving. What are we having, Popi?”
In the dining room, they were joined by Frey and Booker, along with Kodi who spent more time staring at the table and pushing the delicious food around his plate than eating it. The big table was laden with dishes, and it was more of a free for all, which Isley was used to and helped relax him.
It turned out that Laken’s family were pretty much like his own, and he said so. “This is like being at home on Sunday with my family. I’m going to speak to my family later about Laken coming for dinner. Would you like to join us?” Isley directed at Lane. “Meet my parents.”
A sudden silence followed. Not even Emmy made a sound, which got Isley looking around the table, his brows drawing together at finding every pair of eyes on him. He saw surprise from Derick and joy in the wide smile Lane gave him.
Jupiter wore a guarded look, his smile not reaching his eyes. Whereas Kodi appeared ready to leap up and fight someone. Isley’s gaze lingered on Laken, whose lips parted for what felt like long seconds. He started to reconsider ways to take back the offer
“Thank you,” Laken finally uttered in a hoarse voice, “that would be lovely.”
“We’d like that,” Derick added, offering a reassuring smile that looked more than a little scary to Isley, who hadn’t seen him smile that often, if at all. “Just let us know which day and when, and we’ll ensure we’re free.”
Under the table, Laken laid a hand on Isley’s knee, a gentle press that reassured Isley he’d done the right thing.
“Do you have brothers and sisters?” Booker asked around a mouthful of roast beef, breaking a little of the tension Isley felt.
“Three brothers. I’m the youngest. Somme is the eldest, Laken’s already met him. Then Audrius followed by Malden. They are both mated and married. I have one niece and one nephew.”
“Can you all shift?” Jupiter asked, eyes showing interest.
“No, Somme and Malden can’t, and neither can Dad,” Isley explained, hoping that if Jupiter was worried about anyone shaming Laken for not being able to shift, his answer would allay those fears.
“To my family, it’s normal and not something that is or ever would be an issue.
Malden’s wife can shift. Their daughter is too young to say if she will. ”
Jupiter met Laken’s stare and something passed between them. “Laken’s a very lucky man to have you and a welcoming family.”
Lane sniffed in a way that said the glazed eyes were because of tears. “He is.”
“Wait for it,” Booker muttered to no one in particular and got a scowl from Frey.
“Do you think a mating is on the cards for you, Isley?”
Lane’s question landed, and Laken’s hand on his thigh jerked. “Popi!”
“What?” He cast an innocent look at everyone with an abashed grin. “It's natural to be inquisitive about such things.”
“Save us all from an interfering Popi!” Laken exclaimed under his breath, giving Derick a beseeching glance. “Dad, help!”.
Derick’s powerful shoulders shrugged, and his lips twitched at the corners. “My love, stop being inquisitive. You’ll make Isley feel uncomfortable with all your prying.”
Laken was tense beside him, and Isley wasn’t sure what to say, so went with the truth. “My animal side already has scent marked Laken. So for us, Laken is ours in every sense.”
The piece of carrot Booker had popped into his mouth fired out and landed in the middle of the table.
Jupiter and Kodi groaned in unison.
“Not sure that is helping,” Laken complained, staring at Isley in a way that made it hard to assess whether he’d pissed him off or not.
Lane clapped his hands. “Scent marking, is that how your animal mates?”
Their housekeeper, Bessie, bustled in. “Are we ready for dessert?”
“Yes!” Laken, Kodi, and Jupiter exclaimed together.