Ivan nodded. “And make an offer on the restaurant before they put up a fuss.”
Alexei hummed his agreement. “Tag can handle that easily enough.”
It hit Nix that for all their sordid history, the brothershadworked with each other for a long time, prior to Alexei’s disappearance. However terribly it had ended, they were falling back into it easily enough.
But Nix wanted the work to be done now. He needed to tend to his mate.
Luckily, a sight for sore eyes entered the building just then. “Oleg!” Nix cried happily. “Darling! Take us home.”
“Don’t call him darling,” Ivan growled even as he let Nix lead him to the exit.
Nix ignored him, waving goodbye to the other couple and getting them the fuck out of there.
He sighed in pleasure as he slid across the leather seat of the town car. It was delicious to be once again in familiar surroundings, with Ivan close and grabbable.
Alas, there was no fingering, but Nix’s dear husband was truly pooped, so Nix couldn’t blame him.
Nix leaned across the partition. “Oleg, my love,” he said, just to hear Ivan snarl in protest. “Did you know we got married today?”
“Not legally,” Ivan murmured under Oleg’s congratulations, his hand gripping Nix’s thigh. “We’ll need to rectify that.”
Nix winked at Oleg before turning to Ivan. “Do I get a ring?”
He was only joking, but Ivan nodded, his eyes closing as he rested his head against the seat. “Mm. Amethysts. To match your eyes.”
Nix wasn’t able to hide his surprise. “You’ve thought about it?”
Ivan’s lips twitched up at the corners. “I’m thinking about it now.”
Well. Be still Nix’s freaking heart.
The journey home was uneventful, and as soon as they were back in the apartment, Nix stripped them both, turning on the shower and watching it steam. He had to give a hats off to modern plumbing; that was for sure.
He pushed a disconcertingly docile Ivan into the shower and followed him in. Ivan was clearly flagging, but he also had smoke and blood and cum on various parts of his body, so a thorough soaping was necessary before bed.
Nix got to work, digging into Ivan’s muscles as he soaped him up, just to hear his relieved groan. When he got down to the interesting bits, Ivan cracked an eye open. “I can’t fuck you again,” he protested, even as his cock twitched in interest at Nix’s touch. “I’ll die.”
“You won’t,” Nix teased. “I wouldn’t let you. But don’t worry, this is strictly clinical.”
It was. Mostly. It was possible Nix paid slightly more attention to some parts than others, but who could blame him?
As he hastily cleaned himself under the spray, Ivan spoke from behind him. “I’ve always craved loyalty,” he said, his voice a low, husky murmur. “Or maybe even devotion. I thought Alexei would give me some version of it, as my brother and my right hand. I pushed him too hard, hoping for it. I thought I could force it out of him.”
Nix turned to face him, and Ivan’s pale eyes bore into him.
“But you give it to me so easily, Nix. My demon.”
Nix pushed back his wet hair, frowning at Ivan. “Because itiseasy to be devoted to you. Fuck everything and everyone in your past that made you think otherwise. You just needed the right person.” He cocked a hip when Ivan didn’t look convinced. “I’mthe right person, in case you didn’t get that.”
“I’m lucky,” Ivan said softly, his tone in stark contrast to the intensity of his gaze. “The way you…care for me. Losing it, even for a moment, was the most painful thing that’s ever happened to me.”
It was maybe the most straightforward declaration Ivan had ever made, outside of the heat of bonding sex, but Nix was at heart a little shit, so he couldn’t help pressing, “Because you love me?”
Ivan didn’t even flinch. “Because I love you.”
Well, damn. He must really have been exhausted.
Nix kissed him, soft and slow and sweet in a way Ivan was usually too hungry and desperate to allow. “Good,” he murmured as he pulled away, nipping at Ivan’s lower lip. “You fucking better.”
