Erik chuckled and then jolted as he heard Declan continue.
“Of course Erik will stay. He can stay in my room.” There was a pause while Lilian obviously said something I couldn’t hear, and then Declan’s faltering explanation, “Well, um, you see, we’ve actually started, um, going out? Yes, we— Oh. Great. See you tomorrow. Love you, Mum.”
I studied Erik’s face, which was white with shock. I whispered, “Did you not want anyone to know?”
“No, it’s not that. I just didn’t expect Declan to tell anyone so soon.”
I frowned. “I thought we were meant to be all in? Do you not want that?”
He grabbed my hand. “I want that.”
Declan came back into the room and sat beside us. “So I, um, told my mum about us.”
“How did she take it?”
“She wasn’t as surprised as I thought she would be.”
I could believe it. For all that Declan thought Lilian fussed around, she was astute and there is no way she’d have missed the growing attraction between him and Erik over the past few months.
Declan stuttered, “I know you said you didn’t want to come over for Christmas dinner, but that was before we-we started this. I thought, now you’re family, you’d want to be part of it. If you don’t, though, that’s fine. I can text Mum to say you’re busy or you’re not ready to meet everyone. She’ll understand.”
“I’d love to stay for Christmas dinner. And did I hear you right? I’m staying the night, too?”
“Yes. Again, only if you want to. I think Mum wanted to make up the couch for you since she assumed you’d be drinking. I thought it would be better to have you in my bed.”
Erik grinned. “That is amuchbetter proposition.”
Chapter 24
Erik
We snuggled on the couch together, tangled under a blanket. My limbs kept reaching for both men of their own accord, winding round them and tugging them close to me. It still amazed me that they didn’t recoil at the touch of my tentacles but neither of them reacted badly at all. Sonny almost purred with satisfaction when I wound around him completely, and it was difficult to conceal the way my body reacted to that.
Sonny asked me questions about my childhood, my job, my cottage, my plans for the future, and I found myself talking more than I had in years. He listened so carefully that he made me feel fascinating, somehow.
Then, out of nowhere, he asked, “When is your receptionist due?”
“At the end of January. Why?”
He shrugged. “Just wondering.”
Declan gave a grunt. “Come on, spill. I know you’re plotting something.” He gestured at Sonny and said to me, “This is his plotting voice.”
“I don’t have a plotting voice! I was just thinking.”
“What were you thinking about?”
Maybe I cheated a bit by letting one of my long limbs curl around him, winding round his thigh tightly and forcing myself to stop before I inched the tip of my tentacle higher between his legs.
Sonny melted back against me even more and breathed out, “I wondered if Declan wanted to take over her job while she was on maternity leave. I know it’s not what he’s used to but he’s good at organising things so it shouldn’t be too difficult, and he’ll get to sit down a lot of the time and he’ll be right where he needs to be for his physio sessions and you could sneak in some hot make-out sessions in the supply cupboard or something.”
Declan snorted. “Which part of that did you start with in your imagination?”
“Hey, it’s a legit idea,” said Sonny. “Also you look totally hot in a supply cupboard and Erik’s really kinky with that stationery.”
I snorted. “I’m not as kinky as all that, but thank you for the mental picture.”
Sonny wiggled his eyebrows. “Happy to share.”
