Page 152 of Cohesion

“It’s extra size, so it needs extra thanks.” And he liked holding Sebastian. He didn’t need a reason. Especially not now. They were living together, and safe, and despite all the turmoil they’d gotten through to get here, everything had worked out. He would hold Sebastian—all of them—whenever and however often he liked.

“I don’t think it works like that,” Sebastian said, snickering. “Besides, it was nothing. It’ll be easier than all of us trying to squeeze into a king for the rest of our lives. I might run on caffeine, but I do eventually need some decent sleep.”

For the rest of our lives.The pleasure Quinn got from those few words couldn’t be overstated. They were everything.

“It’s not nothing,” Quinn said. “Come lie down with me.”

“Why? Don’t we need to get dinner ready?”

“The second lasagne is in the oven, and the others are handling the rest. We should test the bed out. Make sure it’s comfortable,” he said reasonably.

“I was just crawling all over it; I know it’s comfortable.”

Quinn moved one of the pillows to the head of the bed and then spread himself out. It was the perfect firmness. He wasn’t sinking into the middle, or down, but he wasn’t sitting on a hardwood floor either. Good choice. “Indulge me.”

Sebastian sighed heavily. Completely put on since he immediately crawled onto the bed and fitted himself against Quinn. Quinn wrapped him up and absently trailed his fingers up and down Sebastian’s back. Even better now. He couldn’t wait to see how all five of them fit, tangled together.

“I love you.”

“Love you too,” Sebastian mumbled into his chest.

“I’m nervous,” Quinn admitted.

Sebastian lifted his head. “What? Why? It’s been a week, and no one has murdered anyone. I call that a success. I’ve won with less in court.”

Quinn chuckled. Other than a few minor hiccups, they’d all fit into each other’s space with relative ease. The odd niggle here and there was to be expected, and they’d weathered through them better than he could have hoped for. That wasn’t what he was nervous about. That part was perfect. Even when it wasn’t, it was.

“I’ve never met Charlotte’s children,” Quinn said quietly. He focused on the tingle at the tips of his fingers as he trailed them across the soft skin of Sebastian’s arm.

Another regret. One of many. He’d seen Charlotte through most of the pregnancy for the little girl she’d called Claire. Gone to prenatal classes with her, held her hair as she’d puked her guts up. Then he’d never gotten to meet her. He’d learned that Charlotte had gone into labour a month after Sebastian had told him it was over. That had hurt almost as much as the breakup.

Claire Quinn Devlin.A goddaughter. Was that even possible without his permission? He didn’t care. That Charlotte had kept him a part of her life, even when he hadn’t been there… His throat closed up. He’d fucked up so much in the past, and he didn’t deserve any of them. He would spend the rest of his life proving himself worthy of them all.

Now he would be meeting Claire for the first time, at eight years old. And two little twin boys he hadn’t even known existed. He’d missed so many parts of Sebastian’s life. So many years of lost time to catch up on.

“They’ll love you.”

“You don’t know that.”

“You have a dog. Between Persephone and Xena, you’re golden. Also, you got them presents, which you didn’t have to do. Charlotte’s going to make fun of you for it.”

Quinn huffed out a laugh. “It’s that easy?”

“Yeah,” Sebastian said. “Kids are easy. They don’t know anything about you, Quinn. There isn’t any history there to get tangled up with. They don’t know what happened; all they know is who you are now. And how much you mean to me, and to Charlotte and Eli.”

A clean slate. That sounded nice.

“I don’t think Eli feels the same as you.” Quinn hadn’t seen him yet, and he was nervous about that too.

Eli had adored him at twelve, followed him around like a lamb, constantly asked to see his badge. From all accounts, that wasn’t the case anymore. Though he had yet to see it for himself. They’d wanted to wait before letting the children see Sebastian. Give his face time to heal properly.

“He’s… well, okay, he bites as hard as he barks. But he loves you. It might take a little time for him to remember that, but he’ll be on his best behaviour. We can sic Xena on him if he misbehaves.”

“I don’t think that’s what she’s for.”

“Sure she is. Have you seen her teeth?”

“What are you two doing in here?” Jericho asked, appearing in the doorway. “We’re out there making a feast worthy of royalty, and you two are in here fucking and leaving all the work to us?”

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