Page 26 of Six Types of Apology

“Don’t tell anyone, but I think I’m getting old.” Vincent laughed. “I do need to ask, before we get to the castle, will you mind if the assumption is made that you share a bed with me?”

“I thought that’s what we had been doing.” Orion didn’t see the point in the question. “Every night, if we haven’t been assigned a room together, you still seem to find your way into mine regardless. Why are you asking?”

“Phew, thank goodness. It’s just that I got a message from my mother yesterday. She asked me about our sleeping arrangements a while ago after hearing about your injuries, and I told her we’d be happy to share my suite. But she reminded me in her most recent message that a gentleman should always have a space to call his own, separate from his spouse. I think she was worried I might snore too loudly, and she wants you to be comfortable.”

“You do snore.” Orion snorted. “I imagine I do as well. Has that bothered you? You’ve never mentioned it.”

“You don’t snore, you snuffle.” Vincent burst out laughing again, probably because Orion was glaring at him. “You do. It’s sweet.It’s like you get a hair or a piece of dust on your nose while you’re sleeping and you wrinkle it up and rub it on the pillow, or me if I’m closer. I love it.”

“I do not snuffle, and I’m sure if I had a hair on my nose or something, it would be because you put it there.” Orion shook his head. “Clearly we need to start working on another project, because you seem to spend too much time watching me sleep.”

“I like to make sure you’re still breathing.” Vincent shrugged. “Anyhow, I’ll inform my mother that we will need a larger study that we can use for planning and projecting, but I already have a suite of rooms with a reading nook and a sitting room, plus the bedroom, a bathroom, and a dressing room. I’m happy to share if you’re comfortable with it.”

“Can I ask your mother for my own bathroom?” It was Orion’s turn to laugh at Vincent’s shocked expression. “What? You asked and besides I like to bathe in private. It’s a great time to think.”

“My bathtub is big enough for both of us.” Vincent still looked miffed, which made Orion laugh all the more. “I know you might not be ready for that side of things yet…”

Considering Vincent hadn’t even seen him naked, Orion definitely wasn’t ready for that side of things just yet.

“…but you will get more comfortable with me in time, won’t you?”

“I’m getting more comfortable with you every day.” Orion laid his hand on Vincent’s shoulder. “I know what you’re indirectly asking about, and I truly appreciate your patience on that side of things. It’s not that I’m uncomfortable with you at all. I’d just dearly love to get through a whole day without my back hurting before we add more activities to our evenings. By the time we get to bed at night, I ache everywhere.”

“I wouldn’t be hurting your back if we were bathing together.” Vincent pouted.

“Yes, well, I’ll determine that for myself when I see your bathroom. Knowing you, if I was bathing alone in our shared bathroom, there would be a good chance you’d be outside the door, whining like a puppy to come in or panting like one.”

“I’m not a dog.” But Vincent laughed. It was becoming a running joke between them after Orion mentioned once he had the energy of a hunting hound. “Oh, we should get a dog. If we’re not traveling as much anymore, we could get our own dog, and it could come with us when we’re in town, or when we go on our travels. The men at the mine would love him. He could have his own bed, and a collar and…”

“Wait, wait, wait.” Putting his hand over Vincent’s mouth, Orion shook his head. “Can we just get settled into what will be a new home for me first? Please. You’ve been traveling for months. I’ve been traveling this past month. Before that we spent more than a month at the inn. I need to feel like I’m home. I want to unpack my trunk, see my books on a bookshelf, hang clothes in a closet instead of pulling them out of a bag. I’ve not even met your mother or seen the rooms we’ll be living in yet, and you’re talking about getting a dog.” He moved his hand to see Vincent’s smile.

“Too soon? You’re a bit of a homebody, aren’t you.”

“It’s not just me, it’s John, too. He’s got to find his place in a new castle. I know Morgan will help him, I’m thrilled they’ve become such good friends, but I want to see Morgan and John complain because you just drop your clothes all over the floor. I want to know that I’m going to be sitting at the same table having breakfast each morning. Yes, with you, and maybe even sharing a warm bath with you in an evening. Believe it or not, before you burst into my life, I used to love having a quiet but busy routine.”

“Is there anything else you’d enjoy doing?”

Orion knew exactly what his husband was talking about. Vincent was not a subtle man. He’d often felt the result of Vincent’s ‘interest’ against his butt in the morning. It was promising he was slowly starting to feel similar feelings of interest in the necessary physical areas in the mornings as well, and hoped they could explore their relationship further in the future. But for now…

“Yes, I want to spend my evenings making out with you on a couch. I want us to sit together, reading books or arguing over them. I want to kiss you behind closed doors where I don’t have to worry about a healer coming in and claiming I’m not ready forthat…and he’s right. I know I’m not ready forthat, yet. Even if the mind is willing, my body needs more time. But yes, I want to spend time in your arms, in private, in peace and quiet, exploring each other and just enjoying being with you.” He eyed his husband sideways. “Of course, if that’s too boring for you, I can always beat your butt at cards. I could do with the winnings. I’ll probably need a new robe for the event your mother is planning.”

“One time. One time you won,” Vincent protested.

“That one time was the only time we played,” Orion teased back. He leaned on his husband’s shoulder. “Does that sound so horribly boring to you?”

“It sounds perfect to me. Welcome home.”

The carriage clattered across the cobblestones of the Faast castle courtyard and came to a stop in front of the stone stairs leading up to the castle entrance.More stairs.Orion mentally groaned, but fixing a smile on his face, he waited until Vincent helped him out of the carriage. It was time to meet his mother-in-law.

Chapter Twenty-Four

“Vincent, what on earth have you done to yourself?”

“Nothing I’m sure you haven’t wished for me to wake up and do at least a dozen times a day since I was born.” Out of the public eye, Vincent hugged his mother close, enjoying the way she wrapped her arms around him and held him just as tightly. They’d had the formal meet and greet a few hours before, where Vincent had proudly introduced his husband to his mother and sisters. But once Orion had been installed in Vincent’s suite, he’d gone back downstairs to have the sort of chat with a mother that any newly married man might have with a woman who’d always loved him absolutely.

Seated on a love seat in his mother’s private sitting room, he grinned at her. They looked a lot alike in coloring, both with dark hair, and his brilliant blue eyes came from her, too. “Isn’t he cute? Isn’t my husband just the sweetest, most intelligent man you could ever hope I would meet?”

“He’s not what I expected, that’s for sure. Indeed, when Morgan messaged me and informed me about your impending wedding, I wondered what sort of trouble you’d gone and got yourself into. Prince Orion is a very special and lovely surprise.” His mother laid her hand on Vincent’s arm. “You’ve not been a good boy, though, have you?”

---