Page 62 of Worthy Promises
“It’s okay, Owlie. I’ve suddenly realized I have more thinking to do about Ismay. In the past, I learned what little I know about her and set it aside. Ismay is a stranger, and I refused to give her any space in my mind.”
“Maybe my assumption is completely incorrect. I’m biased against her because I hate to think about her handing you off to your father and forgetting you.”
“Because you well understand how it feels to have callous and cruel parents yourself.”
“An understanding that may have played into why Fate chose us to be together.”
“That, along with your kindness, sweetness, and the incredible way you’ve loved me in this bed,” Worth replied.
Scooting forward so no space separated them, Oliver sealed their mouths together for a deep kiss that nearly left Worth breathless. “I’m happy to distract you with another intense orgasm if you’d rather think about phantom siblings later.”
Rolling his hips forward so his hardening cock bumped Oliver’s groin, Worth smirked. “Well, it was you who upset me in the first place. It’s the very least you can do, Owlie.”
Oliver chuckled, and he was still smiling as their lips met. Worth would worry about complications later. For now, he and his ecstatic dragon were dedicated to cherishing every moment with Oliver.
Chapter 21
With his fingers laced with Worthington’s, Oliver walked into the area between the great room and the kitchen. D’Vaires were everywhere as they chatted and grabbed their morning meal. Near the stone fireplace that stretched up a full two stories, a little boy and a to’faer wearing a frilly dress worked on what appeared to be new puppets as they chatted away. In a couple of hours, Oliver would drag his brother home, and neither owl would be pleased.
Moving in with Worthington wasn’t in the cards yet, but that didn’t mean Oliver couldn’t make changes. Being the boss meant Oliver could work whatever schedule best suited him. No one would argue with a man trying to capitalize on time with his mate. It was Orion who had to be in New York for school.
At some point, Orion would switch schools, and Oliver didn’t have to ask if his sibling was ready to make changes. Each Sunday after they arrived at their big quiet house, Orion despondently complained about leaving his best friend and everyone else he was growing to care for at D’Vaire.
Worthington’s family had already expressed their willingness to aid Orion and Oliver however they could. It suddenly occurred to Oliver that there was no need to keep Orion at his current school. If he made the switch to somewhereconvenient to D’Vaire, it’d allow them to align their hours with Worthington’s and everyone else at the mansion.
On Oliver’s shoulder, Asteria bumped her head into Oliver’s as if she’d read his mind and approved of his plan. An owl hooted with satisfaction in his head. It was clearly an overdue change.
“Orion,” Worthington called out through the din.
The little boy’s head popped up, and he scrambled to his feet. With Zarasha on his heels, Orion dashed to where Oliver and Worthington were slipping into line to grab their morning meal.
“Yes?” Orion asked. He’d dressed himself in jeans and a D’Vaire T-shirt, but his pale blond hair was sticking up haphazardly around his head as if he’d either forgone combing it or had done it in a mad dash.
“You’ll need to grab a plate with us,” Worthington replied. Orion shuffled into line ahead of the pink dragon, and Worthington rested his hands on Orion’s thin shoulders.
“I’ll stand in line with you,” Zarasha stated firmly. It was the same thing she said each morning they shared at D’Vaire despite her inability to eat.
“I hope we can finish our puppets before I have to go home,” Orion told her.
“Don’t worry, I won’t work on them without you if we don’t finish,” Zarasha assured her pal.
“Do you have any puzzles?” Orion asked. “Oliver and I finished one with dragons. It was fun, we’re going to get another one, aren’t we?”
“Yes, we are,” Oliver responded, pleased that he and his brother were growing closer. They’d invested hours in the puzzle and chatted as they fitted the pieces together. It was the most time they’d spent together since Orion was born, and Oliverintended to ensure the tentative bond they were building would only grow.
“I don’t have any,” Zarasha answered.
“We bought plenty when Pyxlevir was little,” Lex commented from behind them. At his side was his mate, and they both had damp hair. “They’re probably downstairs in the games closet. Near the top, if I had to guess, since I doubt they were touched after they were completed.”
“Look who just rolled out of bed this morning,” Worthington remarked to his close friend.
Lex gave Rutledge a smile so intimate Oliver didn’t have to guess how they’d spent the early hours of the day. “Doesn’t hurt to sleep in sometimes.”
“I doubt you got any more sleep than I did,” Worth retorted with a wink for Oliver.
“Move up and grab a plate,” Lex ordered, then turned to Zarasha. “We can look for puzzles later and drag them out of the closet so they’re ready for you and Orion on his next visit.”
“Are there any with Fae?” Orion asked.
