Page 88 of Worthy Promises
“I’d like to handle finding Ismay and figuring out where we go from there,” Worth volunteered. “Owliver, will you help me?”
“Of course I will,” Oliver replied. A small smile played around his tantalizing mouth, and Worth nearly laughed as his other half tried to lean forward to kiss him. Asteria nearly lost her footing and landed on RJ, so Oliver reached to aid her. “Remind me I owe you a kiss later.”
“I’m hoping I can earn far more than a kiss.”
“Hey, not in front of the baby,” Aleksander complained. “Hand RJ to Rafe and go give Drystan and Conley a call. See if they can find a good private investigator so we can find Ismay.”
Although Worth didn’t want to stop cuddling RJ, Rafe’s expression was so hopeful he couldn’t refuse the High King a chance to hold his namesake. Worth gently lifted the pajama-clad baby, and Rafe grinned as he settled RJ in his arms.
“He’s so cute,” Rafe said, bussing RJ’s nose.
“Gentlemen, I want more babies in this house,” Saura stated unequivocally.
“I’d ask Owliver to practice making babies with me, but we have a phone call to make,” Worth replied, getting to his feet and embracing Oliver once he rose from the sofa.
“Brogan, wanna go try for a baby?” Dra’Kaedan asked his other half cheekily.
Saura narrowed her eyes at her eldest son. “I mean it. Adopt. Use a surrogate. Steal—”
“I would prefer if we stole nothing,” Gavrael interrupted.
“It was a joke, dear,” Saura protested.
“Sounds like a plan to commission a crime instead of a joke,” Gedeon teased.
With a chuckle, Worth left the group to argue and headed to the privacy of his suite to start the process of tracking down the mother who had sold him to Boian.
Chapter 30
With nothing but a sheet covering him, Worth lay on his side facing the man he loved. His dragon gave a growly roar of irritation. Although Oliver completed Worth and filled his heart with joy and optimism, their bond wasn’t complete. Worth had contemplated asking him to have a ceremony to unite them on multiple occasions, but the household had been rightly focused on the recent birth of RJ.
The last thing Worth wanted to do was take away from Noirin and Kendrick’s new son. However, the baby was several weeks old now, and Worth and his beast were tired of waiting. The problem was Worth hadn’t considered the possibilities ofhowto ask him. Should he take Oliver out and make a big fuss? Or would Oliver prefer a quiet, but still romantic, question in the comfort of their home?
“You’re thinking hard, what’s going on in your head?” Oliver asked, brushing his fingers through the hair that had fallen onto Worth’s temple at some point after the owl shifter had made love to him.
Focusing on Oliver’s beloved face, Worth smiled. Oliver’s gorgeous yellow eyes were soft with affection, and Worth was honored that such a wonderful man adored him.
“Idle thoughts. Nothing more, Owlie.”
“Are you worried about the private investigator not finding Ismay?”
Worth hadn’t given Ismay or the private investigator a second thought since Oliver had pulled him close and sealed their mouths together an hour ago. But Worth didn’t want to discuss what was really on his mind. Asking a man to bind with him for eternity was heady business, and Worth had a single shot to get it right.
“It’d be nice if she was found swiftly. I’d hate it to be a lengthy process that dragged on for years. We’d be no closer to helping potential siblings, and each year of misery piles up in a way I don’t think anyone can appreciate until their circumstances change.”
Oliver nodded, stroked his thumb across Worth’s cheekbone, and leaned in for a kiss that sent a wave of tenderness through him.
“I understand,” Oliver said. “Thankfully, I wasn’t forced to spend a century in a house by myself, but I understand loneliness. How long did it take you to understand how awfully you were being punished?”
Shifting his legs under the sheet to move a little closer to Oliver, Worth contemplated his question. “It’s funny because each year that passes here at D’Vaire changes my perspective. At first, following my move to D’Vaire, I was thrilled for company and engaged in building relationships. Then I had new responsibilities, and I dove into that. I didn’t allow myself to think about the past. It creeps up on you though. At some point, you have no choice but to face it.”
“I’m sorry for what your father put you through.”
“You need not apologize for that, asshat,” Worth assured him and brushed his lips against Oliver’s tempting mouth. “I was so lonely. My dragon would grow enraged, and I’d run from the house. I called them escape attempts, but they weren’t thoughtout. I had to get away. As if somehow I could flee my despair. Drogo would drag me back, and I’d convince myself the situation was futile. That I had no choice but to stay. Sometimes I’d plan better and sneak out. It didn’t matter though; Drogo understood my patterns. The only reason I got away was because he let me.”
“You put your issues with your father behind you, but you haven’t moved past your hurt.”
Worth nodded and snuggled close to Oliver, who wrapped his arms around him.
