Page 35 of Damian & Jun, Episodes 9-12
The dinner ended with all five investors asking for contracts to buy into various parts of the project. Ms. Wang had no desire to buy into the concert space, but she was interested in sponsoring her sister opening a second branch of her Chicago-based dining chain on the property. Émeric suggested a skeleton kitchen and dining space set up in part of the building that had been kept up for cold shelter reasons. This way, workers and visitors to the property would have at least one good option for getting a meal while working on-site. The only local stores still open in the area were convenience stores with limited healthy meals, few of them warm.
Damian checked his messages as they walked toward their waiting SUV. Someday, hopefully soon, they could go back to walking around downtown. For now, the risk assessment from Richard’s security wasn’t budging on precautions.
Jun bumped shoulders with him. “Cedric and Anna have the kids.”
“I know. We should get back soon.”
“No, all night. Émeric and I talked, and I talked to Cedric and Anna. You need to sleep through the night. So do I.”
Damian frowned. “It’s not good for the kids, not having consistency.”
“And that’s Dalia’s fault, not yours,” Émeric said, pulling open the car door as it drove up. “The kids already know Cedric. And you and Jun need a break.”
How long had it been since he had been inside The Residency? It couldn’t have been very many days, but it felt like weeks. Damian pulled off his shoes and gave a sigh of relief.
Richard was waiting for them on one of the couches in the living room, Artemis on his lap, a book in one hand.
“How’d it go?” Richard asked. Obeying the law of house cats everywhere, he didn’t stand.
Émeric made his way over to the couch and leaned down to kiss his husband. Collin followed, sliding to his knees at Richard’s feet and greeting Artemis while his two doms were wrapped up in each other. Damian had missed this the past few days. They looked right together. His family. His home. No matter where they were.
Émeric straightened back up. “It went well. I think at least four of them will sign on, and all five asked to go to the next step. It’s good that Damian bought the property when he did. With the train going in, someone else would have been snapping it up at a higher price.”
Damian shook his head. “All I did was stick it to Pastor Doyle. You all are doing the work.” No credit deserved.
“Your connections to the neighborhood make for good press. And you did live and earn that.” Émeric said. He unbuttoned his shirt at the collar. “I’m going to change. Does anyone want tea?”
Everyone raised their hand. Collin took the opportunity to kiss Richard and then hurried down the hall after Émeric, probably to change out of his suit.
Damian tugged on Jun’s hand. “Ready to get comfortable?” As good as his wolfling looked, he was still dressed for the outside world. It was time to just be in their world, The Residency. No one else included.
Jun smothered a yawn. “Yeah.”
There was a general re-convergence in the living room after everyone had changed into loungewear. Artemis moved off Richard’s leg and climbed into her elaborate cat tree that wrapped around the top of the living room.
Damian sank into his regular chair, one of the large, deep ones facing the couch. Jun stood awkwardly nearby, looking around. No wonder Richard and Émeric so often sat on the couch. Much easier to cuddle another person. There was only one solution, then. Damian snagged Jun around the waist and pulled him down into his lap. Jun let out a small “oof” and settled, letting Damian drag him sideways over his thighs.
“You’re amazing,” Damian murmured against Jun’s hair.
Jun shook his head, smiling a little. “No, I’m not. I’m hard work, training, and a lot of marketing.”
“Not to me. I didn’t know anything about that when I met you, remember?”
“I remember.” Jun tensed and leaned into him. Someday, someday…Jun would believe him.
Collin and Émeric reappeared with tea for everyone. Émeric arranged the cups on the coffee table, then joined Richard on the couch. Collin lingered, adding things to his tea and making sure the fixings were set out perfectly. You could take the bartender out of the bar but evidently not the bar out of the bartender when it came to Collin. Satisfied, Collin sank down on the floor between Richard’s knees, his arm threaded behind Richard’s leg and his fist tangled in Émeric’s loose pants.
Jun leaned toward the coffee table and retrieved Damian’s mug, handing it to him. Then he wiggled forward to reach his own tea cup. Damian held him back, just enough to feel Jun’s pert rear rubbing against him. Jun gave a grunt and shot Damian a look over his shoulder. Damian smirked and let Jun go enough to reach his cup. Jun added milk and resettled with a contented sigh.
Émeric and Richard murmured about their day and future plans. Damian let the conversation flow without his input. His head pulsed, and he could feel the weight of the last several days, perhaps the last several weeks, dragging him into the seat. The weight of Jun on his lap was an added layer of comfort.
He could stay like this forever. Would like to, actually. Just let everything else disappear and stay in this comfort.
“Is this how you often spend evenings together?” Jun asked.
Damian opened half an eye. What was his wolfling up to? Richard and Émeric exchanged looks.
Collin shrugged. “Kinda.”
