Chapter 159: An anticipation weeks in the making
There was a heightened level of anticipation in the air as Kellen and Rhys ascended the Tower. They didn’t see many people as once Sergei left, Kellen suggested they take the stairs to the next level and then take the elevator up to their apartnt.
Rhys was all for it, happy to do anything that Kellen suggested if it ant that they were alone and Kellen wasn’t angry at him.
Kellen thought waiting for the next elevator was a stupid idea when they had perfectly good legs to walk on. That, and he didn’t want to wait a damn second longer.
Their duties for the days were done, and now it was ti for them to actually relax. Kellen felt like his body was going to vibrate out of his damn clothes, his eye focused on each step as he climbed it, and the warmth he felt in his hand as Rhys held it.
The sound of the crinkling of the bag as they moved up the stairs was loud, but not unwelco. They didn’t need to say anything to each other. They were content in each other’s presence. Even when Rhys let go of Kellen’s hand to unlock the door to the Gym level, Kellen waited with his hand out for when Rhys would finish.
Then, they moved as a unit into the hallway, the door closing behind them. They passed a few people who didn’t stop them, but did wave and smile. They probably knew better just from the way Kellen was walking and glaring at everyone. He would not let anyone stop them.
Not after they had been given the green light. Not after Kellen had been aching to touch and feel Rhys against his own skin. He had waited long enough.
There was only two things that would prevent him from doing what he wanted right now, and one was across the ocean, and the other was still in a coma for the ti being.
This ti was going to be theirs.
The elevator ride up to the apartnt was quiet, and Kellen watched as Rhys shuffled the bag into his wrist as he pulled out his phone. Kellen was curious what he was doing, but he just let Rhys do what he wanted. Hopefully he was telling everyone to leave them alone. That he was unavailable unless the city was falling into ruin.
Maybe that was a little extre, but...maybe it wasn’t, either. They had Sergei here now. He could take so of the weight that Rhys normally carried on his shoulders, and they also had Jax and Jules back as well. They could help out. Rhys deserved a break, and he deserved a break with Kellen.
The funeral could wait, saving Brent had to wait, and everything else was under control.
"Two als?" Rhys asked, and Kellen blinked, so focused on making up reasons for everyone to leave them alone, that he wasn’t fully paying attention to Rhys. When he looked over at the other man, his face was soft, welcoming. Warm. Kellen blinked slowly.
"Two als?" Kellen repeated, his mind not following where Rhys was going. Rhys’ eyes curled up at the corners as he smiled.
"Love, are you going to need two als for when we’ve taken our first break? Or more?" Rhys asked. It took Kellen a few seconds to realise what he was implying, before his eye widened slightly and he inhaled sharply.
"Oh. Um, I don’t know. I’ve put on a bit of weight, so maybe just two." Kellen told him. Rhys clearly took exception to Kellen’s remarks about his own body as he turned his gaze back to his phone.
"Three it is, and I’ll set up another delivery for later as well." Rhys muttered. He glanced over at Kellen, scanning him from head to toe with a narrowed, calculating gaze. "I like you just the way you are. I’ve always liked you on the thicker side. Easier to grab, and my hands look amazing against your skin." Rhys told him. Kellen blushed.
"Then I could say the sa thing back to you." Kellen told him and Rhys’ responding smile was bright.
"Oh, thank you. I work hard so that you can have a soft place to rest your head." Rhys said, puffing out his chest. Kellen wasn’t sure if he was joking or not. "See, Kellen? That’s how you respond. None of this ’I’ve gotten too big’ nonsense. You put on that weight for , so that you can safely guide . We’ll have to check the levels properly once we’ve done your retest again. I think you’ll find that our compatibility might have even gone up further." Rhys gave Kellen’s hand a squeeze. "I keep telling you that I don’t care how big you get. I love you for you. Sure, it’s a perk that everyone else knows how lucky I am to have you when you’re all Field Guide ready, but you could quit tomorrow and grow to be the size of a couch and I wouldn’t care." Rhys’ words were sincere.
Kellen had to turn his face away, his emotions making his heartbeat loud in his ears.
"We would be in trouble if our compatibility went up more." Kellen muttered and Rhys chuckled.
"Mmm, I can only see it as a plus. You would never have to worry about anything if our compatibility was 100%. I wouldn’t have to worry either." Rhys’ gaze shifted, gold turning his yellow gaze a brilliant hue as the elevator doors opened on the empty hallway of their level. "That way no one else would be able to claim you either. You’d be mine for sure." Rhys told him.
He wasn’t hiding the possessiveness there and Kellen felt the list of jewelers in his phone burn a hole in his pocket. He was glad he had been able to have the conversation with his Dad and Taylor now, especially after hearing that.
Sure, Espers and Guides would know, but others wouldn’t. Kellen swallowed.
"They already know that I belong to you, and they are going to know that you belong to ." Kellen told him. He said it like a promise, and watched as Rhys’ eyes widened slightly as Kellen tugged him out into the hallway before the door closed.
"That sounds like...you have a plan." Rhys said, sounding surprised. "Give
one sec to send our dinner plans." Rhys said, halting them from moving as he quickly typed away at his phone and then hit send. "What are you planning, Kellen?" Rhys asked and Kellen narrowed his gaze. He didn’t think that this was the ti that he should tell him everything.
He didn’t even have a full plan yet. Just...fractions of things that he wanted to do. Kellen squeezed his hand.
"I just...I think the possessiveness that you normally feel is rubbing off on ." Kellen told him, not lying in the slightest. Rhys’ expression was a little shocked, but lted into a warm smile that made Kellen’s insides feel funny.
"Oh yeah?" Rhys asked, sweetness dripping off of his tongue. "So are you going to mark
up today Kellen? Make sure that everyone knows who made them?" Rhys leaned in, pressing a kiss against his cheek. "Are you going to get
a collar with your na on it?" He asked sweetly and Kellen snorted.
"I was told that I’m not allowed to get you a collar, and I don’t even like the idea that much. You aren’t a monster who needs
to hold your leash. We’re both monsters, so that wouldn’t really work by their standards anyways." Kellen muttered. He was flushed as he began to tug Rhys towards their apartnt. "Co on. We need to shower first." Kellen told him while Rhys was busy processing all that he had heard.
He had a silly, goofy smile on his face by the ti that they got to the front door and Kellen was opening it with his key.
"I’m thinking that when we expand the apartnt that we switch to the biotric scan that I have to get into my own apartnt. We’ll have both of our DNA hooked up to it. Are you okay with that?" Rhys asked as they stepped into their ho. Kellen nodded.
"I’ve got no complaints. Better security isn’t a bad plan." Kellen agreed easily. Rhys made sure that the door was locked behind him and once Kellen and Rhys had taken off their shoes, Rhys pulled Kellen into his arms.
He didn’t pull Kellen against his chest, tucking him in, and instead held him from behind, tucking his chin against Kellen’s shoulder. His hands rested on Kellen’s stomach and Kellen slid his hand on top of Rhys’. Rhys sighed, relaxing against Kellen’s back.
"Did you ask for the condoms?" Rhys asked and Kellen felt his face warm.
"I did." Kellen said, feeling a bit defensive. "I normally only order the ones that I have for my ergency kit online, and I didn’t have enough forethought to order ahead. I didn’t know how many you had, and I knew Taylor would have a bunch." Kellen froze, rembering a conversation he’d had with Brent before. About n having preferences. "I’m sorry. I didn’t consult you on this. Brent told
that so guys have specific types that they like and types that they don’t. Are you going to be upset about that?" Kellen asked, turning his head to look at Rhys. It was particularly hard since Rhys was resting on the shoulder that had the eyepatch. Rhys smiled.
"Love, I couldn’t care less. I’m just happy that you were so eager." Rhys said with a soft sigh. "This feels like a dream. I finally get to hold you in my arms. Finally we can be connected as one." Rhys muttered. Kellen swallowed.
"I don’t regret sleeping with you before going into the gate." Kellen said. Rhys tensed at the sudden direction Kellen’s mind had wandered.
"What are you-"
"I don’t regret it," Kellen continued, "because I would hate to not know how good it feels to be connected to you when we’re having sex. I wouldn’t be this frustrated that we had to wait this long to do it again. I wouldn’t understand a fraction of the desire you’ve always felt with
and I think that is a bigger loss than not waiting until you had
begging under you." Kellen said, rembering what Rhys had said to him. Kellen squeezed his hand on his stomach. "But now we have ti to do it again. Who said you only had to do it once? What if I was the one who had you begging under ?" Kellen hinted, chuckling and Rhys let out a gentle sigh.
"I love you." Rhys told him, giving him a gentle squeeze. His shoulders relaxed before he nuzzled against his shoulder. "And...I’m a little worried about how you would have
begging under you given so of the energy you’ve been giving off." Rhys said. Kellen felt his eyebrows draw together in confusion as Rhys laughed. Kellen felt his lips against his skin, pressing against his cheek. "I’m joking, of course. Whatever my sugar desires, he can have. Including ." Rhys was going to make Kellen’s heart twist into a knot.
"Shower. Now. I need you naked before I can think straight." Kellen told him and Kellen found himself off of the ground, Rhys lifting him up and into his arms.
"Yes sir." Rhys agreed readily, like he had been waiting for the order.
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