Dante woke to sunshine flooding his bedroom, and the feel of Tani Ryuzo’s warmth in his arms. He lay still, taking in the scent of his own shampoo, mixed in with Tani’s clean scent. It filled his nostrils, permeated his cells, and his lungs, and filled his heart with joy. He could not remember feeling so content in his life.
Tani shifted, snuggling deeper into his chest, and Dante smiled at the trust Tani was giving him.
He rarely held his partners in his arms, not even Viola with whom he had children.
Dante brushed his fingers through Tani’s red-brown hair and enjoyed the moment. They were on his bed, the covers wrapped around them after a night of hard sleeping. Tani breathed in gentle motion, deep asleep.
Dante took the chance to sink his fingers into soft red-brown hair, allowing his fingers to memorize the texture of it between his fingers. He stroked Tani’s hair in absent movement and managed to uncover Tani’s right earlobe.
The gold leafs lining Tani’s right earlobe drew his interest, and he shifted his fingers to the earrings. It took him only a second to discover the leaves were not earrings. They were part of Tani and could not be removed. They looked sealed into Tani’s skin. Five Elderwood leaves, their artisanship hard to copy, they looked real.
Dante rubbed his thumb on the surface of each leaf, fascinated by their presence on Tani’s ear. Why five golden leaves on his ear? Did they represent something? Did he feel it when Dante touched them?
Dante pressed a kiss on the top of Tani’s earlobe and leaned back to find Tani watching him. His breath caught when he looked into clear amber eyes. His cock filled in full appreciation when Tani pressed into him with a small smile.
“Morning,” Tani murmured, burying his face into Dante’s chest.
“Morning,” Dante said with a pleased grin, then whispered into Tani’s right ear. “I think I should let you know that I’m in trouble.”
Tani leaned back, eyes wide with worry.
“What kind of trouble?”
“It’s very serious trouble,” Dante said, his tone grim.
Tani frowned, and Dante grinned.
“Now that we’ve spent this night together, I really cannot give us up. I slept so well, and then I woke up with you in my arms. It’s a gift. I have to keep you. Can I?” Dante asked. “You’re addictive.”
Tani shook his head at Dante’s declaration and studied him for a moment.
“I didn’t think you were so mushy,” Tani said, resting his head on Dante’s chest.
“I can’t help it,” Dante said, running the palm of his hand over Tani’s back. Up and down, until Tani leaned back to look at him.
“You’re not the only one addicted,” Tani said. “I love yo—this, I love this, too.”
Dante smiled and leaned in to kiss Tani. Taking his lips in a sweet kiss that quickly turned possessive. The moment his lips touched Tani’s, he wanted more, wanted to feel Tani’s skin, explore, caress, and touch every inch of him. Discover what made Tani moan in pleasure and come apart in ecstasy. Tani returned his kisses with equal hunger. Dante wished they could stay in his bed making out the whole day.
His phone buzzed on the bedside table and burst the bubble. He ignored it, kissing Tani, wrapping his arms around him, and rolling so he was on his back with Tani lying over him. Their kiss continued until they were both breathing hard. His phone started ringing again, this time in earnest and Tani broke their kiss to stare at the gadget on the bedside table.
“Nora is calling,” Tani said, looking at Dante. “She seems determined.”
Tani rested his head on Dante’s chest and let out a soft contented sigh. Dante sunk his fingers into his hair as he reached for his phone with his left hand. He answered the phone.
“Morning, Mom.”
“My son is finally awake,” Nora said. “I wanted to catch you before you decide to leave this morning. Your father is home. It will be nice to have breakfast together. I also have news from Aero. Will you come down?”
“Yes, Mom. I am also bringing someone to breakfast.”
“That sounds heavy,” Nora said. “I can’t wait to meet him.”
Dante smiled as he hung up and looked down to find Tani watching him.
“My family is downstairs,” Dante said, placing his phone on the bed so that he could wrap both his arms around Tani. “They want to have a meal together.”
Tani nodded and held his gaze.
“You want me to meet your family?”
“Why not?” Dante asked, kissing the top of Tani’s head. “I want to introduce you to my family as my boyfriend. This way, they will not be confused. They’ll know what you mean to me.”
Tani gave him a slow grin, his amber eyes shimmering for a moment with a beautiful ring of gold. His eyes were so beautiful; Dante took in a breath as his heart leaped in his chest. Tani lowered his gaze and shifted his head on Dante’s chest. Dante’s gaze caught on Tani’s right earlobe and he reached for the gold leaves.
***
Tani closed his eyes and listened to Dante’s heartbeat. Tani’s heartbeat matched the rhythm. It was steady, assuring.
“Your right earlobe is fascinating,” Dante said, his thumb stroking Tani’s right earlobe. “Why do you have five gold Elderwood leaves on your ear?”
“They show my standing in my father’s family. To show that I’m his son,” Tani said, not liking the melancholy filling him when he thought about his father.
“Your Dad?”
“Mm,” Tani said, looking up to meet Dante’s gaze again. “Let’s not think about him. I don’t want to spoil this beautiful day.”
Dante studied him for a moment then smiled.
“Okay. It is a beautiful Thursday morning,” Dante said with a nod. “The best I’ve ever had. I lay here earlier, watching you sleep, and contemplated taking a sabbatical.”
“Are you running away from work?”
“It won’t be running away,” Dante said with a chuckle. “Just taking time off and spending a year with you. I don’t want to miss a moment with you, Tani. It occurred to me that I’m almost thirty-six years old. You are the first person in my life I want to give all my time. Maybe Viola was right and I am a cold bastard.”
Tani’s heart skipped a beat and warmth filled his chest at Dante’s words. He had already given Dante all his time, his life. It felt good to have Dante want to give him back a little of the same. It was the first time his beloved had voiced even an intention of more than a dalliance.
“I will cherish your time, Dante,” Tani said. “And you’re not cold, you’re filled with fire. She just didn’t know how to see it.”
“Do you see my fire?” Dante asked, his brow rising in question.
Tani sat up, his left hand resting on Dante’s chest. The warm fragment of Dante’s soul residing in his empty heart sent a pulse of heat through him. The gold mist swirling around Dante wrapped around his palm, responding to the obvious affection in Dante’s heart.
Their connection was so very fragile, but promising. He wished there was more, but this felt enough for now. He had no words to describe the gift of having spent a night in Dante’s arms after decades of being without him. There were never sufficient words to describe this moment.
He looked into Dante’s curious gaze and smiled.
“You forget,” Tani said. “You singed me at our first meeting, Dante Arturo. I was so stunned that I ended up ankle-deep in marshland when I returned to Elderwood. You ruined a good pair of my favorite shoes.”
Dante grinned, his lips curving in a handsome smile. Tani immediately wanted to kiss him again.
“I promise to get you a pair to replace them,” Dante said, his grin turning into a short chuckle.
Left with no defense, Tani kissed his beloved just to feel Dante’s smile on his lips and then scrambled out of the comfortable bed. Afraid they might linger and not leave at all.
“I’ll wash up first. I can’t believe you have me meeting your parents when we haven’t been on our first date.”
“It is part of my secret plan,” Dante said, making Tani pause at the bedroom door to look at him.
“What secret plan?’
“The plan to seduce you and keep you at Artri,” Dante said. “Before you showed up, I had planned on kidnapping you.”
Tani laughed.
“Does my staying here make me a willing kidnapee?” Tani asked as he opened the door.
“Yes. Elderwood will have to be calling you to hear your voice,” Dante said. “I’m a very invested kidnapper and will entertain you until you forget you have them waiting.”
Tani chuckled and shook his head.
“Entitled warlock,” Tani said as he headed to the bathroom.
“Dazzling Ekho,” Dante called back. “Come back to bed and make out with me all day.”
“Your parents are waiting downstairs,” Tani replied and heard Dante let out a soft sigh.
“They are clearly ruining perfect plans,” Dante complained.
Tani smiled in amusement and closed the bathroom door.
****
Thirty minutes later, they were both showered and dressed for the day. Tani had made friends with Atri, so he was able to teleport to his house for a moment for a change of clothes. He returned just as Dante was emerging from the bedroom.
Dante stopped Tani by the door on their way out. He pressed him against the wall and kissed him making Tani chuckle, and wrap his arms around Dante’s shoulders.
“We should stay in here,” Tani said, raining kisses on Dante’s face. “I love it in your suite of rooms.”
Dante smiled and wrapped his arms around Tani, holding him close. He buried his face into Tani’s shoulder.
“I agree.” Dante squeezed Tani tight, loving the fact that Tani was an Ekho and he seemed to love tight hugs, with no flinch at Dante’s strength. “But we should finish with my parents downstairs. My father must know all about the black weed in the olive grove by now. Mom wants to tell us about the Ekho she meets there.”
Tani rubbed his hands over Dante’s back.
“Dante. Let’s live your day today,” Tani said. “Tomorrow, we can live mine. I have lawyers to meet. Then we can deal with the rest after.”
“Okay,” Dante agreed, pressing a kiss on Tani’s shoulder not making a move to open the door.
Tani rested his chin on Dante’s strong shoulder. He rubbed his hand over Dante’s back, smoothing the pale blue shirt he wore. He liked the color on Dante. It brought out his eyes. Dante’s stomach growled and Tani chuckled.
“Dante.”
“Mm?”
“You’re my beloved and I worry about you very much. We should leave your room so that you can have your morning meal,” Tani whispered into Dante’s ear.
“I’m in love with the way you talk to me,” Dante said.
Tani grinned when Dante let him go and took his right hand.
“Let’s go eat breakfast,” Dante said. “The faster we get through it, the faster we can have time to ourselves.”
Dante opened the door and led Tani out. They went down the stairs and Dante could not help looking back every few steps just to see Tani following him.
“I won’t disappear,” Tani said when they got downstairs and Dante squeezed his hand, making sure to walk right beside him. “I’ve already thrown my lot in with you.”
Dante stopped, bringing Tani’s right hand up to press a kiss on his inner wrist.
“I just…I feel like I need a minute or two hours to process,” Dante said and then squeezed Tani’s hand, a kiss on his inner wrist. “Maybe twenty-four hours, or a few days…”
“Months?” Tani asked, teasing.
“Definitely months,” Dante said. “Years even.”
Tani’s amber eyes gained a gloomy cloud that quickly disappeared. The shadow hidden behind the strange wall Tani was keeping up between them.
Dante could not wait to break it down and discover what brought the shadows into Tani’s eyes. He wanted to obliterate it, replace the shadows with joy.
“Your family fills the kitchen,” Tani said when they continued their walk along the hallway to the kitchen. “Your father doesn’t know I’m here, but your mother and the grandmaster might.”
“Are you nervous?” Dante asked, surprised by the naked note of anxiety in Tani’s voice.
“They are your family. Your closest ones. Of course, I’m nervous. What if they don’t like me for you?” Tani asked, anxious energy filling him as they approached the kitchen.
Dante stopped their progress, brought their clasped hands to his lips, and pressed a kiss on Tani’s knuckles.
“They should worry if you like them,” Dante said and kissed Tani’s right cheek. He clasped Tani’s hand tighter and did not give Tani a chance to think as he opened the kitchen door.
Nora gasped when Dante and Tani walked into the warm kitchen. She sat drinking tea at the island table next to Christophe. Grandmaster Landi sat across them, arranging a salad plate.
They all looked at Dante and Tani when Nora gasped.
Tani tensed as Nora pushed her chair back and got up. Dante squeezed Tani’s hand as she crossed the room to meet them.
“Dante,” Nora said, coming to kiss both his cheeks. “You look very happy this morning. Well rested. So very handsome.”
“Are you saying I wasn’t handsome before?” Dante asked, giving her a scowl, as she let go of him.
“You’re always handsome to me. I am only saying you look even more handsome this morning,” Nora said, turning to Tani. “Do I have you to thank for this change?”
“I can’t take any credit. He got it all from you,” Tani said.
“Aw, I like you very much,” Nora said, leaning in to kiss Tani’s cheek. “What is this?”
She rubbed her thumb over a red spot on Tani’s neck.
“I like kissing Tani,” Dante said, wrapping his arm around Tani’s shoulder, pulling him closer, making his cheeks fill with color.
“Oh, that is the mushiest thing you have ever said near me,” Nora said and held out her hand to Tani. “You’re a miracle to have him announcing he likes you in our kitchen. Come, I’ll introduce you to Dante’s Papa.”
Tani pulled his hand out of Dante’s and took Nora’s in a gentle handshake. She led him to the island table where two men stood looking at him, caught between shock and…surprise?
Tani could not tell.
“Christophe,” Nora said, leading Tani to the younger of the two older men. “This is Tani Ryuzo. He healed the soil in our olive grove. Dante is sweet on him.”
****
Sui Writes 
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