"Sounds good. Will you be coming to bed soon as well?" she asked hopefully as she climbed up into the massive bed, her gaze shifting from the bathroom door to Artaxias. "I would like to be able to sleep between both of my men, please?"
"I'll climb in once I know he's not going to face-plant," Ax assured her as the door opened. He stood to one side and they both watched as Gavriel made his way, slowly, to the bed. Only when Gav was in and under the blankets did Ax move to the other side of the bed.
Lilly didn't hesitate. She wrapped her arms around Gav even as he wrapped his around her. The light was shortly off, and Artaxias wrapped his arms round her as well and she felt home. She felt safe. Letting out a sigh, she closed her eyes and allowed sleep to take her.
Chapter Eight
"Morning." Gavriel's sleep-roughened voice was right there as she opened her eyes. "Did you sleep well?" he asked. Turning his head, he yawned wide, stretched taut, and then relaxed. He was looking at her again as he scratched at his chin. "What? My hair standing on end again?"
"Just a smidge," Lilly murmured sleepily and then yawned. She moved in closer to him, though, and sighed. "Shh, I'm not ready to wake up, so you are just going to have to lay here with me for a few more minutes, Einstein hair and all."
"Einstein was a genius. He was allowed to have a lifetime of bad hair days." He chuckled. He didn't protest about staying where they were. In fact, he just slipped his arms around her and pulled her in closer to him. "Sleep a little longer if you want, darling."
"I want to be here in your arms a little longer. Sleep is a ruse," she admitted without moving from where she was. "I'm rather happy to have you holding me like you are." She didn't feel Artaxias, and asked, "Do you think Ax is making us breakfast again?"
"It's likely he's downstairs feeding. He won't cook anything until he has his blood. And since it's feeding day, that's my guess anyway," he murmured. "But I'm betting he's got coffee started at the very least, likely what woke me up." He slid a hand down her back to her ass and pulled her in closer. "You are so wonderfully warm and snuggly."
"And you are not so bad yourself." Her hands moved over him slowly, gently, lovingly. "Have I mentioned just how well I slept last night? No dreams, no nightmares, just the heat of the two of you holding me close. I think that I'm addicted already and I refuse to let it go. Period. Just making sure you know," she added when he pulled back to give her that oh really look.
"Uh-huh, we may have to discuss that a little. I don't normally like wrapping around someone. Though, I will admit, you are perfectly proportioned to wrap around. I'm normally like a fish on land when I'm sleeping, flopping and flipping about. If I don't end up pushing all my pillows and blankets off the bed, it's a miracle."
"Well you didn't move a muscle, so I don't know if it was because I was wrapped around you and you me, or if you were just that exhausted." Reaching up, she touched her fingers to his cheek. "You okay?" she asked with a smile.
"I think so. I fucking slept like the dead, not a single dream or blip on the radar. I didn't even notice Artaxias moving around, which is unusual. I'm usually hyperaware of him because he moves so easily and silently."
"Well then, it's a good thing you slept so well." Lilly pulled back slightly and grinned. "Now, why don't you go down and get some coffee? I'm going to take advantage of the shower and hopefully when I get down, there will be food. Today we need to figure out if we will be able to use Artaxias's blood to help me with my diabetes."
"Wait, what?" Gavriel stared at her. "What? What?" he stuttered. "Okay, I'm missing something here, what the hell did you two get up to last night, exactly? And while that's ingenious, really, I still have to go with what?"
"He brought it up last night as we were talking. I want to have forever with you. I need to have forever with you both. It would be much, much better if I weren't constantly afflicted with this disease, don't you think?"
"Uh." He just blinked at her. But she could see the wheels turning and he finally nodded. "No, you're absolutely right, darling. You deserve to have the very best in life. And that means having a life that isn't regulated by your disease. I'm actually impressed he brought it up. He's usually so closed mouthed about what the blood of his race can do."
"Well, I am a part of the two of you. He wants me to be as healthy as possible so that we have a very long, very happy life together. It will be very, very good, don't you think? To be able to have a life with you and not have to worry about testing my blood sugar, taking insulin and so on?"
"Anything that gives you more time with us is very good. And having you healthy will make me feel better, too, darling. I do worry about you, even though we've only just met. I worry about you quite a bit, darling."
"That's a very good thing, because I worry for you as well. You are mine. Just as I am yours. I will always worry for you just as you will worry for me. It's how we are as mates. From my understanding, that's the way that it should be, right?" she asked curiously.
"You would be correct." He nodded slowly. "Mates worry about one another. We only get one shot at this, after all, and we want it to be the best it can be. We are blessed to have you as our mate, Lilly. A better mate we could never be given."
"Glad you think so," she said with a grin. "Because I happen to think that the two of you are pretty amazing as well. I am blessed by the mates that I have been given. I'm happy. Very happy," Lilly assured him. "Now, go and make sure there is food. I want to shower," she teased.
"I will drag him kicking and screaming into the kitchen." Smiling, Gavriel gave her a kiss before he untangled from her hold. "Don't be too long, little one." Rolling from the bed, he padded toward the door and then disappeared from sight.
Chapter Nine
"Are you sure that this is where I should be? I mean, it feels a little weird to just be standing here in the middle of the floor like this." Lilly was feeling nervous because today was the day that he was going to "scan" her to tell her if Artaxias would cure her or not.
"Lilly, when have I ever lied to you?" Gav frowned at her fiercely. "Just stand there, take slow breaths, and relax. I need you to be quiet, too, I know, hard for you to shut up for ten minutes." He grinned at her. He was teasing, of course. "But I am serious, stand still, be calm, and stay zipped up. I need to concentrate on this, and since I haven't done it since training it's going to take me a few moments."
She stuck her tongue out at him and grinned. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and did what he asked of her, quit talking, and did as instructed. It was hard for her to not talk, he was right about that. It was something that truly sucked, but she did tend to go on and on.
"Yes, you do at that," Artaxias said from somewhere behind her. His tone was rather dry. Little bugger had read her thoughts. "But we rather like your mouth, and when it's put to other entertaining uses, it is very enjoyable. Don't move," he said. Obviously he'd caught her intent to turn and say, well, something she was sure would have been either amusing or possibly scathing.
In her mind she thought. Yeah, keep it up, big boy. You are only poking and prodding me because I can't talk right now. Wait till I'm able to move and talk. And as for my mouth, you haven't let me put it into any other entertaining positions, remember?
"That's only because we can't complete the bonding yet. But trust me, I've been imagining many things for you to do with that part of you." Artaxias sent her a few images, relatively tame. Obviously he was trying not to jolt her. "Gavriel is about to start, Lilly, so remain still. You may feel a small tingle like a jolt of a shock, much like scuffing your feet over carpet and then touching something metallic."
You cannot tell me to be still after putting images like that in my mind. You are a very, very naughty boy. And she loved it, he knew she did. All right, let's get this show on the road, shall we, please? I want to get this over and done with as soon as possible so that I can either hug you or kiss you or hell, something.