“I’m not going to do anything reckless on this mission, if that’s what you’re asking,” Lee said. “I promise, we’re going to get in and get out as quickly as possible. If Mom tries to go for her shoes, I’ll carry her out.”
“I don’t see that I have much use for them in Frelsi,” I countered. Although I had a gorgeous pair of Gucci booties I’d never been able to wear.
“I’ll buy you more shoes, my goddess,” Dev promised. “And Lee, we’re just worried about you. Your mother isn’t the only one who’s having problems with this change. It doesn’t mean we don’t love you. It’s the opposite.”
“I’ve been thinking about this and I suspect I should give you the same amount of time it took for me to get over losing you,” Lee said softly.
“How long was that?” I asked.
“Twelve years one month and three days. Pretty much until the moment I saw you walk into Ether again. And like all things we pray for, it wasn’t entirely what I expected and yet it’s everything I needed. I’m not happy you’re back. That would be a silly thing to say. We’re…complete in a way we haven’t been since we were kids. So let’s take all this as growing pains and move on,” Lee said. “But try to work faster than we did. I’d like to get back to happy family dinners. Oh, speaking of, I need to plan my good-bye to solid food tour.”
“I can help you with that, nephew of mine,” Neil promised as they walked off toward the kitchen at the front of the plane.
I looked to my husbands. “Seriously? You were going to set him up?”
Dev frowned my way. “I was going to be subtle about it.”
Danny simply sighed. “It wasn’t a firm plan. And we’re not going to hold a stake to his heart. The truth is he will do much better if he has a companion. I’ll worry about him less if he’s better protected.”
“Have you thought about the fact that Evan and I can donate?” I was absolutely certain my daughter would have no problem giving a little blood to keep her brother strong.
“I don’t think Lee will be as reasonable about that as you think, though it’s not a terrible plan,” Danny agreed. “It would solve some problems, though I worry your blood is… It’s high-octane fuel versus low-grade unleaded. I would bet Evan’s is, too. It could be an all new level of addiction and put him off other companions. And then we’re back to the whole Oedipal complex thing.”
“That’s a human problem.” Dev shook that worry off. “Lee was raised in the supernatural world. He never expected his mother to age. He’s perfectly disturbed by the fact that his parents still have sex. So let’s have sex and disturb our son.”
Dev was on his feet, his hand in mine, and he gently started leading me toward the back of the plane.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Neil might be used to freaky stuff happening right next door, but Lee was…apparently Lee was usually the one freaky things were happening to.
“I do need to feed.” Danny crowded me from behind. “And you know you work better when you’re loose. Harry always told us…”
Grief hit me fresh and hard, but it was okay because I was with them. Maybe we did need to spend this time together. I turned and Danny’s face had fallen. I reached up and cupped his cheeks. “He taught us to always stretch before a job, to go in as relaxed as possible. There would be time to worry after a job was over, especially if anxiety got us put in jail.”
My dad had been full of helpful advice for the teenaged thief.
I was so glad he’d gotten to spend time with my kids. That had been a blessing. I’d been gone, but my kids had their grandfather. They hadn’t been alone.
And they would never be. I would make sure of it.
Danny leaned over and brushed his lips against mine. His hands found my hips and he kissed me, his emotions flowing. I wasn’t alone either. I hadn’t been for a long time, but every now and then I needed a reminder. I needed to know that no matter what happened, we would be together.
Dev kissed the back of my neck and his hands found my breasts, even as he began to maneuver us toward the bedroom. “Come with me, my loves. I think you’ll like this new space I made for us. When our vampire doesn’t want to do things old school, we can fly anywhere we like.”
This was what Dev did best. He made us all comfortable. He made a home for us. Wherever we were.
I should never have doubted that I could make a home here. I had everything I needed.