Chapter One Hundred and One

When Izabella woke up the next morning, Bram was at her back. His arms wrapped around her, and he breathed evenly across the back of her neck. Izabella tried to sneak out of his arms without waking him, but as she was about to make good her escape, he snatched her back, holding her tightly. “Where do you think you’re going?” He whispered, his voice husky and sleep filled.

“I need to use the bathroom, Bram.” She squirmed.

“Mmmm.” Nuzzling his face into the crook of her neck, he chuckled. “I don’t think I can let you go. You feel way too good right here, right now.” She gasped as he suckled her flesh, one hand cupping her breast while the other started to work its way between her thighs.

“Bram! Stop.” She couldn’t help but laugh as he refused to let her go. “Please, I really have to go. Otherwise, I’m going to end up making a mess!” Rolling her over, Bram pinned her down. He held her arms over her head as he pressed a knee between her legs. He kissed her deeply before releasing her lips, working toward nibbling on her ear. “Mmmn.” Her arguments died as her hips wigged against his leg.

Chuckling, he pulled away, “If you keep looking at me with those fuck me eyes, I’m really not going to be able to let you go.”

“Well, now I don’t want you to. You’re evil, you know that?” She said, moaning as she rubbed against him more.

“Yeah?” His eyes sparkled as he pulled away from her, kicking his legs over the side of the bed. “You better hurry. Or I’m going to beat you to it.” He gave her a mischievous look as he slowly started to round the bed.

Izabella jumped up, “Oh! No you don’t!” She ran for the bathroom, leaving Bram behind her laughing.

Grabbing his clothes from the night before, Bram dressed and went to the bathroom door. “Why don’t you shower before coming out? I’ll go check on the kiddos.”

“Sure, thank you, Bram!” She called back.

Heading to the main room, he made a beeline for the coffee machine, which he was grateful was already brewed and ready. He looked over at Gavin who was sitting at the table looking at something on his phone. “Was this you?” Bram asked.

“Nope. Gabe woke up and made that this morning. He also ordered a ton of food from room service. The coffee they brought up is substantially better, so beware.” Clicking off his phone, he rested his chin in his hand. “I was starting to wonder if you were going to spend the entire day in your room.”

Bram frowned, going to the table set up like a large buffet on the other side of the living room. “It’s barely eight in the morning. Just because you don’t sleep doesn’t mean the rest of us don’t.” He poured himself a cup off black coffee, and took a small plate filled with meat and brought it to the table.

Gavin made a couple hand gestures at Bram, who nodded, watching as Gavin spoke to him without saying a word. Devon came in, curling into Bram’s lap as he put his own plate in front of him. “What are you guys talking about?” Devon asked as he pushed food into his mouth.

“Things that can’t be said allowed.” Bram leaned his head against his son’s, smiling. “We just have some things we need to figure out sooner than later. When mom’s done in the shower, we’ll probably head out so that we can have a quiet conversation together. It’ll be easier that way.” When Bram said mom to him, Devon’s eyes met his, and they both smiled softly at each other. It may have only been a year, but in that time, the two of them had really been hoping to find a mom for Devon, even if they didn't realize it at the time. Now that they had found her, they couldn’t help their excitement.

“I mean, Gabe’s awake, and I can help until she comes out. Not that I’m trying to rush you. Just didn’t think you needed to wait for mom. We’ll behave.” Devon wrapped his arms around Bram’s shoulders.

“Thanks, bud. But I’m waiting for mom more for her sake than yours.” Bram mussed his hair.

“Oh, okay.” Devon nodded, his head whipping around as a half squeak, half scream came from the bedroom. Bram was on his feet and in the bedroom in moment. Devon followed just as quickly. Izabella was dressed and standing in the room that was too dark, but something inside hissed as Bram threw the door open. “Mom?” Devon asked.

Eudom was still hissing when Izabella turned, giving a nervous laugh. “I’m sorry, guys. Eudom scared me. I wasn’t expecting everything to just go suddenly dark. I need a way for you to let me know when you’re coming.”

“I would have warned our little Iz, but she doesn’t wear the ring.” Eudom’s red eyes glared at her, his long ashy-grey finger pointing at her.

“Oh! Shoot! Dad's ring.” She went busting out of the room into the kitchen. When she didn’t see the ring out the counter a part of her started to panic. Gavin chuckled from where he sat at the table.

“Hey, look behind you, near the sink in a small bowl.” He pointed.

“Gosh, Gavin you are a life saver!” She grabbed it.

Chortling, he shook his head. “You shouldn’t leave magical items laying around. You never know what people around you might do with them. After you left it on the counter, I put it over there so that the kids couldn’t get them. The darts are up in the right hand cupboard.”

“Thank you, I’m so sorry.”

She wasn’t particularly fond of the smile he gave her. She felt like he was hiding something. “No worries. Just be more careful in the future. If anyone here had nefarious plans, that definitely could have been catastrophic in nature.”

Izabella bit her lip, heading back toward the bedroom, “Eudom showed up, do you want to come inside and speak with him?”

Gavin smiled, standing up. “He actually showed up last night, and we had a nice little chat. I’ll come in for now, but if there’s anything you need to discuss with him and Bram, please, don’t feel obligated for me to have to stay.” The chair scraped loudly over floor, which made him grimace as he stood.

“’Kay.” She slid the ring back on her finger, going into the room where Bram and Eudom both had their arms crossed over their chests, watching her enter. “It feels a little tense in here. You guys doing okay?”

Gavin laughed again, making her uncomfortable. It wasn’t like others, who had a happy laugh. It was like he wasn’t laughing with you, but at you, and he was even more amused when the other person didn’t get it. “I bet they’re arguing over who’s allowed to call you theirs.” He leaned in. His whisper was different from his normal sarcastic tone that he usually used.

“Oh, you should whisper more often, you sound so much more personable.” She smiled. Bram and Eudom both just looked at her with annoyance.

“You mean it’s much sexier. Yeah, I know.” His eyes sparkled at Bram and Eudom, then he shrugged, “Just be happy I will only ever be the gay friend. Otherwise, you’d both lose.” Izabella couldn’t help but laugh at that as both Bram and Eudom glared harder. When he actually smiled, Izabella had to agree. He was very attractive. Tyler was lucky to have found him. Especially since Bram had an issue liking anyone, and he didn't seem to mind having Gavin around. “Isn’t that right, my little Izzy?” He winked at her and she started cracking up again.

“Okay, okay. All of you boys need to behave.” She walked over to Bram, putting her arm around his waist. “Now, I don’t belong to any of you. I am my own person. But, you are definitely my one and only, babe.”

She nodded at Gavin, “And you will only ever be the gay friend.” He nodded, still amused with himself.

“And Eudom, you are my protector. Right? Here to make sure that no one else can hurt me. I would like it very much if from now on you could call me your Izzy, like my father did. Is that okay with you?"Eudom seemed very pleased with her question, but didn't respond. "And I can just be your Iz?” She looked up at Bram.

Bram held her close, his fingers practically digging into her hip. “Iz, I really don’t like another guy calling you his. I don’t even like it when Gavin does it, and I *know* there’s nothing between the two of you.”

“Yeah, but it’s kinda nice. Having Eudom around, calling me his little Izzy, is almost like I still have dad.” She blinked her sad eyes at him. Even if tears weren’t already brimming, he would have caved eventually. But how could he possibly deny her something that brought her that comfort and made her feel that way.

“I get it. But I don’t have to like it.” He already knew he never would, but he certainly couldn’t keep her from having friends or other people in her life. He saw what that did to people, and it wasn’t good. He was sure that’s why his parents were so dysfunctional. He kissed the top of her head.

Eudom, however, found someone more interesting to pay attention to. “Little one, you’ve grown so. I’ve missed you.”

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