by Megan Derr
Kirian snorted and rolled out of bed to fetch his satchel. Carrying it closer to the bed, he knelt to rifle through it for a moment, before finally coming up with the writing journal he sought. He tossed it onto the bed, and then went around the room to extinguish most of the candles and throw fresh wood on the fire.
Fetching a damp rag from the washbasin, Kirian returned to the bed and cleaned them both up, only climbing back into bed when that was done. He settled against Evelyn and pulled the blankets up around them, opening the journal and displaying its contents. When Evelyn only remained silent, cheeks going bright red, Kirian laughed. That made Evelyn scowl and pinch him, which only caused Kirian to laugh more, before he began to read the bits he had written aloud. It was not something he had ever done before, curling up with a lover in bed and reading his works aloud, but he found that he quite enjoyed it.
Kirian did not foresee the new practice ever ceasing.
Epilogue
"I'm trying to wo—" Terrell was cut off by a very determined kiss and he grabbed Edlin's shoulders for balance as he was abruptly lifted and settled on the edge of the desk. Edlin spread Terrell's legs and settled between them, kisses moving from determined to devouring.
Terrell thumped him, glaring when Edlin drew back and grinned. "I am working diligently to finish my paper so that I do not have it looming over me while our friends visit—" Again he was cut off by a kiss, Edlin's fingers slipping beneath his jacket, hot through the fine lawn of Terrell's shirt.
He nibbled along Terrell's jaw for a moment before replying, "At least one impractical thing a day, sweet."
Terrell rolled his eyes even as he obligingly tilted his head back, fingers sliding into Edlin's hair. "I am quite certain that I was the epitome of impractical only a few hours ago in the storehouse." That made Edlin chuckle before he took his mouth again. Terrell would have sighed, but he hardly had any real complaints and he was bloody tired of his damnable paper. He broke away briefly to say, "You really are quite incorrigible."
"So you often say," Edlin murmured with a smirk, his fingers teasing over the telling bulge in Terrell's breeches. "Yet I feel it is never a complaint."
Laughing, Terrell wrapped his arms around Edlin's neck. "Marrying you was certainly the most impractical thing I ever did, but you are correct, sir: I have no complaints, except that I really would like to finish this—" Edlin cut him off again and Terrell surrendered, exactly as they both knew he would. Sinking his hands into Edlin's hair, he met the hungry kiss full measure, truly hoping that they did not ruin his papers again.
A loud knock on the door made them jump, Edlin's teeth catching Terrell's bottom lip and cutting it. Terrell swore and pushed Edlin away. He tried to slide off the desk, only to wind up tripping as he moved too hastily and landed wrong. "Damn it," he muttered as Edlin caught him up.
"Careful," Edlin cautioned, tilting his face up and pressing his own handkerchief to Terrell's bloody lip. "I'm sorry. Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," Terrell said, dabbing at his lip with the kerchief. When another knock came at the door, he called out, "Come in!"
To his surprise, it was not one of the servants. Instead, Kirian's head appeared in the doorway. He looked at them a moment, then smirked. "Interrupting, are we?" Terrell rolled his eyes and did not deign to respond.
Edlin laughed, matching Kirian's shameless smirk. "Yes, but we were being impractical, or so I was being informed. Do come in."
Kirian disappeared for a moment and Terrell could hear him speak, but wasn't able to catch the words. A moment later, he slipped back inside with Evelyn. "Good afternoon, Evie," Terrell greeted. "How was the journey here?"
Evelyn smiled. "Mostly uneventful, thankfully. I am certain you can guess who caused the few events we did encounter."
Rolling his eyes, Kirian said, "I only started the one and you know it."
Chuckling, Edlin leaned against the desk where a moment ago he had set Terrell. "How is your lip?" he asked quietly.
"Fine," Terrell repeated, and shoved the bloodied handkerchief into his jacket pocket. Turning back to Kirian and Evelyn, he said, "If there were so many events to delay you, how in the world did you still manage to arrive so early?"
"We set out yesterday morning," Evelyn replied dryly.
Kirian smirked at Terrell. "Someone is a might sore he was interrupted in the middle of his work."
"Yes, actually," Terrell confirmed, kicking Edlin's ankle when he snickered. "So why are you here early, and you know I do not actually mind, you brat."
Evelyn replied, "My brother wanted to speak to us, so we returned early and traveled to his estate. Our business with him…"
Terrell stopped listening, attention caught by movement by the door, low to the ground, where a little head of messy gold curls had peeked around. The little boy's eyes popped wide as he realized Terrell saw him, and he vanished as suddenly as he had come.
Striding to the door, Terrell pulled it open and stared in surprise at the two young boys—scarcely more than babes, really—who squeaked in surprise and ran to the young woman who was clearly their nurse.
"You could not wait until Papa announced you, eh?" Kirian said cheerfully over Terrell's shoulder. Moving around Terrell, Kirian held out his arms and the blond boy ran to him, cuddling close as Kirian scooped him up.
Terrell looked at him in silent query as they all went back into Terrell's office and the second boy, dark-haired and a bit smaller than the other, went straight to Evelyn and clung tightly to his leg, making him smile. "As I was saying, my brother recalled us home quite a bit early—a full month, actually. We have been at his country estate. His young sister-in-law was seduced and bore twins. He has kept the matter quiet and cared for the boys himself, but thought they should have a proper home and family. He had scarcely finished explaining the situation before Kirian declared we would have them."
Kirian looked sheepish, but happy as he pulled away the curl that the little blond boy was attempting to eat. Evelyn motioned to the boy at his leg and said, "This is Hugh and that is Jody. Their nurse out in the hall is Rosa."
"I think we've a nursery somewhere about the place," Terrell pondered, frowning in thought. "I am sure I've never used it; I was not brought here until I was much older, but it must be about the place because my mother was the last to use it."
Edlin snorted in amusement. "Second floor, back of the west wing. I will find a couple of maids to give it a quick clean tonight, and then arrange for it to be properly done tomorrow." He kissed Terrell's cheek before slipping away.
"They are charming," Terrell said, reaching out to stroke Jody's riot of curls. "Twins, you say? They are night and day, for all that."
"Yes," Evelyn said, "but they work together in a way that is positively terrifying. They would be the reason we are actually arriving far later than we otherwise would have."
At his feet, Hugh suddenly demanded, "Up!" and Evelyn obliged with a soft laugh.
"Hugh here is quite the boy for a fight; if I did not know better, I would swear Kir is the natural father."
Terrell laughed. "Well, I am glad they are fitting right in. Come, let's go to the sun room. They will love the indoor garden and we can have tea." He led the way, chatting idly about the goings-on with Fivecoats, his family and Edlin's, his work, and all that had been arranged for the group to do during their visit.
Kirian smirked at him. "So when are you and Edlin going to look into children?"
Rolling his eyes, Terrell retorted, "Isn't that just like those with children, to pester those without. None of your business."
"It's only practical," Kirian said, smirk turning into a grin. "One can't be young and impractical forever."
Terrell smiled. "One certainly can't be young forever," he agreed as they reached the sunroom, and rang for tea.
FIN
About the Author
Megan is a long time resident of LGBTQ fiction, and keeps herself busy reading, writing, and publishing it. She is often accu
sed of fluff and nonsense. When she's not involved in writing, she likes to cook, harass her wife and cats, or watch movies. She loves to hear from readers, and can be found all over the internet.
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