“But he’s fine?” Jase demanded.
“He’s going to live.”
“Ennis is okay?” Jase asked, hands clasping together in prayer pose. He wanted his big brother alive and his man safe.
“Your man is fine,” he answered.
“When can I see them?” he demanded.
“As soon as I can get my ass off the couch and take you,” he said. “Shoes.”
He raced upstairs to pull on jeans and sneakers before heading back downstairs. During the drive into the city, they talked little, but he didn’t need conversation. His mind was on his brother, his lover, and parents’ inevitable rejection.
He looked for Ennis at the entrance and was disappointed when he didn’t spot him in the bustle of conversation and bodies hurrying in. He asked at the front desk which room his brother was in and rode up in the elevator with Trinity, who’d gone stone silent on him.
“What’s wrong? Is it some demon thing?” Jase asked.
“I just hate hospitals.” He shrugged.
The door slid open, Jase bounded out and hurried to his brother’s room. Jarrett looked pale, his mother looked worried, and his grandmother wore a mask of concern.
“Jarrett.” Jase hurried across the room.
“Hey,” Jarrett said as they embraced gingerly. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” he said. “Hi, Mom.” He went to hug his grandmother. “Hi, Gran.”
“Hello, my boy,” she said, patting his cheek. “How are you? Your brother said you’d witnessed a murder.”
“I sort of did,” he admitted, arm still around the thin woman who didn’t by any means look like a frail old woman. She had a healthy glow and her blue eyes shone. Her face bore laugh lines on the forehead, but other hints of her sixty-eight years of life were minor.
“And Ennis took care of you?” she asked with raised brows. “I’ll skin that boy alive if you tell me he didn’t.”
“Mother,” Mary Kinney said, shaking her head at her mother May.
May pursed her lips at her daughter’s disapproval and turned her attention back on her grandson. “Well?”
“He did,” Jase said. “He took real good care of me, Gran.” He smiled.
May laughed. “Tell your Gran all about it,” she urged as she sat back down on the leather couch across the room from the bed.
“There’s nothing to tell, really,” he insisted. “He just hid me away so no one could get to me.”
“Just hid you away,” she muttered.
“How is Ennis?” Jarrett asked. “I haven’t seen him since I woke up.”
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him either,” Jase said. “I was hoping you could tell me.”
“Enough about that,” Mary said stiffly. “Both of you are safe. That’s all that’s important.”
* * * *
Ennis glanced at Rain, who’d finished healing him. Her healing abilities were good, which was another reason he’d sent her to take care of Tonya. She’d been able to kill the fetus despite the powers it already might have. “Scars?”
“I’m afraid so,” she said. “I’m not that good. Your boyfriend will just have to live with them, but you’re good to go.”
He nodded. “Thanks for taking care of Tonya.”
“You asked. I didn’t agree with it.” She shrugged.
“I know you didn’t,” he said. “That’s why I’m thanking. Now, I’m heading to my office. You can take a few days off if you need them.”
“I don’t,” she said. “Oh, that other matter you asked about has been taken care of as well. It’s in your office.”
He gave her a nod and left the infirmary. He’d wanted to stick around at the hospital, but he’d had to be healed as Bale had. He’d been lucky his men had come through without serious injury.
Ennis stepped into his office to find the box on his desk. He hurried to have a look at it. As soon as he picked up the jeweler’s box, the door burst open and the ball of energy that was Jase came bounding at him. Ennis set the box down to catch him when he hurled himself into his arms.
He held him off the ground as their lips met and Jase’s arms went around his neck. Jase broke the kiss and looked down at him.
“Hey.”
Ennis laughed. “Hey yourself.”
“I’m glad you didn’t die saving my brother,” he murmured at Ennis’s ear. “Love you.”
“Love you, too, sweetness.” Ennis set Jase on his feet. “Where’s Trin?”
“He said he needed some sleep,” Jase said and reached up to caress his jaw. “Is everything good?”
“For now,” he said.
“Trinity told me the guy killed his wife and was trying to get her money to fund some project.”
“More or less, but you derailed his plans by witnessing his first wife’s murder,” Ennis said.
“I guess that was a bad thing for him.” Jase caught Ennis’s hand. “So?”
“So, he’s dead,” Ennis said. “I have a gift for you.”
Jase smiled. “First, let me say that I know I’ve been a bit of a jerk in the last few days, but I’m sorry.”
“I—”
“No, Ennis, listen. I know I’m a brat,” he said. “But what I did to you was wrong and manipulative. I acted like the only way I would be with you is if you did exactly as I said. I apologize. My love for you really is unconditional.”
“I understand how worried you were about your brother.”
“I was still wrong and if you think I’m not worth risking your heart on, I understand.”
“I accept your apology, and I can deal with your bratty behavior as long as you never tell anyone about incubi.”
Jase cupped his face. “I promise no matter what else I do, I won’t tell your secrets.”
“It would be very bad for the human population,” Ennis told him. “They would hunt us, and we’d kill them.”
“I understand,” Jase said with a little nod. “So, do you really love me?”
“I said I did,” Ennis murmured. “I want you—need you in my life, Jase.”
Jase smiled. “I need you in mine,” he said softly and leaned up to kiss him.
Ennis pulled Jase into his arms. “You don’t know what you’re doing with me.”
“I know, but I’m willing to take that chance,” he said and smiled. “So, what’s the gift? A Persian cat?”
Ennis laughed and held out the box. Jase took it and lifted the lid. He frowned at the navy disk inside.
“What is it?”
“It’s a pendant with my house’s symbol. It means you’re under our protection,” Ennis explained.
“It means you’re mine?”
Ennis laughed. “Cheeky boy.”
“Does it? I mean I’m not wearing it if you’re just saying your friends accept me.”
Ennis tugged Jase’s braid. “It means you’re mine.”
“Then, I’ll have to buy you something that says you’re off the market,” he murmured. “Put it on me?”
Ennis grinned as he did just that. “How’s Jarrett?” He kissed Jase’s neck.
“Fine. Going home tomorrow. I know you have work to do, but I want to go to my parents for dinner tomorrow. My mom invited me over. I want you to come.”
“You’re not wasting any time,” Ennis said. “Are you sure?”
“The sooner my mom realizes I’m not going anywhere and that I’m gay, the easier it’ll be on her. My dad, too.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Jase was a little nervous as Ennis helped him out of the truck at 7:15 the next evening. He knew his mother was going to go ballistic when she saw who he’d brought with him.
Ennis grabbed the flowers he’d tucked in the backseat in a basket on the floor and passed them to Jase. “Relax, sweetness. All they can do is kick us out.” He grabbed the bottle of wine he knew was both of Jase’s parents’ favorite.
“I want them to accept me with you,” he complained as they strolled up the walk to the porch.
“Can’t always get what you want, baby boy, so deal with it,” Ennis said.
“I have to try.” Jase knocked on the door. “At least Jarrett is going to try to accept us.”
The door opened and Jarrett gave his brother a smile. “Hey. Come in. Gran is here, too.”
“Great. An ally,” Jase murmured.
“Ennis.” Jarrett nodded and motioned them in. “Jase, go on in. I want to talk to Ennis.”
“Jarrett—”
“Jase,” Ennis cut in. “Take the wine, too.”
Jase glared at him but stomped away.
Jarrett lifted his brows. “Thanks for saving my life. I’m still not sure what happened.”
Ennis shrugged. “Jase would have killed me if I hadn’t tried.”
Jarrett grunted. “How do you feel about my brother, Ennis? You’ve never committed to single person.”
“I’m in love with him.”
He blew out a breath. “I was afraid you’d say that, but I’m glad you’re not just messing with him.”
“I’ve never done that to him, and I never would,” Ennis answered coldly.
“What are you boys doing out here?” Joel Kinney stepped into the foyer. “Dinner’s on the table, and we’re all ready to get to it.”
Jarrett gave his dad a curious look and glanced to Ennis. “I was thanking Ennis for saving my life.”
Joel scoffed. “You’re friends, plus your brother would have wailed like a banshee if he hadn’t. No man wants to deal with that.” He gave Ennis a wink and a slap on his shoulder. “Come on, you two.”
Ennis gave Jarrett a questioning look. “They put poison on my plate?”
Jarrett shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine.” He led the way into the dining room where his mother was putting the last bowl on the table and his grandmother was seated next to her fiancé.
“Who’s he?” Ennis asked, his eyes going to the unfamiliar scent in the spacious formal dining room with its chandelier over the long cherrywood table.
“Gran got engaged a week ago,” Jarrett told him. “She said she hoped you came tonight.”
“The guy gonna beat me up or something?”
Jarrett snickered and headed to the table.
“Ennis, it’s good to see you again.” May beamed.
“Ms. May, it’s good to see you, too.” He went to hug her.
“It’s about time you made your move on poor, Jase,” she whispered in his ear. “I was tired of watching you two dance around each other.”
He gave her smile. “He made the move.”
She laughed. “Well, good for him.”
“Ennis, you brought the good wine,” Joel said. “Come sit down here next me.”
Jase made a face as he sat across from his brother. Grace was said and they dug in. Jase was surprised at the easy flow of conversation. He’d expected less civility from his parents, but he’d expected his grandmother to be as warm to Ennis as she was. After dinner, his dad cleared the table and asked for his help bringing out dessert.
Jase leaned against the counter after placing coffee cups on the tray. He glanced nervously at his father.
“Ennis is a fine man,” Joel said after putting the pie on the tray.
“But?” Jase asked, waiting for the other shoe to clunk him in the head.
Joel smiled. “Son, your mother is upset. She was hoping for a big wedding and a pretty daughter-in-law she could brag about. She’ll get her chance as soon as your brother gets up the balls and romances that girl he brought to the party the other night.”
Jase grinned. “Cassie.”
“Yep. She’s a pretty girl. Bragworthy. Got a good head on her shoulders. I think your mother will get to like her.”
His father had always been a little flexible about some things, but he hadn’t expected this attitude. He’d never expressed homophobic views, but he’d never seemed like the type to support gay rights either.
“Ennis is already like family, and hell, I knew he’d end up being an honorary son-in-law years ago.”
“How?” he frowned.
“I’ve known you were gay your whole life, but I knew how upset it made your mother to even think it. I didn’t push it on her,” Joel said.
“You never said anything.”
“Nothing to say.” Joel shrugged. “Any doubts I had about your sexual orientation vanished the first time I watched you, really watched you, with Ennis. You were flirting with him and he was flirting back. You were practically throwing yourself at him and the fact that he didn’t let you fall flat but didn’t make any moves won him my respect.”
“Why?” he demanded. “If you accepted that I was gay then why didn’t you want me to date him?”
“I wasn’t ready,” he admitted. “I didn’t want to see you with any man, let alone a black one.”
“You’re mad?”
He shrugged. “Being gay seems hard enough without adding the challenge of racial issues to it. But I’ve come to terms with the fact that Ennis was going to be the one since you came home from college. You’re my son. I love you. Ennis is a good man and that’s all I can ask for, for you.”
Jase hugged his dad. “Love you, too, Dad.”
“Yeah, let’s get this dessert out there.”
“What exactly are your intentions toward, Jase?” Mary asked stiffly. “You’ve never had a serious boy…friend.”
Jase stopped in the doorway, his jaw dropping.
“I’m in love with Jase,” Ennis said. “And I want to give him a good life. Maybe in six months we’ll have a commitment ceremony.”
“What about children?” Mary demanded.
“I’ll hire a surrogate,” Ennis told her.
“Really?” Mary asked. “And have her artificially inseminated with whose sperm?”
“Jase’s first and then mine,” he said.
“That might work, but I’m still not happy with you,” she said. “I might get past it once that first grandchild comes along.”
May laughed. “You’re a good boy, Ennis, and she knows it. She’s just upset she won’t be planning a big wedding, but the reception for the commitment ceremony has promise, Mary.”
Mary gave her mother a scowl.
“Here’s dessert,” Jase said and hurried to the table with a tray. He caught Ennis’s eye. After he set the tray down, he crooked a finger at him and Ennis got up.
“No sex on the counter, boys,” Joel teased as Ennis went to Jase.
“Dad,” Jase complained.
Ennis caught his hand and let Jase lead him out to the backyard. “What is it?”
“I’m glad we came,” he said, looking up at the sky as he looped an arm through Ennis’s.
“Me, too. I like your family.”
Jase smiled. “Did you mean it?”
“Mean what?” Ennis wrapped an arm around Jase.
“A commitment ceremony and wanting to give me a good life.”
“I love you, Jase Kinney, and I’m planning on sticking around for a very long time.” Ennis drew Jase into his arms and kissed him.
Jase sighed and melted into him, wrapping his arms around his neck. “Love you, too.”
THE END
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ms. Reynolds is a daydreamer who loves to read and write romance that arouses. She can be found taking walks in the park to flesh out characters and listening to music to make sexy scenes come alive.
Ms. Reynolds is also fond of cooking and thinks the kitchen is a good place to develop bondage and sex scenes because food can be as sexy as music when it comes to sex and the sex drive.
For all titles by E.A. Reynolds, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/ea-reynolds
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www.SirenPublishing.com
Seducing His Brother's Best Friend Page 17
