Chapter 130: Incomplete Bond.

Bryce held Vincent’s hand, and the next moment, they teleported straight into the room.

The instant they landed, both of them staggered back when they found Agatha standing there, watching them with an expression that made it clear she was far from impressed.

"You ran off without guards. I made it clear that the guards have to accompany you, even if there would not be much they could do and you can protect yourself. Still, they need to be there."

"I’m sorry," Bryce said shortly.

Agatha looked a little disappointed, but the moment she noticed that the tension that had existed between Bryce and Vincent earlier was gone, her expression changed.

The two of them looked as though they had already made up. The disappointment on her face disappeared almost immediately, replaced by faint amusement.

She did not speak about it anymore.

"Okay, then," she said, her voice lighter. "Anything special you would like for dinner?"

"I’ll eat anything that’s made. Strawberries for fruit," Bryce answered, looking toward Vincent.

"I’ll have what he’ll have," Vincent answered, then turned to Bryce as though something had just occurred to him. "Are you sure our baby won’t be strawberry-colored when he finally comes out?"

That earned an involuntary laugh from Bryce and drew a confused chuckle from Agatha.

"Why would you think that?" Agatha asked.

"Because he’s been eating strawberries day and night," Vincent answered.

Agatha laughed even harder, shaking her head as she began walking toward the door.

The moment the door closed behind her, Vincent moved closer to Bryce.

"Can I feel it?" he asked, his hand already lifting toward Bryce’s stomach.

"I’m going to the bathroom," Bryce murmured, almost intentionally seductive.

"Am I invited?" Vincent asked in the same voice, low, slow, and seductive.

"No," Bryce said playfully as he made his way toward the door leading to the bathroom. Vincent followed despite the answer, apparently having no intention of taking it seriously.

He closed the door behind them, and they both took in the bathroom. It was vast, far larger than either of them needed, with a large bathtub occupying one side, shelves stacked with neatly folded towels on the other, and a glass section beside them containing a shower.

A wide mirror stretched across part of the wall, reflecting the two of them as they stood there.

Bryce stepped into the glass section and turned on the warm shower. Water immediately began falling over him, soaking through his clothes.

His blond hair, which had grown long enough to almost reach his shoulders, became wet almost instantly, the strands clinging to his face and neck.

He began undressing slowly, making no attempt to hide what he was doing. Vincent remained where he was, watching with amusement, although his face gradually turned red, something Bryce had grown accustomed to seeing lately.

When Bryce finally removed his top, leaving his chest and stomach exposed, Vincent’s breath caught.

Almost unconsciously, he stepped forward and entered the shower as well, still fully clothed.

His eyes moved over Bryce’s wet face, settling briefly on his reddish lips, which looked even fuller and more vivid from the water. They reminded Vincent of the strawberries Bryce had been eating almost obsessively lately.

His gaze gradually travelled lower, moving across Bryce’s chest before reaching the small curve of his stomach. The intensity of Vincent’s attention made Bryce’s body tremble slightly.

When Vincent’s eyes finally settled on the small bump, his hand moved unhurriedly toward it and came to rest against Bryce’s stomach.

"Can’t wait to see him," he murmured as he leaned closer, their bodies touching beneath the warm water.

"You’ve said that so many times I’ve lost count," Bryce answered.

Vincent simply smiled before leaning in and catching Bryce’s lips in a kiss that seemed almost inevitable.

"You were so hot out there when you were commanding those people," Vincent murmured against his lips. "And when you got angry because they kept saying nonsense about me, I could barely hold myself back."

"What stopped you from grabbing me and kissing me?" Bryce asked playfully.

"I don’t know. I guess I wasn’t sure if you would be okay with that, especially when you were so angry and consumed by defending your husband."

That drew another involuntary laugh from Bryce.

"Husband?" he muttered.

Before he could say anything else, Vincent captured his lips again, kissing him with renewed intensity as he pressed closer.

"Very, very soon to be husband," he murmured against Bryce’s lips. "What? Don’t you want to marry me, my love?"

"You’re turning me on wildly right now," Bryce replied.

"Weren’t you already turned on?" Vincent teased in the same low murmur. "I’ve been like that for a while now. Since earlier."

His hand moved slowly along Bryce’s back, drawing him closer as the kiss deepened. Bryce’s breath caught, and he released it slowly, his composure becoming increasingly difficult to maintain beneath Vincent’s attention.

Vincent’s hand moved lower, and he began to undo Bryce’s pants.

Bryce could feel Vincent’s desire, and he could feel how easily Vincent was stirring his own. The sensation should have been enough to consume his attention, but something continued to feel unsettling.

There was a strange incompleteness in the moment, something he could not quite dismiss even while Vincent’s touch was driving him nearly insane.

"If we had known there would be a safe place like this one, we should have just come with him," Vincent murmured against Bryce’s neck before pressing a kiss there.

Bryce’s heart seemed to stop for a second.

He could not stop wondering why Vincent had suddenly said that. Had he noticed Bryce’s divided attention, or had he been hearing Bryce’s thoughts again?

"Miss him already?" Bryce asked, keeping his tone almost playful, although he genuinely wanted to understand why Vincent had said it.

"What? No, I... I..." Vincent began, stumbling over the words. "I’m just used to him being around, especially in a moment like this, so I feel like there’s something missing."

Bryce stared at him, completely stunned.

How could Vincent Walker actually be stuttering simply because Bryce had asked whether he missed Dave?

It was obvious now that Vincent had not mentioned bringing Dave along merely because he had noticed Bryce’s hesitation or somehow caught the thought behind it.

He had said it because that was what he felt and wanted to say.

"Is it because you actually want him here, or because you’re worried that you won’t be enough without him?" Bryce asked, partly teasing, although there was genuine seriousness beneath the question.

"Because he should be here. After all, we made a rule..." Vincent paused, seeming to search for the right words. "No having moments like this when one person is not around."

He stuttered again.

Bryce stared at him blankly.

Their rule had always been clear, but Vincent had just admitted that Dave’s absence made the moment feel incomplete.