Chapter 387: Normal

Chapter 387: Chapter 387: Normal

By the time Arik returned, Liam had paced the length of the sitting room often enough to know there were thirty-two steps between the fireplace and the tall eastern windows.

He still could not remember what the room was officially called.

The palace had too many sitting rooms, drawing rooms, private salons, morning rooms, evening rooms, receiving rooms, and apparently several rooms whose only meaningful distinction was which direction the windows faced. Liam had eventually solved the problem by referring to this one as the usual living room, because it was the place he and Arik actually used when neither of them wanted to be imperial.

It had accumulated evidence of that over the past months.

Two engineering journals sat beneath the low table instead of inside the library where Rubis preferred them. Arik had abandoned a black coat over the back of an armchair that morning. One of Liam’s mugs remained beside the window from the previous evening, and a folded blanket occupied half the sofa because Arik insisted Liam became cold whenever he worked too long without noticing the temperature.

Tonight Liam was doing no work at all.

He crossed the room again.

Turned.

Then stopped when the door opened.

Arik came in wearing black trousers and a dark shirt with the collar undone, one hand still holding a thin stack of council papers. His hair had been swept back for the day but was already coming loose around his temples, and the smoky caramel of his pheromones followed him into the room before the door had completely closed.

His eyes found Liam immediately.

Then narrowed.

"What happened?"

Liam exhaled.

That was precisely the problem.

"Nothing happened."

Arik set the papers on the nearest table.

"You are pacing."

"I pace."

"You pace when something is wrong, when you are angry, or when you have decided to tell me something you think I might react badly to."

Liam stared at him.

"You have become irritatingly observant."

Arik’s mouth curved, but he did not move closer yet.

Liam folded his arms, then immediately unfolded them because it made him feel as if he were preparing for an argument.

"I had a medical appointment today."

The amusement vanished from Arik’s face.

Liam pointed at him before he could speak.

"I am fine."

Arik stopped.

"You are going to let me finish."

His husband’s jaw tightened faintly.

"Fine."

"And you are not going to turn this into a security plan."

That made Arik suspicious.

"Why would it require a security plan?"

"It does not."

"Then why are you telling me not to make one?"

Liam sighed.

"This is already going badly."

Arik crossed the remaining distance slowly and stopped in front of him.

He did not touch him.

"Tell me."

Liam looked at the open collar of his shirt rather than his face.

"I stopped my suppressants."

Silence.

Liam finally looked up.

Arik was staring at him.

Delighted.

The expression spread slowly across his face until Liam narrowed his eyes.

"You look unbearably pleased."

"I am."

"That is why I waited until after the appointment."

Arik laughed softly.

Liam attempted to remain annoyed, but the warmth already spreading through their bond made it difficult.

"I am still on contraception," he said. "This is not about children."

"I know."

"You do not know. I only just told you."

"I know you."

That answer removed some of Liam’s prepared speech.

He frowned.

Arik’s hands finally settled at his waist.

"Was everything normal medically?"

"Yes. They expect it might take weeks or months before my cycle properly returns."

Arik nodded.

"And I have an emergency suppressant if I change my mind."

Another nod.

No objection.

Liam studied him carefully.

"You are taking this suspiciously well."

Arik lifted one eyebrow.

"What were you expecting?"

"You."

"That is unhelpful."

"I expected you to start calculating dates, tell Severin, reorganize guards, restrict every alpha within half the palace, and somehow convince yourself that I need three physicians following me."

Arik considered that.

"I had not reached three physicians."

Liam closed his eyes.

"Arik."

"I am listening."

"This is what I mean."

His husband’s hands tightened slightly at his waist.

Liam looked at him again.

"I want this to be normal."

The word changed the room.

Arik’s expression settled.

Liam continued more quietly.

"I know my heats are not particularly normal. I know what I become like, and I know being bonded changes which alpha I respond to. I also know there are practical things we need to consider."

"But you do not want it treated like an emergency."

"No."

Arik nodded.

Liam relaxed by a fraction.

"I want to trust you with it."

Arik went completely still.

Liam had known that would matter more than any medical explanation.

"I already trust you," he added. "That is not what I mean."

"I understand."

"This was the last thing I kept controlled separately. Even after we bonded."

Arik’s thumbs moved slowly along his sides.

"You did not owe it to me."

"I know."

"Liam."

The seriousness in his voice made Liam meet his eyes fully.

"You never owed me your heat."

"I know that too."

"Good."

Liam’s mouth softened.

"That is partly why I am ready."

Arik inhaled slowly.

His pheromones deepened almost immediately, smoky caramel filling the space around them in a warm wave that made Liam painfully aware of exactly what he had just offered his mate.

Arik noticed his reaction. His eyes darkened.

Liam pointed at him.

"That."

"What?"

"That possessive thing."

"I cannot control my face."

"You absolutely can."

"Not from you."

Liam almost laughed.

Arik pulled him a little closer.

"So I am permitted to be pleased?"

"Yes."

"Very pleased?"

"Yes."

"Possessive?"

Liam hesitated deliberately.

"A little."

Arik smiled.

"That was dangerous."

"It came with limits."

"Still dangerous."

Liam rested his hands against his chest.

"No turning the palace into a fortress."

"It already is one."

"No increasing guard rotations because I might go into heat."

Arik looked thoughtful.

"Normal rotations."

"Yes."

"No unnecessary medical staff."

"Yes."

"And if it starts while I am away?"

Liam paused.

"That is reasonable."

Arik’s expression became offensively satisfied.

"One security adjustment."

"Do not push it."

"I am negotiating."

"You are exploiting a technicality."

"I learned from you."

Liam rolled his eyes.

Arik bent and pressed a kiss to his forehead.

Then another to his temple.

The possessiveness remained there beneath his restraint, obvious in the way his arms settled more firmly around Liam and in the warmth of his scent wrapping around them.

But he was controlling it.

For Liam.

"You are really happy," Liam murmured.

Arik buried his face against the side of his neck.

"Yes."

His voice vibrated against Liam’s skin.

"Because you chose this with me."

Liam’s chest tightened.

Arik kissed just beneath his ear.

"And because," he added, quieter now, "I remember your first heat with me."

Liam immediately leaned back.

"There it is."

Arik grinned.

"You were adorable."

"I was humiliatingly obedient."

"You climbed into my lap because I asked you to sit down."

"I hate you."

"You stayed there for three hours."

Liam covered his face.

Arik laughed and pulled him against his chest.

"You promised not to use it against me."

"I am not."

"You are already collecting material."

"I have had the material for over a year."

"That is worse."

Arik kissed his hair.

Liam remained against him despite his complaints, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart beneath the shirt.

This was what he had wanted.

Only Arik holding him a little tighter than usual because Liam had opened the last locked door between them.

After a moment, Arik murmured, "I am still going to keep you very close."

Liam smiled against his chest.

"That part is allowed."