AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Happy Holidays to one and all. It's been entirely too long since I last posted and I have no excuse whatever.
The FF witch hunt appears to have subsided for the time being. I will continue to post here and on AO3 for as long as I can. When/if I am forced to complete the relocation you can find me at - archiveofourown ~dot~ org. Then just do a search for Jtrue.
It is also my pleasure to announce the E&O Summit to take place mid next month here in Las Vegas. Sis, I can't wait to see you! And a big thank you for your dusting in this chapter.
Big hugs to my ladies, Maureen, Rebecca, Kate and Pauline.
Anyone who has not read the incredible Equal & Opposite, or is not now reading the brilliance that is Errors & Omissions, or Enticements & Obstructions, all by OhJasperMyJasper, should go do so right now. Here is how you find them since the FF witch hunt removed Liz from this site - ohjaspermyjasper ~dot~ blogspot ~dot~ com.
WARNING:
This story is intended for an adult audience! There is crude speech, hate speech and adult sexual subject matter of a homosexual nature. If you are under 18 stop reading now!
AU/AH/OC
All characters from Twilight belong to Stephenie Meyer. I just take them out and play with them.
Chapter 30: An Equally Busy Afternoon
Seth needed to get back to work and saw Dane off after Dane received a simple text of a smiley face from Tony. It was clear that Tony just wanted Dane to know that he was thinking of him. Seth smiled from ear to ear as he walked through his home from his front door back to his office. He was very happy to have brought those two together. They were perfect for each other.
He dashed the last few steps around the corner when he heard his cell ring. Seth snatched it up from where he had left it on his desk. "Hello?" he didn't have time to read the screen.
"Seth, hey," a friendly, easy, masculine voice greeted him.
"Roberto!" Seth recognized the voice immediately. He was not expecting to hear from his sister's guy. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"You home today?" Roberto asked.
"I am," Seth answered.
"Mind if I stop by?" Roberto quizzed.
"Never, but, aren't you on duty?" Seth asked.
"Not yet. I'm on my way in. We got a bunch of paperwork today, but Al said he'd handle it for me," Roberto informed.
"What has your partner in such a generous mood?" Seth queried.
"So I could talk to you," Roberto explained.
"Ah, well, come by anytime," Seth offered. "Where are you?"
"In front of your building," Roberto revealed.
"Then, please, come up," Seth ended the call and set his cell back down. He answered the house phone when it rang ten seconds later and buzzed the front door without saying a word. He walked back to the front door, opened it and waited just another moment for the elevator to arrive.
The police detective who arrived on the fifteenth floor was as handsome as ever in dress shirt and pants, tie and dark suit jacket. His badge was displayed on his belt and Seth knew that his weapon was in a concealed shoulder holster under his left arm.
"Hi, Seth," Roberto had a warm smile for his girl's brother.
"Alone at last with my favorite hunky cop," Seth leaned in his doorway.
"Okay, behave," Roberto urged with a grin.
"C'mon in. I'd offer you a beer, but you probably don't want one if you're going on duty," Seth ushered his guest into his home and shut the doors behind him.
"I'd kill for a fucking beer right now, but I am going on duty, so I won't. A coffee would be great," Roberto answered.
"I'll put on fresh pot. C'mon in the kitchen with me," Seth led the way. "Make yourself comfortable, Roberto," he bid when they walked into the kitchen. "Take off your tie. Or your pants," Seth couldn't help adding as he retrieved the coffee grounds from the freezer.
"I'll keep my clothes on, if it's all the same to you," Roberto sat down at the kitchen table.
"I guess that'll be fine, if all you wanna do is talk," Seth stuck out his lower lip in a faux pout as he scooped grounds into a fresh filter.
"I do want to talk. That's why I wanted to see you when you were alone," Roberto stated.
"This sounds serious," Seth looked over his shoulder.
"It is very serious," Roberto confirmed.
"This is about Leah," Seth concluded.
"It is," Roberto nodded.
"Are you two okay?" Seth asked in a deliberately neutral tone.
"We're fine," Roberto gave a firm nod. "We're better than fine."
"Okay, good," Seth touched the control for the machine to begin and turned his back on it to face his guest.
"I love your sister, Seth," Roberto began.
"I know that," Seth stated simply.
"I want to spend the rest of my life with her," Roberto revealed. "I want to ask Leah to marry me."
Seth's face transformed. "And you want me to help you convince her?" he folded his arms across his chest while the coffee brewed behind him.
"Not at all," Roberto shook his head. "I hope our conversation will stay just between us."
"Well, what did she say?" Seth furrowed his brow even deeper. How was it possible that Leah had not called him?
"I wanted to talk to you first," Roberto confessed.
"Why would you want to talk to me first?" Seth demanded. "Roberto, I really hope you're not here to ask me for my sister's hand in marriage, or some such shit, because it's not mine to give and that would make you an idiot."
"I'm not here to ask you for your sister's hand. She's an adult and we don't need anyone's permission or consent," Roberto remained calm and even.
"No you don't," Seth agreed. He cooled down a notch. "What are we talking about then?"
"I don't need your permission to marry Leah, but that doesn't mean I don't want your blessing," Roberto confessed.
"Oh," Seth softened. "Oh. Well, I'm glad you're here then. I've actually been wanting a one on one with you for a while now," he turned back to the coffee maker, extracted two cups from the cupboard above and poured.
"Oh yeah? With my pants on, you mean?" Roberto teased with a wide grin.
"That depends entirely on how good a time you want to have," Seth brought the mugs to the table.
"I'll keep 'em on," Roberto nodded while Seth retrieved half & half from the huge fridge.
"So," Seth sat Indian style in the same chair he had relaxed in when Dane was in his kitchen an hour ago. He folded his arms over his chest again. "You intend to marry my sister, Officer Diaz."
"It's Officer Diaz now?" Roberto observed.
"Answer the question, please," Seth pushed.
"You just gave me a demotion," Roberto pointed out.
"Detective Diaz, answer the question," Seth remained firm.
"Yes I do intend to marry her, if she will have me," Roberto answered honestly.
"Okay, let's go down that road. What happens if Leah says yes?" Seth pressed.
"Then I'm the happiest guy you know," Roberto asserted.
"And what happens if she says no?" Seth continued.
"Then I'm not and I need to figure out what happened. We're so happy, Seth. I love her so much. I know she loves me too," Roberto stated.
"Things sound pretty good then. Why should anything change?" Seth probed.
"Things are good. They're great!" Roberto enthused. "But that doesn't mean they can't be even better. I want to settle down with her. I want to be her husband. I want her to be my wife. I even want you for a brother-in-law."
"You should be so lucky," Seth dismissed.
"And I hope I am!" Roberto agreed.
"I won't be deflected by compliments," Seth shook his head. "What does 'settle down' mean?"
"I want to come home to her every night. I know you know what I mean. I want to wake up next to her every morning," Roberto elaborated.
"Don't you two pretty much do that now?" Seth enquired.
"Most nights, yeah, but most is not all. I want a home with her, that's ours. I want the permanence that marriage brings. I want a family," Roberto stated.
"Ah, kids," Seth nodded. "You want to make babies with my sister."
"I do want a family with her," Roberto stressed.
"There's no denying that you two would make me some beautiful babies, but I won't let that distract me either," Seth put up a hand as he shook his head. "How many kids do you want?"
"As many as she wants," Roberto was quick. "I come from a pretty big family, but I don't think a dozen kids today is a great idea. I'd ideally like three or four, but I'm totally open to whatever Leah wants."
"How does my sister feel about kids?" Seth demanded.
"She loves kids! You know that, Seth. You've seen her with Stephanie," Roberto pointed out.
"How does she feel about kids of her own?" Seth clarified.
"We've spoken about the two of us having kids someday. She'd be a great mom, Seth," Roberto endorsed.
"I know she would be. Does she want to be, is the question," Seth pressed.
"She hit me the last time we talked about it," Roberto laughed at a pleasant memory and Seth smiled in spite of himself.
"Uh, oh. Was this a domestic situation? If only we knew someone in the Domestic Violence Unit," Seth teased.
"It was a tap on my chest, Seth! She didn't beat me with a frying pan," Roberto elaborated. "She said that she did want kids of her own and that I made her very aware of her biological clock ticking. Then she said I was the only man who had ever made her want to start a family."
Seth did not need his powers to see how happy that made Roberto.
"If I told you the idea of you two making me babies didn't excite me, I'd be a liar," Seth admitted. "What about her job now? She has a great career. How do you see that fitting in with her being a wife and mother?"
"I know where you're going, Seth," Roberto held up a hand. "I hope you know me well enough by now to know that I am not the kinda guy who thinks his wife should be in the kitchen, barefoot and pregnant. I want Leah to be fulfilled as a wife, mother and person. If that means she keeps working, or whatever she wants to do, I'm behind her. If that means she wants me to take care of her and our kids, I'll do that too."
"I think you know my sister is too independent a woman to just let a man take care of her," Seth pointed out.
"I just want her to be happy. I want to make her happy," Roberto finally began to fix his coffee the way he liked it.
"You do," Seth observed quietly with a tilted head as he watched the straight cop doctor up his coffee.
Roberto took a sip. "Oh, shit."
"What? You don't like my coffee?!" Seth was wide eyed.
"This is excellent coffee," Roberto took another sip. "It's gonna make the stuff I have to drink at the station the rest of the day taste like crap."
"Oh. Ha! Well, I could prance right on down to police headquarters with a thermos for you and Al every day if you like," Seth offered.
"Dressed just like that please," Roberto gestured. They both looked at Seth's sleeveless crew neck shirt, tied at the sides with leather cords, and his virtually painted-on, low-rise jeans that didn't quite meet the bottom of the shirt, leaving a revealing gap of dark skin.
"Of course," Seth flipped his hair. "Though, you know, Roberto, in all seriousness, you and Al do a lot to help and protect our community. You two are heros to the Seattle gay community. I don't know if you knew that. I could have a dozen boys waiting on you two hand and foot if you wanted."
"Just get the big, mean fucks to stop beating up on guys who look like you. That's all we want," Roberto stated.
"If I had that power, Roberto, I would have used it long ago. As I don't, I'll leave the police work to the police," Seth patted Roberto's forearm. He just looked at the good cop for a long moment. "You know you didn't need to do this."
"I know that. Leah and I are adults and we don't need anyone's permission to do anything, but needing your blessing and wanting it are two different things," Roberto explained. "You are important to her, Seth, so you're important to me. You're the little brother I never had."
"Aw," Seth tilted his head again with a big grin. Until he remembered. "Hey, wait a minute, you have younger brothers."
"Not that dress like that," Roberto pointed at Seth. "You're the gay little brother I never had."
"Okay, I'll accept that," Seth agreed.
"But that's not the only reason I came to you today," Roberto confessed.
"Oh? Do tell," Seth prompted.
"I know tradition is very important to your people. It is to mine too. You are not only Leah's closest relative, but since your dad passed away, you're the man of the Clearwater family too. I thought it was only right to announce my intentions to you first," Roberto explained.
Seth considered a moment. He sat up taller in his chair and squared his shoulders. "You did the right thing, Roberto. And I'm gonna do you a favor. Here's your crash course in Oglala. Ready?"
"Lay it on me, brother," Roberto smiled.
"Okay, a hot, hunky Brave, such as yourself, having completed either a successful war party or horse raid, or more than likely both, would be deemed worthy and therefore eligible to take a wife," Seth began. "But as a single man, you would still live with your parents. Wanting a wife, you will have told your mother this. Because your mom loves and is rightfully proud of her hunky Brave son, she would immediately begin to make a new elk skin lodge and gather furnishings that would be needed for your daily life."
"A lodge, is that like a tipi?" Roberto asked.
"Same thing, yes," Seth nodded. "Now, once that is ready, you would wait."
"Wait for what?" Roberto probed.
"I'm getting there. When our Chief commands that we strike the village, we, the people, pack up and move as one. It would happen right about this time of year too. We would go to our winter hunting grounds," Seth explained. "And once there, you would help your father set up his family lodge and then he would help you do the same with yours. Now all the people see a new lodge go up and know a marriage proposal is coming soon. You own your own home, so we'll consider you got this part handled."
"Right, what's next?" Roberto was all ears.
"That would really depend on who your father is and who I am," Seth positioned. "I am, obviously, a Two Spirit Holy Man and sit on the Council at the Chief's left hand, and then depending upon who your father is, we might need to negotiate this between the two of us. All things being equal though, you would now be free to court my sister."
"How do I do that?" Roberto pressed.
"You might play a love song on the flute you made within earshot of my lodge. If Leah comes out to listen, that's a very good sign. She won't look at you, but she will listen. Basically, if she comes out, you're in, if she doesn't, you can give it up," Seth elaborated.
"Let's say she listened," Roberto smiled.
"I think we can conclude that she is interested," Seth agreed. "Another symbolic gesture would be if Leah stood outside my lodge wrapped in a blanket, waiting for you to come by. And when you do, she will open her blanket to you."
"Is she wearing anything underneath?" Roberto's eyes lit up.
"Of course she is! This would happen under my close, personal supervision, and very likely, our mother's too," Seth warned. "If it is your intention to marry my sister, you would step into her blanket with her and she would close it around you both, indicating that she equally desires to marry you."
"I like the sound of that," Roberto nodded.
"I thought you would," Seth nodded.
"I would put my arms around her and kiss her," Roberto let his thoughts progress.
"And I would scalp you! She's not yours yet!" Seth smacked the table.
"What do I do?" Roberto asked.
"You, Sir, must pay a bride price to the Clearwater family for my sister, sufficient to mystanding within our tribe, and commensurate with her value to you," Seth explained.
"There isn't that much gold in Fort Knox," Roberto shook his head.
"Gold is of no value," Seth shook his head and gave a dismissive wave. "Blankets, horses, food, fine clothes for her," Seth counted off on his fingers. "You and you alone, no one can help you carry them, must place these gifts outside my lodge. Now, the whole village will watch this carefully."
"Then what happens?" Roberto found this fascinating.
"Then you hold your breath. You wait and watch. If I accept these gifts, your proposal of marriage is accepted and my sister is your wife. If I do not, you have until the end of the day to augment your offering until I do," Seth revealed. "And it is solely up to me."
"What if you never accept them?" Roberto wondered.
"That would be the worst case scenario. If the sun sets on your gifts and I have not accepted them, then I have considered your proposal worthless. You must gather these things up and take them back and lose much face in our Band," Seth explained.
"Well, let's hope that doesn't happen," Roberto nodded slowly to himself.
"I am the eldest male and therefore head of the Clearwater family, and the bride price for my sister is rightly paid to me," Seth stated. "However, I trust you are smart enough to know to whom you should really pay it."
Roberto continued to slowly nod and Seth knew that they understood each other. "Tell me about the wedding."
"Then we have a big Mexican wedding," Seth gave a smile and a shrug. "You tell me about the wedding."
"Tell me about a Lakota wedding," Robert clarified.
"Well, that was sorta it. It's not a real formal thing with my people. When I accept your offering, you are considered married," Seth elaborated. "I will arrange for a feast the next day for the whole village. The women of our Band would all dance together, all day long. You and I, and your father and brothers, the Elders and our Chief, we'll call him Garrett, would all watch them. We would only join with them to eat. Toward evening you and Leah, and your close friends, accompanied by your parents and me, would go to your new lodge and inspect it. At the appointed time our Holy Man, in our case me again, would declare that it was time to proclaim your marriage. Four of your warrior friends, we'll call them cops, will hold up a blanket by the corners as high as they can and carry their coup sticks in their other hand. You and Leah will walk under the blanket and they will keep it over you, as everyone follows me through our village while I proclaim the marriage of the happy couple. Constant well wishers will stop us, but eventually we will make it back to your new lodge."
"Then we can begin our life together," Roberto concluded with a smile.
"Very nearly. Once back, the procession is ended and everyone separates. Leah will go with her friends. Your warrior-cop friends would stay with you. When night falls you and your friends will build a fire before your lodge. Soon a group of women will come to you, singing and bearing Leah wrapped up in a large blanket on their shoulders. You must open the flap of your lodge for them and wait for them inside. They will enter and place this blanket at your feet. You then place your foot, or the butt of your rifle, on blanket wrapped Leah and declare 'you are mine'."
"Then we can begin our life together?" Roberto asked this time.
"Then your life begins. Leah would get out of her blanket and immediately make dinner for you and your close friends who are there with you," Seth smiled.
"Fuck that. I'll catch those guys tomorrow. I wanna have my way with my wife!" Roberto enthused.
"You can have your naughty way with your wife all night," Seth stated. "As if she hasn't been having her naughty way with you all along. My sister is not a very good Lakota, in case you haven't noticed. Oglala girls are meant to be virtuous until they get married. Chastity is not among my sister's virtues."
"So both brother and sister were expelled from the reservation for the same reason?" Roberto could not suppress his grin.
"Yeah, I guess we were," Seth admitted. "So, now, my question is: what will you do now?"
"I need to think on everything you have told me, Seth. Thank you so much for talking with me today," Roberto was sincere.
"Anytime, Roberto. I already consider you family," Seth patted Roberto's forearm.
"I'm gonna work on that," Roberto rose from the table. "Thanks for the coffee."
"Hold up," Seth rose as well and retrieved a large stainless steel thermos from the cabinet under the kitchen sink. He poured the carafe of coffee into it and replaced the lid. "Come by for a refill anytime," Seth offered as he presented it to Roberto.
"Thanks, Seth," Roberto took the thermos.
Seth put his arm around Roberto as they walked out of the kitchen. "I can't have my sister's guy, a hero to the gay community, drinking crap coffee at police headquarters all day."
"You're a stand up guy, Seth," Roberto put his arm around Seth's shoulders.
"And for what it's worth, you do have my blessing," Seth offered.
"And it means a lot to me, Seth. More than you know," Roberto rubbed Seth's shoulder.
"What are your plans, specifically?" Seth pressed.
"Still taking shape. I tell you what. If you and Garrett wanna plan a brunch for this coming Sunday, that might be a good idea," Roberto nodded as he hinted.
"Nasir will be home, so that's beyond perfect," Seth enthused as they walked into the entry hall. "Done."
"Do you need to talk to Garrett first?" Roberto asked.
"No," Seth raised his eyebrows.
"Isn't he the Chief?" Roberto teased.
"A Two Spirit Chief who invariably listens to the wise counsel of his Two Spirit Holy Man husband. Now go, before I sexually harass a police detective," Seth threatened with a pat on Roberto's butt.
"You mean more than you already have?" Roberto smiled as he opened the left of the front doors.
"I haven't grabbed your well packed crotch yet, Officer," Seth pointed out. "Shall I correct that oversight now?"
"Just give me a hug," Roberto pulled Seth to him. "Thanks again, Seth."
"Anytime," Seth was only too happy to hug the man.
"Can we keep this just between us?" Roberto asked as he let Seth go.
"You think I'm not gonna tell Garrett the second he gets home?" Seth scoffed.
"Garrett and us?" Roberto asked further.
"And Emmy, you mean," Seth corrected.
"Edward once referred to you as his gay squadron," Roberto laughed at the memory. "Can we keep it just within the squadron?"
"Done," Seth waved a hand.
"Alright. I'll catch you Sunday," Roberto walked across the elevator lobby and touched the call button.
"It's a date!" Seth enthused. He waited with Roberto until the elevator doors closed him in, before he went back inside. Seth was so excited he could hardly contain himself.
Garrett pulled his Maybach smoothly into his parking space beside Seth's Mercedes and got out of the car. He was home on time, but it had been quite a long day. Garrett could not help but smile to himself as he recalled just how he had started his day while he walked, ostrich skin briefcase in hand, to the elevator. After a smooth, uninterrupted ride to the fifteenth floor, Garrett crossed to his set of double doors, put his key in the lock and opened the right door.
"Gar!" Seth's cry sounded even before Garrett had shut the door behind himself.
"Hello, Sweetness," Garrett smiled and reached for his husband as the smaller man bounced excitedly into the entry hall. He set his briefcase on the round table in the center of the room to have both arms free to hug Seth. "Did you miss me?"
"I always miss you, but that's not what has me so wound up," Seth leaned up to give his man a soft, lingering kiss on his lips. "I have been so busy today! I got almost nothing done!"
"You are adorable when you don't make any sense," Garrett smiled.
"Oh! What I mean is," Seth pulled back from Garrett, picked up Garrett's briefcase and took his husband by the hand to lead him into their home, "I had bunches of calls and visitors today."
"You did?" Garrett smiled as his little husband led him toward their bedroom.
"Tony called and Dane stopped by. Those two are going to make such a cute couple," Seth endorsed.
"I think so too," Garrett agreed.
"But that's not the big news," Seth hinted as they walked down the hallway to the master bedroom.
"No?" Garrett asked.
"No. Roberto stopped by too," Seth revealed.
"Oh, did he?" Garrett asked as he was led into the bedroom and directly into his closet. "What was on his agenda?"
"Guess!" Seth loosened his husband's tie, untied it and pulled it from his neck.
"Well, I might guess it has something to do with Leah," Garrett slipped his suit jacket off of his shoulders.
"You're on the right track," Seth set about unbuttoning his husband's dress shirt.
"You know, I love when you are home before me," Garrett smiled as Seth pulled his shirt tails out of his pants.
"You like when I undress you?" Seth kissed his husband's chest as he pushed Garrett's shirt off his shoulders.
"I like it very much!" Garrett endorsed.
"Well," Seth unfastened Garrett's belt and pulled it from his pants. "As much as I love you in this Brioni suit, I like you out of it a whole lot more!"
"And can I just tell you how much I like what you are wearing?" Garrett ran a finger along the waistband of Seth's very low rise jeans.
"These are new. You like 'em?" Seth leaned back and smiled.
"Let me show you," Garrett dropped to his knees and took hold of Seth's butt. He kissed his way across Seth's exposed skin from one dark hip to the other. "Mmm," Garrett ran his tongue along the few inches of happy trail that was visible between the top of Seth's pants and the bottom of Seth's shirt. He let his fingers trace the very obvious outline of the resting King.
"Oh, no you don't," Seth pulled Garrett to his feet. "Who is supposed to be undressing who?" he demanded as he he unbuttoned the multiple outer and inner buttons of Garrett's suit pants and unzipped him.
"I'm sure I wouldn't mind if we undressed each other," Garrett put a loving hand to Seth's face. Seth let Garrett's pants fall to his ankles and then knelt himself. He untied Garrett's dress shoes and carefully pulled each one from his feet. Seth then pulled off Garrett's dress socks with his pants. Garrett stood before his kneeling husband in only his snug trunk underwear.
"You," Seth ran his hands up the back of Garrett's thighs as he leaned into his husband's crotch, "were supposed to see if you could guess," he closed his eyes and slowly rubbed his face over Garrett's plumping cock and balls in the snug underwear, "why Roberto came to see me."
"Hmm," Garrett closed his eyes. He ran his fingers through Seth's long, silken hair as Seth rubbed his face on him.
"Well?" Seth pressed as he ran his nose along the growing bone. He hooked his fingers into the waistband of Garrett's trunks and slowly pulled them down until Garrett's pubes were exposed along with all of his butt.
"It is very hard to focus on your sister when you are rubbing your beautiful face on my dick," Garrett protested.
"Then you better figure it out before it goes down my throat," Seth warned as he ran his mouth along Garrett's ever increasing length.
"This must be important. Oh! He didn't propose, did he?!" Garrett hit the nail damn near on the head.
"Yes!" Seth looked up at his husband. "Well, no, but he's going to! This weekend! We have to have a brunch for everyone on Sunday. You deserve a nice kiss for figuring that out," Seth pulled Garrett's underwear down his legs and when Garrett's mostly hard cock swung up at Seth's face, he caught it with his lips.
"Ugh," Garrett closed his eyes and leaned on the shelves behind him for support as his underwear fell to his ankles and every inch of his now very hard bone sank down Seth's throat. Seth swallowed around Garrett and caressed his husband's sensitive cum tube with his tongue as he ever so slowly pulled his mouth back off Garrett's engorged penis.
"That was a very nice kiss," Garrett stated as Seth's mouth slipped off of him.
"No more than you deserve every day when you come home to me," Seth pushed the heavy cock out of his way with his face to give each stone a wet kiss in their shaved sac.
"I would like it very much if you worked from home every day. Or at the very least, beat me home," Garrett advised.
"I would like that too!" Seth stood up and gave his husband a soft kiss on his lips. "I gotta go get the chicken ready. You want this in the study?" he picked up Garrett's briefcase as he headed out of the closet.
"Yes, please," Garrett called after his husband. He put his hand under his still hard cock and rubbed his balls as he looked around his closet for something to wear.
Seth was up to his elbows in raw, boneless chicken breasts when Garrett appeared in the kitchen. Garrett was comfortable and casual in a dark tee shirt and ripped jeans.
"What are we having?" Garrett asked as he pulled open the refrigerated beer drawer.
"Chicken parmesan," Seth answered as he separated and trimmed the breasts.
"Oh, nice," Garrett opened a Sam Adams Imperial White for himself and a Heineken for his husband. He took a swig of his beer and held Seth's for him to do the same.
"Thank you, Honey," Seth licked his lips and continued to cut his chicken.
"We have everything for a nice salad?" Garrett leaned against the granite counter near Seth.
"In the fridge and the pantry," Seth confirmed. "And the tomatoes are right here in the window," he gestured toward the kitchen window where a large cluster of vine ripened Camparis waited.
Edward breathed a sigh of relief when he turned onto the downward sloping ramp to the parking garage beneath his friends' building in downtown Seattle. He kept the gate key for this building in his wallet, rather than in his Audi, for just such an occasion. He had come straight from his beloved mountain and was driving his white NPS Chevy Tahoe. The wide green stripe along the sides of the truck were interrupted only by the NPS arrowhead logo on the front doors and the words PARK RANGER on the front fenders. Edward drove into the underground garage and to his personal parking space. He left his hat and jacket on the front passenger seat and headed for the elevator.
As usual when he was expected, one of the double doors to his friends' penthouse was left slightly ajar. "Hey, guys," Edward called as he shut the door behind him.
"Edward," Garrett met him in the living room, "how is my favorite client?" he asked as he gave Edward a hug.
"Just great," Edward patted Garrett on the back. "How's my favorite banker?"
"Never better. Seth's in the kitchen," Garrett gestured. "Beer?"
"I'd love one," Edward set off toward the kitchen with Garrett. "Traffic was a bitch today, though it's far worse heading out of the city."
"That'll all be done by the time you need to head out," Garrett put a hand on the taller man's back.
"Oh, yeah. It won't be a problem later," Edward agreed. "Hey, Seth," he greeted as they walked into the kitchen.
"Hi, Edward," Seth turned and leaned up for a kiss which Edward did not hesitate to give him.
"So, the good news is, I didn't see your neighbor on the way in, so she won't think the police were here again," Edward pulled open the beer drawer and extracted a Blue Moon.
"Ha! The police were here!" Seth laughed.
"Are you driving your official truck?" Garrett popped the cap off of Edward's bottle for him.
"Yeah, thanks," Edward took a hearty swig.
"All she'll have to do is see that," Seth moved to the sink to wash his hands.
"Did you say the police were here?" Edward furrowed his brow.
"He means Roberto," Garrett stated.
"Roberto came by?" Edward found that odd in the middle of the day, during the week.
"He was in the neighborhood," Seth was casual.
"The Seattle Justice Center is only a few blocks away. He's always in the neighborhood," Edward pointed out.
"He just wanted to make sure I was cool with him asking my sister to marry him," Seth gave a shrug as he wiped his hands on a kitchen towel.
"Holy shit! He asked Leah to marry him?! Did she say yes?" Edward fired his questions.
"Holy shit is right and not yet," Seth answered.
"Wow. That's great," Edward leaned on the counter and took another swig of his beer. "They make a great couple. I really like him."
"We like him too," Seth spoke for Garrett. "And he's great for her. I sure hope she says yes."
"You don't think she will?!" Edward could not imagine it. Engagement seemed the next natural step for them.
"She certainly should. She will if she knows what's good for her," Seth assessed as he pulled a roll of plastic wrap from a drawer. "But who knows what she'll get in her head. In case you haven't noticed, Leah's a bit stubborn."
"Oh, that doesn't run in the family," Edward quipped while Seth placed a long sheet of plastic wrap over the chicken breasts. Seth then produced a mallet from another drawer.
"Make yourself useful," Seth handed the mallet to Edward. "I have to go pick up Emmy."
Edward snickered and looked at Garrett who tried very hard to hide his smile.
"I'll be right back, Honey," Seth paused to give his husband a kiss.
"We'll start cooking, Sweetness," Garrett ran a hand down the back of Seth's head and watched the smaller man walk out of the kitchen.
"I can tell what we're having because I've seen this done a hundred times," Edward began to flatten the chicken. "I've had your husband's chicken parm more times than I can count over the years, and it's always fantastic, but this'll be the first time I helped make it."
"Let's see if we can live up to Seth's precedent," Garrett agreed.
Emmett would be eternally grateful to his boss for being so flexible. He locked his computer, put his head through the strap of his messenger bag, turned out his office light, and headed through the now mostly deserted offices. He proceeded out to the elevators and down to street level. Just as Emmett emerged from his building onto the street, in a feat of timing only Seth could manage, the red Mercedes C300 pulled to the curb. Emmett was quick to open the door and get in the car.
"Hey, Sweetie," rather than kiss Seth, Emmett patted his best friend's leg as Seth was already accelerating into traffic.
"Hey, yourself. How was work?" Seth asked as he pointed them home.
"Usual. Damn fucking long day though," Emmett gave a yawn. "And I'm starved. What's for dinner?"
"Chicken parmesan. Though, if I had been thinking, I would have done something with pork since Nasir isn't home," Seth thought out loud.
"Either way is fine with me," Emmett answered. "I wish he was home," he added quietly.
"I know, Emmy," Seth took Emmett's hand and held it while he drove.
"Getting to be with him for the weekend, in some ways makes me miss him more now that I'm home," Emmett confessed. "Not while I'm at work, obviously, but going home is tough. Thanks for doing dinner," he squeezed Seth's hand gently. "That'll keep my mind occupied for a while."
"We miss him too, Emmy. Not as much as you do, of course, but we love him too," Seth stated. "Do you think you'd rather not fly out for the weekend?"
"Oh, no," Emmett did not hesitate. "I will every time. Every weekend he can't come home, I'm going there. I don't care. Every second I get with him is better than not."
"I would do the same thing," Seth agreed.
It was a short drive home on the one way streets of downtown. Seth admitted them to the parking garage and zipped into his space beside his husband's car.
"Let me get all my junk out of the backseat," Emmett got out and opened the back door to do so. "Hey, where are my boots?"
"I threw them out," Seth stated.
"What?!" Emmett's head popped up over the car. "You didn't really?"
"I didn't really," Seth admitted. "They're in the trunk. But I should have! They're older than us, for fuck's sake! Well past time to throw them out, Emmy."
"But, Seth, I love them," Emmett opened the trunk, picked them up and shut the trunk again.
"Well, feel free to wear them tonight," Seth offered as he used his fob to lock the car, "since you won't be going out in public or have any reason to want them off anyway."
"No, I think I'll just wear flip flops so I can kick them off and be comfortable," Emmett said as they walked to the elevator. They took it to the eighth floor where Seth, as his hands were not full, opened Emmett's door for them. Out of habit, Emmett kicked off his shoes just inside the door and headed for his bedroom. Seth followed and sat on the bed while Emmett proceeded to change.
"You care if I wear a tank top?" Emmett asked as he walked into his closet.
"It's just us and Edward. You don't have to wear a thing if you don't want," Seth answered. "Though, I would put on a robe or something for the elevator."
"Remind me to tell you about the Halloween party our neighbors in New York throw every year," Emmett called from the closet.
"Oh yeah? Is it better than mine?" Seth's interest was piqued. "It can't be better than mine."
Then Emmett's jock flew out of the closet, hit Seth in the chest, and dropped to his lap.
Seth burst out laughing. "How was that under your dress pants all day?"
"Just as awful as you knew it would be," Emmett emerged from his closet stark naked and walked to a dresser.
"And yuk, by the way. I don't want your sweaty German crotch in my face!" Seth tossed the jock on the floor.
"I'm not sweaty," Emmett pulled on a white tank top that stretched across his massive chest and readily displayed his nipples. "My jock isn't sweaty," he picked it up off the floor. "Here, does it seem wet to you?" Emmett pressed it to Seth's face with his big hand.
"Yah!" Seth yelled. He snatched it from Emmett and threw it across the room this time.
Emmett just chuckled as he pulled on a pair of denim shorts. "Okay, let's eat. I'm starved," he zipped up and walked out of his bedroom.
"If you weren't such a giant, Mary...," Seth made a fist as he followed Emmett.
The elevator was right where they left it, and a minute later they were on the fifteenth floor. They found Garrett and Edward in the kitchen. Edward had unbuttoned the first two buttons on his uniform shirt, rolled up his sleeves, and was pan frying the chicken breasts, which had first been coated with egg and herbed bread crumbs. Garrett was busy cutting the tomatoes, mushrooms, cucumber and red onion for their salad.
"Hey, Garrett," Emmett gave his brother-in-law a warm hug and kiss on the side of his mouth.
"Hi, Emmett. How's my best friend?" Garrett asked.
"He feels good all over!" Emmett answered. "Hi, Eddie," he moved to Edward with the same hug and kiss.
"Hi, Em. How's my man?" Edward asked.
"He looks just great," Emmett answered. "I know you know we saw him."
"I do," Edward confirmed with a nod.
"I don't know if he told you," Emmett began. "He left us tickets to the Top of the Rock, the observation deck up on the seventieth floor where he works."
"Wow," Edward commented.
"I've always wanted to go up there, but never managed to find the time," Garrett added.
"And then he found us up there. It was just so good to see him. Nasi thinks of Jasper as his friend now. He said, 'oh, do you know my friend Jasper?' when I picked him up," Emmett rolled his eyes.
"They try to make time for a drink once a week," Edward nodded.
"Yeah, they do. So they're old friends now. We went and had a drink with him in one of the restaurants there at Rockefeller Center. It was really nice," Emmett smiled.
"I'm glad, Em," Edward put a hand on Emmett's big bicep.
Seth extracted a Spaten Oktoberfest bottle from the beer drawer and popped the cap. "Crappy beer?" he offered it to Emmett.
"No, I'll take a Spaten, thanks. Save the Heineken for yourself," Emmett took it and downed a third of the bottle. "And I'll tell you something else I learned," Emmett continued. "That was the last Red Eye flight I'm ever taking to New York. I worked it out with my boss today. The next time, I'm just gonna work more hours during the week, so I can fly out Friday afternoon. Can you make that work, Eddie, so we can fly out together?"
"I'm sure I can. I'll just switch my days off," Edward was agreeable.
"You can't sleep on the plane?" Seth asked.
"Nowhere near as well as I can in his arms!" Emmett answered quickly.
"An extra night with Jasper?" Edward needed less than a second to think about that. "Hell yeah, that makes total sense. I'm in! We'll fly out Friday afternoon."
"Tell them what you told me about Australia," Garrett prompted.
"Oh, yeah, I'm not going to Australia," Edward stated simply.
"You're not?" Seth asked, though he totally did not get it.
"Nope," Edward confirmed.
"Well, we're not either. Are we?" Seth asked his husband.
"No," Garrett shook his head with a broad smile. He knew Edward was playing with them.
"Nor are we going to Egypt, but how is this relevant?" Seth asked.
"I don't understand this game," Emmett shook his head.
"Would you care to share a few more details, Edward?" Garrett urged.
"The NPS has a work exchange program with the Australia Department of Conservation and Land Management," Edward informed. "And when a work exchange with Shark Bay on the west coast of Australia came across the Regional Director's desk today, she immediately thought of me."
"Because you did that god awful stint in the middle of nowhere," Seth rightly stated.
"Stehekin isn't the middle of nowhere," Edward argued.
"No, but you can see the middle of nowhere on a clear day from the top of the hill in Stehekin!" Seth teased.
"Shark Bay is the real middle of nowhere. It's a ten hour drive to the nearest city," Edward informed.
"Jesus," Emmett raised his eyebrows.
"But the point is, Roger didn't even present it to me. He just told his boss that I wasn't interested," Edward explained.
"A year ago you would have been," Seth observed with a slow nod.
"It's a great opportunity. I would have jumped at the chance, but not now," Edward exchanged a cooked chicken breast for a raw one in his pan. "Now I have Jasper back in my life, I'm not goin' anywhere, except New York in two weeks!"
"Amen to that," Emmett held out his bottle. Edward quickly touched the necks of their bottles together and they both took a swig.
"I'm so jealous that Nasir's coming home this weekend, Em," Edward added. "I won't get to see Jas till you and I fly out together."
"Nasi only had a Town Car when he picked me up, so we couldn't play 'till we got to the apartment," Emmett smiled. "That's why he's going to make sure they have a limo when they pick us up."
"For the four of us," Edward observed with raised eyebrows.
"Oh, yeah. He's got it all figured out," Emmett nodded. "You guys take that seat, we'll take this seat. We're all pretty tall, so if someone's foot ends up in someone else's face, it's all good."
"I'm pretty sure we can wait 'till we get to Jasper's place," Edward stated. "Probably."
"Nasir said you both liked your neighborhood," Garrett smiled.
"Oh, yeah. And, you know, it felt neighborhoody, like, when you're tucked down in it, you have no idea you're in such a huge city," Emmett expressed.
"The Upper East Side is a nice area," Garrett agreed.
"But when you're up on the observation deck, then you can really tell how big it all is," Emmett went on. "When you're flying in too, it's like civilization just goes on and on."
Seth took over the dinner then, constructing chicken, sauce and cheeses on individual plates and placing them all under the broiler. Garrett brought salad and bowls to the table where he tossed and served. Emmett and Edward dished up individual plates of pasta and more of the same sauce.
"What I want to hear about," Seth transferred the hot plates from the broiler to placemats on the kitchen table with oven mitts, "is this New York Halloween party."
"Oh," Emmett nodded as he took his seat. "Let me tell you about the neighbors."
"Before you do, Emmett, shall I open a bottle of Chianti?" Garrett asked.
"I think I'll just stick with beer," Emmett held his up and in so doing noticed he had no more than a swallow left.
"I will too," Edward agreed. "Hey, grab me another too, please, Em," he added as Emmett got up and went to the refrigerated drawer.
"I'll have a glass of wine with you, Honey," Seth smiled at his husband. Garrett walked out to the bar, behind which were the wine cabinets, and brought the bottle he selected back to the kitchen to open it.
"Go on, Emmy," Seth bid.
"Okay, so on Saturday Nasi took me to meet Duane and Rodney," Emmett began. "They live in our building, just a few floors below us."
"I do think their names sound familiar. Is one of them the attorney?" Garrett asked.
"Duane, yes," Emmett answered. "Rodney was still at work, but we met Duane. Duane with wet hair, no shirt on, his pants not quite zipped up, and a picture on his laptop of Rodney, naked."
"What?" Edward raised his eyebrows.
"Ha! I like him already!" Seth laughed.
"Oh, Sweetie, this story will just keep getting better," Emmett patted Seth on his back.
"Then, do go on," Seth urged.
"So Nasi's surprise was that Duane had prepared a deed transferring title of the penthouse from Nasi's name to both of our names," Emmett informed.
"Good for him," Edward nodded. "I would have done the same thing."
Seth's eyes shot to his husband's face and read him instantly. "You knew he was going to do that!"
"Yes I did," Garrett admitted. This surprised none of them.
"And Duane said he would record it for us. He wouldn't accept payment. He just wanted Nasi to introduce him to someone at his work, or something," Emmett relayed. "Then he ran his hands all over me and asked me if I worked out."
"Oh," Garrett's tone and darkened brow made it clear that he did not find that acceptable.
"Yeah, 'cause there's no way to tell you work out by looking at you," Seth scoffed.
"He did this in front of Nasir? What did Nasir say?" Edward asked.
"Nasi thought he was just being friendly," Emmett informed.
"A little too friendly for a guy you just met with no shirt on and his pants not quite zipped up," Seth added.
"Oh, but wait," Emmett smiled as he tucked into his salad. "We made a date for brunch the next day with them. Duane is built a lot like you, Garrett."
"That's what Nasir said," Garrett stated.
"And then we met Rodney, he's a nurse by the way, and he's built a lot like me," Emmett revealed.
"No wonder Duane likes you, you're just his type," Seth rightly concluded.
"Duane behaved with his partner there, though, right?" Edward asked.
"You'd think that, wouldn't you?" Emmett nodded.
"Oh, dear," Garrett thought he knew where this was going.
"At the restaurant it was immediately clear that they knew the staff intimately," Emmett continued.
"How intimately?" Edward asked pointedly.
"As intimately as you know Jasper," Emmett explained. "Duane sat next to me and Rodney sat next to Nasi. Duane wasn't able to actually eat, because he never took his hand off my leg."
"If some guy were doing that to Jas, I'd knock him out of his fucking chair!" Edward growled and made a fist.
"What did Nasir do?" Seth asked.
"He was a little busy himself," Emmett stated.
"Don't tell me!" Seth saw it coming.
"Rodney didn't eat either as his hand was on Nasi's leg the whole time," Emmett revealed.
"Some couple," Edward scoffed.
"Clearly they don't mind playing with other people, or couples," Garrett observed.
"Well, as all of you well know, we're not about to do that," Emmett was firm.
"What does this have to do with Halloween?" Seth brought them back.
"Okay, get this," Emmett took a bite of his chicken and chewed a moment. "First, they invited us to play naked laser tag with them."
"Naked laser tag?" Edward repeated.
"They belong to a naked laser tag league, of course," Emmett picked back up. "Then they invited us to their Halloween party. They have a party every year. The theme is always the same. Men only, you have to wear a mask, so no one knows who you are, and nothing else."
"HA!" Seth laughed.
"No," Garrett shook his head.
"What a great idea! Why didn't I think of that?!" Seth enthused.
"No," Garrett repeated.
"And the staff can wear bow ties, and those detached French cuff things, and socks! HA! It'll be great!" Seth clapped his hands.
"No," Garrett said again.
"The guys I invite from your office won't know who you are, Honey, 'cause you'll have a mask on!" Seth assured.
"None of the men from my office would come to a party like that, and I have a meeting in Cincinnati that night anyway," Garrett stated.
"You have a meeting in Cincinnati on Halloween night?" Seth asked.
"I do now," Garrett nodded.
"Well, all the guys from my office would come to a party like that!" Seth continued to laugh at the prospect.
"And Justin and Roberto and Roger and I, and hopefully Jasper, will all be very comfortable with the girls at my house," Edward added, "with our clothes on."
"Okay, well, maybe not thisyear," Seth reluctantly agreed.
"Just so we're clear, we will not be hosting, or attending, together or separately, a party like that, ever," Garrett spoke calmly, but with authority.
"Your man just laid down the law, Sweetie," Emmett stated.
"I know. How sexy is he right now?" Seth ran his hand up Garrett's arm and over his shoulder.
"Very," Emmett agreed. "Okay, Garrett, you sexy top, you wanna start with Seth, or finish with him?"
"Hey, there's another top here," Seth pointed at Edward.
"Oh, yeah, there is," Emmett nodded. "Glad you stopped by, Eddie. It's gonna be a long night."
"Damn, Garrett, these bottoms are never satisfied," Edward played along.
"It seems not. My husband couldn't leave me alone this morning, during possibly the most important conference call of my career, when the President of my division, the Chief Investment Officer of the whole Fifth Third Bancorp was on the line," Garrett revealed.
"What did you do, Seth?" Edward demanded.
"I just wanted to kiss and lick my husband," Seth answered innocently. "Ya know, till he came."
"I advised them to liquidate everything and invest in magic beans for all I know," Garrett took a sip of his wine.
"Do I own magic beans now?" Edward asked with his trademark Cullen smirk.
"Thousands of them," Garrett deadpanned.
"Just think, Edward, you could grow a beanstalk all the way up to the sky!" Seth enthused. "And when you climb up there, you'll find that Emmy's been down here for years."
"You're a laugh a minute," Emmett commented.
"I know," Seth smiled.
"This is delicious, by the way," Emmett endorsed. "As usual."
"Thank you," Edward nodded.
"He was talking to the chef, not the cook," Seth cut and took a bite of his chicken.
"You're welcome, everyone," Emmett was inclusive.
"So, brunch here on Sunday. I'll call Carla for that," Seth announced.
"For Nasi being home?" Emmett asked.
"That's what we'll say, but I'm pretty sure Roberto is going to propose to Leah Saturday night," Seth explained.
"He is?!" Emmett's face lit up.
"Oh, crap! Didn't I tell you?" Seth laughed at himself. "Roberto came to see me today. As the man of the Clearwater family, he wanted to announce his intentions to me first."
"What did he say?" Emmett was all ears.
"That he wants to marry my sister," Seth gave a shrug.
"And he just walked in here on his own?!" Emmett was aghast. "Didn't he know what would happen?! Leah never warned him?!"
"Okay, take it easy," Seth warned.
"I just hope you were easier on him than you were on Nasi," Emmett shook his head. "Is there anything left of him? He's not babbling in the dark in a closet or something around here, is he?"
"Very funny," Seth clearly thought otherwise. "I might have been a little tough on him at first. He's getting the bug to settle down and quite frankly, I think she is too. And let's face it, neither of them are getting any younger. They're in their thirties. It's time."
"Let's not make it sound like that's old, please," Garrett requested.
"You already settled down, Honey," Seth took his husband's hand. "And besides, who cares how old you are? You're sexy as all shit."
"And we're not far behind you, Garrett," Emmett tipped his beer bottle toward the only man at the table who was in his thirties.
"I'm only twenty five. You guys are ancient," Edward teased with a smirk.
"Who invited this guy?" Seth cocked a thumb at Edward who snickered joyfully. "Anyway," Seth continued, "I educated Roberto on the pertinent Lakota customs and I'm quite sure he'll figure out the proper bride price to pay for my sister."
"Bride price?" Emmett wasn't sure he heard that correctly.
"What the hell is that?" Edward asked with obvious distaste. "That makes her sound like property."
"Squaws were never considered property by my people, not ever," Seth shook his head. "Quite the contrary, they were very valued members of tribal society. The men hunt, capture horses, and go to war, and yes, made leadership decisions. The Elders and the Chief were always men, but the society itself was held together by the women. Men would kill a buffalo and bring it back to the village, but had no idea what to do with it. The women would dress it and salt it and cure it and keep the tribe fed. They raised the children. They made the lodges everyone lived in. They made the clothes everyone wore. They planted and harvested the crops. Village life was entirely dependent on the women. It would collapse without them. Anyway, a husband was only worth what he could do to hunt and protect. A wife was worth many valuable possessions. A man who wanted a wife would have to pay a bride price for her to her family. Tribal society was patriarchal, and the bride price should rightfully be paid to me, as the male of the Clearwater family since our dad died, but I'm quite sure Roberto knows better than that."
"So he's gonna get whatever it is together and present it to her?" Emmett asked.
"And you think this will happen this Saturday?" Edward queried as well.
"He said it might be a good idea to have a brunch for everyone on Sunday," Seth took a sip of his wine.
"I wish I could be here," Edward ate the last piece of his chicken.
"Oh, I wish you could be too! I know Nasi will want to see you," Emmett stated. "You can't work it out to take that day off?"
"Not if I want to be on that plane with you the following Friday afternoon," Edward took a swig of his beer.
"I can understand that," Emmett nodded.
"Tiramisu for dessert, boys," Garrett announced. "Shall we have it in the living room?"
"Oh, yeah, let's do," Seth was all for that idea.
"Let me clean up," Emmett rose and began to gather dishes.
"We'll clean up, Emmy," Seth took his plates to the sink.
"I cooked, so I'm not gonna do nothin'," Edward leaned back in his chair.
"Help me cut the cake, Edward," Garrett bid.
"I'm gonna cut the cake," Edward amended and rose to follow Garrett. Garrett removed the cake from the fridge and handed the box to Edward. Emmett and Seth washed pans, loaded the dishwasher and cleaned up the kitchen while Garrett got out small plates and forks for their dessert. Edward served the cake and put the box with the remainder back in the fridge. He and Garrett then carried the plates into the living room and set them on the big coffee table.
"Edward, I wonder if I could steal you away for a few minutes, while we wait for those two," Garrett requested.
"Sure, Garrett. What's up?" Edward asked amiably.
"Join me in the study, if you would," Garrett gestured. "Knowing that I would see you this evening, I took the liberty of bringing your file home with me. I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all," Edward stated as he followed through the penthouse.
"I figured you arranged your days such that when you are not on your mountain, you will be in Manhattan," Garrett surmised. "I didn't think you would want to liberate a day to come down to the office during banking hours," he walked into the study and stepped aside for Edward to enter.
"That was very thoughtful of you, Garrett," Edward was appreciative.
"My pleasure," Garrett shut the double doors to give them privacy. "And it isn't as if we weren't going to see each other."
"Its good to be friends with the head of the bank," Edward nodded.
"Not quite the head of the bank," Garrett corrected with a chuckle.
"Not yet anyway," Edward gave a shrug.
"Please," Garrett gestured toward his antique desk and big leather chair. He picked up his briefcase from beside the desk where Seth had placed it when he came home. Garrett set it on the desk and opened it, extracting a thick file folder which he opened and placed before the now seated Edward.
"Okay, Garrett, what am I worth?" Edward leaned in with curiosity.
"This is the total value of your current liquidity, that is your portfolio minus fixed, real estate assets," Garrett stood beside Edward and pointed to a figure at the bottom right of the very complicated top page.
"This figure here?" Edward was dubious.
"You will remember that we often take a more aggressive stance when the investor is so young. And you are practically a child, as you pointed out," Garrett rested his hand on Edward's shoulder. "You did agree to that posture. I have the document here."
"That's fine, I remember," Edward assured, "but, Garrett, this can't be right. This says I have over twenty eight million dollars."
"Twenty eight point five, to be a little more precise," Garrett nodded.
"How is that even possible? I bought a home, invested in my mother's Inn, used all the money I did to start and fund Rainbow Beginnings," Edward attempted to make sense of it. "How could I have nearly half again as much as I originally started with?"
"Remember that your trust made a disbursement on your twenty fifth birthday. I did mention it at the time," Garrett reminded.
"This much?!" Edward could hardly believe it.
"We've also been making shrewd investments, with both your funds and the trusts. We've been doing quite well lately based on what we believe will happen in the Eurozone," Garrett added. "So far every gamble has paid off handsomely. I did the same for Nasir and Emmett. Seth and I have also done rather well, though he pays no attention to such matters, of course."
"So, the bottom line is, this is my bottom line?" Edward put his finger on the paper.
"Yes," Garrett answered simply. "It's easy to make considerable sums when you have so much to invest."
"And the boys' trusts?" Edward asked. Garrett opened two more files and pointed to the figures at the bottom of each file's cover page.
"We used a similar strategy, so the results are similar as well. Their funds will just keep growing," Garrett summarized.
"Garrett, I could fucking kiss you!" Edward stood up, grabbed the shorter man's head in both hands, and planted a kiss on his lips.
"I could only wish that all my clients who wanted to kiss me were as handsome as you," Garrett smiled as he gave Edward a hug.
"Give me a pen," Edward sat back down. He knew the routine well. He had been doing this quarterly with Garrett for years. Garrett put his Mont Blanc in Edward's hand and Edward signed at the bottom of the top page of each file.
"It just makes the future for you and Jasper that much brighter and financially secure," Garrett patted Edward's shoulder.
"You read my mind, Garrett," Edward smiled as he set the pen down and stood up again. "I hear real estate in Manhattan is quite pricey."
"That it is, my friend," Garrett closed the files and placed them back in his briefcase. "Perhaps Seth and Emmett are ready for dessert."
"Let's find out," Edward led the way. He opened the study doors and headed out.
They found Emmett and Seth seated on opposing sofas in the living room.
"Hey, where have you guys been?" Emmett asked as Edward and Garrett appeared.
"We were just talking top talk, you two wouldn't understand," Edward dismissed.
"Hoo!" Seth yelped. "Then get over here, you tops, and tell us all about it!"
"Yeah, if that was meant to turn us on, it did," Emmett agreed. Garrett seated himself beside his husband and Seth immediately snuggled into his side.
Edward sat down beside Emmett and picked up his plate. "So, tell us about your place, Em."
"Oh, it's fucking fantastic!" Emmett enthused. "As nice as this penthouse, but on two levels and the terrace is huge! It wraps around three sides even."
"Wow," Edward smiled. "What about the decor though? I remember Nasir said he didn't like it at all."
"He doesn't like a lot of it, but some is just fine. Really nice, actually," Emmett assessed. "I talked him into leaving the living room alone. It's very like a proper majlis. You guys remember," he pointed at Seth and Garrett.
"Oh, yeah," Seth nodded.
"What I like about it is that it's not only really unique, but representative of his culture," Emmett continued. "And the master bath is spectacular. All that tile work must have cost a fortune. We're definitely going to redo the bedroom though. It is a bit much. Sunday morning we sat naked on the bed and went through decor magazines together," he relayed with a smile.
"How many rooms ya do it in?" Seth queried.
"Just our bedroom," Emmett took a bite of his cake.
"And the stairs," Seth reminded.
"And the stairs, yeah," Emmett smiled at the memory.
"Well, it sounds really nice, Em," Edward nodded. "I'd love to see it."
"We'll have you and Jasper over when we fly out together," Emmett suggested. "We'll do dinner or drinks or something."
"I'd like that," Edward agreed.
"Who would like a honey bourbon?" Garrett set his finished plate back on the coffee table.
"Me," Emmett answered.
"Me!" Seth joined.
"Edward?" Garrett asked as he rose.
"No thanks, Garrett. I would love one, but I need to drive home," Edward answered as Garrett headed for the bar.
"Oh, Eddie," Emmett leaned over and wrapped his arms around Edward. "I was really hoping I could keep you for the night," he pulled Edward back with his arms wrapped around the thinner man from behind, until Edward was nearly laying on him.
"Not tonight, Em," Edward patted his friend's bare knee. "I'll make you a deal, though. I'm off on Wednesday, so I agreed to do a ride along with Roberto tomorrow night. How about I crawl in with you when I'm done?"
"Um, well," Emmett pretended to consider. He kicked his flip flops off and used his bare feet to push Edward's work boots off of his feet one at a time. "What if I could talk you into doing both?"
"It's a really long drive from here to the mountain," Edward pointed out.
"Yeah, I know it is," Emmett admitted. "It's just the first night without him is always so hard," he rubbed Edward's sock clad feet with his bare feet.
"You don't have to tell me, buddy," Edward patted the strong arms that held him.
"Can I get you anything, Edward?" Garrett asked as he handed a cut crystal tumbler to Emmett.
"Thanks, Garrett," Emmett took the tinkling glass.
"How about a beautiful, blonde, New York TV guy named Jasper," Edward requested.
"With a big bow," Emmett added.
"And nothing else," Seth clarified.
"I like the sound of that," Edward smiled as he nodded.
"If it were within my power, my friend," Garrett handed one of the two remaining glasses to Seth and seated himself beside his husband again. Seth took a sip of his bourbon and slipped the fingers of his free hand into the rip in Garrett's jeans as he again leaned against his husband. Garrett smiled to himself. This was exactly why he loved this particular pair of pants. Seth always rubbed his knee and lower thigh through his rip. More often than not Seth didn't even realize he was doing it.
In really cold weather Edward usually wore a tee shirt under his uniform, but it he hadn't started doing so yet this season. With his top two buttons open, it was easy for Emmett to stick his hand inside Edward's shirt.
"Oh, check out how nice this uniform is," Emmett observed. "Damn, a uniformed top! Sure you won't stay, Eddie? I'll put you to work!"
"Sorry, Em," Edward shook his head. "My dick only has eyes for Jasper."
"That's okay. My ass only has eyes for Nasi," Emmett confessed. "My lips, on the other hand," he stuck his face into Edward's neck and growled which made Edward laugh. They all knew Emmett was just teasing.
"What are your plans for New York, Edward?" Garrett asked. "Have you ever been?"
"No," Edward shook his head.
"I'm sure Jasper would love to show you his city," Garrett smiled. "Perhaps he'll take you to that absinthe bar. I just hope you fare better than we did the next morning."
"Edward has one plan for New York," Seth held up his index finger. "And I know what it is."
"I do too," Emmett smiled.
"The limo will drop them off at Jasper's place Friday night. A pizza might get delivered sometime Saturday evening. The limo will pick Edward up early Monday morning," Seth outlined. "Jasper will be a limp rag on his bedroom floor and Edward will have to pack his crotch in ice for the flight home."
"Don't you just paint a romantic picture," Edward was sarcastic. "You think I think that's all he's good for?"
"Seth was just playin', Eddie," Emmett attempted to prevent the man he held from getting heated.
"Okay, I know that," Edward held up a hand. "For your information, we talked about where we would like to go to dinner and the sights he would like to show me, particularly central park. I would like to see where he works and I hope to meet some of his friends. And in between that yes, I am going to make love to the man I love. I am going to hold him in my arms and kiss him like my life depends on it."
"You just described my trip exactly," Emmett nodded.
"My very soul longs for him," Edward stated.
"Yes," Emmett agreed.
"I hate that we're separated like this," Edward admitted further.
"Yes," Emmett tightened his arms around Edward, his hand still inside Edward's shirt. Edward let his head rest back on Emmett's shoulder for a moment. He knew his big friend knew exactly how he felt.
"What did you think of the artwork in your East Coast home, Emmett?" Garrett attempted to lighten the mood.
"Oh my God," Emmett put a hand over his eyes for a moment. "Eddie, did you see the picture taken of us with Dane's camera at the Eagle that time?"
"You're all just wearing jocks and they're hanging all over you?" Edward asked with a smirk.
"That's the one. Nasi had it blown up and framed, and it's hanging in the lower ha
ll, right at the bottom of the stairs," Emmett informed.
"You were supposed to come that night too, Edward. I did call you, but you were being contrary," Seth stated. "If you had been there, we would have taken one of us hanging on you too!"
"Gosh, I am so sorry I missed out on that," Edward shook his head. "All I need is for Jasper to see a picture of me looking like a porn star. No offense to anyone present."
"None taken," Emmett offered without hesitation.
"Mmm. My little porn star," Garrett hugged Seth tighter with the arm draped across Seth's chest.
"I showed you this morning, but I'd be happy to refresh your memory right now," Seth ran his hand up Garrett's thigh toward his crotch.
"Night, boys," Garrett bid.
"Night," Emmett tightened his arms around Edward and tucked his face into Edward's neck. He gave a contented sigh.
"I wish I could stay tonight, Em," Edward patted Emmett's knee again. "But I will crawl in with you tomorrow night. That's a promise."
"I'll get you a key before you go so you can let yourself in," Emmett offered.
"If you're asleep when I crawl in with you, you're not going to mistake me for Nasir are you?" Edward worried. "We are built a lot alike."
"Be sure to wake me up so that doesn't happen," Emmett agreed. "And I'll leave a pair of boxers out for you too."
"Oh, okay. Good idea. I won't have to bring a pair," Edward nodded.
"At least we can comfort each other while we miss our guys," Emmett spoke wistfully.
"Speaking of missing my guy, I told Jas I'd call him tonight when I got into bed," Edward moved to sit up and Emmett let him go.
"I told Nasi the same thing," Emmett nodded.
"So, I'm gonna call it a night," Edward pulled his boots back on.
"Okay, Eddie," Emmett rubbed Edward's back while he retied his boots.
"Well, thanks for dinner, guys," Edward finally stood.
"Please, we made you cook," Seth dismissed as he and Garrett rose also.
"You're family, Edward," Garrett gave the ranger a hug.
"I feel the same way about you guys," Edward patted Garrett on the back and then let go of him to move to Seth.
"If we don't see you between now and then, give Jasper a giant hug from me," Seth spoke with the side of his face pressed to Edward's chest.
"From both of us," Garrett amended.
"I'll see if I can fit one in for you guys," Edward smiled at the thought.
"I'm gonna say goodnight too," Emmett embraced Garrett.
"You know you're welcome to stay, Emmett," Garrett offered as he was enfolded in Emmett's large, strong arms.
"Yeah, Emmy," Seth echoed.
"My day started at like one AM our time. I'm bushed," Emmett let Garrett go and Seth moved in to take his place. "I love you guys," he reached for Edward and Garrett's shirts and pulled them in around Seth to hug all three of them at once.
"We love you too, Emmy," Seth was muffled between the three larger men.
"Okay," Emmett patted Edward and Garrett on the back as he let them go. He then bent to give his little best friend a kiss on his lips. "C'mon, Eddie," Emmett put his arm around Edward's shoulders as they made their way to the entry hall.
"Night, boys," Garrett gave a wave as the taller men walked out to the elevator lobby. Seth and Garrett waited in the open doors until the elevator took Emmett and Edward away.
"Shall we watch the news?" Garrett asked as he locked their door.
"Yeah," Seth took his husband's hand, "but we might want boxers, 'cause he'll be back."
On the eighth floor, Emmett unlocked his door and put on the lights. "C'mon in, Eddie. Let me just grab you the key real quick," he headed for his and Nasir's home office. Edward followed and watched Emmett take a moment to move things around in a desk drawer.
"Here it is," Emmett found it and handed it over. "I don't know why I didn't give you that years ago. You're totally welcome anytime. You know Nasi feels the same way."
"Thanks, Em," Edward slid the key onto his ring. "I'll try not to make too much noise when I come in tomorrow night."
"Well, like I said, it's probably a good idea to wake me up," Emmett put his hand on Edward's back as they walked back toward the front door. "Otherwise your dick might end up in my mouth before I realize it's you."
"I'll wake you up," Edward assured with a chuckle.
"Okay, goodnight, Eddie," Emmett gave Edward a tight hug at the door. "See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow, Em," Edward walked out through the door Emmett opened for him, and down the corridor toward the elevator.
Emmett closed the door quietly and locked it. He shut the foyer light off and headed for his bedroom. Once there, Emmett stopped cold in his tracks. The sense of sadness and loneliness at the thought of crawling alone into the bed he was supposed to share with his husband, was overwhelming. Emmett held himself as he stood and stared at his marital bed for a long moment. It took a full, long minute for him to realize that he just couldn't do it. Not now. Not yet. Not tonight.
Emmett walked back to his front door, grabbed his keys off the hook, and walked out into the corridor. He locked the door and walked down to the elevator. Once back on the fifteenth floor he hesitated. Emmett full well realized how pathetic he must seem. But at the end of the day, he knew that Seth and Garrett accepted and loved him no matter what. He put his key in the lock and opened Seth and Garrett's door.
"Hey, guys," Emmett called as he shut and locked their door behind him.
"In the media room, Emmy!" Seth called back.
Emmett made his way through the penthouse to find the media room was lighted intimately with the wall sconces set to a very dim level. The giant screen at the far end of the room displayed the KING 5 news broadcast. Seth and Garrett were comfortable, with Seth tucked under Garrett's arm, on the big U shaped sectional. With all the matching ottomans in place, it was essentially one giant, tufted bed. Seth and Garrett were shirtless and covered to their waists with a throw.
"Hi, um," Emmett stuck his hands in his pockets.
"Emmy, you're fine," Seth lifted the edge of the throw. "Get in here."
Emmett smiled, whipped his tank top off over his head and dropped it on the floor. "Hey, wait a minute," he paused as he started to crawl onto the sectional. "Are you guys naked?"
In answer Seth just pulled the throw down further to reveal the boxers they wore. Emmett then did not hesitate and snuggled in under the big throw on Seth's other side. He let his hand rest on Seth's bare chest and gave a sigh.
"I'm sorry about this, you guys. I know I'm a pain," Emmett offered.
"No you're not, Emmy," Seth rubbed Emmett's arm.
"As Seth said, Emmett, you're fine. We love you," Garrett moved the arm that was around Seth to Emmett's shoulder to almost hold them both.
"I don't know what I would do without you guys," Emmett mused. "I wish Nasi had someone to hold him like this."
"Someone other than the neighbors, you mean?" Seth queried.
"Uh, yeah, someone very other than them," Emmett agreed. "When I snuggle up with you guys I can be pretty confident that Garrett is not gonna stick his dick up my ass."
"I haven't yet anyway," Garrett smiled.
"Hey!" Seth objected.
"I shall have to tell Nasir about my harem boys," Garrett teased.
"We're harem boys, Emmy," Seth giggled. He loved the sound of that.
"Yeah, Nasi and Garrett's boys," Emmett snuggled closer to Seth and closed his eyes. Safe and content, it took only seconds for Emmett's very long day to overtake him. Seth and Garrett watched the rest of the newscast quietly with gentle caresses on chests, abdomens, arms and thighs.
"Is he out?" Garrett asked softly as he picked up the remote to turn off the TV.
"Very," Seth confirmed.
"Should we just let him sleep?" Garrett asked as he slid off the sofa.
"Yeah," Seth agreed. He couldn't help but notice his husband's tented boxers as Garrett stood at the edge of the sofa. "Say, would you like some help with that?" Seth offered.
"I was a little distracted by my conference call this morning. Perhaps I could get you to go over that with me again," Garrett gave a sexy grin.
"I'll go over it," Seth assured. "With my tongue," he added as he slid out from under Emmett's arm. So large was Seth's manhood that unless he wore his boxers very low on his hips, even soft he would hang out the bottom of them. As he slid off the sofa his boxers rode up just enough that his huge penis hung out the right leg of his loose underwear.
"Oh, Seth!" Garrett exclaimed quietly as he fell to his knees. He held Seth's thighs as he reverently wrapped his lips around the fully cowled head of Seth's sleeping python.
"Mmm," Seth looked down on his husband as he felt Garrett's tongue move around him and probe into his foreskin. "That feels good, Gar. Wanna do me here? We might wake Emmy," he warned.
Garrett very reluctantly pulled his mouth off of Seth's growing meat. "Let's adjourn to the bedroom."
Seth paused to make sure Emmett was covered to his chest with the throw before he climbed off the sofa.
"We'll shut the lights off in here, but leave the powder room light on, so he won't wake up in the dark and wonder where he is," Garrett suggested.
"Good idea, Honey," Seth agreed as he turned the media room sconce lights off.
"I'm right behind you, Sweetness. I just want to call Nasir for a quick second," Garrett walked out to the living room and crossed to the bar, where he left his cell. He picked it up and touched the icon to call his best friend.
"Garrett! Hello!" Nasir's voice was enthused, but edged with sleep.
"Nasir, sorry to call you so late. I know Emmett meant to call you, but I also know he hasn't," Garrett stated as he perched on a barstool and leaned on the bar.
"Allah, Garrett. I did not realize the time. Where is he? Is he alright?" Nasir asked. He had gone to sleep fairly early himself, with his phone in bed with him, anticipating Emmett's call and wanting to wake up for that.
"Emmett is fine, Nasir. He's with us," Garrett assured. "He is very tired and missing you. He fell asleep in the media room and we're just going to let him sleep."
"Yes, let him sleep. I miss my habibi zawji so much already, Garrett, I cannot even tell you," Nasir expressed. "Take care of him for me."
"Of course we will, my friend. You get some sleep yourself," Garrett advised.
"My love to you and Sethy, Garrett," Nasir offered.
"And ours to you, Nasir. Good night," Garrett ended the call and headed for the master bedroom. Once there, he shut the double doors almost fully closed and turned to find his naked husband waiting for him on the bed. Seth was propped up on one elbow with one leg bent at the knee. His dark, meaty snake lay draped over his thigh.
"Mmm," Garrett smiled. The sight of Seth in his sexy pose sent his own bone right back up. "What time shall we get him up?" Garrett wanted to have done with the practical matters.
"He'll want to be up by seven at the latest," Seth answered.
"I'll get him up," Garrett assured as he slid his boxers down. He stretched out naked on the bed, his hardness laying on his abdomen. "Now then, as I was saying, I wasn't paying full attention during my conference call this morning. I wonder if you could cover that again."
"It would be my pleasure, Mr. Bank Executive," Seth leaned over and ran his tongue along Garrett's cock.
"Ugh," Garrett closed his eyes as Seth's tongue travelled along his sensitive cum tube from his partially exposed head, down onto his smooth sac and right back up. "I think I would like to hold my King in my mouth while you do that. May I?"
In answer Seth flipped himself around and presented his formidable weapon to his husband. Garrett did not hesitate to roll his body toward Seth's.
"Mmm," Garrett expressed both his desire and contentment as their lips closed around each other.