JE owns the rights to anything familiar. Mistakes are all mine - sorry about those

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The House

Hector POV

Zip let out an exasperated sigh into the phone and continued what sounded like an exhausting conversation with his sister. "Zyla, you're starting to sound like Mom. I am not telling you about that. I think I should be entitled to at least a little bit of privacy."

I reached across the center console and laced our fingers together as I maneuvered my truck through the streets of Trenton. He squeezed my hand and shot me a quick smile before rolling his eyes and saying into the phone, "What? No. Jesus, Zy. Do I ask you about your sex life? Oh my god, stop talking immediately. I do not want to hear this."

He pulled the phone away from his head and although I could hear her voice I couldn't make out what she was saying. From the horrified look on Zip's face, I was grateful. The talking stopped and he put it back to his ear. "Of course I wasn't listening and if you tell me about his crooked dick again I am not coming to visit you for Thanksgiving." He closed his eyes and shook his head and then he told her, "I'm hanging up now."

I heard her loud laugh before he managed to disconnect the call. "Christ," he muttered as he tucked his phone back into his pocket. "My sister likes to torture me."

"That's what siblings are for," I replied absently as I turned into the driveway and cut the engine.

"Do you have a sister that likes to screw with you too?" I'd never told him much about my family so he had no way of knowing the innocent question made it feel like someone had wrapped a fist around my heart and was trying to rip it right out of my chest.

I don't know how long I sat there without speaking but Zip finally broke the silence. "Where are we?" I turned to look him and found him staring out the windshield at the two story house in front of us.

Part of the reason I loved him was because he pushed when I needed it but he also knew when he shouldn't. I let out a slow breath and buried the memories of my sister before I opened the door. "C'mon," I said, but Zip stopped me with a hand on my arm and a quiet apology.

"Don't," I told him, hating that he felt he needed to apologize for wanting to know what he probably already should. "Let's go inside."

He followed me up the stone sidewalk to the front door and stood beside me silently while I dug the key out of my pocket. When I got it open, I stepped inside the small foyer and held the door while he came in behind me.

The house was older and had fallen into disrepair but I liked the green siding mixed with stone on the front and the wide staircase that started in the foyer and wound in a long curve to the second floor. The previous owners had restored all the wood inside to a deep cherry finish, which was beautiful, but the rest of the interior was in desperate need of renovation. I was hoping Zip would help me with that.

"It needs some work," I mused, wandering into the great room. Zip was behind me and I could almost hear all the questions churning in his head that he'd yet to voice. My eyes traveled over the peeling wallpaper and the thread-bare carpet before I set them on Zip's confused expression.

His hands were in his pockets and he stood watching me, waiting for the reason I'd brought him to an old, empty house and I suddenly felt incredibly nervous, although I don't know why. He'd proved time and time again he was all in with me so the insecurities that always seem to creep into my head were entirely unjustified.

I had a whole spiel prepared but standing there looking at the man I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life loving and knowing he felt the same, I completely changed what I was going to say to him. Zip didn't know, because I'd never told him but we had something in common. Although it went against my nature to talk to anyone about my past, I wanted him to be the one to hear it. Since we'd both lost a sibling to violence, he would be able to understand when no one else did.

I'd told him a little about my Mother but I'd never even mentioned the rest of my family and it was way past time. "I never really knew my Dad," I started and Zip went completely still as his eyes zeroed in on mine. "He split when I was a kid. I have a brother who hasn't spoken to me in years and my sister…" This would be the hardest thing for me to discuss and I had to pause and fight back the guilt that still surges every time I think of her.

"My sister's name was Elena. She was murdered by a rival gang member in retaliation of a perceived slight." I swallowed hard and touched the tattoo on my neck. "I don't cover it up because I want the reminder of what my choices led to and of what I promised myself I would never become again."

Inevitably, my mind went to the night after I'd found her, and what I did to the ones responsible. It brought a sudden and complete stop to the speech I was thrusting upon Zip and I had to turn away from his piercing gaze. Maybe someday I would tell him all of it, but not today.

His strong arms came around me from behind and he pressed his lips to the tattoo on my neck. "Nothing you say could ever make me love you less, Hector. Do you want to tell me the rest?"

I turned in his arms. "Not now. But I will."

"Thank you for trusting me," he said softly and kissed me lightly.

"Finally," I chided myself, knowing he'd been waiting for a long time to learn anything that personal about me, but Zip only shook his head.

"Everyone has to go at their own pace, I get that."

Did he ever. He certainly got me and not a day went by where I wasn't thankful he had the patience to deal with my baggage.

I kissed him after that and it got heated quicker than normal. "I don't know what we're doing in this house or who it belongs to, but does it have a bedroom?" Zip asked as his hands skimmed down towards the buckle of my belt.

"Three," I informed him, "but this is going to have to wait."

"Why?" He wanted to know. His lips brushed across my ear and I had to reluctantly pull away before we got naked. I checked my watch as I wiggled out of his arms. Definitely not enough time to get naked.

"One because there are no beds…"

"I don't need a bed," He interjected with a grin. "Just a space that doesn't have a giant window with no blinds." We both glanced at the bay window that looked out over the street.

"There are plenty of those and I promise we'll…christen all of them at some point, but trust me – now isn't ideal."

"Hmmm. Well that is unfortunate." He rubbed his hand over the rock-hard bulge behind my zipper. Damn it, I should have brought him here sooner so we'd have the place to ourselves for a while. I moved away from his magical hands with a small groan.

"Later," I promised and checked my watch again. "So this house…I'm sure you have questions."

"A few. Where do you want me to start?"

"Nowhere. This should answer most of them." I pulled the deed out of the pocket inside my jacket and handed it over. He opened it slowly and I watched his eyes travel down the page. When he got to the most important part, his head shot up.

"You…you bought us a house?" I'd put both our names on the paperwork so there would be no questions about ownership if something happened to either of us.

"Yeah. I know we already live together but I wanted a place away from work where it could just be the two of us. It needs a lot of renovation and I was hoping we could do that together." I looked around the room again, picturing what it would be like when we were done. Zip latched onto my arm mid scan and yanked me against his body.

"This place is ours? Seriously?"

"Yes. Do you like it?"

His response was a brain melting kiss which was interrupted by a quiet clearing of a throat. We broke apart and turned in unison to Zoe Zabar's sparkling golden eyes. "I think he likes it," she said with a laugh.

"Mom?" Zip looked at me with that adorable confused expression. At least he knew why we didn't get naked a few minutes ago.

"Hello Zander." She kissed her son on the cheek and planted one on mine too.

"Not that I'm not happy to see you, Mom, but what are you doing here?"

Zoe shot me an expectant look. "I haven't told him yet," I admitted.

"Ah. Well, my dear son, Hector invited me for lunch and he's also hired me to help with the renovation on this beautiful house." Zip's Mom is an accomplished architect and also an interior decorator and I figured we'd need all the help we could get. "Which is a good thing," she continued, "or the two of you would probably just paint everything black and be done with it. Lunch is in the car and so are my sample books. Will you go get them for me?"

Zip's mouth was hanging open and then he closed it and opened it a few more times before giving up on finding something to say. He left us with a small sigh to do as his Mother requested.

"I think he was surprised," Zoe told me when Zip was out of ear shot. "This place is going to be gorgeous when you're done with it."

"I think so too," I agreed as we both scanned the room.

"Hector," she addressed me a moment later, "I have never seen my son happier in his whole life than he has been with you. Thank you for loving him so completely. I can tell how hard it is for you to let people in so I want you to know how much I appreciate you including me in the life you're building together."

She gave my arm a quick squeeze and I had to fight back a lump in my throat. What was it about this family that got me so emotional? "You both make it pretty easy, actually," I let her know and hell if that wasn't the truth. "I don't really have any family so I feel pretty lucky to be a part of yours." And I really was a part of them. From the moment I met her, Zoe Zabar has treated me like one of her own even if she probably shouldn't. I love her and God knows I'm crazy about her son.

"You might think twice about that when you finally meet Zyla." I laughed along with her but I was pretty sure I could handle Zip's sister. From what he'd told me, she sounded a lot like Stephanie and if that was the case, she and I would get along just fine.

Zip ended our discussion when he came back into the house with his arms full. "Did you make your enchiladas?" He asked, holding up what looked like an insulated picnic basket.

"Of course," Zoe confirmed. "This is definitely an enchilada situation, but where are we going to eat?"

I'd taken care of that earlier, setting up a small table and chairs in the empty kitchen. As we ate her delicious food, we made plans about where to begin the renovation and went through a bunch of her sample books, picking out paint colors and granite and tile all the other small details I hadn't even thought of.

It was late when we finally said goodbye to Zoe and as soon as the door was closed I found myself in Zip's arms.

"God, Hector. You completely slay me." He nuzzled his face against my neck and continued on between the tiny kisses he was placing over my skin. "This house…I love it. I only wish it was already furnished so we could spend the night here tonight."

"Ask and you shall receive," I said cryptically. He pulled back and eyed me hopefully.

"Did you lie about there being a bed?"

"I thought you said you didn't need a bed."

He showed me is dimple. "I only need you."

"You already have me." I took his hand and led him to the staircase. He followed me up and to the master suite at the end of the long hallway. It was the only room in the house that the previous owners had renovated and I didn't really want to change a thing. The floors were done in the deep cherry wood and the walls were painted a soft yellow. The en suite bath had new travertine floors that set off the olive granite of the vanity top and I'd made sure the water was turned on so we could try out the massive enclosed glass shower.

"Hopefully this will do," I said, opening the door. "We'll have to go bed shopping later." I'd laid out a pile of blankets and set up some candles. Pretty cheesy, but I knew he'd want to spend the night.

Zip took in the room and since he seemed to be speechless, I guess I'd done okay. "I told you," he finally said with a grin after inspecting everything. "I don't need a bed."

He proved that theory many, many times before the sunrise.