Chapter 169

Nolan

Of course the Baron had to ruin our day. I couldn’t even enjoy the fact that Ciel confessed to me.

Unfortunately, Jack had to leave with the Crown Prince out of town, for something official. So it’s just us.

He didn’t want to leave, but duty calls.

I find Ciel asleep, his body engulfing Lanny. I slide into bed and wrap them both in my arms.

I notice Jack’s presence now. Not because the large bed feels too big, but because I realize how alert I am,going into full subconscious protector mode.

I’ve been relaxed. Because I knew he would take care of Ciel. Of us.

I didn’t know he was fully embedded in us like this.

I press my chest against Ciel’s back and grab his waist. He smells good. He always smells good. I wish I could smell his pheromones.

"I saw the bullshit interview he put out," Ciel says.

I saw it too. The Baron really lied with a straight face. Sitting in some parlor, looking somber, talking about his "beloved son" and how he only wants what’s best for him. How he’s "concerned" about him.

We should expose that asshole.

"We can’t," Ciel says.

"What? Everyone should know what he’s really like. Not this image of the perfect father he’s selling."

"I know. I hate it too."

"Then—"

"But I love Jack more than I hate him," Ciel says.

I pause.

"I’m sure Jack would agree," I say.

Ciel laughs a little. It’s soft, tired, real.

"Well, now I have to look at the big picture." His voice turns serious.

"If I speak the truth about my actual childhood—about how I didn’t even finish high school—it would inevitably come out what happened after. I may have been the victim in everything, but I don’t think public perception will agree."

I squeeze his waist tighter.

"Jack might look well-received, but there’s discontent with his birth. Being called illegitimate. He’s already looked down on." Ciel’s voice is quiet, measured.

"And what will happen to his reputation if it comes out that the omega he chose was essentially a sex slave?"

"Ciel, you were not—"

"Nollie, don’t. Let’s call it what it is." His voice a little too calm.

"Best case scenario, Jack’s reputation tanks. Worst case scenario, I have to step down from being by his side. Someone with my history can’t be with a prince."

I hate how I have no response.

"It’s unfair," I say finally.

"Nollie, my soul." He reaches back, touches my arm. "When has life ever been fair to me? In fact, this is the least amount of endurance I’ve ever had to expend. Because I want to be by Jack’s side." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"So you’ll just let him keep doing that?" I ask. "Let him lie about being a doting father?"

"And I will smile and hug him for the cameras," Ciel adds.

"I wouldn’t be able to do it," I grumble.

Ciel laughs. "Well, such is the price of this position."

I close my eyes and nuzzle into his neck.

Ciel is different now. More mature. More... consolidated.

I realize he’s grown up. We’ve grown up.

"You sound pretty mature and adult right now," I say in a light voice.

"I have to. I’m a parent now."

The words settle between us, simple and true.

That boy is still in there. I see him sometimes—in the way Ciel curls up when he’s tired, in the way he reaches for me in his sleep, in the way he looks at Lanny like he’s trying to memorize every second.

But he’s not that boy anymore.

He’s a father. A partner. A person who makes choices not just for himself, but for the people he loves.

"I’m proud of you," I say again.

"You said that already."

"I’m saying it again."

He shifts, turning in my arms to face me. Lanny is between us, half-asleep, his tiny fingers tangled in Ciel’s shirt.

"I’m proud of you too," Ciel says.

"For what?"

"You’re such a big guy now. With this important big corporate job. And an office." He pokes my chest. "With a door."

I catch his finger. "Not as impressive as nonchalantly shaking hands with people I would rather stab."

He smiles. The smile reaches his eyes.

"When did we become adults?" he asks.

"I don’t know. It snuck up on me."

"Me too." He looks at Lanny, who is now fully asleep, his little mouth open, his breathing soft.

I tilt his head back and kiss him.

He makes a small sound and his hand comes up to grip my shirt.

The kiss isn’t desperate. It isn’t hungry. It’s slow, deep, the kind of kiss that says I’m here and I’m not going anywhere and I’ve been waiting for this, maybe my whole life.

When I pull back, his eyes are still closed.

"Nollie," he whispers.

"Yeah?"

"Don’t stop."

I’m a little surprised. My heart races. Because I never thought the day would ever come when Ciel would ask for kisses from me.

I kiss him again. I place my hand on his neck—gentle, careful, the way I’ve always wanted to touch him but never dared. His pulse jumps under my fingers. His lips part.

When we pull away, we’re breathing fast.

Ciel turns back, his back against me. His body curves into mine, fitting like he was made to be there. Lanny is still asleep between us, oblivious, peaceful.

"To be continued," Ciel says.

I laugh quietly against his back, afraid to wake Lanny. The sound is muffled, soft, private.

"To be continued," I agree.

He reaches back and takes my hand. His fingers interlock with mine. We lie there in the morning light, the palace waking around us, the world spinning on without permission.

"Nollie, I’m so thankful to have you in my life."

"Go to sleep, Ciel."

"I love you," he says.

It’s a different I love you from the ones we’ve always had. This I love you isn’t belonging to a best friend. It’s belonging to a boyfriend. Or something more.

"Nollie?"

I swallow. My face is warm. My ears are warm. My entire body feels like it’s been dipped in something hot and golden.

"...me too," I say.

"You’re blushing, aren’t you?"

I don’t respond.

Because he’s right.