"We’ve got to eat dinner," Asher said patiently.
He was propped up against the headboard with Caspian dozing up and curled up against his chest.
Caspian’s response was an unintelligible mumble as he snuggled in closer.
It had been hours since they left the pool, but the scent of violets was still heavy in the air.
"We’re going to keep Jael waiting," He tried again.
As much as Asher was content to lay there till the sunrise, he didn’t want Caspian to go to bed hungry.
Although the sated Omega looked anything but hungry at the moment, his nuzzling motions finding Asher’s tender mating mark which made him hiss silently.
That caught Caspian’s attention, genuine concern on his soft features. "We can’t let him go hungry."
Asher’s lips twitched, he didn’t need to say that would never happen. He was just happy that it worked to get Caspian moving.
He watched Caspian reluctantly crawl off him, the bathrobe he had put on slipping down his shoulders, and with the length of his hair, his fresh mating mark was out in the open.
Asher had been the one pushing that they ate dinner before they slept off, but he didn’t stop himself from momentarily pulling Caspian back for one last tender kiss on his mark.
He would never get tired of the choked moan and full body shiver that went through him.
Impatient for when it healed so that he would get the opportunity to reclaim what was his.
Caspian hopped out of his hold and placed a protective palm over his mating mark, his eyes sparkling even as he pouted and complained.
"You were the one who said we needed to eat dinner."
"Right, I did." Asher quickly agreed, getting to his feet.
They languidly got dressed in sleep clothes, sticking to each other like magnets as they headed for the door.
It opened to reveal Jael standing with a mobile tray, "Congratulations," He said blandly.
"How long have you been standing out here?" Caspian asked in concern, startled by the Beta’s presence.
"Not long," He shrugged, "You both came out quicker than planned, there’s supposed to be..."
A handful of the house staff dashed down the hallway with streamers and balloons.
"That," He jabbed his thumb at them.
Caspian had to laugh at that, his eyes sparkling as the hallway became a colorful rainfall of balloons, streamers and ribbons.
"Thank you," He beamed, "We were just about to eat dinner with you, I hope we didn’t keep you waiting."
"I’ve already had dinner," Jael let them know, inviting himself into the room.
Asher and Caspian stepped to the side for him to push the tray in, the staff outside the bedroom whispering congratulations with smiles on their faces.
"So you can have your dinner in your bedroom," He went on, visibly in a good mood despite his dry delivery. "I have a bet to claim."
"It better not be with fucking Gage," Asher’s accusations chased him as he hurried out of the bedroom.
He didn’t sound angry however, just amused.
Jael wisely didn’t provide an answer, making himself scarce just as suddenly as he had shown up.
Caspian’s eyes widened as he realized why Jael would be making a bet with Asher’s dad.
He took the covers off the food, his eyes going wide at the sight of an entire congratulatory cake.
"I thought Jael didn’t know anything about this," He tossed at Asher, not at all upset even if the Beta did.
"I didn’t tell him that’s for sure..." Asher came closer to help out.
"Ooh, there’s a note," Caspian blurted out, snatching up the folded piece of paper.
’It was either this or the second cake I’m currently eating.’
His eyes widened as he read the note, it was clear that it was from Jael.
A grin broke out on Caspian’s face while Asher didn’t find it as humorous.
"What do you think was written on the other cake?" He asked as they settled down to eat.
Asher’s expression soured; he really didn’t want to know. "Jael humor is twisted, it’s definitely something that’ll make him eat a bullet."
Caspian smile evolved to laughter, his heart felt so full, everything was so perfect.
Nothing could literally go wrong at that point...
He could even ask Asher the one thing he really wanted to know.
"Asher," He blurted out just as they were about to get started on dessert. "Are we just not going to talk about the circumstances around your recent episode?"
He spoke really fast to get all of his words out before his nerves got the best of him, speaking far too formally for his liking.
Asher popped a forkful of cake in his mouth as he said that, holding the fork in his mouth for a few long seconds, icing smearing his bottom lip.
The time Asher took to respond felt like an eternity for Caspian, he didn’t even reach for the cake that he had been eager to eat since dinner began.
Caspian hadn’t gotten rid of lingerie like he said he would, he really needed to know what Asher thought...
"I’d rather we don’t," Asher retreated into himself.
Caspian’s expression fell, his heart shrinking. "Y-You don’t like it?"
"What?" Asher said in disbelief. "It made me flip out, I’m pretty sure that’s on the other extreme end of not liking it."
"What?" Now it was Caspian’s turn to be in disbelief.
Jael had made references to that but he had been so caught up in self-deprecation that he hadn’t put the pieces together.
"I thought you wouldn’t like me wearing lingerie." He admitted honestly, relieved that they could talk about this without hitches.
Asher groaned, "Please don’t say that out loud."
Caspian broke into peals of laughter at that, absently reaching for a paper towel to help clean the Alpha up.
"It really can’t be that bad," He teased, trying the cake for himself.
Asher’s expression was pinched, like he was trying really hard to keep the memories away.